Board 8 > [VGMC] Day 17! Angela/HereticFrypan, CHASE/Desierto Calinte, Ar Refinery/Shudder

(+) Yeah! (+)

Welcome to Video Game Music Contest 16, an annual celebration of the best of the best video game music according to the voters!

Important Links:
Bracket: https://www.bracketmaker.com/tlist.cfm?tid=475935
Contest info sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_IU5iCFTM_4WEx8ZWKwznMz5v2tarCKh1Ag0mxIgAes
Contest discussion thread: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80027411
Main bracket playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3m7iohpL0xxfgkmGKvEyWfHvNZ53Kbn
Last years spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16XAaBMDuUnQ4c5AxQNL9ZhvD7VG5kQyrXWWZxnkrn-o
VGMC total stats sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K1XdLWiUKB2kX99qYBgnRbLU_sCz4dvZSByKKJHCT6o
Discord: https://discord.gg/WDvMS4a

Rules:
- Listen to both songs in a given match, at least through the loop time provided (to make sure you don't skip before you've heard the whole thing!)
- Please consider the loop point listed when judging the song; if a video loops one minute 5 times, don't treat it as if it's a repetitive 5 minute song
- If it's a match between your favorite song ever and a song you despise, still LISTEN TO BOTH! Votes can and will be disqualified if there is suspicion songs are not being listened to, and you may be discounted for the rest of the contest for repeat offenses.
- No alt accounts, no rallying or begging, etc., etc.... You only get one vote! Swapping votes is alright, just make clear that you've already made a vote and are swapping.
- Make clear what your voting options are! Please keep votes separate from any comments, and use the titles given in the topic post.
- Voting in all matches is not mandatory, feel free to skip matches you do not wish to vote in.
- Vote based on the links provided, and not other sources of audio. Links are specifically chosen for best quality and the like.
- Don't discuss vote tallies in this thread, or in other threads, as they may influence votes. Likewise, please refrain from looking at the running tally before voting.

Voting Period:
- Today's matches will last 24 hours from the time of posting, or 24 hours from 10pm Eastern, whichever is the later time.
- Please note this may mean that two topics will be active at the same time!
- If you anticipate being unable to vote in a given day, please send an absentee vote to @banshiryuu, or post your absentee vote in the discussion thread!

.

Match 1

Library of Ruina - Angela
Composer: Studio EIM
Loop Point: 4:30
Genre: FORLORN ABNORMALITY
https://youtu.be/YV1uwUziZqQ

Eastward - Heretic Frypan
Composer: Joel Corelitz
Loop Point: 2:26
Genre: HOT COALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1j_3LXk2jU

Match 2

Uncharted Waters: New Horizons - THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Composer: Yoko Kanno
Loop Point: 5:23
Genre: PASTICHE METHENY<

ANGELA BOSS - 6.9
RUMILLY - 8.2

FLYING DUTCHMAN - 8.5
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS - 7.5

SOL - 8.15
LYRICAL TECHNO - 8.9
caps

Angela
-----
Argon Refinery

Today is so fucking busted oh my fucking goooodddddddixuxitxtdydys5sygststi. I need more time for match 2. Jfc.

Angela [8.5]
Heretic Frypan [7]
The Chase [9]
Desierto Caliente [9]
Argon Refinery [9.5]
Shudder [9]

1. Turok 2:Seeds of Evil (GBC) - Scroll Stage
2. Super Mario 64 - Staff Roll
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???
6. ???
7. ???
8. Alto's Odyssey - An Endless Desert
9. Phantasy Star Online 2 - Yggdrasil
10. Shatter - Argon Refinery
11. ???
12. Napple Tale - Dreams in a Pie
13. ???
14. ???
15. ???
16. ???
17. ???
18. ???
19. Lightning Returns - The Glittering City of Yusnaan
20. ???

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Heretic Frypan
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

Match 3 was rough for me today. Shatter just barely beat out Einhander.

Library of Ruina - Angela
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons - THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shatter - Argon Refinery

FORLORN ABNORMALITY
SALSATION
MASTERBITS RAPSODY

i guess. all of today's matches are hard

Heretic: Before Hexen
Hot Desert
Elemental Producing Station

First match super close.

