Lurker > rwlh

Bump in case you missed it!

Not_an_Owl posted...

I didn't expect Necry Talkie to make it this far, but I'm not disappointed!

From my understanding, in Japanese "to head north" is an old literary expression meaning "to give up". It's some sort of untranslatable pun where the character for "north" can also mean "surrender", or something like that. The lyrics of the song aren't exactly literal but are essentially about facing an extremely difficult situation and opting to just give up and move on with your life, rather than continuing to struggle and suffer.

That fits the upbeat lyrics, I suppose. Finding contentment in moving on with your life. That feels like a very un-Western approach to things, haha, but I love it. There's something to be said for the dignity of moving on.

Kikoman589 posted...

Epic thread

Thank you! :D Glad you enjoyed!

Eliminations part 2:




And the winner...



Again, thanks everyone for tuning in and reading along and especially nominating! I found a lot of awesome songs through this topic.

Final eliminations part 1!

1. Owen Pallett - I Am Not Afraid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KNDXQUJ9BI
@kaonashi1(WINNER!!!)
10 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 10
100

Is there such a thing as a perfect song? I said that Jibun ga Inai might qualify because everything works together to produce a greater whole. I Am Not Afraid might not be a perfect song in that strict definition of the word, but it might be a perfect crystallization of what I look for in a song.

The song opens with these intense, somewhat discordant, repetitive strings that eventually Owen Pallett sings over. The tension generated by these strings is never actually released, even when they make way for a piano backing, and that compels me to keep listening (Immersion). The overall effect is something I cant easily find anywhere else, something very distinctive (Unconvention). When the piano comes in with the simple drum kick, Im swept along by the clarity of the singing, the way the subtle horns draw attention to the vocals, the swell of the strings as everything coalesces into an ending that still never releases tension (Appreciation). I feel something very profound listening to this, something that isnt easily replicated (Emotion). Ive listened to it, on loop, multiple times, and it never gets old (Obsession). Thats what I love in music the nebulous satisfaction of profundity.

Palletts lyrics which I even paid attention to! - are thought-provoking: gender-neutral pronouns, lamentations of not being able to have children, burning boxes of old love letters. It opens with the line, I am not afraid, ze said. Its an entreaty of living life in spite of obstacles, of turning those obstacles into strengths. Theres also the great line: Im not at all afraid of changing / but I dont know what good it would do me. This suggests a reticence to confront life wholly, that old habits die hard. The segue back into I am not afraid seems to suggest the character is aware of the futility of not changing, but ze is being stubborn, something I think we can all relate to.

So this is my number 1. A perfect song with a perfect 100. I dont know how many songs I can say that about. Months ago, I went through all my VGM 10s and 9.5s (in my VGM spreadsheet I only score based on Emotion) and tried applying the other four variables to them. Only two songs got 100. Two songs! Out of around 150 songs that I absolutely adore. That should give you some perspective. Thank you kao for nominating it, and for reminding me its okay to be afraid sometimes.

Thats finally it! Sweet Jesus, this took a while. Seven months? Something like that. Thanks all for sticking with it for so long. Ill post the final eliminations in a bit.

2. Necry Talkie - You Should Head North
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l-qw9yRFOA
@Not_an_Owl (ELIMINATED)
10 / 10 / 9.5 / 10 / 9.5
98

Speaking of fun! This is a delectable piece of pop rock. Music video aside, you can just tell the band was having fun making this bouncy, breezy track. I would imagine your enjoyment of the song is made or broken by your opinion of the lead singer. I find her vocals charming and fitting of the bubbly song. The chorus is so much fun, the keyboard runs are fun, the bridge at 2:35 when the band loses their minds is fun! Everything just screams good time. Now, for all I know, the lyrics in English might be some bittersweet rumination on love lost or something. But from my vantage point, Im having a great time. Thank you for nominating this. :)

(Also it didnt factor into my rating, but the music video is hilarious.)

Which leaves...

4. Laura Marling Soothing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCS4OTgaHeM
@kaonashi1 (1 remaining)
9.5 / 9.5 / 9.5 / 10 / 9
95

If it wasnt very clear by now, a singers voice can really make or break a song for me. Here, Laura Marling has this amazing controlled voice that oozes personality. It reminds me of something that would be at home in a smoky 1920s club (though not this song specifically). I love the backing percussion, the echo effects at 3:00, the pop in the bridge everything is terrific, and Marling is the centerpiece.

3. Sonny Wharton Raindance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrTm69JMDJg
@Kikoman589 (ELIMINATED)
10 / 10 / 9.5 / 9 / 10
97

Obsession was the toughest category to earn points in, with only 55 percent possible points awarded total. (The highest, Appreciation, had 65 percent.) There was no denying, however, that Raindance would get a 10 in Obsession, one of only two songs in the ranking to do so. Whereas the rest of the top ten belongs to categories like serious glitch, moody singer-songwriters, classical music, and whatever the hell Rozart mix is, Raindance is just so much fun. Its a straightforward dance track that never ever fails to put a smile on my face. From the moment the main melody kicks in to the very end, this is, along with the actual ranking winner, the song Ive returned to the most.

