As I have stated elsehwere, I have ghosted this site for quite some time, and have extensive music knowledge. As such, I get picky as to what remixes I like, and what I don't. There are perhaps 5 tracks from OCremix that I've come to find as astounding.
I know it to be especially difficult when attempting to remix more then one game's music together, and tastefully. Most that I've ever heard have wound up sounding like two updated console systems running at the same time and clashing...badly.
Honestly, I think this piece was one of the best I have ever heard, and is always at the very top of my playlist. I love the echoey piano contrasting with the brass at the parts where the piece seems to 'recover'.
By 'recover' I don't mean it's bad and has to compensate...I mean sonically. Where it comes off of a high crescendo and backs down to a bit more muted and softer tones. These, though, begin to build up again in their own right and ramp into some awesome interplay of vocals, piano, drums, and brass. I was especially appreciative of the cymbalwork at all the right places. To top it all off, the background organ simply fills the empty space to make this an all out, no holds barred, symphonic masterpiece.
Add to that that the piece's tone in and of itself seems to be a beautiful mix of a hard beat, uplifiting orchestral, and beautifully placed vocals, this is the one piece that deserves a standing ovation.
Incredible work, Jared. Very impressed.
Keep it up.