While I personally agree with you, you can't say something is better than something else. That's personal taste. There are plenty of people here who think the Saturn 3D Blast and US Sonic CD soundtracks are better than their counterparts.
This is an important discussion to me, as I'm working on this Sonic remix project with my band - what exactly do you guys feel 'defined' Sonic music in the mid-90's? I can't agree more with your sentiment that Jacques' and Senoue's production for both the MD and Saturn versions of 3D blast were basically the bomb-diggity-om-shit. But why?! I must know! What are these chord variations and cadences that make good Sonic music sound like 'good Sonic music'? ... These are the things that keep me up at night. My life's not so bad. edit: shit, eh? those 'Yellow Magic Orchestra' guys hit it.
I honestly think I've captured the Essenes of Genesis/ Mega Drive era "Sonic" sound in most of my tracks. There's just a certain pattern that has now been broken for ages.
This is vague, but I really love the layers of sound in each track. Like in Starlight Zone you have those interesting high star sounding notes as well as the horns. Furthermore in Ice Cap you have things like the synth solo as well, that when finished lets you appreciate the togetherness of all the elements even more. Most importantly though, I love a solid bass groove, which classic Sonic always did right. I hope that makes sense. It is hard for me to describe things on musical terms.
Quick thoughts. I've been listening to Yellow Magic Orchestra (per the mention of them in the thread) and I can't help but notice just how much of these guys' sound is injected into almost all of the Sonic games' soundtracks. Their ethereal and almost 'epic' sounding electronica can be heard in most of the Sonic CD soundtrack, Sonic Adventure, and most notably in Sonic 06 (White Acropolis, Aquatic Base ~Level 1~, Kingdom Valley to an extent, etc.). It's quite interesting seeing how this group helped shaped the sound of not only Sonic, but many franchises to come.
I've been on and off on writing it since college has been taking up most of my time. I'm focusing more on individual tracks since the Adventure era tends to be more musically complex.
Which albums of YMO are you thinking about when you say that? I too prefer Jacques' 3D Blast to the MD soundtrack.
I'm interested at the lack of inclusion of any of the Game Gear titles in this initial analysis. While I've only been considering Genesis/CD/32x/Saturn Sonic titles for this remix album, I'm thinking there may be a need to dip into some of the GG/SMS music. Bridge Zone (S1)...Green Hills Zone (S2)...there's some good shit there.
Ahahahaha, I guess I'm in the minority when I say that I 100% digged Cash Cash's contributions to Generations (they're only listed as contributors for the title track in Colors). In fact, I actually was into their original stuff (Overtime, Hideaway) before I even found out - by accident - that they did official remixes for Generations. It took me looking up their Wikipedia article for me to believe that was the same Cash Cash (despite the stylistic similarities) because I was amazed that two things I really really like (Sonic music! EDM!) managed to actually officially cross over in that fashion. No one had ever mentioned it on any of the EDM news sites I go on, and I suspect most people who listen to them without also being into Sonic don't know about it either. I'm kinda hoping they come to the Twin Cities sometime solely so I can bring a huge sign that says "PLAY YOUR SONIC REMIXES" on it. Anyway, I think what makes the Sonic 1 and 2 soundtracks distinct is how easily their parts can be given to actual instruments - for instance, that melodic leading synth in Star Light Zone is obviously meant to be a trumpet part, and so is the leading synth line for Chemical Plant Zone. That strikes me as music (which is, in its nature, electronic) that is written by someone who has actual music instrumentation experience.* I also find that the level themes for Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 have heavy jazz elements - Mystic Cave Zone is a HUGE example of this - and IMO that makes Sonic Adventure 1 more in line with the works from these games as opposed to Sonic 3 or the spinoff titles. Sonic 3 definitely feels like it was written by other people in that respect, in that the parts that make up the tracks are a bit harder to map to actual instrument parts, and I think the PC version of Sonic 3 & Knuckles makes this obvious. There are a few level themes that DO lend themselves well to being remastered (Sandopolis Acts 1 & 2, the intro for Angel Island Act 1), but the PC soundtrack of S3&K is pretty much only "remastered" in that the percussion is a lot better. Most of the melodic parts are just matched to prettier electronic synths. Even looking at fan remixes, Ice Cap has a BAZILLION electronic remixes on OCRemix, because it just lends itself better to being a straight electronic track than a jazz or big band ensemble like most of the tracks for Sonic 1 & 2 do. This is also why I feel