Sunday, 8 April 2012
DFTBA Records and the rise of the internet.
This is a Song by Hank Green called "Strange Charm", it is a song about quantum physics, specifically about Quarks.
Hank Green is one half of YouTube's Vlogbrothers, originally a project between brothers Hank Green (founder and CEO of Eco-Science blog "Eco-Geek") and John Green (award winning Young Adult author) to keep in touch for a year without any text.
After the year was up they just kept on going, and amassing a huge number of fans along the way (At the time of writing they have 667,242 followers on YouTube) and in turn, starting other projects.
Hank Green began writing and performing songs every so often and eventually teamed up with fellow YouTuber Alan Lastufka to form an independent record label known as DFTBA Records to release an album of his songs.
Since then they have signed several music acts from YouTube such as Doctor Who tribute acts and solo acoustic acts and a pretty diverse set of artists.
Largely they've been an outlet for the Green Brother's other strands of merchandise connected to their YouTube channel and other projects but they are at their core a record label.
The way they work is kind of different however, they're less the traditional label and more a distribution label, they won't sign on acts unless they believe they can sell (usually proven by large numbers of YouTube subscribers clamoring for releases) and they only sign acts from YouTube. This is not to say that hard working bands won't get a chance, but if they lack a YouTube presence they don't have a look in. Which does however mean that the recording method and/or expenses are down to the artist themselves.
One of the Green brother's projects is the yearly charity drive Project for Awesome, which last year had a flagship charity song by DFTBA Records' Alex Day.
All the proceeds from this song went to the Project for Awesome, and believe it or not, this song reached number 4 in the Official UK Chart the week of Christmas.
This song was a legitimate contender for Christmas Number one.
I want that to sink in because that's amazing.
This is coming not too long after Hank Green's second album reached, number 22 on the Billboard chart for the 25 largest selling albums online.
So if you're thinking, well this is a fluke from just a charity event...
Alex Day's latest single Lady Godiva has reached number 15 as a new entry this week.
This is a real watershed moment, and I've not really seen much made of it.
A label with no backing from the big 4, is starting to make real waves, entirely through the internet.
This is the first real stirrings of what the internet is capable of and I find it endlessly fascinating and exciting in equal measure, and I can't wait to see what happens in the future.
If you're interested, DFTBA Records can be found at DFTBA.com
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Chris Brown and the Grammys
So there's been a whole amount of controversy about Chris Brown and the recent Grammy Awards so I figured I'd weigh in on it with my own thoughts about the whole ordeal.
First of all, about 3 years ago, Chris Brown and Rihanna were scheduled to perform live at the Grammy Awards, which as you may or may not know is kind of a big deal. However, this performance was pulled after Chris Brown beat his then girlfriend Rihanna until she was unrecognisable.
He immediately hired a crisis management team who released a statement saying he was so sad and sorry, for beating his girlfriend until she was unrecognisable.
He pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to 5 years Probation (just less than 3 of which has past at this point), six months of domestic violence counseling (which doesn't sound like what it should be) and a 5 year restraining order in regards to Rihanna.
He served his community service, and started recording and releasing and touring again, however had to cancel his tour of the UK when the Home Office denied him a Working Visa on the grounds of being charged with a felony.
So generally a lot of people feel that his punishment was far too lenient and I would be inclined to agree, several people allegedly spoke out against him around the time, and then later retracted their statements, and aside from the usual Pop Culture ridicule associated with this kind of publicly covered trial, things pretty much went back to normal for him. It wasn't long before he was back on our screens dancing like a small puppy on meth-amphetamines again.
So, after 3 years, the Grammys announced that his album F.A.M.E. (ugh) was nominated for Best R&B record and he would perform not once, but twice during the show. And that pissed a LOT of people off.
A vast number of critics spoke out against it, seeing it as a validation that domestic abuse isn't really a big deal, and in fact, is entirely forgivable. Unsurprisingly this doesn't sit well with people.
Now The Grammys when they announced Chris Brown, and had this to say about it.
During the event on Sunday, he received a Grammy for his album, and seemed reportedly humble during his speech.
Now, my original thoughts on this whole Chris Brown mess, are that it isn't right for him to be getting off, pretty much scott free with his crime. In fact I'm pretty sure from what I've read, that not getting to enter the UK is the harshest thing that happened to him.
