Here is my article for Video game
Orchestra. Go buy it now. Stop reading and go buy this CD now. I'll
wait.
Got it? Good. Now lets talk about
the wonderful, but criminally short album. Clocking in at just under
40 minutes, this album is nothing short but fantastic. But sadly it
is short and does clock in at 39:24, making this one of the shortest
albums I own to date. But as they say, it's not the size, that's
important, but the content, and the content here is over flowing with
greatness. Much like Kate Covington, Lindsey Stirling or Jillian
Aversa, I often find myself speechless with how great this orchestra
is.
While normally I would count down
the top 5 in an album, or discuss key tracks, because the VGO
Soundtrack has only 8 songs I will be doing a quick rundown on each
song.
Song 1: Fight Bombing Mission
Final Fantasy VII, the game that
brought Square into the mainstream. With a semi decent graphical
engine, a solid story, great music and great characters it is no
wonder this game is well loved. So it is no surprise that the VGO
chose this song to be their first on their album.
The song is a splendid mix of the
Battle Theme and the Bombing Mission theme and kind of makes me want
to buy the game again on the PSN. The song hits the ground running
and is fast paced and full of energy. This is how you start an album.
It starts and doesn't stop.
Song 2: Theme Of Laura
I have not played Silent Hill as I
am not a fan of the Horror Genre so I would not be a good judge for
the game or the soundtrack. For what it's worth the song is put
together nicely. If i were a fan of the genre I may be able to talk
about the song more but sadly My own ignorance of the song however
prevents me from enjoying this.
Song 3: The End Begins to Rock
I am not a fan of te God of War
games. I find them repetitive and boring so I never really gave the
music a chance. However the VGO seems to like it so they gave one of
the songs a Orchestra remodelling. The results are...less then
seller.
Obviously these guys tried, but I
feel a bit of a lack of effort with this song. It doesn't really grab
me like the other tracks on this album which is kind of a shame. When
I compare this song to Metroid Metal or The Protomen, it feels
uninspired and generic. Obviously Kratos needs to take some pointers
from Apollo when it comes to music.
Song 4: Super Mario World (Big Band
Version)
If you were a gamer growing up in
the early 90's you cut your teeth on one of two systems. The Super
Nintendo or the Genesis. If you were of the Nintendo camp, then you
probably have the Super Mario Theme ingrained in your memory.
This song has been covered from
classical to heavy metal covers so the VGO went a different method.
Going Big Band was a nice touch and gives the song a fresh spin. The
jazz piano and horns make the common song feel fresh and new.
Song 5: Vampire Killer
Now this is a cover I can get
behind. Vampire Killer is a take on the classic Castlevania theme and
is instantly recognizable to any fan of the game. The added guitars
give the song a boost and make it more epic. A fun tune to sink your
teeth into.
Song 6: Kingdom Hearts Suite
The Kingdom Hearts Suite is the
longest song on the album clocking in at ten and a half minutes.
Instead of one singular song, it is infarct 4 songs combined into one
long suite and it works. From the fast paced Overture to the more
emotion filled Hikari and everything in between, this song is my
favourite on the album.
Certain songs can easily make me
weep and this song is no exception. It is beautifully arranged and
with the vocals by Courtney Swain, it really sets this song above. I
would love to hear more from her.
Song 7: Chrono Cross
Time's Scar is one of the more
popular songs out of Chrono Cross and I cannot blame them. It's soft
melodies really put some at ease, until the song pics up, but even
then it's not super intense. This version of Time's Scar is no
different. The more intense parts feel like a dance then anything.
The instrumental work is fantastic and really captures the original.
With a unique blend of instruments from violins to flutes this song
does the original justice.
Song 8: Radical Dreamers
It seems that the VGO has a soft
spot for Square enix music seeing as 4 of the 8 songs are from Square
games. Some people may not be fans, but I like it and have no
complaints.
Radical Dreamers is the VGO take
on the song, The Girl Who Stole the Stars. Keeping the same emotive
feeling as the original, the sing feels very melancholy. The group
behind the song did an excellent job keeping the original feel of the
song. If not the Kingdom Hearts Suite, then this song would be
considered my favourite.
There you have the 8 songs of the
VGO. As I stated earlier I do wish this album was longer as I would
love to hear more of their covers. Maybe next time.
In the next album, it is time to
go to the Opera and prove once and for all that hope does not need to
ride alone. This has been Daimo Mac and I am lost in the music
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