Lurker > rwlh

56. Mad Rat Dead - Heartless Being
I really like the beginning of this, with its emergency siren alert feel (I nominated Collapsing Rift for a reason!), but the rest of doesn't hold up for me. Dubsteppy elements are a hard sell for me, and these are a little too harsh. I do like the melody, particularly around 1:15.

Of the MRD songs in the contest, my preferences are:
Passion in Blue > Neuchatel > Breath of Forest > Heartless Being.

vs.

46. Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star - Class::CIEL_N_PROTECTA;
Before this started I was like "huh why is this only a 6, I remember liking this more." Then I realized I was thinking of the crayon song. Oops. Anyway, the rapid-fire vocals in the main chorus are neat, but I generally prefer the rest of it, the way the vocals soar above the heavy instrumentation. I'm not as much a fan of the heavy drumming - it's one of those things that once I notice, it's hard to flick off. Going back to that one staccato part that pops up throughout, it does give the song a nice bit of flair and almost makes things feel fun, which is an interesting counterpart to its intensity. (Note that I haven't looked at the lyrics to back that up.)

and

35. Okami - Ryoshima Coast
A good word to describe Ryoshima Coast is "majestic." The horns provide this regal backdrop that the rest stands atop. There are plenty of instruments I can't identify, but I can pick out a harp at the loop point that does a great job bringing me back to the main melody. When the second part comes in, with its methodical drumming, the song feels like it enters into a new phase while still retaining much of its original flavor. I have a lot of positive things to say about Ryoshima Coast, and yet it's only a 6.5 - this is because the song doesn't resonate too strongly with me emotionally. I can appreciate its craft, but it isn't something I find myself coming back to.

vs.

22. One Step From Eden - Fairfrozen: Selicy's Theme
Good, high energy EDM. This song has a lot of elements I enjoy: a terrific drumbeat, a memorable melody, new sections at 1:05 and 1:30 that enhance the song. It changes frequently and keeps me on my toes every time I listen to it its like a new experience. This was one of my favorite new discoveries from the contest Im pleased its gotten so far and will vote for it again today.

and

37. Koumajou Densetsu II: Stranger's Requiem - Rose-Killing Carmilla
Rose-Killing Carmilla might take the cake for biggest climb in my rankings since the contest started. While a 6.5 is okay, it started at like a 3. Some relistens later, it really clicked. Some days out of nowhere Ill get SCARLET SKYYYY IS FAAAALLING DOOOOWN in my head. I especially like the overall presentation, especially in moments in 2:00, where the singer holds a note and the other instruments rise to meet it. I also love when she gets extra breathy in the last half of the song (Im a sucker for breathy vocals). There are lots of little moments like that the song feels in balance.

vs.

2. Snatcher (PC Engine CD) - One Night in Neo Kobe City
Sheesh, how did this song get to be my number 2 left? Excluding Sad Blue Skies, there were fourteen songs I ranked higher than this, and now theyre all gone. It feels weird like, I love this song, I love how 90s it is and how fun it is to listen to that sax but if Sad Blue Skies goes down, it feels weird that this is my champion. There are certainly worse songs!

Votes:
Class::CIEL_N_PROTECTA;
Fairfrozen: Selicy's Theme
One Night in Neo Kobe City

Rankings are out of 63. Tomorrow they will (hopefully!) be out of 64. Today's positions are not affected, since the two tiebreakers place below the other four songs from today.

26. Pokmon Gold and Silver - National Park
On the surface, 26/63 might seem low, but National Park is still a 7.5, which is a testament to how much cool stuff is still in. Actually, there's a lot more cool stuff than I thought, given how most of the songs I'm really passionate got knocked out already. Anyway, National Park is, as has been said before, cozy, nostalgic, and generally a good song to snuggle up to. I love the Game Boy soundchip, so the song gets automatic bias points.

vs.

8. Rose Gun Days - linkage-alter
linkage-alter was one of my biggest surprises this year. It's not surprising that I loved it - xaki's Umineko contributions are solid (rhythm-changer, their other VGMC15 track, places around here). What surprises me is how much it grew on me. I voted Soft Collision over it in round 1, but come round 2, I really started digging the frenetic energy. It's a bit of a glitchy song, which I normally like, and there are those pianos to keep the song grounded. Definitely a keeper.

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1. Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure - Soaring Through Azure Sadness
Here it is, my favorite song left in the contest. It says a lot that this is a 10, yet I wouldn't have taken it to retire from its division.

I've been in love with this song since I first heard it. I tend to love dramatic final boss type songs, but I also tend to love dramatic final boss type songs that are a bit unconventional. So while this has a certain level of intensity, it's also, well...sad. Melancholy. A bit of a nontraditional dramatic final boss type song, but it's effective in its emotional intensity. I'll be rooting for it all the way.

vs.

36. Sonic Colors - Planet Wisp (Act 1)
Planet Wisp is a song I think I liked more pre-VGMC. Well, before my soundtrack ranking topic, when hb nominated Sonic Colors. Do you ever have songs you listen to a lot, mostly in the background, that you generally enjoy, but then you actually stop and think about them, like actively listen to them, and they're...well, not ruined, but changed to you? (Goodness, that was a lot of commas.) Upon listening more carefully to Planet Wisp, I'm a bit less charmed by its repetitiveness, though I still enjoy the simple piano-driven melody. I don't necessarily love it, but if it comes on my music player's shuffle, I won't switch to a different song.

and

Winner of the tiebreaker will get a writeup when its round 3 match comes. Assuming I'm still doing this. No promises!