I understand the way the industry thinks about things however, and the Grammy's announcing a big seller to play the event, even after everything that happens, doesn't surprise me in the least.
But it's the way they announced it. 'We were kind of the victim of what happened" is not something any sane reasonable person would say in regards to a violent assault on someone else.
But soon after the event Twitter was aflame with criticism and Chris Brown, decided to respond with grace and poise.
So this shows several things but let's just go with the obvious first.
Chris Brown is a fucking idiot.
The tweets were pulled off his feed, but obviously not before a fuck ton of people screen capped them.
Chris Brown doesn't seem to understand that most of what you say on the internet, and on Twitter, is going to be remembered, and if it's something that people are going to want to document, it will be documented. There's not way around that. If you slag off people on Twitter, that's never going to go away. At all.
Secondly, Chris Brown genuinely has no remorse for his actions, and feels like he is getting away scott free because he has the money, and doesn't give a shit. So fuck what anyone else thinks right?
Thirdly, apparently Chris Brown beat Rihanna to a pulp, because he's an impoverished youth who had to do it in order to survive.
and lastly, it's enough to just, SHOW, you've learned from your 'mistake' you don't actually have to learn anything.
So my thoughts on Chris Brown are pretty simple.
He is scum.
But I'm not going to blame the Grammy's for this one, because they racted in the predictable manner one would expect them to, my problem is with everyone else. The guys who came out on his side, the guys who didn't stand their ground when they criticised him and his label for not dropping his contract.
Apparently it's okay to have a convicted felon on our label because it won't affect your sales or reputation at all.
Jesus who am I talking about here, like the whole SOPA/PIPA/ACTA thing shed the industry in a positive light.
So yeah, that's my vague rambling thoughts on the matter.
Also, I'm back, and I'm sticking on Blogger.
First of all, about 3 years ago, Chris Brown and Rihanna were scheduled to perform live at the Grammy Awards, which as you may or may not know is kind of a big deal. However, this performance was pulled after Chris Brown beat his then girlfriend Rihanna until she was unrecognisable.
He immediately hired a crisis management team who released a statement saying he was so sad and sorry, for beating his girlfriend until she was unrecognisable.
He pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to 5 years Probation (just less than 3 of which has past at this point), six months of domestic violence counseling (which doesn't sound like what it should be) and a 5 year restraining order in regards to Rihanna.
He served his community service, and started recording and releasing and touring again, however had to cancel his tour of the UK when the Home Office denied him a Working Visa on the grounds of being charged with a felony.
So generally a lot of people feel that his punishment was far too lenient and I would be inclined to agree, several people allegedly spoke out against him around the time, and then later retracted their statements, and aside from the usual Pop Culture ridicule associated with this kind of publicly covered trial, things pretty much went back to normal for him. It wasn't long before he was back on our screens dancing like a small puppy on meth-amphetamines again.
So, after 3 years, the Grammys announced that his album F.A.M.E. (ugh) was nominated for Best R&B record and he would perform not once, but twice during the show. And that pissed a LOT of people off.
A vast number of critics spoke out against it, seeing it as a validation that domestic abuse isn't really a big deal, and in fact, is entirely forgivable. Unsurprisingly this doesn't sit well with people.
Now The Grammys when they announced Chris Brown, and had this to say about it.
“I think people deserve a second chance, you know. If you’ll note, he has not been on the Grammys for the past few years and it may have taken us a while to kind of get over the fact that we were the victim of what happened.”
During the event on Sunday, he received a Grammy for his album, and seemed reportedly humble during his speech.
Now, my original thoughts on this whole Chris Brown mess, are that it isn't right for him to be getting off, pretty much scott free with his crime. In fact I'm pretty sure from what I've read, that not getting to enter the UK is the harshest thing that happened to him.
I understand the way the industry thinks about things however, and the Grammy's announcing a big seller to play the event, even after everything that happens, doesn't surprise me in the least.
But it's the way they announced it. 'We were kind of the victim of what happened" is not something any sane reasonable person would say in regards to a violent assault on someone else.
But soon after the event Twitter was aflame with criticism and Chris Brown, decided to respond with grace and poise.
Strange how we pick and choose who to hate / Let me ask u this / Our society is full of rappers (which I listen to) who have sold drugs (poisoning). ... But yet we glorify them and imitate everything they do. / Then right before the worlds eyes a man shows how he can make a Big mistake and learn from it, but still has to deal with day to day hatred! / You guys love to hate!!! But guess what??? / Hate All U Want Becuz I Got A Grammy Now! That's the ultimate F*** OFF!.