that the JP soundtrack of Sonic CD fits better within the series (and also within the aesthetic of the game too, but that's for another post), because it's overtly electronic like Sonic 3 with some of the eye for arrangement that Sonics 1 & 2 have, as well as having more obvious influences within 90s electronic as opposed to 80s electronic (which I feel that Sonic 3 is closer to, which makes sense given MJ's development). Stardust Speedway JP BLEEDS 90s house music. I can't really say a lot about 3D Blast in terms of personal analysis, as the only track that even stuck with me from childhood was the intro/Panic Puppet Zone theme...I was pleasantly surprised after erm..."acquiring" the themes from the game how much of it is actually quite good, especially the theme for the volcanic level. I dig Jacques' contributions to Generations (making the vocals in Supporting Me comprehensible is an instant win in my book) more than his work in 3D Blast Saturn, but his stuff in that game does benefit from higher-fidelity arrangement. I don't feel that his stuff necessarily fits (like Sonic CD US), but I do like to listen to it on its own. Sonic Adventure vs Sonic Adventure 2...I'm a little confused by people saying that SA2's soundtrack is ALL rock. SA2's soundtrack has a lot of rock in my opinion solely because there are more Sonic levels this time around. Shadow's levels are far more electrorock than anything else, Rouge's stuff isn't rock at all, Robotnik's themes are electrorock with more rock emphasis than Shadow's, Tails' stuff is...I dunno, upbeat...stuff? And Knuckles' stuff is just plain awful. SA1's themes are more varied, but I don't know how much of that can be attributed to Senoue not leading and how much of it is just the fact that the game has a completely different visual and structural feel than SA2's - all the levels are shared between the characters so it'd make no sense to greatly differentiate them to match a single character's "style" like SA2 did. Plus, SA2 is "edgier" than SA1, and I have a feeling that "MORE GUITARS" was their way of trying to express that. And also Knuckles' awful music, did I mention that? Who the hell thought that UNKNOWN FROM M.E. was so good that it should be remade 6 times over? (KNUCK KNUCK it's Knuckles, the CHUCKLE-thrower...when memes are the only good thing to come out of a song, you know you messed up) Didn't Senoue do a lot of work on Heroes too? That soundtrack doesn't have very much rock at all... Unleashed/World Adventure and Colors...I love them so much. I love the differences in styles and the usage of orchestral/big band instruments for their tracks. It's like going to a fantastic Vegas buffet. "Ooh, they have crab legs here--oh, and an entire station of great Japanese food--but look at all these pastries!" -> "Oh my god, Shamar Night has a duet between a soprano sax and a trumpet--THAT DRUM AND BASS BEAT IN AQUATIC PARK--that big band paired with that electric guitar in Sweet Mountain--THE PERCUSSION IN JUNGLE JOYRIDE!!" God I can't wait to get these on a physical disc so I can have them lossless... [/nerd] I haven't even played those games yet and I love the soundtrack so much. Not much introspective analysis here, ahahahha * I have the same kind of praise for my absolute favorite songwriter/producer, Rob Swire (Pendulum, Knife Party), whose stuff is practically written to be played live by a band despite having intensely overt electronic elements. This kind of praise sounds basic, but 1.) there are literal successful artists out there who don't have this - Afrojack openly admitted to not knowing what a "bar" was when he started out!! - and 2.) a lot of issues I have with dubstep and mainstream electro house/big room for the last two or three years has been that people are slamming together sounds without any regard for musicality whatsoever; "it has a bunch of metallic sounds in it, so it MUST be 'filthy', right??" Ugh......
Yeah, 3D Blast's music is just...absolutely phenomenal. Next remix up on my list is Oil Ocean. For some reason most of the music from Sonic 2 seems...well-suited to the game, but oddly forgettable. Listening to them again, I found an interesting nostalgia for the tracks, but that's about it. Unlike, say, Sonic CD's, or Sonic 3D Blast's (Gen or Sat) music, it doesn't 'click' with me. I picked Oil Ocean because it's a huge part of the reason I have an interest in Middle Eastern music - I remember listening to it as a kid with musical parents, asking them 'what the hell is this', kinda thing...I gave a re-listen to all of the tracks from S2 and I gotta say, it really stands out to me. I had my mind set on Metropolis, for the longest time, it was my favourite as a kid, but I can't imagine it making its way over to modern electronic music very well. Oil Ocean is a no-brainer for a sick trap or down-low dub beat. The only other track from S2 I will be working on is 'Hidden Palace', as it's the album's namesake. I will also be coming up with my own fake cover for 'Dust Hill.' I'm thinking 'Star Light Zone' from S1, as I play the sax, and would love to get that in there.
