good choice IMO
― smhphony orchestra (crüt), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 18:17 (ten years ago) link
I would read the Mario book in a heartbeat but hopefully it won't be mostly videogame history, Atari, ET, the crash, Nintendo saving the day, etc. Which has been written about a million times over.
A book on Japanese videogame music is SORELY needed, but one that would dig deep into the history of Westernized rock/pop music reflected in Japan, what composers are most inspired by Cheap Trick/Deep Purple, the handful of composers that wrote most of the tracks in the late 80s that are still being recycled to this day, etc. Basically something someone has probably already written in Japan.
― ▴▲ ▴TH3CR()$BY$H()W▴▲ ▴ (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 18:19 (ten years ago) link
Re: DKC I think it was a change in game music from a SNES-technological perspective but WipeOut on PS would be a way better choice, death of MIDI-based vgame music, dawn of CD-audio, plus it's an awesome soundtrack
― "got ye!" (flamboyant goon tie included), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 18:31 (ten years ago) link
the aja, song cycle, and trout mask replica books r rly good
― i also enjoy in line skateing (spazzmatazz), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 18:39 (ten years ago) link
DKC2 is not necessarily a milestone, just really really great, also re: wise's comments about how he realized its impact only relatively recently, but it's definitely worth writing about it, the english videogame composer scene at the time, the randomness of how some soundtracks ended up the way they did, and probably less predictable than a book about WipeOut which got a lot of hype for its soundtrack then and since.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 20 May 2014 18:47 (ten years ago) link
I think overall the Nintendo/Genesis videogame revolution was a milestone for music because it was perhaps the first mass breakthrough of Japanese pop culture into US/Western culture. Entire generations of gamers have grown up hearing music composed by Japanese musicians. And not just Japanese men, but a great many of those composers were women.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_game_musicians
― ▴▲ ▴TH3CR()$BY$H()W▴▲ ▴ (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 19:02 (ten years ago) link
Is DKC2 that much better/impactful than DKC? Honest question, not a jackassy one
― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 19:50 (ten years ago) link
Would read a book abt EarthBound music tho am I rite????
DKC was the real breakthrough soundtrack, DKC2 not much of a technological improvement on it (afaict, maybe it is in a way that is not obvious). I was impressed by the sound quality in the first few SNES games, but DKC was the first time I recall putting down a video game and just listening to the music (which they assisted with by letting the music play while the game was paused).
― Vinnie, Tuesday, 20 May 2014 19:57 (ten years ago) link
DKC2 is just the all killer, no filler refinement of DKC OST. Also a feel-good story in David WIse, who's not done a high profile soundtrack since the 90s, coming back to Nintendo for the new Donkey Kong game this year and releasing what 'people' (on forums) almost unanimously seem to agree is a worthy follow-up on the same level.
Back on topic and many xps - I don't think this will waste time on gaming history- surely by going so specific he'll be able to talk about the finer details of the craft and that specific scene. Agreed about japanese game music - I've been trying to find theory about, for instance, what's so special about japanese pop melodies, and it's all (seemingly) in Japanese and often by amateurs. Put up a kickstarter on the bible on japanese game music and I'll support you.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 20 May 2014 21:20 (ten years ago) link
why would you play a video game with the sound on?
― grindie cindy (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 21:55 (ten years ago) link
Why go fly a kite when you can just pop a pill?
― ▴▲ ▴TH3CR()$BY$H()W▴▲ ▴ (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 22:18 (ten years ago) link
Because...
― MarkoP, Tuesday, 20 May 2014 22:30 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cjjqfYjIwk#t=25
― grindie cindy (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 20 May 2014 22:38 (ten years ago) link
so.. Beat Happening and The Grateful Dead http://333sound.com/
― piscesx, Thursday, 22 May 2014 14:55 (ten years ago) link
oh cool grateful dead, v v underrated band, glad to see them get some shine
― °ㅇ๐ْ ° (gr8080), Thursday, 22 May 2014 15:49 (ten years ago) link
I don't think I've ever actually heard the Grateful Dead aside from "Touch of Grey"
― macklin' rosie (crüt), Thursday, 22 May 2014 15:54 (ten years ago) link
Of course, the Beat Happening book author is also the "creator of the quarterly print journal True Sincerity"
― Herbie Handcock (Murgatroid), Thursday, 22 May 2014 15:57 (ten years ago) link
there are going to be *some* female authors on this year's list right
― maura, Thursday, 22 May 2014 16:27 (ten years ago) link
so almost all of the smashing pumpkins original LPs got proposals, yeah? except gish, yeah? whats the over/under on those being put out in this round?
― i also enjoy in line skateing (spazzmatazz), Thursday, 22 May 2014 16:28 (ten years ago) link
a little tangential here but 33 1/3 was the first thing i thought about on hearing of this serieshttp://bossfightbooks.com/
― Look at this joke I've recognised, do you recognise it as well? (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 22 May 2014 16:34 (ten years ago) link
Beat Happening and Grateful Dead. Are they trying to follow up on the success of Let's Talk About Love?