It might be fitting that it sounds a little like video game music too, or at least what common perception of VGM is: catchy dance hooks. However you want to quantify it, its such a blast. :)

6. salyu salyu - Jibun ga Inai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qM2s3l9Ca0
@cakophon (ELIMINATED)
9 / 10 / 9 / 10 / 9
94

Oh hey its We Love Katamari Blue Orb I like that song.

What an attention-grabbing first few seconds. That rhythmic keyboard note keeps time and the rest of the song dances around it, adding more and more elements. Everything just works together so well. It feels effortless. Thats a hard thing to quantify what I mean by that is there arent any decisions the song makes that feel out of place. Everything flows perfectly. This isnt first place, but it might be a perfect song.

5. Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyCYvoOEBbw
@GavsEvans123 (ELIMINATED)
9.5 / 9 / 9.5 / 10 / 9.5
95

This is the last song on the list I knew beforehand, a category that consists of maybe like five songs lol. This is just...dang. BIG song goes BIG. I prefer the more bombastic first third (1 > 2 > 3) but theres a lot to love all throughout. I love how the main melody keeps getting worked in. I love how much softer and calmer the second part is, but how theres still this pounding undercurrent of intensity that comes out, like at 5:10. As one commenter on the video put it, its duality, the tension between good and evil.

8. The Microphones - I Want Wind to Blow
https://youtu.be/5WvWkUhszeE
@tazzyboyishere (ELIMINATED)
9.5 / 9 / 8 / 10 / 9
91

A very different song from endleSSStation! I Want Wind to Blow is an intimate acoustic piece where I feel like Im right next to the singer. I love songs like this, where I can hear every crack in the singers voice, every string being plucked on the guitar. Theres even some feedback! I also love that rattling instrument that sort of like maracas. The song really picks up around 2:30, when the melody turns plaintive and sad and powerful. Like I said, I dont really pay attention to lyrics too much, so I dont know what the song is about, but it feels plaintive and sad and powerful. I get an overwhelming sense of emotion, of intimacy, from this.

7. John Cage - Rozart mix
https://youtu.be/ICxG_o50y2E
@Place (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 9 / 10 / 10 / 9
93

As I was listening to this for the first time, my first thought was, Is it going to be like this the whole time? My follow-up thought was, God I hope so.

And it is like this the whole time. A bunch of edited non-musical audio clips: sped-up talking, squeaking, babies crying, what sounds like news clips. No discernible melody to speak of, except for the occasional clip of an orchestra. And yet I still perceive arcs, rising and falling, ebbing and flowing in intensity.

Appreciation was hard for this because I wasnt sure at first what John Cage wanted me to be experiencing. I couldnt decide between confusion, awe, and being overwhelmed. I realized I felt all three, and awarded max points.

Rozart mix is an experience. I imagine most people would listen to ten seconds and turn it off. But if you can get past the barrier of this doesnt really sound music, its certainly worth listening to. The last few seconds in particular made my jaw hit the floor I wont spoil it for you.

okay let's do this

10. Christopher Young Sinister
https://youtu.be/TGWZiWW4rTM
@Place (1 remaining)
9 / 9 / 8 / 9.5 / 9.5
90

I love the intro to this. Its dark, ambient buildup with some glitch and sharp keyboard stings.
Sinister sets a mood thats, well, sinister, maybe more than any other song in the ranking. The melody is light but haunting as played back on the keyboard. The whole time the song feels like its ready to open up like a thunderstorm even with the melody it feels like its holding back, operating with restraint. Then 3:15 happens and it goes heavy glitch, finally fulfilling its promise, albeit briefly. The last few seconds are also delightfully creepy, with some kind of Metroid noise in the fadeout.

9. endleSSStation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7C74BoQtAc
@GameBopAdv (ELIMINATED)
9 / 9 / 9 / 9.5 / 9
91

Really solid glitchy breakbeat with lots of musical ideas and compelling weird time signature. Im reminded of some of the darker Kirby songs throughout, like eldritch horror boss fights. Theres chiptune, theres screaming, theres all kinds of things blended together. There are quieter moments and moments of manic frenzy. In my notes I wrote this feels like a song that plays when you die. I dont...really know what I meant by that, but it feels very appropriate.

Toxtricity posted...

can't believe bjork's drakengard 1 x g-darius crossover cameo song managed to get 26th place

glad you liked it!!! i'm a huge bjork fan, like she's up there with "yasuhisa watanabe" and "mitsuhiro kaneda" and vgm composers i talk about all the time as being my favorite musicians (as is oneohtrix point never actually). she's like a top 3 vocalist for me, but the actual composition AND production of her music is so perfect for my tastes too

not ashamed to go out at 26th place when you clearly found some cool stuff you liked in my picks! thanks for listening!

