The best classic game music and more
Any track info been released about this yet? I know some of the arrangers have been revealed, but I want to know if the CD chronicles the whole series. The cover art, which resembles Gradius Collection for PSP would suggest it does, so maybe we'll finally get an arranged track or two from Gaiden.
Scitron's website says:
©1985 1988 1989 KONAMI
This would suggest Gradius I, II, & III. Scitron hasn't been updating their site much lately, so no tracklist yet. We'll probably have to wait until the album has been released.
That kind of sucks, those soundtracks have been arranged enough. Gaiden and IV are the best, I don't know why they continue to be neglected.
Gaiden and IV are the best, I don't know why they continue to be neglected.
Probably because it'd be very unexpected for a lot of people to agree with ya there.
I personally go III, Gaiden, II, I, IV, V myself. III just has the most timeless melodies...No such thing as too many arrangements of "Try to Star" or "Sandstorm". Gaiden works really well as a standalone listen, moreso than the other entries.
Who wants to bet money we'll see "Challenger 1985" show up? I mean, that track IS Gradius music...
I'm personally most excited about Shinichi Sakamoto's involvement. The Wonder Boy guy doing Gradius arrangements should lead into some top-notch stuff.
Nemo wrote:Gaiden and IV are the best, I don't know why they continue to be neglected.
Probably because it'd be very unexpected for a lot of people to agree with ya there.
I thought most people regarded Gaiden very highly? I do know IV doesn't get much love, due to its jazzy nature being a departure from the other games in the series, but it really is quite brilliant. And the two arrange tracks found on the OST are so good it leaves you wanting more.
I agree, IV deserves more credit (the soundtrack at least.) And Gaiden better be getting respect, otherwise the soundtrack shouldn't be SO expensive.
The tracks are revealed:
1. MORNING MUSIC -LARGO MIX-
2. GRADIUS MEDLEY -MS-20 MIX-
3. CHALLENGER 1985
4. FINAL ATTACK
5. BURNING HEAT
6. LPDRV/SYNTHETIC LIFE(LPDRV FLASHBACK REMIX)
7. GRADIUS II FINAL STAGE MEDLEY
8. AQUA ILLUSION
9. GRADIUS III MEDLEY
Ugh, only 9, kind of wished I waited for impressions now before I ordered. Hopefully it's not a bunch of dance music or might cry.
Ugh, only 9, kind of wished I waited for impressions now before I ordered. Hopefully it's not a bunch of dance music or might cry.
I highly doubt that "dj wat" is going to be progressive fusion. Four on the floor!
That's why I'm nervous, plus any Japanese song with "mix" and "remix" in the title. Hopefully the other guys can bring something fresh to the table, there's no way it can compare to what Jun Irie did with Perfect Vol. 2, but we'll see how it goes.
Not looking forward to a lot of techno myself. Actually to be fair, Sota Fujimora did a great Gradius Medley on the Gradius Arcade Soundtrack, so it'll be interesting to see if any of the "remixes" here can match it. I don't have my hopes too high though. Just a couple tracks to match the arrangements from the original Gradius 3 OST and Gradius Perfect Selection 1 for me please...
And yeah...9 tracks!? From 3 games!? Those medleys better cover a lot...
Alrighty.. just finished listening to this CD. Two thumbs up for me. Yeah there are a few techno tracks in here, but they're actually good and one of them sounds like it could have been ripped straight out of Rez. Motoaki has two tracks and they're both his usual Kukeiha/fusion style (with yet another arrange of Burning Heat!). Aihara's tracks are sweet too, his take on Morning Music is a nice symphonic treat. And what I thought was funny as all hell was how familiar Kimitaka Matsumae's name looked to me so I looked it up. Sure enough, he's the guy who did the music for the SNES game Vegas Stakes.. that game where you go to Vegas, gamble, and people con you out of money. His track rules by the way, it's my current favorite. 
Overall.. pretty decent CD. Lately I need to listen to something three or four times through to be able to get a real feel for it, but my initial impression is definitely positive. But yeah, for those of you worried that this is just another standard techno remix CD from Japan, fear not!
-Mike
Disappointed. Not surprised in the least. I can also name about five Gradius arranged albums or ones with Gradius arranges that are far better than what's been presented here.