So this shows several things but let's just go with the obvious first.
Chris Brown is a fucking idiot.
The tweets were pulled off his feed, but obviously not before a fuck ton of people screen capped them.
Chris Brown doesn't seem to understand that most of what you say on the internet, and on Twitter, is going to be remembered, and if it's something that people are going to want to document, it will be documented. There's not way around that. If you slag off people on Twitter, that's never going to go away. At all.
Secondly, Chris Brown genuinely has no remorse for his actions, and feels like he is getting away scott free because he has the money, and doesn't give a shit. So fuck what anyone else thinks right?
Thirdly, apparently Chris Brown beat Rihanna to a pulp, because he's an impoverished youth who had to do it in order to survive.
and lastly, it's enough to just, SHOW, you've learned from your 'mistake' you don't actually have to learn anything.
So my thoughts on Chris Brown are pretty simple.
He is scum.
But I'm not going to blame the Grammy's for this one, because they racted in the predictable manner one would expect them to, my problem is with everyone else. The guys who came out on his side, the guys who didn't stand their ground when they criticised him and his label for not dropping his contract.
Apparently it's okay to have a convicted felon on our label because it won't affect your sales or reputation at all.
Jesus who am I talking about here, like the whole SOPA/PIPA/ACTA thing shed the industry in a positive light.
So yeah, that's my vague rambling thoughts on the matter.
Also, I'm back, and I'm sticking on Blogger.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Coldplay: Thieves of the modern Age.
Okay so just a quick post, but here's the deal.
Coldplay are terrible, and they're thieves.
They have a new song and a new album out, and I've heard some claims that it rips off some song (I can't remember which and I've not done the research).
This isn't a new claim, in fact, when Coldplay brought out Viva La Vida, Joe Satriani took them to court claiming that the main melody of Viva La Vida was ripping off the guitar melody to his 2005 song, If I Could Fly.
Here's a side by side comparison from youtube.
Sounds pretty fucking Identical actually.
Here's the thing, the songs both sit with... more or less the same Chord structure.
Not only that but whilst Viva La Vida starts with a different chord to If I Could Fly, the structure ends the same, if we're going by the Intervals it goes VII to III to I
The main difference comes in the first chord, which on If I Could Fly starts at the fourth interval, on Vida La Viva starts on the sixth interval.
The problem being that the Chord on Viva La Vida is that it has pretty much identical harmonies to the first chord in If I Could Fly.
Like I said this was taken to court, and Satriani won, Coldplay had to pay out to him because it was too similar, and it couldn't be argued as a significant change, because of the harmonies on the first chords.
This is all interesting and everything, but some people could paint it as an accident.
A random circumstance that ended badly for Coldplay, that this doesn't make them thieves.
You know what... you're right. And to celebrate I leave you with one of my favourite songs, Kraftwerk's Computer Love.
FUCK YOU COLDPLAY
Coldplay are terrible, and they're thieves.
They have a new song and a new album out, and I've heard some claims that it rips off some song (I can't remember which and I've not done the research).
This isn't a new claim, in fact, when Coldplay brought out Viva La Vida, Joe Satriani took them to court claiming that the main melody of Viva La Vida was ripping off the guitar melody to his 2005 song, If I Could Fly.
Here's a side by side comparison from youtube.
Sounds pretty fucking Identical actually.
Here's the thing, the songs both sit with... more or less the same Chord structure.
Not only that but whilst Viva La Vida starts with a different chord to If I Could Fly, the structure ends the same, if we're going by the Intervals it goes VII to III to I
The main difference comes in the first chord, which on If I Could Fly starts at the fourth interval, on Vida La Viva starts on the sixth interval.
The problem being that the Chord on Viva La Vida is that it has pretty much identical harmonies to the first chord in If I Could Fly.
Like I said this was taken to court, and Satriani won, Coldplay had to pay out to him because it was too similar, and it couldn't be argued as a significant change, because of the harmonies on the first chords.
This is all interesting and everything, but some people could paint it as an accident.
A random circumstance that ended badly for Coldplay, that this doesn't make them thieves.
You know what... you're right. And to celebrate I leave you with one of my favourite songs, Kraftwerk's Computer Love.