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Shudder

it'd be pretty convenient if heretics actually were frying pans because you could be like "BURN THE HERETIC" and then make an omelet on them while they're burning, easy lunch

"pastiche" is a cool word that I learned recently from a combination of this contest and going to a Weird Al concert

shudder - argon einhandery

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

I still can't believe Yoko Kanno produced that track!!!

Shudder has my favorite orchestral hit melody ever! Normally I'm against something so repetitive (repetition is a downside of Einhander's OST), but it actually works here! Love all those fourths and those crystalline effects! I just really don't like it when the rap comes in. :[ It's like, literally a 9.6/10 for all of it and then it drops to 0/10. That's right. If it were just that rapping part I would rate it a 0! It is absolutely grating to me!

Angela (6.4v - 52nd place) / Heretic Frypan (6.7^ - 48th place)
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition) (9.15 - 7th place) / Desierto Caliente (5.8 - 53rd place)
Argon Refinery (5.1 - 61st place) / Shudder (9.5v - 2nd place)

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Shudder

I'm thankful The Chase didn't impress me as much as Southern Twilight did, but it's still a damn tough vote. Guacamelee's music is super great. Also not much to say, Shudder is nice!

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

Heretic Frypan
Desierto Caliente
Shudder

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

Heretic
Desierto
Refinery

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

I guess I wasn't really in the mood for anything here but it was all okay.

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Strong day!

Angela is very good, I usually like whatever this genre is. I don't get why it's counted as three phases, or why it suddenly cuts off like that, but whatever. Frypan is cool too, this is a solid matchup.
CHASE isn't quite as fun as Southern Twilight but it's still got those Vibes. I relax more into it as it gets going, man I've gotta listen to more of this OST. I like the first 30 seconds of Desierto a lot! But I'm not as keen on it once the brass kicks in. Still good, but I like when the track is more chill.
Argon is one of my fav discoveries of the contest, I love all the segments and how it builds. If I had a criticism it's probably that it spends a little too much time on each phase before moving on, but there isn't a part of it that I don't enjoy. Shudder is the only track I don't care for today, so this is an easy match.

Angela: 4/5
Frypan: 3.5/5
CHASE: 4/5
Desierto: 3.5/5
Argon: 5/5
Shudder: 2/5

Eastward - Heretic Frypan
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons - THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Einhnder - Shudder

Match 1 is stupid close, I don't wanna vote against either of these

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Shudder

Eastward - Heretic Frypan
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons - THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Einhnder - Shudder

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

I would've voted for Argon Refinery, but it goes on way too long for its own good. Shudder's a great song in its own right though.

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Heretic Frypan
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

The dubstep percussion for Angela is kinda off-putting compared to how the rest of the song sounds. I like the piano and violin here. But nothing else is really catching my attention in this.

In the audio files I have, the ending of Angela transitions seamlessly into Heretic Frypan, which is pretty cool. I'm liking Heretic Frypan more than I did during noms. Some really cool synths here. It's like a mix of 80's synthwave with chiptune, which is pretty neat. Probably gonna vote for this one. Would've probably voted Angela based on my initial listens though.

THE CHASE is so cool. It's Kanno's best take on fusion. The guitar and Metheny synths are both superb. The guitar solo in the middle from 2:16-3:48 is definitely the best part. So good. All the details in the background just add so much as well, like the shaker, the piano textures, the ambient synth effects, the excellent drums, etc. Fantastic song overall, and a relatively easy vote for it as well.

Desierto Caliente is a fun song with the mariachi band instrumentation. Nice acoustic guitar especially. It feels like it needs more trumpet though. The drum machine percussion is an interesting choice, but it strangely works here. Good song, but it doesn't stand a chance against THE CHASE unfortunately.

Argon Refinery is another fun song. It's grown on me quite a bit since I initially listened to it during noms. Very cool synths throughout. It's long, but I quite like the progression throughout. The e-guitar-sounding synth that builds starting at 3:54 up to 5:43 is so cool. Just a great song all-around.

Shudder also has some pretty cool synths in it. The rap portion is pretty cool too. But after Argon Refinery, this one just feels too short and lacking in any sort of proper development.

Relatively easy votes in all three matches for me.

