ReMix: Super Metroid 'Fuzzy Green Feeling'
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- Game: Super Metroid (Nintendo, 1994, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Kidd Cabbage
- Composer(s): Kenji Yamamoto, Minako Hamano
- Song(s): 'Brinstar Overgrown with Vegetation Area'
- Posted: 2008-05-22, evaluated by the judges
More Cabbage! I'm pretty stoked to see Kidd Cabbage back so soon after he melted our faces off with some excellent non-VotL FF7 mixage a couple months ago. Jonathan gives us the low-down:
"First off, this song has a whole slew of stylistic influences. From progressive to funk to grunge to dance to melodic death metal. I guess that's what the term 'progressive metal' is for though. Green Brinstar has always been one of my favorite songs from the game, although one of the hardest to fit into my style. The drums in this song were intense, to say the least. It took me about three times as long to program out these drums, compared to the normal amount of time, but I would definitely say that it was worth it. I tried some new things in the production, and I think it turned out well. I got rid of a lot of the mud heard in some of my previous mixes, and didn't need to squish this one up near as much. The solo in this song was the hardest thing I've ever had to record, but I like the way it turned out and how it transitioned from the synth solo. As always, a very energy-packed mix, and I'm very happy with it. I hope you are, too!"
This one did hit the panel, but more for a quick sanity check as it got relatively speedy unanimity. On a sidenote, there's been some inactivity on the panel recently and it's likely that there will be some turnover and fresh blood joining us soon, and hopefully we'll catch up over the summer. More details should be forthcoming in the next couple weeks, but I just thought I should say *something* since the queue has been marinating in its own natural juices for a bit. Also, Larry & Paige left those of us in the Metro/DC area and moved back to Atlanta, the logistics of which have been chewing up some of his time as well, but it seems like he's settled and will be getting DSL soon... it remains to be seen whether his notoriously dodgy connection on #ocremix will be any better, but our collective fingers are crossed.
Now, the music: KC's debut mix was some seriously meaty rock/metal, so he had his own tough act to follow. Fortunately, he's covering some fan-favorite territory with the Super Metroid soundtrack, so relative to FF7 the accessibility factor hasn't decreased substantially. This one's a bit more metal and less melodic, though, with some extended menacing chugging, so from a hummability perspective it might not stick in your head as much. But, I mean... how bout that badass rhythm guitar at 1'49"?? Who needs hooks when you've got riffs? Or RAD TIMBALE LICKS, for that matter? Kidd follows that up with a sweet monoglide synth solo @ 2'13"; I was glad when this came in and the synths started clicking a bit more with the guits, as that was a strength of his previous piece. Jesse says:
"Awesome. This is one of the better metal remixes i've heard. Great genre adaptation, and great production. Sparse harmonies, but it's appropriate for the genre. I can't hear a bass guitar either, but that's also typical of the genre. Ballsy all-around, and a very creative remix."
I like that he picks out both the minimalist melody/harmony ratio and bass content as legit aspects of the genre; sounds about right to me, and works here, but won't necessarily be intuitive for everybody. More solid and very substantial work from Kidd Cabbage; he's got a lot of technique, which can't be overvalued, but his arrangement ideas and style are distinct and well-crafted; share in the fuzzy green feeling and check it out.
Discussion: Latest 12 comments/reviews; view the However, I respect the remix for what it is; a good, adrenaline-filled arrangement of Super Metroid. Good work, but not my thing; I'll just go back to listening to RTF's Brinstar Bonsai Garden.
- Martin Penwald on June 14, 2008
evktalo;410193 wrote: I feel like putting a disclaimer here: the following is my humble opinion, feel free to fiercely disagree!
This just doesn't gel for me at all until 01:50, and then I only like that particular section. I really, really like "Yet Even More Fighting" and I also appreciate "Death Stroke", which didn't pass the judge's panel if I recall correctly. This just sounds curiously dud to me.. which might mean that the penny will drop big time on another day. I'm not familiar with the original, which might help.
