HERE COMES NEW A CHALLENGER
Review by Josh Peterson
Various Artists
For more info check out:
www.gamemusic4all.com
Review by Josh Peterson
Various Artists
For more info check out:
www.gamemusic4all.com
The idea behind the album Here Comes A New Challenger was to take two artists or two groups of artists who make video-
game inspired music and have them labor in tandem to produce something new. Some of the musicians hadn't even heard
of each other before collaborating on this album.
Going into this, I felt that the biggest problem with this genre or more accurately this collection of subgenres is that the
music is often too technical and too intellectual and can sometimes sound as stale as a Midwestern marching band. Video-
game inspired music seems like it would lack the Bacchanalian spirit of rock and roll or the deep soulfulness jazz. The
expression of the verve, the low mournful cry, the blissful shout of joy that good music inspires seems like it could be easily
swapped for the clever insertion of a 1-Up noise.
There are a couple of songs on this collection that feel flat. The artists might have not blended together well or they may
have experimented a bit too much and ended up in an artistic cul-de-sac. In those cases, the ambition usually dwarfed the
execution.
However, this album was great overall. Many of the songs managed to be both clever and expressive. Some of the songs
caused me to laugh out loud, "LOL Cats" by 8bit Betty and Drown Radio especially. (Meow, Meow, Motherf*$%ers) My
personal favorite was "Holiday from Hyrule" by CasioKid and Elfonso. It had a sloppy sort of punk feel to it like early Modest
Mouse, and it was about The Legend of Zelda. Way to integrate all my favorite things.
"Not in this Castle" by Whoremoans and Hiroshi starts off the album with a literal and figurative bang. "Angel with One
Wing" does a wonderful job of integrating a classical-orchestra feel with rap music and videogames. Doctor Octoroc and
Random can be thanked for this musically interesting and enjoyable track. I also relished in the "wistful" fun of "Game Girl,"
the pure juvenile bliss of "F-Bombs and 1-Ups," the clever remixing involved in "Daft Punk Vs. Rich Boy" and the offbeat
beats of "Rush'n Attack."
Although it may be a while before video-game inspired music reaches the mainstream, —In fact, it may be never— this album
proves that this is a musical genre that can be relevant and poignant while still making references to video games.
game inspired music and have them labor in tandem to produce something new. Some of the musicians hadn't even heard
of each other before collaborating on this album.
Going into this, I felt that the biggest problem with this genre or more accurately this collection of subgenres is that the
music is often too technical and too intellectual and can sometimes sound as stale as a Midwestern marching band. Video-
game inspired music seems like it would lack the Bacchanalian spirit of rock and roll or the deep soulfulness jazz. The
expression of the verve, the low mournful cry, the blissful shout of joy that good music inspires seems like it could be easily
swapped for the clever insertion of a 1-Up noise.
There are a couple of songs on this collection that feel flat. The artists might have not blended together well or they may
have experimented a bit too much and ended up in an artistic cul-de-sac. In those cases, the ambition usually dwarfed the
execution.
However, this album was great overall. Many of the songs managed to be both clever and expressive. Some of the songs
caused me to laugh out loud, "LOL Cats" by 8bit Betty and Drown Radio especially. (Meow, Meow, Motherf*$%ers) My
personal favorite was "Holiday from Hyrule" by CasioKid and Elfonso. It had a sloppy sort of punk feel to it like early Modest
Mouse, and it was about The Legend of Zelda. Way to integrate all my favorite things.
"Not in this Castle" by Whoremoans and Hiroshi starts off the album with a literal and figurative bang. "Angel with One
Wing" does a wonderful job of integrating a classical-orchestra feel with rap music and videogames. Doctor Octoroc and
Random can be thanked for this musically interesting and enjoyable track. I also relished in the "wistful" fun of "Game Girl,"
the pure juvenile bliss of "F-Bombs and 1-Ups," the clever remixing involved in "Daft Punk Vs. Rich Boy" and the offbeat
beats of "Rush'n Attack."
Although it may be a while before video-game inspired music reaches the mainstream, —In fact, it may be never— this album
proves that this is a musical genre that can be relevant and poignant while still making references to video games.
Track Artists
Hiroshi VS Whoremoans
8 Bit Bandit VS Mac Turner
Dan Plus Add VS MisterB
Atarimatt VS Legendary Wizard
Category VS MisterB VS Dan Plus Add
Spheres of Chaos VS ProjektZero
Doctor Octoroc VS Random
Dot.AY VS ZOMBIES! ORGANIZE!!
Temp Sound Solutions VS PC Speaker and Coaxke
Videogame Orchestra VS Dual Core
Girlz Melon VS IllGill
Decepticon-19 VS MadHatter
Jay Tholen VS MC Wreckshin
The Analog Kid VS Category
NESMETAL VS pIENESS
Videogame Orchestra VS TUS
8bit bEtty VS Drown Radio
CasioKid VS Elfonso
Dibiase VS O-Phrap
Square Wail VS Johnny La Rock and Mush Mouth
The Mighty Vybz
8 Bit Bandit
Hiroshi VS Whoremoans
8 Bit Bandit VS Mac Turner
Dan Plus Add VS MisterB
Atarimatt VS Legendary Wizard
Category VS MisterB VS Dan Plus Add
Spheres of Chaos VS ProjektZero
Doctor Octoroc VS Random
Dot.AY VS ZOMBIES! ORGANIZE!!
Temp Sound Solutions VS PC Speaker and Coaxke
Videogame Orchestra VS Dual Core
Girlz Melon VS IllGill
Decepticon-19 VS MadHatter
Jay Tholen VS MC Wreckshin
The Analog Kid VS Category
NESMETAL VS pIENESS
Videogame Orchestra VS TUS
8bit bEtty VS Drown Radio
CasioKid VS Elfonso
Dibiase VS O-Phrap
Square Wail VS Johnny La Rock and Mush Mouth
The Mighty Vybz
8 Bit Bandit
Not This Castle
8 B.I.T. POPPA
The Drawing Board [lyrics]
Please Insert Coins [lyrics]
Things That Suck! [lyrics]
Knight in Rusted Armor
Angel With One Wing [lyrics]
F-Bombs and 1-Ups [lyrics]
Scheduled Rhymes [lyrics]
Champion Hero [lyrics]
Dick Disease [lyrics]
Game Girl
Jimmy [lyrics]
Audio Medication [lyrics]
Legend of Mana Medley [lyrics]
Pes To - Des To
LOL Cats (Robot Funk Mix) [lyrics]
Holiday From Hyrule
Rush’n Attack
Vs.
Skill Mega VS Laugh and Beats-Polaroid
Daft Punk VS Rich Boy (8 Bit Bandit MIX)
8 B.I.T. POPPA
The Drawing Board [lyrics]
Please Insert Coins [lyrics]
Things That Suck! [lyrics]
Knight in Rusted Armor
Angel With One Wing [lyrics]
F-Bombs and 1-Ups [lyrics]
Scheduled Rhymes [lyrics]
Champion Hero [lyrics]
Dick Disease [lyrics]
Game Girl
Jimmy [lyrics]
Audio Medication [lyrics]
Legend of Mana Medley [lyrics]
Pes To - Des To
LOL Cats (Robot Funk Mix) [lyrics]
Holiday From Hyrule
Rush’n Attack
Vs.
Skill Mega VS Laugh and Beats-Polaroid
Daft Punk VS Rich Boy (8 Bit Bandit MIX)
The Weekend Review: Here Comes a New Challenger
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