First off, I'd also like to express my disdain for what my recent idol Motoaki Furukawa has become? This is best he can do? And by god, "Burning Heat" was released on his flop solo album and this sounds like he took it back to the studio and rearranged it. And you know what? It's still kind of flat. "Final Attack" really isn't so bad, but Furukawa really needs to rise above this mediocre aurally indifferent arrangement slump he seems to have stuck himself in every since leaving Kukeiha Club. I know he has talent, or he used to. My advice? Follow closer to your idol Larry Carlton...
Everything else on this album is forgettable. Especially after hearing Nazo Nazo Project's (15+ year old) Perfect Selection volumes many times; there was at least a diversity of instruments, and a funky, fun arrangement style. Here, there is loops and more loops. "Synthetic Life" is a wonderful tune, especially on MIDI Power Vol. 7, but whomever arranged this version successfully made the album's longest, drag-on piece ever.
Want those five albums? Perfect Selection 1&2, (the ones on) Perfect Selection Battle 1&2, and the Gradius Arcade Soundtrack.
And what the crap? Challenger 1985 was one of the only saviors here, hindered by the under 1 and half minute marker! It's like Sakamoto was being called to dinner in the middle of production! Short and not so sweet!
Don't want to be so negative about it, but this album is just so indicative of what's happening to artists who try to make tribute albums to games we grew up with (and some grew up composing) and absolutely failing to capture anything like the contending-in-craptastic Famicom 20th Anniversary Arrange.
Disappointed. Not surprised in the least. I can also name about five Gradius arranged albums or ones with Gradius arranges that are far better than what's been presented here.
First off, I'd also like to express my disdain for what my recent idol Motoaki Furukawa has become? This is best he can do? And by god, "Burning Heat" was released on his flop solo album and this sounds like he took it back to the studio and rearranged it. And you know what? It's still kind of flat. "Final Attack" really isn't so bad, but Furukawa really needs to rise above this mediocre aurally indifferent arrangement slump he seems to have stuck himself in every since leaving Kukeiha Club. I know he has talent, or he used to. My advice? Follow closer to your idol Larry Carlton...
Everything else on this album is forgettable. Especially after hearing Nazo Nazo Project's (15+ year old) Perfect Selection volumes many times; there was at least a diversity of instruments, and a funky, fun arrangement style. Here, there is loops and more loops. "Synthetic Life" is a wonderful tune, especially on MIDI Power Vol. 7, but whomever arranged this version successfully made the album's longest, drag-on piece ever.
Want those five albums? Perfect Selection 1&2, (the ones on) Perfect Selection Battle 1&2, and the Gradius Arcade Soundtrack.
And what the crap? Challenger 1985 was one of the only saviors here, hindered by the under 1 and half minute marker! It's like Sakamoto was being called to dinner in the middle of production! Short and not so sweet!
Don't want to be so negative about it, but this album is just so indicative of what's happening to artists who try to make tribute albums to games we grew up with (and some grew up composing) and absolutely failing to capture anything like the contending-in-craptastic Famicom 20th Anniversary Arrange.
Just want to say I pretty much agree with everything here. I don't understand how RPG filler like Dark Chronicle can get a full 12-track "premium" arrange while a Gradius "tribute" gets stuck with 9 tracks, 3 of which are medleys (none of which approach Fujimora's Gradius 1 medley on Gradius Arcade Soundtrack), 2 are Furukawa on auto-pilot, one is a really awful techno track (no love for Synthetic Life and with good reason) and 1:21 of the series' most recognizable theme.
It's better than Perfect Selection 2, but moreso for the familiar tracks than for anything it does right. Not one of the year's better arranging efforts.
I agree to those disappointed points of view as well... 
And concerning the comparaison with "Dark Chronicle" arrange album, it's a Happynet release here, not TEAM Entertainement.
I'm not sure how much budget these guys got for such releases and also how much their dedicated staff members are "into VGM" (although on that point they released the Sega SST Band DVD, which is quite big VGM fan stuff).
it's a Happynet release here (...) how much their dedicated staff members are "into VGM" (although on that point they released the Sega SST Band DVD, which is quite big VGM fan stuff).
More specifically those are likely leftovers from the former Scitron release list.
Ah so maybe the poor video/audio quality of (many sections of) the SST Band DVD and the so-so arrangements on Gradius Tribute were making Scitron hesitant to actualy release those before...
I listened to this today. I agree with the general consensus that this is a disappointment. Most of the tracks are uninteresting, uninspired, or both. That said, the last two tracks are quite enjoyable.
I've been diligently working to fall in like with this album. It still hasn't happened. I like Furukawa, so why give us a song he already had on his album when there's only 9 tracks to begin with. Grrr.