Preliminary Match #15

Listen to all five songs and select the one you like best.

Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2 - Stream of Tears
SUDEKI - Crystal Reef
Eternal Sonata - The mediocrity sought out by everyone
Alpine Racer - Give It Together
Daytona USA - Let's Go Away

Stream of Tears: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Crystal Reef: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
The mediocrity sought out by everyone: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Give It Together: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:
Let's Go Away: Get the Flash Player to play this audio file:

Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2 - Stream of Tears
While it's inoffensive enough, this sort of trance styling doesn't really do much of anything. It's certainly never done much for me.

SUDEKI - Crystal Reef
I suppose this is kind of like a crystal reef, in that there's a lot of laid-back vibes but not a whole lot of action. It's decent as general ambiance or sonic wallpaper, but not the most compelling stuff, though it gets better toward the end.

Eternal Sonata - The mediocrity sought out by everyone
In general, renaissance-style tracks tend to be a bit on the dull side. Motoi deftly sidesteps that trap, delivering a nicely melodic and energetic piece.

Alpine Racer - Give It Together
There are some decent jazzy keyboard licks, but the piece doesn't make much of an impression overall.

Daytona USA - Let's Go Away
The second racertrack in a row certainly has a sound that's rather...different. I can't decide if the singing is cheesy-good or cheesy-bad--it's definitely on the knife's edge--but at least it's original.

1: Eternal Sonata
2: Daytona USA
3: SUDEKI
4: Alpine Racer
5: Wangan Midnight

After the first three tunes ("The Mediocrity Sought Out By Everyone" seems to be a fitting description for them and the approach of their respective composers), I was set to give it to the cult classic "Let's Go Away" by default. Thankfully, Alpine Racer made it something of a match-up. In the end though...It'll take more than what Alpine has to offer to go against "DAYTOOOOONA! Let's go away!", but I'll be glad for either here.

DAYYTOOOOOOOOOONAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

ahhaahhahahahaha, yes.

Let us do our best to assure that Daytona is not Messed With.

It's fuckin' DAYTONA, fuckers. DOOT DO DOOT DO DOOT DODOOT!

Awesome.

(EDIT: What, that's not descriptive enough? Meh. I'll wait for BSC to actually start to sing my praises for this song.)

Stream of tears - repetitive but pleasant

crystal reef - pretty laid back and i was feeling it until the section with the pads came in, where the harmonies got all messed up.

mediocrity - Nice track, great chord progression and some cool harmonic surpises.

Give it together - A little too bland for me

Lets go away - at least this one isn't generic.

Way! Heh! Hee! Wayhehee! Way! Heh! Hee!

Brilliant matchup! Terrible matchup!

Let's go Away is incredible. I was too young and stupid to appreciate this back in 1995.

I really like Stream of Tears, it's been a favourite for a while. Nothing new or innovative though.

Alpine Racer is a similar kind of thing, but not as groovy.

Crystal Reef sounds something like Radiohead and is therefore great.

'The mediocrity sought out by everyone' turned up to the wrong party.


If there must be a winner (and there must), then you know what it is...

You placed first

Aw crap, I thought I was listening to the Daytona track when I was listening to the fifth track from another pairing.
TOTALLY would've voted for Daytona purely for the laugh factor, especially because I really didn't want to vote for Sakuraba in the first place

Not that it'll matter, anyway, Daytona's winning. =o

"Stream of Tears" - The bass in this track is mesmerizing and awesome. I immediately fell in love and will probably keep it on CD in my car for listening on extended drives.

"Crystal Reef" - It's pleasant enough but a tad uneventful. I much preferred "New Brightwater" when it appeared in SotW.

"the mediocrity sought out by everyone" - A Sakuraba track with a hint of emotion and skill? I smell trickery and am distancing myself immediately before the bear-trap springs shut on my ankle.

"Give it Together" - This was fairly uninspiring. Meh.

"Let's Go Away" - This song is fucking irritating. No wonder you people intend to sculpt it into a meme.

Obligatory "Messin' with Daytona" vote commencing.

"Stream of Tears" is a great dose of energetic VGM trance. It's got a nice sentimental quality buried beneath the ostentatious electronic exterior which I particularly enjoy. It kept me absolutely hooked the whole way through, so congrats to Mr. Koshiro.

I really enjoy the Sudeki Original Soundtrack, and "Crystal Reef" is one of my favourites. It's got a great cohesive blend of instrumentation, from acoustic work to maracas to really crisp drum percussion. The progression keeps me interested surprisingly; actually, I'd go as far as saying that the entire song keeps me transfixed throughout. It's got some secret charm to it, it does.

Ah, my very favourite Eternal Sonata track, praise be to the nominator! "The mediocrity sought out by everyone" is a Sakuraba track with an awful lot of character and warmth, and the quirky melodic backing is just plain euphonic. Humble, cheerful and above all agreeable...this is arguably my favourite Sakuraba slow-piece ever. (Can someone tell me where this plays in-game, just for curiosity's sake?)

"Give It Together" is nice, but when played after the previous three it seems kind of inferior. No, no...it's harsh to use that as some sort of justification; I simply didn't like the melody and beat that much. It's pretty decent, but I can't help but feel it's a bit standard as far as racer tracks go.

'K lesse what all the fuss is about...well, it's certainly not as impressive as I thought it would be, but it's still fun. "Let's Go Away"'s vocals are strangely addictive, and the music itself makes for a pretty enjoyable listen~

"Stream of Tears" - 8.5/10
"Crystal Reef" - 8.5/10
"The mediocrity sought out by everyone" - 9.5/10
"Give It Together" - 7/10
"Let's Go Away" - 7.5/10

Ooh, another strong grouping. *pokes it with a stick in awe*

Stream of Tears is a great track mixing trance and a soft piano. A keeper for sure. A possible vote getter.

Crystal Reef does not have much to it. Yes it gets slightly better as it moves forward, but far too ambient. Not great ambiance either.

The Mediocrity...is better than its predecessor. Definitely grows on you.

Give it Together is dull and just there

Where the hell did I hear Lets Go Away from? I dont think I ever played Daytona USA. Who knows. Sure sticks in your head now doesn't it.

Tears

I like violins. So, Mediocrity it is!

Originally Posted by Mo0

TOTALLY would've voted for Daytona purely for the laugh factor, especially because I really didn't want to vote for Sakuraba in the first place

O YOUUUUUUUUUU

It would be pretty awesome for the lulz if mediocrity won this entire competition. Talk about editorial

Crystal Reef is very good, props to the nominator.

Wow. I... didn't like any of these at all. Abstain! =O