I can certainly see the Drakengard/G-Darius comparison. I imagine the same creepy production and effects I love in G-Darius appealed to me with Vertebrae by Vertebrae too.

NFUN posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2pzTTD6e80

But this cuts out the best part. :(

cakophon posted...

there's actually a second song in the climb downhill series and though i don't like it quite as much as 1, it's rpetty close: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_S1TFihr4M
i find that the sounds get a little too harsh for me in this one, and it doesn't tie together nearly as nicely. the speeding and slowing of the tempo is much more of a focus and i'd have to check again but it might have to do with its placement in the album overall

also there is a live version of climb downhill 1! i love it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjJb0hvZqkA

I actually saw Climb Downhill 2 as a related video from Climb Downhill 1 and I had the same reaction. Too harsh for me.

Why is the live version Youtube Kids lol

MetalmindStats posted...

I'm glad you got so much out of Momodani! I really do feel like it's an experience of its own, one for which your description seems apt.

Based on your comments here and throughout this topic so far, I bet Oneknowing in general would be up your alley. Have you listened to it (and/or Lena's non-VGM work in general), and if so, what do you think?

Momodani was great, yeah. I don't know what Oneknowing is but if it's similar, I might enjoy it. I'm not a huge fan of the Celeste soundtrack honestly, so maybe I wouldn't like it, but it's certainly worth checking out.

SovietOmega posted...

Ah dang, was wondering when I was gonna bite it. I'm quite happy to see Stargazer rated as highly as it did, especially after seeing so many metal nominations fall around the 50's and below.

This song, and the album it came from, was something I just stumbled into one day. I was just looking for some background music for some gaming and wanted to sample some songs in my collection that I hadn't previously listened to. I was a little uncertain about the album at first with mediocre tracks 1 and 2, but then this beast of a song played on track 3 and I was pretty instantly captivated. I could definitely recommend the rest of the album too, but this one will always be the one to stand out for me.

I love finding music by happenstance like that. Related videos, random searches, songs you hear in a store. Music is everywhere~

And here are the last-hour standings!

2 remaining (!!!):
kaonashi1
Place

1 remaining:
cakophon
GameBopAdv
GavsEvans123
Kikoman589
Not_an_Owl
tazzyboyishere

Whew, I think that's everything for now! Enjoy!

We have finally reached the top ten! Thanks for sticking with me this long (assuming you haven't run away by now). Every single song left is at a combined score of 90 or higher, which is huge. The top song even scored a perfect 100! Dang!

Here are the ten remaining songs, should you choose to listen and/or make predictions:
Christopher Young - Sinister
https://youtu.be/TGWZiWW4rTM

Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyCYvoOEBbw

John Cage - Rozart mix
https://youtu.be/ICxG_o50y2E

Laura Marling - Soothing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCS4OTgaHeM

Necry Talkie - You Should Head North
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l-qw9yRFOA

Owen Pallett - I Am Not Afraid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KNDXQUJ9BI

salyu salyu - Jibun ga Inai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qM2s3l9Ca0

Sonny Wharton - Raindance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrTm69JMDJg

The Microphones - I Want Wind to Blow
https://youtu.be/5WvWkUhszeE

- endleSSStation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7C74BoQtAc

*gasps for air*

Eliminations part 3!





Goodness, that's a lot of eliminations. That's what happens when we're down to the top ten (and also when I do 20 songs instead of 10).

More coming in the next post!

Eliminations part 2!

Today's (large amount of) eliminations!

...Part 1!

Thank you for nominating.

12. Mystic Marshmallow Konemelu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJMUrsCmeYE
@GameBopAdv (1 remaining)
9 / 8 / 9 / 9.5 / 8.5
88

I think more than any other song on this list, Konemelu feels me with dread. There is nothing conventionally listenable here no melody, no traditional instruments, nothing. Theres a beat of sorts, an off-kilter, repetitive, horror movie organ thing. There is only strange, somewhat unpleasant noise. It eventually does this especially creepy thing where it swells up like A Day in the Life by the Beatles, and then eventually after that the anxiety subsides somewhat and the song ends on a more subdued note. The evil has been vanquished...for now.

11. Aimer - Haru wa Yuku (From Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel III. spring song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTWqCwB6JQQ
@pyresword (ELIMINATED)
9.5 / 8.5 / 9 / 10 / 7.5
89

Speaking of piano-centric songs! I get a strong vibe from this of Gentle Hands from .hack//GU, at least the beginning part:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehh5Df7opn0

I love the piano, sure, but I also love the singer, Aimer. The song is packed full of emotion. Theres something to be said for the simplicity of a singer, a vocal, and maybe a violin or a guitar backing them up. What a classic formula. Everything comes together so perfectly here, all the different song pieces combining into one cohesive whole. Very much enjoyed.