FUCK YOU COLDPLAY
Thursday, 14 July 2011
I hate you Beyonce
Okay this has been a long time coming and I'm good and worked up about this so it's time to get it off my chest.
I fucking, loathe, Beyonce.
Now this is another one of those sordid will.i.am stories that goes back to me once liking the artist. But it's a different thing I have a problem with.
As anyone who's read one of my more recent posts can attest to, I'm not a fan of 'Gender-superiority' for want of a better phrase. Essentially when one gender tries to one up the other in any kind of competition or what have you. It's always going to be there, it's always going to piss me off and that's something I'm not going to resolve in a single blog posting.
But here's the thing. It pops up an awful lot in Pop songs. Particularly pop songs by women. Particularly those of Beyonce Knowles.
I was a fan of, and still really like Destiny's Child. Keep in mind I was far too young to be forming critical opinions of music at this point but I didn't hate their stuff, in fact I really enjoyed most of their output.
Even up until the last album, yeah, I guess you could call me a fan.
Now, there's the kind of 'Women are fucking awesome' stuff in Destiny's Child.
Songs like Independant Women, Survivor, and Bills Bills Bills.
I'm not going to complain about these songs, first of all, it was the 90s, these songs were ALL OVER THE PLACE! Also, Women are fucking awesome, and I'm not going to complain about them talking about how awesome they are, any more than I'd want them to complain about me talking about how awesome I am.
The thing is, this was their style, and their message, and sure, it worked And when Beyonce went solo, it was part of her sound as well. I liked her first album... second one was kind of boring... I decided she'd had her day, whatever, it was a good run.
One song of note is the single Irreplaceable
Still usual Beyonce fare, I mean, it's saying about how worthless the man is, but yeah, it comes across as a song about a Woman filling herself with confidence to get over being hurt. Yeah, that's totally understandable and respectable and whilst I don't particularly care for the song, I don't have a problem with it.
Then you have Single Ladies... I hate single ladies, but if I can get out of my annoyed box for a moment, the song seems to be saying 'I'm so awesome, but you'll only get me if you commit' ....okay... so I'm not going to complain, but I do think it's a bit... arrogant at least. Seriously, what makes you think we even want you?
...then this shows up.
This... this comes across to me, as a song about how horrible Men are. Not, I've been hurt in a relationship, a BROAD GENERALISATION of how ALL MEN act in relationships.
I'd like to think I've got a good relationship and I certainly don't play around or treat my girlfriend like dirt. So I honestly take offence at any kind of BROAD GENERALISATION about ALL MEN in this regard.
Problems don't occur between people because they're a man or a woman. THEY HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES! Again, this song comes across not only as offensive but also, as completely arrogant. You're a better person? You can go in with the best intentions but you're still going to fuck up, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO. The real mark of a relationship is if you're willing to work through it.
Anyway, a little bit off topic there... I apologise.
God damn it Beyonce. Yeah, I had got the idea that it was kind of a Gender-superiority thing, and then this song came out, and yeah, it's totally a Gender-superiority thing. So apparently Women run the world through emotional blackmail.
That is literally the message of Run the World.
that WOMEN RULE THE WORLD THROUGH EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL!
Wow, I don't think I'd want to live in that world. Yeah, again, I'm not trying to piss off feminists here, but... this is just EGO-STROKING. It's not a big bold statement about how powerful women are. POWERFUL WOMEN DON'T NEED TO USE EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL!
Like, is this a good message? Really? Really?
Think about it. Men are not better than Women, and Women are not better than Men, and seriously, regardless what side of any fence you might be about the matter, is the message that you can get what you want through manipulating the people who care for you, really something you want to be putting out there? SERIOUSLY?
Her new single as well, (which I'm not posing because unless it's a list I'm keeping it to a four song maximum.) Is about how brilliant she is, for not being in a relationship with someone. AN ACTUAL LYRIC FROM THE SONG IS 'BET IT SUCKS TO BE YOU RIGHT NOW'!
No Beyonce, it doesn't suck to be me. And I'm sure the hypothetical guy you're singing about has a sweet life as well. Because you're not Queen bitch of the universe, and you're not playing a character. You're being a cunt.
I fucking, loathe, Beyonce.
Now this is another one of those sordid will.i.am stories that goes back to me once liking the artist. But it's a different thing I have a problem with.
