MedHead

One of the few lyrical songs on this site that I actually enjoy! I find myself singing this song at work, in the car, at home - well, pretty much everywhere (though not in that wow-crazy-fan-singing-all-the-time style). I like the way this sounds: there may have been some criticisms on its quality, but I've always felt it sounded similar to how a garage band playing in the - yes, you guessed it - summertime. It has a homegrown simplicity while trying to sound professional sound to it that gives it personality in my eyes. Perhaps that wasn't the intention, but that's what I got out of it. Granted, there are parts about which I wasn't wild, such as the breakdown or whatever it's called around the 2:10-2:15 mark: the motion/inertia/speed of the music fell apart, and felt a little jarring to my ears. Fortunately, it starts back up for the finale, and I soon forget it happened. Overall, one of my favorite vocal tracks from the site!

I don't remember any of the Raptor music myself, but I did like the game. Therefore, I can only comment on the music as it stands alone, outside of its connection to any game. I like the song (note the stress on "like" - it doesn't go beyond that). It has a "rainy day" feel to it, and I really like that style. It's a great ambient groove song. Now, it's not the best ambient groove piece I've ever heard, so I can't say it's my favorite. I'm not sure why, really: it just doesn't rank at the top for me. I do know for certain that I don't like the way it fades out, and the two-minute marks falls apart to my ears. Other than that, I can't really point out a flaw that I can say is the absolute reason I don't put this song in the top ranks. I want to blame it on the samples used, but I can't even be certain of that. Sorry. However, I do enjoy it despite its flaws, and will be adding it to my playlist.

I wouldn't have visited this thread if not for the amount of views. I enjoyed reading through many of the pages in this thread, so I do thank everyone who bumped this up enough to make it visible to me. However, unlike the last ten pages or so, I'm going to side with those who find this song lacking, and give it a negative review. There are very few songs here on this site containing vocals that I end up liking. I think the total count is around three. This was no exception. Of all the vocals, I found the introduction "waahs" the most - I don't know how to say it without it having the possibility of being construed as rude; it's not my intention - bearable. Now, I didn't really like them either: there are only certain songs that I like "waahs" in them, and this wasn't one of them. The rest of the music was cringe-worthy for various reasons. The first reason was the lyric choice. While I have liked songs with lyrics that many would find goofy and/or silly, these lyrics just didn't sit well with me. To give a perspective, they made me feel similar to how I would imagine a non-science fiction fan would feel like going to a science fiction convention. Out of place, a little goofy, and embarrased to repeat to others. The second reason was the voice quality. Each of the voices could make a song alone and very likely do so well: together I thought they clashed. The comments posted previously mirror much of my own opinions (aside from the off-tune remarks; my ears must not be trained enough to hear it). I won't get into much with this, as evidence shows it can cause offense. I think it suffices to say I thought they weren't pleasing to my ear. Next on my laundry list of dislikes (hey, it was requested earlier that we list them) was the song quality itself. My first listen though this was the instrumental, since it was posted at the top of the page I originally visited. I thought the song was overall good (and better than the lyrical version): but, as another said, it seemed more like a karaoke track, rather than an instrumental. Despite this, I didn't really like the instruments used. I often like electronic-sounding music, and thought the arrangement was rather catchy. The samples perhaps were to blame, because I was left feeling unsatisfied. It was so close to being a keeper, but it just was too unsettling for my tastes. I didn't finish the instrumental version, instead choosing to go straight to the lyrical in hopes that the voices would flesh out the missing parts of the instrumental. Unfortunately, I didn't feel sated. The male/female due didn't sit well, the rap/poem made me groan, and the guitar solo felt jarring and out of place. Overall, and I'm sorry that it had to be this way, I found this song dissappointing. So, to give it a numerical rating (which I do so enjoy doing), I give it a 35%.

This was great! The introduction intrigued me, but I wasn't certain if the rest of the song would work well. Fortunately, things quickly changed, and I ended up bobbing my head with the beat. A definite entry in my playlist.

I like it. The title describes the song well: it's very "slick". It has an old-school computer/video game vibe to it, without sacrificing sound quality. I wouldn't say there is much original about it, nor did it seem to be long enough; but what was presented was entertaining. There's something about it that keeps it from being in my top ten list (and I don't really know what it is), but I still think it's a good remix.

I turned the music on, expecting to carefully listen to every second of it to give it a proper review. Half a minute after it ended, I suddenly realized I hadn't paid any attention to it; the ambient nature of the music had me surfing the web even while it was still playing, rather than giving it my full attention. I suppose, in a way, that because of my lack of attention, the music was made properly, and executed exactly the right response. When the song first came on, I figured I wouldn't be giving it much of a review, since it seemed like it was going to be boring elevator music. And, in a sense, that's all it is; however, unlike many examples of elevator music, this doesn't get into such sappiness like others, that eventually get not only mind-numbing, but nauseating as well. This song keeps the formula of "chill" music and keeps it entertaining. The addition of the single violin separates it from the rest of the ambient crowd; but I'm not entirely certain if it really fits the genre. It was played very well (and as someone said, on tune), but there's something about the violin that doesn't really say laid-back to me. Overall, a good remix, and a recommended download.