Here's my list of complaints (I realize this might be quite harsh): a non-meshing, dry soundscape, nothing exciting happening there apart from that one section. Pacing and structure of the piece feels even/flat despite all the different parts and the various details. The snare sticks out. The synth lead is horribly lonely and simple sounding, especially 01:22-01:40. KC has used similar synths succesfully earlier, but here it (both in sound and sequencing/playing) sounds like a placeholder to me - the whole thing actually sounds like only a demo! On the good side, the guitar playing is good throughout and I have no quarrel with the guitar sounds either.
I feel a bit bad giving such a negative review, but there it is. :/
--Eino
I never mind seeing negative reviews like this. As long as you explain why you didn't like it, and you keep it civil and impersonal, comments like this are good. That said, obviously you and I disagree. :)
- Palpable on June 6, 2008
evktalo;410193 wrote: I feel like putting a disclaimer here: the following is my humble opinion, feel free to fiercely disagree!
This just doesn't gel for me at all until 01:50, and then I only like that particular section. I really, really like "Yet Even More Fighting" and I also appreciate "Death Stroke", which didn't pass the judge's panel if I recall correctly. This just sounds curiously dud to me.. which might mean that the penny will drop big time on another day. I'm not familiar with the original, which might help.
Here's my list of complaints (I realize this might be quite harsh): a non-meshing, dry soundscape, nothing exciting happening there apart from that one section. Pacing and structure of the piece feels even/flat despite all the different parts and the various details. The snare sticks out. The synth lead is horribly lonely and simple sounding, especially 01:22-01:40. KC has used similar synths succesfully earlier, but here it (both in sound and sequencing/playing) sounds like a placeholder to me - the whole thing actually sounds like only a demo! On the good side, the guitar playing is good throughout and I have no quarrel with the guitar sounds either.
I feel a bit bad giving such a negative review, but there it is. :/
--Eino
i'm agreeing with you here. i like metroid. i like shred-rock. there just seems to be [i]something[/i] missing from this mix.
your review i think is fine though, as it gives good reasons where this remix could be improved, and it's not rude like some certain other posters i've seen...
- FightinFilipino on June 6, 2008
10 out of 10!
Rock on!
- shawnpm810 on June 5, 2008
Overall, A would listen again.
- Tables on May 27, 2008
I often think 'what if' producers saught OCremix artists for music in upcoming games or better yet; as good as the remixes are here, remakes for old games. Tracks like this would sell the game without a doubt!
- 546 on May 26, 2008
The best part is the breakdown I think, and then the solo sections afterwards. There are some really great ideas thrown in here, and it seems the key to making metroid music interesting is to turn it into a sonic assault.
Great stuff from the guy who can continue to destroy the fretboard even though he is MISSING AN ARM (sortof).
Totally heavy stuff. \m/
- OA on May 23, 2008
A very balanced and clever mix, it is.
Err... Download!
- DramaNoMore on May 23, 2008
This just doesn't gel for me at all until 01:50, and then I only like that particular section. I really, really like "Yet Even More Fighting" and I also appreciate "Death Stroke", which didn't pass the judge's panel if I recall correctly. This just sounds curiously dud to me.. which might mean that the penny will drop big time on another day. I'm not familiar with the original, which might help.
Here's my list of complaints (I realize this might be quite harsh): a non-meshing, dry soundscape, nothing exciting happening there apart from that one section. Pacing and structure of the piece feels even/flat despite all the different parts and the various details. The snare sticks out. The synth lead is horribly lonely and simple sounding, especially 01:22-01:40. KC has used similar synths succesfully earlier, but here it (both in sound and sequencing/playing) sounds like a placeholder to me - the whole thing actually sounds like only a demo! On the good side, the guitar playing is good throughout and I have no quarrel with the guitar sounds either.
I feel a bit bad giving such a negative review, but there it is. :/
--Eino
- evktalo on May 22, 2008
http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR01657/
- LuckyXIII on May 22, 2008
- Wintermute on May 22, 2008
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