As anyone who's read one of my more recent posts can attest to, I'm not a fan of 'Gender-superiority' for want of a better phrase. Essentially when one gender tries to one up the other in any kind of competition or what have you. It's always going to be there, it's always going to piss me off and that's something I'm not going to resolve in a single blog posting.
But here's the thing. It pops up an awful lot in Pop songs. Particularly pop songs by women. Particularly those of Beyonce Knowles.
I was a fan of, and still really like Destiny's Child. Keep in mind I was far too young to be forming critical opinions of music at this point but I didn't hate their stuff, in fact I really enjoyed most of their output.
Even up until the last album, yeah, I guess you could call me a fan.
Now, there's the kind of 'Women are fucking awesome' stuff in Destiny's Child.
Songs like Independant Women, Survivor, and Bills Bills Bills.
I'm not going to complain about these songs, first of all, it was the 90s, these songs were ALL OVER THE PLACE! Also, Women are fucking awesome, and I'm not going to complain about them talking about how awesome they are, any more than I'd want them to complain about me talking about how awesome I am.
The thing is, this was their style, and their message, and sure, it worked And when Beyonce went solo, it was part of her sound as well. I liked her first album... second one was kind of boring... I decided she'd had her day, whatever, it was a good run.
One song of note is the single Irreplaceable
Still usual Beyonce fare, I mean, it's saying about how worthless the man is, but yeah, it comes across as a song about a Woman filling herself with confidence to get over being hurt. Yeah, that's totally understandable and respectable and whilst I don't particularly care for the song, I don't have a problem with it.
Then you have Single Ladies... I hate single ladies, but if I can get out of my annoyed box for a moment, the song seems to be saying 'I'm so awesome, but you'll only get me if you commit' ....okay... so I'm not going to complain, but I do think it's a bit... arrogant at least. Seriously, what makes you think we even want you?
...then this shows up.
This... this comes across to me, as a song about how horrible Men are. Not, I've been hurt in a relationship, a BROAD GENERALISATION of how ALL MEN act in relationships.
I'd like to think I've got a good relationship and I certainly don't play around or treat my girlfriend like dirt. So I honestly take offence at any kind of BROAD GENERALISATION about ALL MEN in this regard.
Problems don't occur between people because they're a man or a woman. THEY HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES! Again, this song comes across not only as offensive but also, as completely arrogant. You're a better person? You can go in with the best intentions but you're still going to fuck up, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO. The real mark of a relationship is if you're willing to work through it.
Anyway, a little bit off topic there... I apologise.
God damn it Beyonce. Yeah, I had got the idea that it was kind of a Gender-superiority thing, and then this song came out, and yeah, it's totally a Gender-superiority thing. So apparently Women run the world through emotional blackmail.
That is literally the message of Run the World.
that WOMEN RULE THE WORLD THROUGH EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL!
Wow, I don't think I'd want to live in that world. Yeah, again, I'm not trying to piss off feminists here, but... this is just EGO-STROKING. It's not a big bold statement about how powerful women are. POWERFUL WOMEN DON'T NEED TO USE EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL!
Like, is this a good message? Really? Really?
Think about it. Men are not better than Women, and Women are not better than Men, and seriously, regardless what side of any fence you might be about the matter, is the message that you can get what you want through manipulating the people who care for you, really something you want to be putting out there? SERIOUSLY?
Her new single as well, (which I'm not posing because unless it's a list I'm keeping it to a four song maximum.) Is about how brilliant she is, for not being in a relationship with someone. AN ACTUAL LYRIC FROM THE SONG IS 'BET IT SUCKS TO BE YOU RIGHT NOW'!
No Beyonce, it doesn't suck to be me. And I'm sure the hypothetical guy you're singing about has a sweet life as well. Because you're not Queen bitch of the universe, and you're not playing a character. You're being a cunt.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Britain's Got Talent
So some anonymous worker from Sony Music Group, has allegedly posted about the behind the scenes working of SYCO in regards to Britain's got Talent.
Now whilst none of this wouldn't really surprise me, some of it is kind of disgusting.
So, I'm going to put a link up here, ANYWAY, in the interests of morbid curiosity.
But I will add this following thought.
If this was real, this would be up on the BBC news, I mean, first of all The BBC get their funding from the TV License, and neither X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent, American Idol or America's Got Talent (all SYCO shows) are on BBC channels, so there's no worries about upsetting a business relationship.
