omega_squid

Maybe they should just change the name of this site to "Piano Arrangement Remix". For what it's worth though, at least this is a good song from a game I like. I like the interpretive aspect of the piece, and I think the composer did a good job with the flourishes and improvising at the beginning, and emulating the low string section of the original song at the halfway point, where the song really kicks in. As a point of contention, I actually don't think it's dark or loud enough. Fortissimo man, fortissimo! Loud is good and especially in the low end we lose a bit of the original's 'oomph'. You might say it sounds a bit too sequenced, but overall it's a really elegant interpretation of the original, it just takes it in a completely different direction. Probably not going on my playlist, but still worth a listen.

I'm torn. On one hand, Earthbound is my favorite game, ever, of all time. Nothing will top it. So a new EB mix fills me with joy. On the other hand, are we talking about the same Earthbound here? The cult classic SNES RPG? I've played it at least once a year, every year since it came out, and although I hear some thematic similarities and samples I really don't recognize this song as anything from the game. So I'm sort of disappointed in that regard. However, as a piece, on its own, it does some really neat and funky things. The trance ebb is carried throughout and it's very relaxing, I like the acidic synths and the crunchy drums near the middle. The instrumentation is well put together and the acoustic guitar is great (I normally abhor acoustic guitar used in electronic music) and the percussion has a very minimal quality to it. I seem to be hearing a sample of the sound stone melody in the background at places, but it may be my imagination. I love how it breaks down in the end to simple guitar and bass, it's got a bit of melancholy that reminds me of the end of the game--happy, and yet, sad. If they EVER make another Earthbound game I can see this being part of the soundtrack. Great work, even if it's more of a departure than I normally like.

Has anyone said MAX300 yet? My feet think that should count as a boss. No, I never said I could beat it.