Brew

Sure there's some remixes and metal covers on YouTube, but I really can't believe that OCRemix of all places has no versions of: Commando: Possibly one of the best single-night alcohol-fueled battle musics ever made, IMO. (I'm not kidding, they took Hubbard out for the night and convinced him to write the music for the game, which he then did that night) Eliminator: Unexpectedly funky music for a forward-scrolling vehicle shmup. I've had this song stuck in my head for the last three days and wonder what potential it has in the right hands.

I gotta admit - you got me. I mean.. I was fully aware that it was April 1st. And yeah, it was a youtube video of questionable quality including a wrong "you're". But listening to the MP3's, I honestly could NOT tell if it was serious or not. Music is such a subjective thing, maybe its just not my cup of tea. Maybe its a prank. Juuuust enough work was put into it that maybe it was serious..? After having just seen VGO at PAX and their FFVI montage, beginning and ending with a beautiful "Celes' Theme" on violin, the disco opera made me frown. Although I also gotta admit, I was kinda digging the Veldt mashup.

I've been listening to "Echoes" quite a bit lately (seeing as somehow I only recently learned about it) and every single time, something else jumps out at me. Most recently, its this song. Driving around in the car, it gets to the piano section towards the end, I'm thinking "Ok, its getting quieter, kind of sad, must be Edward.." Then, the sound of children playing fades in and instantly its DARK. Like, Sarah Connor's nightmare at the playground. Then the (laser?) bombs drop and it rips back into metal, and I get the chills. Like, literally my arms goose bumped. Good work, guys

How did I not know about this album for so long? I need to be visiting this site more often.. FFII/IV is and will always be in my top 5 favorite games of all time. Let alone a video game, it was the first plot that ever really gripped me and wouldn't let go. And as a kid who'd read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi but never dealt with death, those moments in the game stung pretty bad. Like, when Palom and Porom sacrificed themselves for the team and Tellah couldn't undo their spell and that damn piano started to play... I dunno, I think the window was open and blew some dust in my eye or something. It went the other way too, like when it seemed that they were totally boned when the Giant awoke.. then that one explosion came out of nowhere, followed by the Red Wings theme, and everyone you'd met in the game had teamed up to help in the fight.. that was one of the most touching and perfect moments in video game history as far as I'm concerned. I dunno if this is just being filtered through the lens of myself as a kid, but nostalgia is a powerful thing, that's for damn sure. So this collaboration is a pretty awesome project and I've been listening to it a lot lately. I like how it isn't just one style, and explores the different ways that people interpret the original music. The game only had so many songs and a lot of them were repeated throughout the plot, so its also cool to see how people saw the tone of something in relation to the scene it was used in. Its been awhile since I last played this game and in fact only recently started a new game of FFIII/VI but I might put that on hold to run through this one again. Or at least finish the third playthrough on the DS. (I got frustrated trying to beat Proto-Babil at as low a level as possible). But either way, I would totally agree with the sentiment that its a completely different experience listening to these songs having played the game. The opening track, "Full of Courage" is just wow. Seriously, wow. I'm not sure I would have necessarily mixed in the overworld theme just as it was getting to the "battle" portion of the Red Wings theme, but from a director's standpoint relating to the movie playing in my head, I can understand wanting to take an aerial view of the landscape before getting into the action. Try to set the tone that the world is a wonderful place and in need of protection from this elite, honorable, and victorious fleet. And of course the next scene is in Castle Baron and the rock-opera stylings of "The Might of Baron" simply kicks ass in every important way. I might have mixed the guitar a little bit louder here and there, but whatever - I don't care, stellar track. The album continues with a lot of unexpected turns - as I said above, I like that the album wasn't just one style, even if I may enjoy certain stylings more than others. Its been a good workout for my car's speakers too (got a new car recently). Songs like "Overture ~ Tellah's Prophecy" and "Read the Sine" actually make my pants vibrate against my shins in a most peculiar way while driving, so they have a unique tactile element to them. The intro to "Ana(pro)logue" for some reason made me think of The Neverending Story. When the horn started playing, I pictured Ben flying on Falcor.. "Rhymes With Elixir". Falcon needs a drill but worry not coz Cid'll fix her? When this one started, I raised an eyebrow. Soon started to laugh. I'm also a fan of older Bloodhound Gang, so there's that. And yes, I love the fact that they worked "sublimate" into a rap. I'd call this one a hidden gem. Had to look up the lyrics, couldn't figure out what the chorus was saying. "More bling than olive-berry skies?" Loved the mens' chorus for Fabul! Really helped highlight the "iron will" vibe of Fabul, that you do not mess with them. While Baron is mighty, fighting is these mens' lives. I just wonder if their training involves lifting a large hot kettle with their forearms.. At first I didn't like the kid in "Metal Mages", but its growing on me. I can totally see Porom at a club/bar where the band is playing and totally getting down, limbs flailing, losing control, flinging fireballs randomly, the final "That was Awesome!" with him standing in the middle of a smoldering heap of debris, smoke clearing to show blue skies, everyone else crouched down, arms over their heads. "OMFG" did a great job emphasizing the tension of the situation. And my gawd, Rock Opera featuring Slipknot as Zeromus for the final battle? Total nerdgasm. The Epilogue music stayed pretty true to how I remember it, and left me smiling remembering the victory of finally winning mixed with the sadness that it was over. I think the only actual complaint I have with the whole set - and I debated on even saying anything negative, but its mixed with positives - was "Of Fiend and Man". Ironically, the reason this song bugs me so much is because of how much I actually like it! If I thought it sucked, I wouldn't care. It just seems like it wasn't finished. Not that its lacking in quality, but that quite literally, when the final mix was being laid out, someone accidentally left the tracks with the actual battle theme on "mute". There's this amazing rock opera framework, solid percussion, good orchestration, the strings and horns doing the "response" portion of the first part of the main melody to good effect, a little bit of very subtle guitar you can hear in the background, I'm getting all amped up ready for whatever crazy melody arrangement they're going to do, will it be electric guitar? Strings? Horns? Synth of some kind? Driving too fast and awaiting the start of the Battle, the beat drops and it goes into a different song. Is this still Battle 1? They just shifting gears? "Fiend" is in the title, is this from the Four Fiends? Then the song ends, and I frown. (edit - Listening to the album through my crappy desktop speakers at work and wow is the relative volume higher on the guitars. Not sure if the acoustics in my car happen to cancel out the frequency these guitars are on or what. They're still sort of in the background instead of taking lead, but at least I can hear them pretty clearly here) But, JMHO. If they decided to re-release the track with nothing changed other than some additions of lead melody, I would probably look like Randy when he finally got some internet in the refugee camp. Anyway, I can't express how happy I am that I found this compilation and would like to offer heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to it! (Its actually a major reason I donated to OCRemix last week.)