14. Shohei Amimori - Climb Downhill 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2PRoOcg5m4
@cakophon (1 remaining)
9 / 8 / 9.5 / 8.5 / 8.5
87

Really amazing intro, this series of extended notes that gradually gives way to a much bigger soundscape. The song then, befitting its title, escalates in speed and intensity, picking up bits and pieces as it goes along. It gathers jazz, world music, piano, spooky Halloween, all this great stuff, with a solid glitch underpinning. At 4:45 is really when the song starts to lose its mind and everything coalesces together and globs into a surround sound experience. I feel richer having listened to this.

13. dinger ontario
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j1eNxWIt4c
@UF8 (ELIMINATED)
9.5 / 9 / 9 / 10 / 6
87

Absolutely terrific song held back by that pesky Obsession score. That being said, I love a good piano-centric tune. I really like the arps at 0:50, and then the flighty melody at 1:05. The melody floats around and increases in intensity as it goes, before dropping off again at 2:05 and then picking up shortly after. Its a wonderful progression Im happy to go on this journey every time I listen to the song. Like I said, its only held back by the fact that I dont remember it that much.

16. Osamu Sato DONE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ubiiXlCJ0
@DoctorJimmy133 (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 9 / 8 / 9 / 9
87

Troll nominations, or secret recipe for doing well? You decide.

Ive always meant to get into Osamu Sato. I generally like a lot of what Ive heard, so naturally a song of his had a good shot of doing well. DONE is very trippy, with lots of glitch and chopped up vocal samples (two things I generally like). The experience is almost meditative in a way, with a drone-like, hypnotic beat. Its certainly, maybe more than anything else in the top 20, a song I need to be in the right mindset to appreciate, which is true of a lot of the Sato songs Ive heard too.

15. Ben E. King - Stand By Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE
@GavsEvans123 (1 remaining)
9 / 8 / 8 / 9.5 / 9
87

I dont think its possible to dislike this song. Its just so earnest, such a straightforward declaration of trust and faith in another person. Ben E. King (despite loving this song, I can never remember the artist!) has very emotive vocals, and there is terrific backing vocals, and the overall presentation is just solid all around. I also love when the 60s-style strings surge in.

I feel like Stand by Me is just classic Americana, a part of our culture. John Lennon did a cover that I dont like as much, but I normally add in to this version the spoken-word intro he gave. This is just an all-around classic.

18. Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hwiCkU73NA
@NFUN (ELIMINATED)
9 / 7.5 / 9 / 8 / 9.5
86

Silly Caucasian girl likes to play with samurai swords...

Oh how I wish this song was half its length. I love love love the bridge (aka the part that plays in Kill Bill), but the whole package, taken together, just doesnt sustain my interest as much as it could.

But man, what a song. Ive sung along to this many a time. Ive gotten huge bursts of energy from listening to this. Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood is a song I can safely say has objectively enhanced my life. Would it be as strong for me without the Kill Bill connection? Maybe not. But I cant judge this in a vacuum. (Its dusty in there.)

Oh right, I should talk specifics. The obvious thing I like is the methodical clapping, but the Spanish guitar is also great, as are the horns. This is very nebulous, but the song just has this energy about it that sustains it even in the parts where my focus wanes. I think the vocals are the weakest part actually if this were instrumental, it would be peerless.

17. Blood Stain Child Stargazer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjTXeJZM8wg
@SovietOmega (ELIMINATED)
9 / 8.5 / 7.5 / 9 / 9
86

Is this the highest ranked metal song? I think it might be. Maybe its a testament to my opinion of metal vocals that its one of the only metal nominations with a female singer. My initial listen of Stargazer put it much lower, but a relisten made me appreciate its qualities more. The melody is very catchy, particularly the chorus, and I like the intense guitar work. I also really like the part at 2:20 when it randomly decides to become EDM for a few bars. 2:55 is also great, with lightly distorted vocals that make my heart skip a beat. If I ever do a topic like this again, I might use Stargazer as an example of rock/metal I genuinely like.

20. Shnabubula - All Blues (Kind of Bloop)
https://shnabubula.bandcamp.com/track/all-blues
@sergiocornaga (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 8.5 / 8 / 9 / 9
86

This is such a clever nomination. It effectively combines two things I said I liked chiptunes and Miles Davis in a very literal way. Shnabubula here has made a chiptunified cover of Daviss All Blues, with their own spin throughout. There are so many little flourishes throughout that give the song its own personality and make it not just a cover, like the odd time throughout, or the periodic Follin-esque arpeggios. Ive always been impressed with Shnabubulas amazing way to make these covers or format restrictions work in such an organic, unique way.

