ReMix:Skate or Die "I've Got 5 Skateboards Right Here" 4:56

By norg

Arranging the music of one song...

"Title"

Primary Game: Skate or Die (Electronic Arts , 1987, C64), music by Kyle Granger, Rob Hubbard

Posted 2009-04-25, evaluated by djpretzel


norg! It's been awhile! We're finally posting Mr. Nowik's kickin' Skate or Die ReMix, our first from Rob Hubbard's score to the C64 version, and it's badass. George writes:

"I did this track for the August 2007 DoD originally and decided that, based on some news, that I needed to finish it in the way that I intended to finish it.  It turns out that someone is going to be sending it to Rob Hubbard, the guy who originally wrote the soundtrack, but the caveat was that I had to finish it tonight in order to do so.  Sooooooooo I retooled the whole thing tonight and this is it.  In conjunction with that, it seemed like a good time to submit a new song to OCR.  I promised I'd submit more stuff, so I better not stop at just one!"

Not sure if Mr. Hubbard ever received the track; hopefully norg can chime in with the story, but either way this is a great homage to one of the giants of C64 VGM and VGM in general. norg blends metal, ska, punk, classic SID elements, and isn't afraid to segue from:

  • a more menacing, aggressive tone into...
  • major-key, anthematic synth power chords, then follow THAT up with...
  • a more ambient section at 1'49" with twisted, metallic fret noises, chromatic synth passages, and a snare with a reverb tail the size of Texas...

... and we're not even halfway through. Things build back up, then at 3'08"... disco? Almost... Organ and clavichord join in along with a strong downbeat for a bit before the mix gets back to its rock roots with some soaring lead guit bits before concluding triumphantly with a jam-out finish. This mix delivers a satisfying five-course meal of guitar, drums, synths, bass, and keys, exploring several different ideas in one energetic, fuel-injected chassis.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Marmiduke
on 2010-06-26 12:51:52

My face melted and my brains turned to liquid. This is crazy, even by the standards of other crazy mixes. And that's a good thing.

With a mix like this, it's important to not let a second be wasted, and to not allow the listener to stop and analyse exactly what you're doing and how you're doing it. That's totally incosequential to the purpose of this type of music, and I'm glad that purpose is fulfilled here.

Of course, that's not to say is sounds bad. Because it's actually got a great sound to it, made even greater by impeccable production work and constantly shifting tempos and leads.

This is probably the most hectic as they come, though I wouldn't describe it as too complex. It's a masterful slice of chaos that harkens back to the birth of progressive rock and beyond. A very impressive package and a great one for those really late nights.

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metaphist
on 2009-05-23 15:45:51

God I loved Skate or Die! This remix fits the game very well stylistically. I haven't even layed eyes on the game, let alone heard it's music, in at least 15 years, so I was ecstatic to see this remix pop up. The title sounds strangely familiar, too...

It indeed brought a smile to my face. Thank you, norg!

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Martin Penwald
on 2009-05-14 12:18:03

Great synth lead, and an excellent prog-rock atmosphere overall in the first half.

I really love how the remix makes you think it's over at the 3:04 mark, before it all of a sudden starts again, even weirder (and better) than before.

Very nice.

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OA
on 2009-05-02 22:30:50

Really intense and well produced. Great sound to everything, and this thing is packed with great arrangement ideas. I've no idea what the source sounds like, but this stands so well on it's own, it's not really that much of a concern to me. All the pieces fit together well, and the performances of each instrument are great. I love this one. :-)

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Arian
on 2009-04-30 11:33:17

Prog metal as it's supposed to be! Varied, surprising, action-packed - Great stuff.

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Mtlbro
on 2009-04-29 11:33:39

I love all the kick A breaks. The drums/synth are really doin it for me

3:40 guitar moment TOTALLY SWEET Wow!!!

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metalsnakejuice
on 2009-04-28 01:00:37

Worth the download.

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Alexis
on 2009-04-27 22:56:54

Can't say I ever played this game, but saw this on the front page and thought I'd give it a listen. Glad I did. It's pretty sweet.

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Sir_Downunder
on 2009-04-27 07:38:23

BR00TAL D00D!! :tomatoface:(okay, stupid moment over.)

On another note, this mix has some balls on it. Wicked chunky bass at the start, the synth lead is killer and I absolutely love the breakdown section at 1:49.

Keep up the great work, norg!!

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Platonist
on 2009-04-27 07:17:10

Norg! I must tell you about my experience this time, why and how I feel like I have to make this review even if I've never played the game ...

We are commonly super-biased as remix-listeners while the effect it has on us, or some of us at least, might turn it around for the better!

I must be honest with you, I have never (until late) been at all interested in this kind of music. Many factors have been major parts in the process to make me like it.

And You! are one of them: (seriously, keep reading ^^)

Being super biased, one of the first tracks I downloaded from this site was "Duck Blur" by Star. When your track was released "Harden the Duck Up!" Of course I started listening madly to it, because of how biased I am with the love for the source material.

BUT now, this madness has given me an opportunity to really enjoy this track as well, because I have, through the experience of Duck Tales, learned how to love what YOU do, and what this kind of music can give me.

Whoa, now that's was perfectly pretentious rant... ;)

long live OCR! and go NORG! one of my favorite DoD-Dwellers!

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jintoreedwine
on 2009-04-26 14:29:17

Sweet remix! I like all the variety because it keeps it from being as repetitive and it could be :) .

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Red Shadow
on 2009-04-26 11:43:22

oh no

this is amazing

im gonna have to get back to downloading remixes again

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KyleJCrb
on 2009-04-26 08:15:57

This rocked back in the day, and it still rocks now.

But I think the best part of this song is the inadvertent immortalization of HVYRIFF on OCR. He does in fact have 5 guitars right there.

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Nobbynob Littlun
on 2009-04-25 19:26:49

Kickin'! \m/

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Scaredsim
on 2009-04-25 17:45:24

Ho great this mix is there. I particulary love the synths, the stick bass rocks and well, all the rest too. Definately a must.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Skate or Die (Electronic Arts , 1987, C64)
Music by Kyle Granger,Rob Hubbard
Songs:
"Title"

Tags (3)


Genre:
Rock
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Electric Guitar,Synth
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Skate_or_Die_I've_Got_5_Skateboards_Right_Here_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,214,277 bytes
MD5:
efd2ad4286ed8cdf59b8d7c3710a78a8
Bitrate:
165Kbps
Duration:
4:56

 

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