ReMix: Axelay 'Kick My Axe'
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- Game: Axelay (Konami, 1992, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Jeremy Johnson, Midee, prozax
- Composer(s): Masanori Adachi, Taro Kudou, akiropito
- Song(s): 'SPIDERS (Boss 1 BGM)', 'Unkai (1st BGM)'
- Posted: 2002-07-21, evaluated by the judges
Very professional submission from Midee, with assistance from guitar-meister Prozax as well, from Konami's Axelay. Our last Axelay ReMix was back in July of last year, when po! gave us a nice hip-hop take. I already covered a bit about the game (and how it essentially humbled me) there, so check it out for the history. This mix is far from hip-hop - a rock arrangement that mixes synthesized elements with fantastic electric guitar and bass and dynamic acoustic drums. Besides a slight audible hiss at the very beginning, production and mixing are first-rate stuff, with balance and edge kept in harmony and brilliant usage of various reverbs for true depth. Check the synth delay break at 0'40" before the guitar takes off on the lead melody for a great example of timing. The lead often doubles up on itself, and the strings back the melody and take the lead for some sections like 1'18". At 2'13", check out the funky little shuffle with a rim shot that the drums do - little details like these make a world of difference. The piece ends on a suspenseful run, with organ riffage and some excellent hits a' plenty, including some badass dissonance on the strings. Interesting, somewhat understated ending considering the controlled chaos immediately preceding it, but a wild ride nonetheless. In particular, the attention paid to loud-soft dynamics is impeccable, and makes the mix all the more enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the A lot of passion obviously went into this track. The 90's rock
guitars, the opening, the...wow, you OC-ReMixers are amazing.
You get the feel of a journey as you're three-fourths through the track, and then, the boss music gives you a little bit of the creeps at the end...probably a good thing as the boss enemy is a spider-bot.
I'd love to see the entire game of Axelay remixed with this exact kind of music by these guys. It would make an epic album.
- supernintendosp on April 21, 2013
You get the feel of a journey as you're three-fourths through the track, and then, the boss music gives you a little bit of the creeps at the end...probably a good thing as the boss enemy is a spider-bot.
I'd love to see the entire game of Axelay remixed with this exact kind of music by these guys. It would make an epic album.
- supernintendosp on April 21, 2013
Interesting and cool use of guitar textures as opposed the super
wall of sound i've grown accustomed to with recent guitar subs. My
first introduction to this there was Scaredsim, so my expectations
are a little biased towards his arrangement, but this one stands up
really well, despite the slightly conservative approach. The use of
2 themes works out very well, and the break between the two was
well handled. Nice playing throughout, and production was clean and
not forced. A big plus in my book.
The ending was a little abrupt- i'd have preferred a more dramatic finish spread out over a little more time, but really this is a solid mix. Nice work!
- OA on December 11, 2009
The ending was a little abrupt- i'd have preferred a more dramatic finish spread out over a little more time, but really this is a solid mix. Nice work!
- OA on December 11, 2009
Superb choice of sounds and contrasts here make something that
might have been an unjustified, lazy-sounding mix into something
with some real worth. My stance on covers isn't wholeheartedly
supportive, but there's something to be said for those select
covers that bring the original music into an entirely new
perspective by giving it a burst of professionalism.
Of course I would have loved some arrangement. It's something that I do listen for and always come up short. That being said, the original melody actually doesn't need the support of good arrangement since it retains interest the whole way through. The collaborative effort here is so sweet to listen to, but there is a small concern that it wasn't used to its full potential.
But like I said, I'm not going to be too hard on it for not exploring that potential because what is here definitely isn't broken. It's just a case of a whole lot of work being put into production, and very little being set aside for personalising it. Samples have held up well, and the performances are excellent. For that reason, I'm willing to give it a free pass. However, all dazzle and no creativity gets old fast. I hope this position on 'remixing' stays a relic of the past.
- Marmiduke on November 22, 2009
Of course I would have loved some arrangement. It's something that I do listen for and always come up short. That being said, the original melody actually doesn't need the support of good arrangement since it retains interest the whole way through. The collaborative effort here is so sweet to listen to, but there is a small concern that it wasn't used to its full potential.
But like I said, I'm not going to be too hard on it for not exploring that potential because what is here definitely isn't broken. It's just a case of a whole lot of work being put into production, and very little being set aside for personalising it. Samples have held up well, and the performances are excellent. For that reason, I'm willing to give it a free pass. However, all dazzle and no creativity gets old fast. I hope this position on 'remixing' stays a relic of the past.