Was gonna buy a black OCR shirt but they were out. So I pitched in $20 instead. Been a fan for a long time, and was sure to see you guys at PAX East this year. Until someone in the panel mentioned it, I'd forgotten all about the DS Pictochat. And was immediately greeted with many a poorly sketched wang.

You know, I've had this song in my collection for a long time now, and to this day I still turn up the volume and listen closely. It just does such a good job of telling the story of a lone marine facing such impossible odds and impending doom, yet continuing to push forward. Like at 1:25 when there's the first big piano hit, there's a sense of something really big coming. It tapers off a bit, like shock wearing off, and at the 2 minute mark when it transitions to a major key, its almost like this marine has begun to pray that this trip to Hell will spare him his soul, that he's actively seeking and maybe even receiving some kind of spiritual aid.. 2:25 it goes a bit further with some tentatively positive vibes, perhaps having found a stash of advanced weaponry or health packs. Or maybe he's just accepted his imminent death and is ready to begin the battle. At 2:42, it unceremoniously transitions back to a minor key. Sh*t's about to get real. And it just goes from there, ever more intense until the very end where it finishes with almost a whisper. Maybe his soul DID escape, even if his body didn't. That one piano note where the drums end at 5:29.. I always picture someone looking down, slowly pulling their hand from their chest and seeing blood.. those final high piano notes at the very end, looking up and seeing bright light.. Then again, I'm a computer geek, software engineer, musician, and gamer - I get into remixes on many levels.. maybe I'm just reading too deep

well, specifically I was thinking of OCR songs. I mean, its easy enough to get in touch with the composer, although I'm sure licensing from the title owner would be a little trickier. Since GH a video game itself, I find it hard to believe they wouldn't be willing to play along, not to mention the inherent advertising a game like this provides. Its like a record contract practically. Personally, I'd love to hear Little Mac's Confession, as I said way up at the top. I'd like to hear perhaps some Castlevania remixes, definitely some DOOM remixes (especially E1M1, DOOM 1). Hell, I wouldn't mind playing that Q-bert remix.. its got both a bassline and a guitar portion. Speaking of basslines, a band I would love to hear something from in GH3 is Cake. Anything but "The Distance", really (due to overplay on the radio). Maybe "Never There"? No, "Satan is my Motor". Or "Sheep go to Heaven". It would probably be an upper tier song, on the easier side, but still fun to play.

heh.. I have to admit, I thought there'd be more video game oriented suggestions here

Hey all. Not sure if anyone here has been following the official Guitar Hero forums, but there's an entire forum dedicated to suggestions for GH3. I put in my support for Little Mac's Confession (i SOOOOO want to play this song in co-op Band Mode), but if anyone's got a speific song you think should be in there, go for it. (my post: http://forum.guitarherogame.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=13413 )

as a side note, I started a thread here: http://forum.guitarherogame.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=13413 you should lend your support how awesome would this song be played in Band Mode? drink some Cold Ones, play some MTPO, fire up Guitar Hero, belt this song out.. good times.

I hope people are emailing this song to Red Octane, Harmonix, or whoever they need to, for inclusion in Guitar Hero 3 srsly