Anyone else give Bad Dudes' latest CD project, Chronotorious, a listen?  It's a fine hour-plus of solid Chrono Trigger arrangements.  The high production values impress, with crisp instrumentation and clean mastering.  The OneUp Studios guys definitely continue to sharpen their jazz arranging prowess with this one.

http://baddudesmusic.com/order.html

Check out the "ALBUMS/EPS" section for samples.

Picked it up when it came out.  Pretty happy with it.

I love this album. Mitsuda should join up with these guys to make a Chrono Cross arranged CD. Since he seems to have so much trouble doing it by himself.

If he did that, I would not buy it. This one had a few good ones, and a lot of ok ones, and a few bad ones. I think Mitsuda could do better .

Seriously. With how long he's making us wait, it better be a good album. I love Mitsuda, but this waiting is killing me! XD

Overall I was really pleased with Chronotorious. The CD featured a good selection tracks and a variety of styles while still maintaining a sharp focus and coherence. Things that are sometimes overlooked on remix projects. OUS has always had high production standards and Chronotorious didn't disappoint in the least. Professional sound quality and mixes from start to finish. A highly worthwhile purchase that will get plenty of play time.

Definitely one of the best albums I never asked for, let alone expected! I was quite surprised to learn of this release, and when I first discovered it, I definitely didn't have to think about hitting "Buy Now." Most purchases, I like to meditate upon for 24 hours before I make a final decision to buy or not to buy.

...

The styles on the album are relatively diverse; it's not just all jazz, or R&B, or rock, or piano solo; there's a number of different genres represented across the tracks.

I'm still processing it, and acclamating myself with it, but for the most part, seems like something I'd listen to on rainy days, and nights. I might be able to read and concentrate to it, but I can definitely listen to it over dinner, or when I'm driving around town.

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I wish they'd included the lyrics for "Dethfrog" in the insert...I can just barely make out anything the vocalist is grunting! But it's still f.'ing metal!

The piano sections of "B.A.M.F," "Bottomed Out," and "Longing of the Wind," I REALLY like. Just wish I knew what "B.A.M.F" stood for...

I can definitely appreciate the artwork they put in the insert! I'm scanning those in as we speak, and proceeding to make 8" x 10"s out of them, to frame and put on my walls...

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I feel a little guilty, though, somehow; it's like OneUp Studios can't re-arrange anything good outside of Mitsuda's and Squaresoft's bodies of work, given their other albums.

I mean, I thought Time & Space was enough, but then a full-on piano arrange album of the Xenogears soundtrack, and now a full-on arrange of the Chrono Trigger soundtrack? Not that I'm trying to complain or anything, but I think they could stand to diversify...

I can't comment on the album itself, but...

... that is a great practice to have! Reminds me of Dr. Wayne Dyer's evaluation of putting the third verse of the Tao Te Ching into practice:

"Watch for an opportunity today to notice that you're planning on buying something. Choose to do the Tao and listen for guidance. Be grateful that you have the choice to make the purchase, then practice listening to yourself and not doing. Through your feelings the Tao will reveal the way for you in that moment. Trust it. You might be guided to buy the item and savor it with gratitude, donate it, procure one for you and one for someone else, give the money to a charity instead of getting the item, or refrain from obtaining it altogether."

That's something I live by, and it has helped both my mindfulness as well as my wallet!

Given the character in question being arranged, I thought it was an easy acronym to figure out.

All the same, I've always considered Ayla to be the Bad Ass Mother F***** in my party.

Tip, check back of the poster, it has comments for every track + lyrics.

AS the comments say: Blue And Mighty Fine

I'd like to amend my previous statement. I just checked out all of the samples on the Bad Dudes website and feel that this disc is pretty superfluous. The source material is better than good enough; no need to drudge up more CT arrangements.

I've actually been feeling the same, about CT and FF-arranged tunes (Unless they're hard rock/metal-oriented). I mean, quality and production is good, but the soul is lacking. Thankfully Chronotorius wasn't all out of soul.

But from the latest patch of fan arranged albums I got, Varia Suite beats the living shit out of Chronotorius. Which I recommend you guys to buy now. The Varia Suite I mean. At metroidmetal.com. Now.

Apparently he can't, because ten years later he has nothing to show us. Fail.

Wow. Why so defensive? It seems that me not liking Chronotorious (and the OneUps) as much as everyone else seems to be personally offensive to you. He released a sample last year and I really enjoyed it. It wasn't overly complex, but it was still a nice take on the original. Just because Mitsuda isn't a Sakuraba and doesn't put out millions of works each year doesn't mean he isn't working on it. I distinctly remember him saying in an interview that he won't be working on it during other projects because he did that with Kirite and it was an extremely grueling time for him. Kirite turned out great, despite this, so I'd rather he take his time.

EDIT 2: clarified via email.

EDIT:

Found the interview. It was one of ours from 2005.

Chris:  Is the Chrono Cross arranged album still set to be released and can you give any further details about it?

Mitsuda: Regarding the Arranged Version of the Chrono Cross soundtrack, it's still in progress right now. But as I learned through my work in KiRite, I know now that I shouldn't try to compose or arrange songs while working on other projects. I'm not going to try to rush myself to get this album completed, so the release date isn't set yet.

Yes! This. Varia Suite is one of the best fan-arranged VGM CDs I have heard. Total top shelf material.

Yeah, I read the Tao de Ching back in my college days; thing is, after meditating upon it, I usually end up buying it...

Figured it out on my own yesterday after I posted the comment...on the car ride home, I was like, "B.A.M.F... what does it stand for...? Bad? Ass? Mutha...?" and then I had myself a good laugh!

Did that as soon as I got home; most hilarious! Otherwise, the only thing I understood out of listen to the song itself, was "RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBIT" and "...hooded cloak!"

Wow, I seem to be the only person who actually found this album to be quite poor. The arrangements are unspiring and cheesy, I actually found myself feeling slightly embarassed when listening to them. Not as bad as the F-Zero arrange album which has got to be the worst in history, but pretty poor none the less. Hope I didn't upset anybody, it's just my opinion.

In other words, you don't really care for smooth jazz music.

If you want to categorise my music dislikes based on 2 albums, go ahead.
I am *sorry* that I didn't like it.

I also found the album to be very ho-hum and overall uninspired.  It's not terrible by any means, and there are a few tracks that are quite good and definitely a step above the rest, but still the album won't find its way into my rotation all that often.

Agreed.  It's not that I think the arrangers were terrible, it's just not my style. 

I didn't like CHRONOTORIOUS at first, but now I consider it their finest album since Time & Space (the second one). I listen to this whenever I need to unwind. I also like the art on the disc and liner notes. The poster was a nice touch, too. 

If they create a Chrono Cross album in this style, I'd be all over it like a hobo on a ham sandwich.

Bumping this thread because after today's listen I noticed that this album has really grown onto me and have to say that this is probably the best album what Mustin & co. has done. Which was a positive suprise, after the slight disappointment back in -09.

its a good one.
and there arent too many good ones.