- Marmiduke on November 22, 2009
sfried;282102 wrote: I guess the track was to capture the essence of old 80's sci-fi shows. The strings bring out that "epic" feeling witle the guitar definately adds to the flavor. One of my favorites. Yes, it can feel like "BAD ANIME BACKGROUND MUSIC" at times, but when the song is good, what's to complain?
I really identify with what your saying. It almost feels like a lost style of composition in this day the way it stands out. I would even say it lasted into the very early 90s too, this very strident, driving leads and guitars.
Its a bit of cheese. But I like cheese. And I like those who like similar cheese. Like that rock organ-sounding thing, and the suspense stuff around 3:00. This is a fun track. :]
This mix does lose a bit of direction at the end, but one has to understand the source material when its composed to old shooters/shootemups, whatever you want to call them. The boss is coming up, after all.
And I don't get the hate on clean mixes like this. As a musician, being able to perform the original work is a unique endeavor all of its own. People can talk all they want about it just being a cover, but I really feel those who try to isolate it that way aren't seeing the whole picture. As though there is somehow less creativity in performing than composing/mastering.
Oh midee? I came around a little late, do you have an updated version of this somewhere else since VGMIX went X_X?
- madmallard on July 7, 2009
I didn't get to play Axelay until last year, and I finished it a
couple times even so the music really got to me. What's different
in it to most game soundtracks is that the bass stands out on some
tracks really nicely, and this remix no different in that. Guitar
playing is great here and I like the overall sound of everything.
There's nothing too surprising though, but enough difference to the
original to keep it interesting.
- Echo on May 16, 2008
- Echo on May 16, 2008
Zandar The Weeble;2584 wrote: The strings gave the heebie-jeebies when I first heard them, they screamed "BAD ANIME BACKGROUND MUSIC" at me and I almost lost it.
I guess the track was to capture the essence of old 80's sci-fi shows. The strings bring out that "epic" feeling witle the guitar definately adds to the flavor. One of my favorites. Yes, it can feel like "BAD ANIME BACKGROUND MUSIC" at times, but when the song is good, what's to complain?
Now someone should do the ending music in this fashion. That would fantastic.
- sfried on June 11, 2007
Funny, Prot's experience with this mix is very similar to mine. I
loved this one a lot when I first got it, so much that it persuaded
me to check out the game to see what it was like. I was astounded
how similar the original was to 'Kick my Axe', which dissapointed
me sonewhat. The song is very well done, high production values all
round, and does work as a cover and upgrade as such. I guess this
is just a different approach to remixing. Either way, I still love
a good cover, and in that sense this one hits the spot. The talent
is easily spotted in this well made mix.
- watkinzez on October 22, 2005
- watkinzez on October 22, 2005
meccaneer wrote: My major complaint is that it covers the boss theme on that level too. In my book, that's a huge no-no. Why? I dunno. I don't think it's fair to cover and remix two songs into one.
Um...yeah. No fair, apparently. :roll:
- Liontamer on October 3, 2005
I'm not a huge rock fan; guitars always just sound like there's a
dude with long hair holdin' them. This is no exception. However,
despite Axelay's inherent coolness, this remix is probably how the
game designers originally meant this song to sound. For real. And
the violins and organ are a fantastic touch. My major complaint is
that it covers the boss theme on that level too. In my book, that's
a huge no-no. Why? I dunno. I don't think it's fair to cover and
remix two songs into one.
Other than that: very professional.
- meccaneer on October 3, 2005
Other than that: very professional.
- meccaneer on October 3, 2005
Solid rock by Midee, prozax and Jeremy Johnson. Keeps the spirit of
the original and only improves on it in every respect.
Edit: Although, like Protricity and Riku said, you can't just improve on the original - You have to arrange it beyond just a transition and original instrumentation. Even an occasional changed or added note for the better would do. I s'pose the ending and the notation were the only things not improved on in this track. Still high-quality though.
- Corporal Eschebone on September 5, 2004
Edit: Although, like Protricity and Riku said, you can't just improve on the original - You have to arrange it beyond just a transition and original instrumentation. Even an occasional changed or added note for the better would do. I s'pose the ending and the notation were the only things not improved on in this track. Still high-quality though.
- Corporal Eschebone on September 5, 2004
Midee wrote: Well I originally going to make an Axelay kumbia megamix :roll: , but I decided that prog rock in the exact style of the original would work best.