If I gave out bonus points for effort, sergio would be near the top for this lol. Also I just realized "Kind of Bloop" is a pun too lol

19. Lena Raine Momodani
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlels7wG1Wk
@MetalmindStats (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 10 / 8 / 9.5 / 7
86

Our first 10 in Immersion! This is a song that just swallows me up. Its got that big Portishead sound I tend to really like. Big chords, big synths, everything is big and cozy. But its cozy in a creepy way Momodani is an unsettling song. I could see this playing in a scene where a character is exploring a foreign environment, turning around twisting passages to see what lurks around the corner. I also love the tinny loudspeaker voices in the background. This is a song with a lot to offer, and given how I tend to have poor focus, it sustaining my interest like this is very impressive.

22. Melissa Etheridge - Like the Way I Do
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p33tgPzHek0
@azuarc (ELIMINATED)
8 / 9 / 7 / 9.5 / 9
85

Ill just come out and say it: Melissa Etheridges voice is a national treasure. Just the perfect addition of raspiness that gives her songs an edge. Like the Way I Do is a visceral gut punch of a song about a woman whos competing with another woman over her partner, and the fact that it conveys this while still being a catchy, singable piece of pop-rock is impressive. The focus here is on Etheridges vocals the rest of the instruments stay in the background to give her more focus and she shines so thoroughly. Its kind of funny hearing that right after Omar Sharif, which has a very different female singer, but both songs are so gripping and compelling and different ways with such different styles.

21. Hal ft. Gillian Anderson - Extremis (Download Mix Edit)
https://youtu.be/uhfKyHiZ1K0
@Place (2 remaining)
8.5 / 9 / 9 / 9 / 7
85

Hey, Place is finally down to two! What an overarchiever. :P

This checks off a number of my boxes:

• glitch
• spoken word overlaid on top
• sudden transition to BREAKBEAT which is not necessarily a box for me but it works really well here

The overall vibe reminds me of the Perfect Dark soundtrack, even as I know thats a bad comparison because it sounds nothing like that. It feels eminently British in some hard-to-quantify way. I know Place was going for a dystopian future feel with their nominations, and they certainly pulled that off with this one. And that transition to breakbeat isnt so much a transition as it is a jump into a different style, and its so abrupt and shocking that it always takes my breath away.

24. Thomas Bergersen Fearless
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SePx4QzzmY
@dowolf (ELIMINATED)
9 / 9 / 9.5 / 8.5 / 5.5
83

Big point discrepancy here: I loved listening to this, but remembered very little about it, hence the low Obsession score.

When the vocals kick in Im reminded of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh2kSs89Xxw

This is even in 7/8 time, like Who Am I! Its a very cinematic song, like something out of a film. There are bagpipes, and possibly a lute of some sort. The overall presentation is just stellar I feel like Im being swept into a grand adventure, like something out of epic fantasy. Reading up on some of the comments, it seems like this is a modern take on a folk song. Very cool!

23. The Band's Visit - Omar Sharif
https://youtu.be/wCrmltUqjX4
@Raka_Putra (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 8.5 / 8 / 9 / 8
84

Here it is, the first song with all 8s or higher. Now were really getting into the big leagues!

Omar Sharif rounds out Raka_Putras nominations from musicals. This feels like the least stereotypically musical of them all, a ballad about (what I think is) cultural awakening. Theres such an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia from this, singing of a simpler time. I love the singer very powerful, always in full control of the notes. I feel like I have a passing grasp on what the song is actually about (and Im apparently too lazy to look up lyrics), but those are my emotional responses to the music.

26. Bjrk - Vertebrae By Vertebrae
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqxYw5jIneA
@Toxtricity (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 7 / 9 / 9 / 8
83

Bjrk is a singular artist. There isnt quite anyone like her. Every time I listen to a Bjrk song, its like Im transported to a new soundscape. Vertebrae by Vertebrae isnt my favorite song by her, but it still offers a lot. Bjrks breathy range of a voice is always a highlight. Those ominous, monotone horns in the background are a huge selling point; they fill the song with this undercurrent of menace, like at any moment Bjrk herself will leap out of the song to save me? Or kill me?

I prefer the second half of the song, which adds industrial percussion (always a hit with me) and some long, tortured vocals. As Ive said before, Im not much of a lyrics guy, but theres something unnerving about the repeated line My arms come out of my shoulders.

25. Art of Noise - A Time for the Fear (Who's Afraid)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oKYY0j0wBI
@Collen (ELIMINATED)
9 / 8 / 8.5 / 7 / 9
83

The big selling point for me with this song is its heavy percussion. Its so distinctive. There are also vocal samples about war (which is how the song memorably opens) and a big drop where all the heavy elements of the song disappear and a voice asks So what happens now? I dont always love things like that, but here, it works so well. I found myself returning to this one a bunch too, particularly the So what happens now? sections. The song overall feels like a meditation on the cruelty of war and uncertainty that comes from conflict.

