The Zelda anniversary train keeps on a-rollin', this time with a gift care of OverClocked ReMix.
25YEARLEGEND is a particularly special album of Zelda arrangements in that each contributing artist is a notable composer from the indie game scene. Laura Shigihara (Plants vs. Zombies), Magnus Pålsson (VVVVVV), Daniel Rosenfeld (Minecraft), Rich Vreeland (Fez), and others lend their musical talents towards honoring a series that has had a great influence on their careers.
The album is infused with a very experimental energy, jumping from chiptune to dubstep to piano pieces and more. I listened to the full 18-track album a couple of times this morning, enjoying the mellow sounds one minute and the light-tripping dance beats the next. One of my favorite tracks is Dong Yarhalla's "Ballad of the Wind Fish" mix, in which he takes the touching Link's Awakening melody and adds Japanese Vocaloid lyrics on top!
I would have enjoyed a little more variety in reference selections -- A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time are over-represented -- but overall, it's a quality listen that takes Zelda's musical history in an unconventional direction. It might not suit everyone's fancy, but it's free, so no harm in trying it out!
Tony Ponce (aka megaStryke) is a culturally confused, Canadian-born Puerto Rican who grew up in Japan and South Florida ... yet can only speak English. He specializes in writing features and maintaining an immaculate goatee. Likes: Any and all things related to Mega Man, Contra, Castlevania, 2D, PB&J sandwiches, applesauce, and candy corn.
Meet the rest of the team
Just downloaded and loving it so far! It might be my favorite OCRemix album so far. It's also nice to have while I'm in the middle of my Skyward Sword play through. ALL ZELDA. ALL THE TIME.
So far so good, Thunder Struck is really freaking good, and I'm really digging Ballad of the Windfish. I can't tell which Vocaloid it is though. I'm thinking it might be Luka mixed with Append Miku Soft, or maybe Miki, or one of the newer vocaloids I haven't gotten around to listening to yet.
They picked some GREAT choices for this album! There are a lot of lesser known Zelda songs that NEVER get the attention they deserve and show up here. What could have been a "been there, heard that" album ended up being really great.
Almost every track is solid, but there were a few highlights for me, these are tracks I'll listen to on a daily basis, even if I'm not in a Zelda mood (that never happens).
To Everything There Is a Temple of Seasons by Air & Sea - mmmmhmmm, it's good.
Thunderstruck by Big Giant Circles feat. Jeff Ball - fucking ill choone.
Okay and the last track is my favorite and the least favorite at th same time.
Hey, Listen by Mattias Häggström Gerdt.
Those keys are magical, then a warm funky bass line kicks in and suddenly it's disco funk. At that point I was like "oh yes, we're on the same wave dude, that is the best fucking Zelda remix I've ever heard, fucking spot on, perfect". Hnnnggghh those rhodes and base and beats, it's so amazing.
AND THEN at 1:45 it suddenly turns into a tasteless fucking brostep à la Skrillex. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!1
How can you make something that beautiful and deep and then completely ruin that wonderful piece with a shallow, hackneyed, bland shit step? How? Why would you do that? Damn.
Over-representation of Link to the Past is just fine. I'm determined that it will be the best game in the series for all time. Amazing soundtrack. Although Skyward Sword has some pretty awesome music too.
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Contest:
7:30 PM on 11.23.2011 | 
I don't want this year to end.
that is all
To Everything There Is a Temple of Seasons by Air & Sea - mmmmhmmm, it's good.
Thunderstruck by Big Giant Circles feat. Jeff Ball - fucking ill choone.
Okay and the last track is my favorite and the least favorite at th same time.
Hey, Listen by Mattias Häggström Gerdt.
Those keys are magical, then a warm funky bass line kicks in and suddenly it's disco funk. At that point I was like "oh yes, we're on the same wave dude, that is the best fucking Zelda remix I've ever heard, fucking spot on, perfect". Hnnnggghh those rhodes and base and beats, it's so amazing.
AND THEN at 1:45 it suddenly turns into a tasteless fucking brostep à la Skrillex. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!1
How can you make something that beautiful and deep and then completely ruin that wonderful piece with a shallow, hackneyed, bland shit step? How? Why would you do that? Damn.