Votes:
linkage-alter
Soaring Through Azure Sadness
Cosmic Hero

Eleganza
Genesis Beyond the Beginning
Mahoujin -Summon Delta-

Cosmic Hero
Sunjammer Midnight Special
Dialgas Fight to the Finish!

Dyed Gradient (Murago)
Into Free -Dangan-
Vast Poni Canyon

Passion in Blue
Battle! (Colress)
Bahram Attack -Nekomata Master Remix-

First match is an unexpected vote for a few reasons. The Mad Rat Dead songs this year haven't really been my thing, but Passion in Blue really clicked for me in a way it hadn't before (went from a 6 to an 8.5, and I could see it going up with future listens). On the other hand, Danger was a song I nominated/supported, but I wasn't feeling it as much today. I still love its manic energy, but I'm a little less sold on it right now than I was during nominations. Passion in Blue was a really pleasant surprise (I say this despite listening to it before) - really love the bossa nova (I think it's bossa nova) vibes. These two songs are so different!

In the Doldrums
Speartip of Judgment
A Beautiful Song

Duality
Greenpath
Vrdels

Calling
Pursuit ~ Lying Coldly
Paradise (Stay Forever)

Vrdels
High Above the Land
Vast Ice Mountain Peak

Anka
Catabolism
Pioneer's Horizon

DigiFamily
The Battle Was Just "To Continue That Future"
Breath of Forest

rhythm-changer
Pioneer's Horizon
Tactical Field

Great day for me. I love 5/6 of these!

La Mer
The Best Is Yet To Come
Katamaritaino (Roll Me In)

Rough draw for Chrono Trigger.

Op. 13
Stella -Part 2-
POINT OF NO RETURN

Oof at today. One song is a 7 and everything else is lower. :/

QuelI->EX[cez]->{kranz};
Brave New World
A Long Fall

BWLAUTE BEIRRD
You Were There
Apex of the World (Rain)

Ratings for today, in descending order:
10, 9, 8, 7.5, 7.5, 7.5.
Definitely my favorite day so far!

Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land
Tellur Town (Autumn)
Madness

Subuta.1
Collapsing Rift
Beyond the Bounds

CHANGE VOTE TO
The Butterfly's Temptation

This dang song, I swear. It can fluctuate anywhere from an 8 to a 4. Today it's a 7.5.

Inevitable Struggle -Super Arrange Ver.-
Lucky Charm (Cuilan phase 1)
Pressure Cooker

One Night in Neo Kobe City
Fogbeasts
Sanctuary-SHU

Ryoshima Coast
Fairfrozen: Selicy's Theme
Rose-Killing Carmilla

That's twice now I've voted against Impossible Worlds despite really liking it. Dang.

Carmilla clicked for me more today than it had before.

The Rain Formerly Known As Purple
Out of Tartarus
Foregone Destruction

National Park
linkage-alter
Soaring Through Azure Sadness

Really terrific day, 5/6 songs 7 or higher for me.

HasteDeux posted...

THANK YOU rwlh for nominating this. It's one of my favorite "emotional" pieces ever. The real rating is 9.53, 24th place overall

I'm so glad you like it! I've noticed most of the songs I really like tend to place low on your rankings/ratings, so I'm glad we have at least one overlap.

Best of Times
Dreams in a Pie

At long last, it's finally here. I've been in love with Dreams in a Pie for ages. The best word to describe it is "lovely." The piano, the vocals, the strings, the playful lyrics. The lyrics alone are worth the price of admission! Few songs are as...well, wholesome as this. I'm so happy I could finally get it into VGMC and share it with you all. (Also the copyright protection helped with that.)

Genesis Beyond the Beginning
The Final Showdown...?

Spurred into Flight, Drenched and Fallen - The Night Rises
Hurry Up!
Eleganza

Final Wishes of the Mist
Subete no Yuri wa Chiri Hatete
Towards the Horizon

Cosmic Hero
XaaaCi
Sunjammer Midnight Special

Into Free -Dangan-
The Dark Messenger
Towards the Horizon

Liber Ark
Dyed Gradient (Murago)
Conquest

no

Exercise Mode

Gaze at my Sour Cream Burrito
abstain for now
Wavetapper

Sim Broadway
Danger (ARM version)
Vs. 'Merican Yo-kai

Tron's Castle
Rival - Omega
Give Me!

I've heard Give Me! before and found it annoying, but it really clicked with me today! Very goofy and fun.

World's End Valentine
In the Doldrums
Pursuit

Duality
Theme of the Last Battle
Greenpath

Paradise (Stay Forever)
Overcome the Rocky Path
You're Not Here

Would easily take Working over the other four songs. Shame.

The Shackled Wolves (Rain)
Pursuit ~ Lying Coldly
Targets!

I have decided.

Teknopathetic

Vast Ice Mountain Peak
Elegy For Old Identities and Nostalgia
abstain

Third match has two 9/10s, and they're too close together for me to pick one apart. Might go back and relisten as the day draws on, but I might also just leave it as an abstain, happy with whatever song wins.

Vrdels
The Thief
High Above the Land

Catabolism
Bound Together
Natural Life A

Heavy Arms
To the Distant Sky
Anka

over-nove
The Battle Was Just "To Continue That Future"
Everlasting Love

Tactical Field
DigiFamily
MARIA

Really, really good day.

Painted Foothills
Pioneer's Horizon
Valestein Castle