Votes:
Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~
Argon Refinery

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Angela starts out with a bang and really keeps it going. I guess it's three phases of the same boss or something? Phase 2 might be my favorite but all are good and they work together as one song. The only thing close to a weakness is that it doesn't really have an ending. Heretic Frypan doesn't have much going for it.

Something about Chase just sounds off to me. I don't like the instruments at all. Desierto sounds reasonably nice in general.

Argon Refinery's always been a good entry in these, though I'm surprised to see it come back after all this time. Shudder's pretty fast and furious. Very hard hitting.

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

Angela > Argon Refinery > Shudder > Desierto Caliente > Heretic Frypan > THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)

Heretic Frypan
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

"Heretic Frypan" is one of my favorite discoveries from this tournament. Props to whomever nommed it.

Also, random, but if any of y'all haven't played Guacamelee!,be sure to check it out- it's pretty cheap, pretty short (at least, the original version is), and pretty great.

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

I nominated Frypan, and it's only my fifth favorite song here. Today is completely unreasonable.

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Shudder

Heretic Frypan
Chase Chase
Argon Refinery

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shudder

Eastward was my (and SupraDarky's) favourite soundtrack of 2021! Joel Corelitz nailed that "basic waveforms with modern synths and effects" sound, which is one of my favourite things in VGM (Fez, Dustforce, Golden Ridge B-Side). I'm just happy Heretic Frypan made the bracket, there's so many good songs that I didn't feel confident nominating: Strange Quest, Twisted Justice, Industrial, Black Train, Iron Carbine, the list goes on. Best part is the cymbals from 1:36-1:49!

Interestingly, 5 songs today locked at #53 or earlier...and then there's Heretic Frypan at #175.

THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Shudder

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

8.1
7.9
7.7
9.2
10
9

Desierto Caliente is one of my favorite new discoveries of the contest. Rom Di Prisco also has music in The Sopranos and Fortnite

Argon Refinery is my second 10 of the contest! It's a big fat 80's synth pop song that continues to build on itself for 9 minutes and holds my attention all the way through. Most other Shatter songs are kinda just discount versions of this in my humble opinion

SORRY yoko kanno i'm sure i'll end up voting for you again several times

Heretic Frypan
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery

Match 2 is suffering. I will be incredibly happy if either of these songs not only made it to R2, but retired. Damn this brutal matchup.

Angela
Desierto Caliente
Argon Refinery

Match 2 is stacked as hell what the shit.

Library of Ruina - Angela
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons - THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Shatter - Argon Refinery

Desierto Caliente

Super in the mood for this song right now.

Heretic Frypan
--
Argon Refinery

Today's a pretty good day. Desierto managed to really surprise me but too bad I'm not a fan of the vocals, but at least they're very "minimal" vocal parts. THE CHASE is nice too if maybe a bit too chill for the mood I'm in right now. Both of the songs have really great moments halfway through, like that transition at 2:35 in THE CHASE and the section from 1:36-1:51 in Desierto. I really like how artificial those horns at 1:44 in Desierto sound. I keep going back and forth as to which I'd want to vote for which is a good sign to just abstain and let it be

Match 3 I'd most likely take Shudder over Argon if not for the lyrics portion because it's real cool and while there's still plenty of it to enjoy without the vocals, Argon's real solid as well so I have no problem voting for it. Not going back and forth here

Also in match 1 Angela's a solid song too I really like the part near the end at 3:34 and also similarly at 4:24 that gets hit with the cutoff. But still Heretic Frypan was one of my favorite discoveries during nominations so, yea

Seraph
steve reich
Check it out, well it's the lyrical paragraphs your tracks make me laugh, you front on the microphone you didn't pass math, and science the main ingredient to be the finest of the fittest, you did it and yo I ain't with it you failed all the lessons what have remained the top ten stop, look and listen give props to the light-skinned knowledge is the key to be the best of a black man wisdom understands the ways of a dutchland devilish attitudes that really make me rude it's Friday the 13th, you're all fuckin' doomed it's Jason and Michael Myers and Freddy all combined you say we're the savages but look at who eats swine, the pig there's only one vein in the body I'm at the hot vodka and sing 'em a song I wanna rockabye the babies it won't be long before you're pushing up daisies

8.5
8.5
9
8
8
9.5

Angela
THE CHASE ~Chase~ (Special Edition)
Argon Refinery