Maybe it's just me, but Angel Island act 1 sounds like the kind of music you'd hear if you bought a CD off some guy on the street in the Caribbean. I don't exactly know the genre, but it's "islanders get their hands on a drum machine and make music" kind of music. I wish I had some examples so I don't seem like an idiot saying words :v:/>
Thanks for pointing that out. I never even remembered the GG games' music when typing that analysis, so I'll do a quick one now. Sonic 1 GG Yuzo Koshiro kills it as always. Green Hill sounds particularly nice on the chiptune of the system. The newly composed tracks are actually quite good and might even rival those from its original Genesis counterpart. Bridge Zone is pleasant sounding and has a REALLY nice melody to it. Scrap Brain Zone is one track I, daresay, think is much better than the Genesis version. It has a very climatic feel to it that the Genesis version, while it definitely sounds like final level music, doesn't scream "you made it, this is the last stretch!" Sky Base Zone is a nice accompanying piece to end the final boss with. I think Yuzo understood the direction Nakamura was going with the Genesis version and made a very nice interpretation of that vision. Sonic 2 GG To be completely honest, this soundtrack never stuck well with me aside from two songs: Underground Zone and Crystal Egg Zone (and maybe even that very ethereal Unused Music). The rest of the soundtrack sounds a bit generic to my ears, which is surprising considering the soundtrack was composed by Masafumi Ogata and Naofumi Hataya, my two favorite Sonic composers. Of note is the Green Hills Zone (get it? ha...) music, which is an 8-bit version of the Sonic CD JP theme, You Can Do Anything. I'd also like to recommend the track "Sonic Goes UG" from the Sonic Gems Collection soundtrack, which is a very nice interpretation of the Underground Zone theme. Sonic Chaos Generic tracks continue with this game. Turquoise Hill Zone has a decent melody and Mecha Green Hill Zone has yet another version of You Can Do Anything, but less recognizable thankfully. My favorite track from here is Aqua Lake Zone, which is interesting melodically and manages to keep me entertained the whole time listening to it. Otherwise, this soundtrack is ultimately decent at best. Sonic Triple Trouble Five words. Sunset Park Zone Act 2 Listen to it now, it's all you need to hear from this game. And maybe Robotnik Winter Zone. Sonic Blast HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAH no. If the incredibly mediocre tracks don't deter you, its the very crowded instrumentation that will. All in all, in my opinion, these games have their fair share of great tunes, but come nowhere near the prestige, nor the ambition that the collective Genesis games have.
How could you not mention Jungle Zone for Sonic 1 8-bit? Plus Labyrinth's music was better than its 16-bit counterpart in my opinion. I agree with a lot of the rest of the 8-bit stuff though.
Hey, if you enjoy them, mad props Music is subjective as all hell and this franchise is no different. People think Sonic CD's US soundtrack is unbearable but I heavily disagree on that.
I second what Skyler said about Blast, I love the soundtrack. :P And Sonic Chaos has the best 8-bit soundtrack out of all the 8-bit Sonic games. Electric Egg Act 3/Master System Intro music is by far the best track in the game. Also the unused Sunset Park music is better than the Triple Trouble version too. Honestly Triple Trouble's soundtrack is really bland, I only like two songs from it and the rest really just don't stick with me like most tracks from the previous 8-bit games.
Thought this was great. Spencer Nilsen talking for an hour about the Sonic CD soundtrack. Definitely great to listen to, especially for those of us who love the US Soundtrack: http://www.vgmpire.com/2016/05/25/vgmpire-117-sonic-cd-with-spencer-nilsen/
Some takeaways: The only reason the Past music was the same, was a political/business issue....XD This is where the inconsistencies began.....all SEGA of America's fault. How many Sonic fans had an epiphany once they heard the JP/EU soundtrack nearly two decades later for the first time and have the past music make sense??? The first soundtrack that I heard was the JP/EU version and is still my favorite, so for me, it's not the "I like what I can't have" situation. I played the 510 version that I burned as an ISO back in the day. The only great thing to come out of the US version was Sonic Boom and Palmtree Panic present...and Sonic 4 Ep Metal basically carries this point.....Sonic Boom into Toot Toot Sonic Warrior was pretty genius. Interesting he never heard the JP/EU music first, Palmtree Panics have brass hits and Tidal Tempest similarities are interesting. It's cool that Collision Chaos US was worked on by a percussionist who's worked with Santana. But again, the heavy drums sound a little similar to me. Tidal Tempest...yeah, drippy water is a sound that can transcend many game levels...no mention that the US Future could easily be porn music. Quartz Quadrant...no mention of the enhancement to the US version official soundtrack release? No mention of the rare 3/4 meter?....Accusing the JP team of having less freedom...LOL At least they didn't read the US Manual (mentioning Amy instead). Wack Workbench Again, no mention of the enhanced synth soundtrack version. The JP/EU present actually sounds more dark and menacing here...wow. Stardust Speedway, I really like both for the Present, but the JP/EU absolutely owns the Futures as I could never get which US Future was good or bad. Fuck them for not playing the JP/EU Bad Future! Metallic Madness....dawn of the Metal Age (how the US Version makes me feel)....JP/EU: THIS IS THE LAST LEVEL BITCH Great interview overall! It's given me a better appreciation of the US tracks!
My favorite soundtrack is probably Sonic '06. I love Sonic Unleashed's soundtrack, as much as I love the game, and I quite like Colours. Now I will talk about '06. The soundtrack of Sonic '06 was flawless, unlike the rest of the game. Wave Ocean made me feel as if I'm relaxing at the beach, which then switches onto the Mach Speed section, with also makes me feel as if I'm chasing a giant battleship. Dusty Desert, Tropical Jungle, and Flame Core were rather pleasant as well, especially 'The Cavern' (or Act 2) of Flame Core. White Acropolis is great as it fits the idea of Sonic infiltrating Dr. Eggman's base in a snowy region. Man, Crisis City was fantastic! Everything about it was amazing! And even better, Kingdom Valley. Oddly enough, Kingdom Valley is my favorite, and I really don't know why. Aquatic Base was relaxing, and rather fitting (especially the 'had enough' in the background LOL). I loved the start of the Level 2 section.