28. J Dilla Workinonit
https://youtu.be/XuKUAySU8cU
@tazzyboyishere (1 remaining)
8 / 8 / 9 / 7 / 9.5
83

Workinonit is one of the songs Ive returned to the most from this topic. Ive said that a good beat is often all I need some songs, and the beat here is terrific, as is the play of workinonit that keeps flitting around. It feels like J Dilla dumped a bunch of ideas from different songs into this, and it all works so well I especially like the last third, which adds a very melodic chord to the mix. The song is chaotic but never feels aimless every beat and vocal sample and record scratch feels carefully chosen.

27. Pink Lady UFO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0cPknq3K6k
@handsomeboy2012 (ELIMINATED)
8 / 8.5 / 8.5 / 9 / 7.5
83

OOF OH

My notes for this simply say yo this is cool. This is a song that feels ripped straight out of the 70s, with its combination of orchestral and dance, and its classy female singers. There are a lot of little elements here I like the keyboard solo at 1:30, the spaceship sound effects sprinkled throughout, the Aah at the end of the chorus, and in keeping with my comments about the Love Live singers, the layering of the two vocal parts on top of each other. Lots to love!

30. Curve - Unreadable Communication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2RCytDy_Vg
@-hotdogturtle-- (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 9 / 7 / 9.5 / 7
82

I am reminded of this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjaPEmpezaU

Very smooth and ominous. The vocals slide in perfectly. I love the deep bass and how the vocals seem to float above the rest of the song. At 2:20 washed out guitars overpower everything and it all just flows so seamlessly. Then at 3:25 the guitars abruptly cut out and it goes back to the softer style.

My only other exposure to Curve was a song of theirs from the PS2 rhythm game Frequency:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ethppALvAVA

Pretty different, but still features some of the same awesome elements: plenty of reverb, elements mixing together in compelling ways, a singular atmosphere. Will need to check out more of Curves stuff.

29. John Oswald dab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2iOvFvO8bE
@Collen (1 remaining)
8 / 7.5 / 10 / 8.5 / 7.5
83

Would this be considered avant-garde? That label gets thrown around a lot but Im not quite sure what the formal definition is. At any rate, this is a heavily mixed up take on Michael Jacksons Bad, with the original spliced into chunks that barely resemble the original song. Its not random dab comes in waves, switching in between more intense bursts of original song and more reserved parts where its mostly the beat from Bad. The part around 3:30 is a highlight, as the song moves back and forth between different bitesize chunks of the original with increasing speed. This was an easy 10 in Unconvention Ive never quite heard anything like this. It honestly would have placed higher but the last, like, three whole minutes dont really appeal to me: its much more ambient and monotone, which are not inherently bad things, but I guess after the excitement of the rest of the song, I wanted more.

Brace yourselves.

Planning to do another batch of ten soon.

NBIceman posted...

Yeah, that's about the range I figured I'd be going down in. Glad I managed to get a couple in that you liked!

You did pretty well! I got a very clear picture of your taste and I respect what you were going for. If I'm in the right mindset to really sit and listen to lyrics, maybe I'll give your songs another shot. :)

NFUN posted...

how would this have done
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8_72NFyd-w

Probably in the bottom quarter but above Rosetta Stoned.

Kikoman589 posted...

I'm surprised to see my in-the-moment 4th pick being even higher than Voyager. I also greatly appreciate the comments on the other 2, and how you're appreciating every song nominated in some fashion!

Thank you for the kind words! To be honest this topic has been a bit of a slog because I really don't like talking about music all that much, so it's nice to hear that you're getting something out of the writeups. :)

Eliminations! Thank you for nominating!

32. zts, Chata, Interface Achromasia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HProkEz-UmM
@DoctorJimmy133 (1 remaining)
8 / 8 / 8 / 9 / 8
82

Lovely chip with vocals. This tickles a bunch of my buttons (yay mixed metaphor) and its not even because zts is the composer its just a very earnest, wholesome song. This is probably the one song from this ranking that isnt in English that I wish I understood the lyrics to.

31. Blues Saraceno - The River
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmLR8S8DYqo
@paulg235 (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 7.5 / 8 /9 / 8
82

I adore the structure of this song. I love how every chorus ends with this extended pause, like the song is faking you out. I also love the general bluesy feel and dark twang that permeates every second. I even love when it goes metal in the bridge! (Is this the highest ranked song that could be considered metal?) I especially love the creepy kids singing. This is a song that bleeds personality.

34. White Reaper - Might Be Right
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31jvtk3Z8AU
@Snake5555555555 (ELIMINATED)
8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8
80

Quintuple eights = jackpot!

I think Ive heard this before on the radio, or at least Ive heard other songs similar to it. I didnt dock Unconvention points for that because the song still feels like a unique experience (Unconvention and uniqueness are not always the same thing!). This is a solid rock song. Not much to really say. It accomplishes what it sets out to do remarkably well, and its a lot of fun to listen to.

