Crulex

Yay, it's back! OA, that's a really pretty typography you have there. Let's see how many awesome ReMixes I've been missing out on since my ReViewing sabbatical. This will be a fun month for music!

1. My lack of ReViews lately can be attributed to my new job, which had for the past two months drained my time and energy. Adding to that, I've been kinda burning myself out on video game mixes and needed a little break so that I could come back to it and give decent reviews again. But I'm just about to the point where I think I can slowly get back into it, so I may start again soon. 2. I've personally always enjoyed the little "December is Reviews month" scenarios we had, like fighting Larry with reviews FF style. I know it has several pros and cons and it doesn't really apply beyond that one month and all, but those were always fun ways to get people to actually listen to ReMixes and reviewing. Even without prizes, a cool story or idea could be incentive enough to sway people sitting on the reviewing fence.

Nothing like a good piece of musical wall chicken to get you going. Funky, fresh, and full of good beats, this is a great mix of Vampire Killer. Fantastic disco bits, and that violin section was ace. Hell of a ReMix, and for something that has had many ReMixes, it's great to still hear new and well-done performances like this coming through the woodwork.

Man, now this one is a lot of fun! So much groove, and that organ! Digging the Kirby voice clip and the background vocal interjections in the second half. Lots of energy, I love it! Great Mix, man.

Nice and smooth, just like a good jazzy piano piece should be. Great take on Brinstar's Red Soil area, really liked this one. The 3:20-3:54 sections was pretty damn good too. Very nice.

I love that line at that beginning of the track, as it has a lot of starting energy, but it seems to linger just a bit too long until things finally kick off and release at about 1:10. Very 90's computer sci-fi sounding to me, which takes me back to some of my earliest game memories on a computer, so while not the same system or even game, it was cool to hear something in that vein again. The section that followed into it's second and third minute was definitely awesome and had a nice balance to the beginning and the ending of the ReMix. Only thing I didn't care for was the siren transition, but that's mostly on me and I would have loved it more if tweaked in speed or tone just a little differently. So yeah, great balance, nice arrangement and solid enough production. Super debut, dude, a great mix indeed!

Now this is cool, low-fi and brooding with some beats that give this some jump. Really like that guitar use with the bits, it's a good combo. Nice work, guys.

It's a joke song, so expecting a musical masterpiece and taking this too seriously is unnecessary. It's good for a laugh, and to be honest, I quite enjoyed the section between the middle and the end of the laughs and other Mario jumping sound effect vocals. Not my cup of tea, even for a comedy mix, but I got a laugh out of it, so it's worth the listen.

Now this is the kind of ReMix that I would be happy to hear on a Zelda cartoon show of LttP. The choir wasn't overused and sounded great. I loved the transition from the Dark World to Death Mountain and then into the Dungeon. Even the ending with Hyrule Castle worked so well. So smooth and seamless. This is fantastic work, damn good orchestral take of these themes.

Shovel Knight became my favorite game of the last five years easily last year when it came out and I've haven't been able to get enough yet. Can't wait for Plague of Shadows to come out soon. As for this ReMix, fantastic and emotionally beautiful is all I can think of. Shield Knight's theme was always a heartfelt jerker when put into context of the story, and this brings out the best parts of that emotion. The solemn piano, the powerful strings, and the calls to the main theme make this a terrific mix. Everyone talking about making an album out of this track or wanting to hear even more ReMixers tackle this soundtrack, count me in that camp.

Musically, I have to say that I enjoyed the glitchy high-speed EDM beat of this mix that works extremely well with the vox vocals, and as far as the rapping, that was pretty nicely done as well, fitting the instrumentation to a "T". Somehow being able to slip in the word "bestiality" into a mix and make it not horrible and fit with the game's hero is good for some credit. Nothing to gripe about from me, solid mix.

Old swinging style Jazz take on the Windmill Hut? I'm in! This captures the style almost perfectly and it's cool to see how well Windmill Hut takes to this kind of upbeat jazzy treatment. Not bad, not bad at all.

Wow, Rebecca, this is gorgeous and truly impressive work! For being a medley of many different themes, you've got them hooked together cohesively and it never stumbles between sources. That's awesome. Picturing all the different forests as the mix goes on is wonderful and calming, and if the only nitpick is the chime use, then there's really nothing to nitpick on this one. Amazing OCR debut piece, Rebecca. This is a hot ReMix.

Sweet lord, Stevo, this is absolutely beautiful. 12-string works amazingly for these themes and I love the sound of it. I can understand the hesitation to ReMix music from FFT, but you've certainly nailed it. Lots of emotion that really stirs you up inside. Cool ReMix for sure.

I simply adore the koto being used here, perfect for a ReMix of Yukiko's theme. Sweet scattering beats as well, very nice.

Good beat, tight arrangement, and the sound is crisp and clean. This is a solid ReMix that has enough energy to get plenty of toe-tapping reactions at the very least.

Say want you will about Decapre herself, her theme was pretty good, but man, what Nutritious has done with it makes it hyped beyond comprehension. That guitar riff with the blisteringly hot synth work, this is the kind of ReMix that shows that sometimes all something is missing is a little bit of an aggressive or dark edge, and there is plenty of it here. This is my top Nutritious mix as of now. Damn good mix, man.

Very funky and danceable......or at least enough to get some good tapping vibes going on. Had to listen to this several times because I would just let the music go without thinking about it too much, and before I knew it, it was over. When a ReMix leaves you wanting more so that you replay, typically it's a good thing. Great ReMix, fella. Glad to hear Skull Man get this kind of work done to his theme.

Now then, this is a treat. Sixto not only rocking as only he can, but throwing in some new tricks and styles as well. I love the chip bit crunches at about 2:30 on and having the guitar trying to break through was intense. I love how this keeps growing and growing even though the foreground is already filled and it never sounds too busy. That's some great creative planning. So many masterful solo sections and terrific guitar playing. No wonder on why Sixto has always been one of my favorite ReMixers. Congrats to everyone on this fantastic album and all the incredible tracks on it.

I can seriously picture a side alley of some Eastern European country with all sorts of bizarre stands and people. This is truly peculiar in the best way possible and I love how unique it is. The last minute with the live vocalizing was magical and I had a good laugh for how weirdly joyous this was. Always have a special place in my heart for mixes that explore and create a musical adventure like this one. Awesome ReMix.

Hey, this is an interesting sound. I kid, I kid. This is an impressive piece of music and I whole-heartily agree that this has all the makings of what it would have sounded like if 80's ballads had a an even better grasp of chip sounds and sound manipulation than they already did. Just wonderful. I really think this may be another one of my favorites from BONKERS. That ending as well, fine work man!

The source was definitely there in one way or another later on, and with plenty of interpretation to boot, this is a fine liberal ReMix. The key thing is how clean it sounds. Excellent production, smart writing choices and keeping things brutally metal while changing the tempo or the emphasis on where the drums and guitar hit make this an enjoyable mix. Well done, looking forward to hearing more.

Man, I could chill out to this one for a long, long time. Such an awesome tune that has the airy and gentle, yet pulsing, energy that gives music some life. Nice mix, Zircon.