-------
Well kiss my grits. I was thinking not of posting this because I figured it was largely unsubstantiated, but not only has SYCO been denying the allegations, Simon Cowell has called in the Police over this.
This means that there is some truth to the claims, how much it is you can't say, but it's a big amount of attention to give some random claim on the internet, and SYCO have pulled the original post.
I wish I had copied it now. I'll see if I can find it, but otherwise we've got nothing now.
We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Now whilst none of this wouldn't really surprise me, some of it is kind of disgusting.
So, I'm going to put a link up here, ANYWAY, in the interests of morbid curiosity.
But I will add this following thought.
If this was real, this would be up on the BBC news, I mean, first of all The BBC get their funding from the TV License, and neither X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent, American Idol or America's Got Talent (all SYCO shows) are on BBC channels, so there's no worries about upsetting a business relationship.
-------
Well kiss my grits. I was thinking not of posting this because I figured it was largely unsubstantiated, but not only has SYCO been denying the allegations, Simon Cowell has called in the Police over this.
This means that there is some truth to the claims, how much it is you can't say, but it's a big amount of attention to give some random claim on the internet, and SYCO have pulled the original post.
I wish I had copied it now. I'll see if I can find it, but otherwise we've got nothing now.
We'll have to wait and see what happens.
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
My top Game Soundtracks?
Okay so I'm shipping off for a while, but I wanted to post something that'd get people going. 'hey, this cat's alllllright' and whilst my original plan of putting Jazz in a blender with a kitten ended horribly with a mess all over the carpet and a £23,000 fine, I decided I'd just cop out and put up some of my favourite Video Game stuff instead.
I've already posted here about how I love my video games and my video game music, and so I decided that I'd indulge, just myself, and put up some of my personal top picks. I don't have these in an actual order, these are just what I'm digging at the moment.
Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill 2
There's always room for Akira Yamaoka in my heart. Just started playing this again, and it is a testament to this man's work how buck scared I get.
Here we have a game, so well crafted with atmosphere by Team Silent, that it's scarier when nothing is happening, than when something is happening... except that it really isn't, because as soon as his music kicks in, I start seriously panicking. The thing is, that I listen to this record all the time, and it's beautiful. It has these brilliant melodic pieces, wonderful ambient works, and insane noise moments, but put into the same context as the game, and all of a sudden this beautiful and wonderful music takes on a whole new sinister mode.
Also, the hidden reference to Nobuo Uematsu's work is awesome as well.
SEGA Sound Team - Sonic Colours
Yeah, I'm a giant Sonic fanboy, and yeah, I really enjoyed Colours, but one of the things that was most refreshing about it is that for once it wasn't all rock guitars and cool sounding shit. Yeah, I love me some Crush 40, but they wouldn't of fit the atmosphere, and it seems like Sega were getting more and more into the 'Sonic is cool' aspect than 'Sonic is a franchise that we can use to spearhead good games'. The music on this game is great, for the most part. There are some annoying aspects (I could do without most of the Wisp themes for a start) and the Opening song, whilst I don't hate it, can only really be listened to sparingly, however themes such as the Tropical Resort, Aquarium Park and Planet Wisp pieces can't really be complained about, and sound fantastic in or out of the game. I think though they'd be crazy not to bring back Mastato Nakamora for Sonic Generations though.
Phillipe Vachey - Little Big Adventure series
I love the French and I love their video games. They're just so damn French. Phil Vachey is no exception. His light, playful and mischievous themes work fantastically with Little Big Adventure, to create one of the most memorable scores in any game I've ever played. He did great work on Alone in the Dark as well, but this one stands out because both Song of Gabriel and The Rebels are two of my favourite pieces of music ever, and the original Little Big Adventure has the remarkable honour of being the first ever video game to feature real instrumentation on it's soundtrack... provided you were playing the CD version, with the CD in the drive.
...and had a soundcard...
Peter McConnel - Grim Fandango
Mariachi music and smooth Jazz. I'll say again...
MARIACHI MUSIC AND SMOOTH JAZZ!
Grim Fandango will forever be one of my favourite games ever (there's alot of that going around this post...) and it also has some of the best music ever in a game. We have Film Noir sounding beauty, awesome Latin rhythms, and just some flat out haunting melodies, sometimes all at once! It helped build this game to be one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had playing a computer game.
Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano - Final Fantasy X
This is possibly the best overall sound track in the whole series. Nothing reaches the grandiose nature of Dancing Mad or One Winged Angel, but it helps build the sense of this world that has such a wonderful and very eastern culture built around it. It feels fantastical, like you're walking through a world of Woodblock Prints, and imagining what the stories would be lived like. It's also kind of sad that Nobuo Uematsu has stopped scoring Final Fantasy games after this, because the last few stand alone solo titles have had worse and worse music (the most recent in particular) but I think we can forgive him after 20 fucking years of amazing output.
Right, I'll be back with some more uplifting talk.
I've already posted here about how I love my video games and my video game music, and so I decided that I'd indulge, just myself, and put up some of my personal top picks. I don't have these in an actual order, these are just what I'm digging at the moment.
Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill 2
There's always room for Akira Yamaoka in my heart. Just started playing this again, and it is a testament to this man's work how buck scared I get.
Here we have a game, so well crafted with atmosphere by Team Silent, that it's scarier when nothing is happening, than when something is happening... except that it really isn't, because as soon as his music kicks in, I start seriously panicking. The thing is, that I listen to this record all the time, and it's beautiful. It has these brilliant melodic pieces, wonderful ambient works, and insane noise moments, but put into the same context as the game, and all of a sudden this beautiful and wonderful music takes on a whole new sinister mode.
Also, the hidden reference to Nobuo Uematsu's work is awesome as well.
SEGA Sound Team - Sonic Colours
Yeah, I'm a giant Sonic fanboy, and yeah, I really enjoyed Colours, but one of the things that was most refreshing about it is that for once it wasn't all rock guitars and cool sounding shit. Yeah, I love me some Crush 40, but they wouldn't of fit the atmosphere, and it seems like Sega were getting more and more into the 'Sonic is cool' aspect than 'Sonic is a franchise that we can use to spearhead good games'. The music on this game is great, for the most part. There are some annoying aspects (I could do without most of the Wisp themes for a start) and the Opening song, whilst I don't hate it, can only really be listened to sparingly, however themes such as the Tropical Resort, Aquarium Park and Planet Wisp pieces can't really be complained about, and sound fantastic in or out of the game. I think though they'd be crazy not to bring back Mastato Nakamora for Sonic Generations though.
Phillipe Vachey - Little Big Adventure series
I love the French and I love their video games. They're just so damn French. Phil Vachey is no exception. His light, playful and mischievous themes work fantastically with Little Big Adventure, to create one of the most memorable scores in any game I've ever played. He did great work on Alone in the Dark as well, but this one stands out because both Song of Gabriel and The Rebels are two of my favourite pieces of music ever, and the original Little Big Adventure has the remarkable honour of being the first ever video game to feature real instrumentation on it's soundtrack... provided you were playing the CD version, with the CD in the drive.
...and had a soundcard...
Peter McConnel - Grim Fandango
Mariachi music and smooth Jazz. I'll say again...
MARIACHI MUSIC AND SMOOTH JAZZ!
Grim Fandango will forever be one of my favourite games ever (there's alot of that going around this post...) and it also has some of the best music ever in a game. We have Film Noir sounding beauty, awesome Latin rhythms, and just some flat out haunting melodies, sometimes all at once! It helped build this game to be one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had playing a computer game.
Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano - Final Fantasy X
This is possibly the best overall sound track in the whole series. Nothing reaches the grandiose nature of Dancing Mad or One Winged Angel, but it helps build the sense of this world that has such a wonderful and very eastern culture built around it. It feels fantastical, like you're walking through a world of Woodblock Prints, and imagining what the stories would be lived like. It's also kind of sad that Nobuo Uematsu has stopped scoring Final Fantasy games after this, because the last few stand alone solo titles have had worse and worse music (the most recent in particular) but I think we can forgive him after 20 fucking years of amazing output.
Right, I'll be back with some more uplifting talk.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
R.I.P. Norio Ohga
Former President and CEO of Sony, Norio Ohga was the strongest proponent, and greatest contributor in the development of the CD, a format that has been hugely successful over the last 30 years, and setting the standard template for DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as being one of the key players in pushing the Playstation from abandoned side-project with Nintendo, to the console that pushed the medium from niche into the multi-million industry it is today.
He was also chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and a classically trained musician, hired by Sony because of his musical, and sound engineering knowledge.
1930 - 2011
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