33. Daft Punk Voyager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INbgG9M0WYE
@Kikoman589 (1 remaining)
9.5 / 7 / 8.5 / 6.5 / 9
81

This is the last song to score anything below a 7. We are truly in elite territory here.

Voyager is the only song from this ranking to have a distinction of me using it in a Discord guessing game, in the only non-vgm list Ive run, so naturally that means I like it (see high Emotion score). Its somewhat repetitive, but it sustains my interest all throughout, in true Daft Punk fashion.

36. Bonobo - Brace Brace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byD8EfroyoE
@PIayer_0 (ELIMINATED)
8 / 8.5 / 7.5 / 8 / 7.5
79

Wistful dreamy folk-pop, in the vein of something like Sufjan Stevens. Brace Brace starts on a high note and keeps climbing, only picking up steam as it goes along. There isnt really one moment I can point to that I enjoy its all consistent throughout. I imagine this would be a good song to take a long run around a wooded area to.

35. Dirt Poor Robins Scarecrows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WQxwM0kMHA
@NBIceman (ELIMINATED)
8.5 / 8.5 / 6 / 9 / 7.5
79

I feel sort of bad for some of these nominations. Their lyrics seem so profound when I focus on them, but lyrics arent normally something I focus on. I would need to see them actually written out all at once, not line by line in a video. That said, there is plenty else to like about Scarecrows, including a second verse drumbeat that actually surprised me by adding something more than adding in a drumbeat! I also really like how different yet similar the two vocalists sound.

38. Akina Nakamori
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6SkVmWK1qc
@handsomeboy2012 (1 remaining)
8.5 / 7 / 7.5 / 8 / 8
78

This randomly popped into my head the other day and I couldnt remember what it was BUT NOW I REMEMBER I DEFEATED THIS SONG

The highlights of this are how catchy it is (as evidenced by it being stuck in my head), the vocals, and the cute little ha-ha! in the chorus. Its a solid pop-rock number, and the singer is very energetic. I think the ending goes on a little too long, which docked it some points, but its a lot of fun to listen to.

37. Carly Rae Jepsen - Felt This Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QwBNbSPfXY
@OrangeCrush980 (ELIMINATED)
8 / 7.5 / 8 / 8.5 / 7.5
79

Felt This Way ranks among the biggest surprises from this ranking. I dont really know much of Jepsens catalog except for, like, Call Me Maybe, which is fine I guess, but this song was a breath of fresh air. Nice production, nice beat, nice lyrics. The whole package is nice. One thing Ive learned through this topic is my idea of modern pop was a bit narrow and has expanded to make room for songs like this.

40. Dmitri Shostakovich - Cello Concerto No. 1, I. Allegretto
https://youtu.be/h23WjKXDe4w?t=22
@Not_an_Owl (1 remaining)
8 / 7 / 7 / 9.5 / 7
77

This sounds like the score to an old horror movie. I love when the cello acquiesces to the rest of the orchestra, and theres this pull back and forth between them. The bit at 2:20 sounds like One Winged Angel. Seriously this feels like old horror score, with a resplendent cello as the focal point.

39. Bomb Boy - Back Alley Clash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVaO6lTyclQ
@sergiocornaga (1 remaining)
6.5 / 7.5 / 8.5 / 9.5 / 7
78

Hey there FM synth. The opening sounds like a coin insert jingle from an old Namco arcade game. Song has a major Streets of Rage vibe to it, with nice grungy industrial sounds. I especially like the sudden clear melody at 0:55, which subsides into some brief glitch and alarm sounds. The whole production is very effective at conveying a very clear mood.

Up!

Murphiroth posted...

Interesting fact about the SOAD song, it's one of two they recently released as their first new music in 15 years in support of what's going on in Armenia at the moment, as they're all of Armenian descent and a lot of their music ties back into that.

And yeah Serj's voice is terrific. The guitarist, Daron, also provides vocals and while I don't like his voice as much he harmonizes with Serj well.

Genocidal Humanoidz really gave me an appreciation for his voice. Very unique and commanding. What's interesting about that song is it's short and kind of repetitive, but he absolutely sells the vocals all throughout.

HasteDeux posted...

I'm eliminated, by the way.

Oops! My bad. Looks like I forgot to add one of your songs to my spreadsheet. Here are your stats:

Elimination stats! Thank you for nominating.

42. Tom Jones - Sex Bomb (Peppermint Remix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWodXm4cfS0
@paulg235 (1 remaining)
6.5 / 7 / 8 / 9.5 / 7.5
77

I have a soft spot for older songs or vocal samples rearranged into modern versions. Sex Bomb feels pretty seamless. The backing combined with Joness sultry vocals makes for something of a timeless song that could come out of any of the past five decades. It goes on a little too long, but I still enjoy it for the whole duration there are certainly worse complaints.