The song was great! Your aim to make "driving music" worked: I got that feeling immediately. I liked just about everything in the song! I thought near the ending things started getting a little muddy with all the instruments (I prefered the more sparse first minute). Otherwise, a great song!

I think the length was just right. It kept things entertaining without rehashing the theme constantly. The ending of the song was pretty well done, but I think I would have liked a little more length to that portion: it cuts off a bit too fast for my liking. My favorite portion of the song was the first half: it had a great beat, good synth sounds, and was very catchy. The second half slowed down a bit, and while it too was good, I still think the first half was far better. Overall, I liked this remix!

I never said it wasn't. My point is, if one wishes to present the site as professional, then keep it that way. Mixing in unnecessary personal comments can cause problems. Believe me, I know.

I don't think any of us disagree: I'm sure we've all noticed the comments placed in most of the reviews. However, most of them are just basic "I'm really tired as I write this, because I did [x]", rather than a very pointed remark about something or someone related to the remix. Here, and for example, in the Pillar of Salt review (here: http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR01225/), pointed remarks are made and are obviously not mere teasing. Being unprofessional and dare I say unkind aren't something that should be in reviews, and should be taken seriously. Fine: but a thread in a forum and a permanent page for the remix are two different things. A year down the line people are going to visit the page and see animosity for a long-since-complete remix project. Why does that need to be included in the review? Stick it in a blog or journal, not on a music review site. I disagree. Airing dirty laundry on a site that is otherwise non-bloggish isn't professional. He can set his record straight, sure: but I don't think this site is the appropriate place. Stick it on the bottom of the review, with a warning, perhaps: but not in the middle, when a valid artist is trying to get his remix out to the public. Now to the actual reason this thread exists: the review of the remix. I like "spacious" sounding music, and this song definitely has an atmosphere about it. Up until the surprising breakdown at the final moments of the song, I didn't think this song brought all that much in terms of new material or style to the genre. However, the slowing of the beat and almost winter-like feeling at the end of the song really impressed me. I've always liked the cozy feeling of a cold day in a warm house, and having that feeling evoked in, of all things, a trance song, is a great event indeed. The rest of the song entertains, but isn't what I would call "revolutionary". Perhaps that wasn't the intention, and for a dance remix, it works fine. I like it, but my favorite has to be the finale. It transcends the oft-used simple fadeout by adding the quiet jingle bell moment. Now, for all I know the actual source tune is like this, but it doesn't really matter to me. It works.

I really liked this remix. The pacing, instruments, and arrangement gave a very uneasy, chaotic feeling to the song. The song evoked the feeling of a lone person fighting a huge battle in a foreign, alien world. And obviously, as we all know the source, such a feeling matches the game well. I could definitely see this being played in the background of System Shock 2. It has a very lonely, frightened, yet brave tone about it. I was a little worried about the ending, as I heard it start to fade out. Fading out works very infrequently with me, and I don't think this song was one of those that benefited from the use. Fortunately, the fadeout only was for some instruments, as more took over the lead. However, I think perhaps simply letting the instruments stop one by one would have been preferable than to simply cut them all down at the same time as it was done here. Regardless, this was a great remix, and definitely going on my playlist. Superb work!

A very simplistic, minimalistic song that still manages to have a certain charm to it. Some of the sample choices left me wondering what the remixer was thinking, since they didn't seem to fit with the genre nor the song. Obviously, to give a good review I must listen through the entire song. In this one, I was tempted not to listen all the way through. I found myself tapping my foot along with the beat, but the song wasn't enjoyable enough to continue listening to it. It wasn't until the banjo came in that I really became interested in this remix. The banjo portion had depth, atmosphere, energy, and a good variation in the sonic gamut, if you will. The song succeeds in being a very ambient, laid back groove, but it fails to reach that subtle area where the beat is strong enough to remain interesting without becoming something more than what it is supposed to be. If the entire song could be played as it was during the banjo portion, I would find it much more interesting.

Some of the samples used for the main melody, as well as most of the drums used in the song just didn't fit well with me. There are many good parts to the music, and the production quality is great. The song had depth to it: I liked the atmosphere. But as a whole, the few samples as well as the somewhat sparse melody throughout the run of the song made me give this a lower rating.

I am in no way familiar with the source music. However, taking the music as it is and judging it on quality alone, I think it was done superbly and recorded well. A great piece of piano work. However, I think a little more treble by default and some more reverb would have helped this piece a bit.

I knew there was something off about this song, but I didn't know what it was. It didn't really ever bother me; in fact, that "offness" is what makes me like this track. Knowing that it's offtune doesn't change my opinion about the song.