A lot of people have accused this song of being just a cover, but I always felt that it was a full-on arrangement:
1. It's two songs melded together with an original transition section.
2. Original instrumentation.
3. Yes, all the same notes are there. I made a point to hit every note exactly. Why? Because I can, and I like paying homage. It is a fairly complex piece and I wanted to show off (swing dick) a little.
When I make arrangements, I make them as if someone was re-releasing the game, and needed arranged music for it. Doing the music in any other style than that of the original would be blasphemous to me. Would I have added more to it if I had done it now? Maybe, but even without more original sections, I still feel this is a real arrangement, and not just a simple "upgrade".
So, you can do the 'why mess with the original when its so good?' + 'homage' thing if you want. Its well justified. Only problem is that this is after all a remix site with certain ideals. Thus, as my ideals are the same as those of this site, I am somewhat dissapointed that this is more or less a cover in my mind.
To me, its like entering a baroque style orchestra competition with a rap song. Your song might be awesome rap, might be a beacon to all other rappers in existance, but it simply wouldn't fit in a baroque environment.
I hope you can understand this analogy in that I'm not bashing the song or its quality, rather just saying its really not much of a remix. I respect your skills, and I think your recent lifeforce song totally kicked ass. Now that was a full on remix.
Anyway, to drive the point home, like riku said, the ending sorta just dies. Thats where the original ends too before looping. If your song was truely a rearrangement/remix, it wouldn't just end, and you'd put in a more satisfying/creative ending.
- Protricity on September 5, 2004
Well, wa sit your intention to make an utterly mangled
ending?
What the hell happened there, I first listened to the song, but stopped about midway through to move it to my 'Misc' folder (since I download songs to a 'potential' folder before actually deciding to keep them) and I thought 'I like it, sounds cool' and besides, I wanted to save at least 1 song from the A section, and this was the only one I liked enough.
Then I moved it and listened to it again and at the end I was like 'wtf was that?! Is the song broken?'
For me, it just dies after the violin thing. =\
- Riku on September 4, 2004
What the hell happened there, I first listened to the song, but stopped about midway through to move it to my 'Misc' folder (since I download songs to a 'potential' folder before actually deciding to keep them) and I thought 'I like it, sounds cool' and besides, I wanted to save at least 1 song from the A section, and this was the only one I liked enough.
Then I moved it and listened to it again and at the end I was like 'wtf was that?! Is the song broken?'
For me, it just dies after the violin thing. =\
- Riku on September 4, 2004
Well I originally going to make an Axelay kumbia megamix :roll: ,
but I decided that prog rock in the exact style of the original
would work best.
A lot of people have accused this song of being just a cover, but I always felt that it was a full-on arrangement:
1. It's two songs melded together with an original transition section.
2. Original instrumentation.
3. Yes, all the same notes are there. I made a point to hit every note exactly. Why? Because I can, and I like paying homage. It is a fairly complex piece and I wanted to show off (swing dick) a little.
When I make arrangements, I make them as if someone was re-releasing the game, and needed arranged music for it. Doing the music in any other style than that of the original would be blasphemous to me. Would I have added more to it if I had done it now? Maybe, but even without more original sections, I still feel this is a real arrangement, and not just a simple "upgrade".
- Midee on July 6, 2004
A lot of people have accused this song of being just a cover, but I always felt that it was a full-on arrangement:
1. It's two songs melded together with an original transition section.
2. Original instrumentation.
3. Yes, all the same notes are there. I made a point to hit every note exactly. Why? Because I can, and I like paying homage. It is a fairly complex piece and I wanted to show off (swing dick) a little.
When I make arrangements, I make them as if someone was re-releasing the game, and needed arranged music for it. Doing the music in any other style than that of the original would be blasphemous to me. Would I have added more to it if I had done it now? Maybe, but even without more original sections, I still feel this is a real arrangement, and not just a simple "upgrade".
- Midee on July 6, 2004
So I always liked this song, but recently I listened to the
original soundtrack. It was very disappointing to discover that
this remix is scarcely anything more than a cover. Its basically
the level1 and boss1 music put together with live guitar.
Everything else is note for note with minimal changes.
A fine upgrade, but alas, nothing more than an upgrade.
- Protricity on July 6, 2004
A fine upgrade, but alas, nothing more than an upgrade.
- Protricity on July 6, 2004