― mohawk ororoducer (abanana), Thursday, 22 May 2014 16:58 (ten years ago) link
We'll know for sure when they announce Crash Test Dummies.
― MarkoP, Thursday, 22 May 2014 17:01 (ten years ago) link
because the music is very good and interesting, and was written to accompany the action and is especially interesting in that way when it's done well, whereas just listening to whatever you like while you play is sort of like turning off the color on the tv while you play and putting a filter with colors you like on the screen
― Now I Am Become Dracula (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 22 May 2014 17:31 (ten years ago) link
You can do that?
― pplains, Thursday, 22 May 2014 17:33 (ten years ago) link
for a price, yes, get in touch, we offer several very attractive packages
― Now I Am Become Dracula (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 22 May 2014 17:36 (ten years ago) link
koji kondo and nobou uematsu are geniuses, and they deserve more books written about them than 95% of bands already covered by 33 1/3
― i also enjoy in line skateing (spazzmatazz), Thursday, 22 May 2014 17:38 (ten years ago) link
why would you watch music videos with the sound on? they're all about cool visuals, just watch and listen to your own music instead.
― a strange man (mh), Thursday, 22 May 2014 18:12 (ten years ago) link
whiney hates v4p0rw4v3 tho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPkoNICjQFI
― °ㅇ๐ْ ° (gr8080), Thursday, 22 May 2014 18:19 (ten years ago) link
spazzmatazz otm
― Look at this joke I've recognised, do you recognise it as well? (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 22 May 2014 18:49 (ten years ago) link
http://nerdmentality.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11643
What's it gonna be? Kondo's unforgettable tunes of immense catchiness, or Uematsu's epic scores of brilliance?
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:01 (ten years ago) link
I would definitely buy a book on the music for the Katamari games (at least, the first two), which remains totally unique and bizarre in ways that I can't describe - not to mention catchy as sin all the way through.
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:10 (ten years ago) link
I loooove the Katamari music (also Jet Grind Radio)
― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:15 (ten years ago) link
If there is other shit that sounds like Katamari 1 & 2 OSTs I would like to know about it. I am ill informed on VG music in general and Asian hyper pop as well.
― Khamma chameleon (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:34 (ten years ago) link
love the whole 'pushing primitive tech and creating music that sounds a little off' angle. glad they picked something pre-cd for that reason but earthbound would be my personal #1 pick.
― original bgm, Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:36 (ten years ago) link
Well for hyper Asian pop, I often recommend Plus-Tech Squeeze Box's Cartooom!
― MarkoP, Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:37 (ten years ago) link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya-kei
― ▴▲ ▴TH3CR()$BY$H()W▴▲ ▴ (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:41 (ten years ago) link
yeah a lot of Shibuya-kei stuff is kind of similar (and the two PTSB albums are excellent) but it doesn't quite have that degree of surrealness. I do think the Haruomi Hosono + Miharu Koshi album Swing Slow hits the spot. As does a lot of the stuff by De De Mouse.
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:45 (ten years ago) link
maybe serani poji one-room survival?
― original bgm, Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:47 (ten years ago) link
I guess that's not really too 'surreal' but some of it sounds similar to katamari otherwise
― original bgm, Thursday, 22 May 2014 19:50 (ten years ago) link
omg this is rly good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7JcWeq9yTo
― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 22 May 2014 20:30 (ten years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SNredsfyBI
Best video game rhythm section ever! Would you call this prog rock?
― ▴▲ ▴TH3CR()$BY$H()W▴▲ ▴ (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 22 May 2014 22:11 (ten years ago) link
Psychocandy!
― piscesx, Tuesday, 27 May 2014 17:59 (nine years ago) link
Fucking Phish A Live One lol wtf.
― how's life, Tuesday, 27 May 2014 18:07 (nine years ago) link
no "13" ;_; I cry
― aaliyah papi (Stevie D(eux)), Saturday, 7 June 2014 06:01 (nine years ago) link
Slate: I Read 93 Books About Pop Albums. Here’s what I learned.
― ArchCarrier, Wednesday, 10 September 2014 09:53 (nine years ago) link
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_completist/2014/09/_33_1_3_books_the_30_best_from_aretha_franklin_to_neutral_milk_hotel.html
No Hugo Wilcken "Low", no credibility
― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 10 September 2014 14:28 (nine years ago) link
ha ha it's so epic (and very Steve) that he read ALL of them, wow
(won't lie, I'm sad that I didn't get a shoutout- I thought we were friends! ouch)
― the tune was space, Wednesday, 10 September 2014 19:31 (nine years ago) link
Are you Hugo? If so, amazing book--best monograph on DB
― Iago Galdston, Wednesday, 10 September 2014 20:44 (nine years ago) link