41. Sigur Ros Hoppipolla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=559un6zgVq4
@PIayer_0 (1 remaining)
7.5 / 8 / 8.5 / 8 / 6.5
77

My experience with Sigur Ros is that I really need to be in the appropriate headspace to listen to them. This song, like other music Ive heard from them, makes me feel like Im being folded into the song like a big creamy enchilada, surrounded by this lush soundscape on all sides. It feels both sad and happy at the same time, not in a back-and-forth kind of way, but as a totality, a combination of both ends. Thats pretty impressive.

44. Run The Jewels - Sea Legs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbnhUVTTdHE
@kaonashi1 (2 remaining)
8 / 6.5 / 7 / 9.5 / 7
76

Sea Legs goes against my usual rap preferences. I think I said earlier that typically the beat is what I like the most in rap, but the beat here is pretty lackluster. Where the song really shines is in its lyrics and the flow of the rappers. Theres some cool wordplay all throughout as well as plenty of multis. Im always impressed great rappers can command the language so authoritatively.

43. mikanzil Pallet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-GxoMS1U2k
@MasaomiHouzuki (ELIMINATED)
8 / 8.5 / 9 / 7 / 5.5
76

A common theme among songs around this point in the list is they score well in everything except Obsession. Theres quite a few here that I really like but cant retain much of, like Pallet, which is an energetic tune with weird meter at times and unexpected vocals but which I just cant remember. Still, its a great experience when I do listen to it. I especially like the main keyboard motif in the verses.

46. System of a Down - Genocidal Humanoidz
https://youtu.be/_74nVpLVn9Q
@Murphiroth (ELIMINATED)
7 / 8 / 7.5 / 8.5 / 7
76

Even as I thought this singers voice was terrific, Ive never thought of System of a Down as a band apart from the few hits I happen to know. This song, however, is pretty cerebral and politically minded, with the machine-gun-like guitars and drums hammering home the intensity. Its a short track, but it encapsulates a lot in its runtime.

45. RENT - Another Day
https://youtu.be/lb2BfW0t94M
@Raka_Putra (1 remaining)
7.5 / 7 / 7 / 8.5 / 8
76

Of all the Broadway nominated for this topic, this one feels the most . . . well, Broadway. The specific cadences in the singing, the lyrics, the backing, it all screams stereotypical Broadway. Thats not necessarily a bad thing: Another Day is full of PASSION and energy. (Not as much of a fan of the female singer though.) Though I dont know the exact plot of Rent, I can safely assume this plays at a big turning point in the show. The line of No day but today is pretty impactful even its on own, and this number uses it effectively.

48. Takeshi Nakatsuka - JAPANESE BOY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTVHW3mwmKQ
@cakophon (2 remaining)
7 / 7 / 8.5 / 7.5 / 7.5
75

I love how bouncy this is! The vocalist reminds me of a Japanese Death Cab for Cutie in terms of vocal inflection; I also get Katamari vibes all throughout. I could see this played during a chase sequence in a film. Love the jazz, love the horns and sax and the big orchestral hits. This is a song that goes big and lands. Also, I said I wasnt judging based on the video, but that video is really great.

As an aside, this is the first song that achieved a rating of 7 or higher in every category. Congratulations!

47. Mylne Farmer - Sans Logique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Xx4qCpI38
@FL81 (ELIMINATED)
8 / 7.5 / 7.5 / 6.5 / 8
75

My notes for this song are nice 80s feel, with strong castanet energy. The song has power in reservation: nothing is too bombastic. The vocals, for instance, are very measured and almost quiet, but theyre haunting and eerie. Sans Logique is also incredibly catchy, particularly the breathy chorus. Ive come back to this one a few times since nominations.

50. Mike Oldfield - The Bell
https://youtu.be/uDp-xpN7Xqg
@SuperbVEVO (ELIMINATED)
7.5 / 8 / 8 / 6.5 / 7
74

This is a lovely song that cycles through different instruments as it progress, which it . . . feels the need to announce every time. Thats certainly a musical decision. I would definitely prefer it not do that lol. Id rather be swept along by the gradual changes in a more subtle way. But the overall effect is still very cool. The progression is nice and the underlying rhythm is great. All that said, my favorite part is the key change at 5:00, when the song changes up a bit.

49. Minotaur Shock - Flytip Toe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs3nEawldR0
@GameBopAdv (2 remaining)
8 / 6 / 9.5 / 8.5 / 5
74

Nice rubbery glitch sounds, very crystally. A great combination of sounds which are normally pleasing to my ear. The beat is very swingy and actually reminds me of Jamie Berry - Lost in the Rhythm (#61 on the list), which is a completely different type of song but has a similar beat maybe Im making that up? I dont know. The meter changes a lot, and there are stretches where I cant tell what it is, which I like.

Soon!

Not_an_Owl posted...

Any estimate of when this will resume?

Thinking sometime in early to mid May. VGMC nominations will be over by then and I can devote some time to this.

And again.

And up.

Up!