AWWWWWWWWWW YEAHHHHH! Thought this was a SIDtune at first, since the sounds were pretty Commodore 64-esque, and I hadn't played the game at all. But I found out it was from the NES, and DLed the NSF for the game immediately. This was so fucking cool. The beats were pimp, the groove was hot. I started yelling at the screen "This shit is infectious!" Was torn over this and the other pieces. It COULD have just looped at :47, but instead you got some more additive stuff in there for even more creativity. Best Nintendo tune I've heard in a LONG time. Very reliant on the composition to carry it, though the old-school sounds were certainly a selling point. The business.

Liontamer

After the first couple of listens, I was hooked. I love the multi-tiered melody and how it spans multiple moods through the utilization of various synth instruments. I couldn't depart from this week without mentioning in text my enjoyment of this track. I will now have to seek out more music by Bjørn.

Kaleb.G

Wëll, thîs råthër øddly-nåmêd tråck åîn't ßad. It's an extremely moody acoustic guitar piece, accidentals and all, that sounds almost like a live performance. It certainly captures the melancholy one would expect in a graveyard, especially in some sort of maze, since we all know that mazes are the saddest architecture in the world.

orion_mk3

"Wake Up" is a very organic piece with an excellent rhythmic electronic backdrop complementing a beautiful yet melancholic melody that speaks volumes in its simplicity. Great chord changes and interesting instrument choices help make an emotive track even more engaging. Easily one of the best arranged pieces of game music I've heard.

Elorin

Oddly enough, this doesn't sound at all like something like Yoko Kanno would do; so it will surprise you if one goes into it expecting run-of-the mill Kanno.

That said, the track itself is composed of two excellent parts, the "Southern Twilight" portions consists of a slow, smoldering jazz tune that flows very nicely. While the melody here repeats a great deal, the variation within each "verse" makes you forget all about it. Between this section and "Dance On..." is one of the smoothest transitions between two contrasting pieces of music I have ever heard. Specifically, a drum section enters at the end of "Southern Twilight", and persists while everything else fades out. This continues for about tens seconds before "Dance On..." begins. The drum section proves to be key part of this song, so the transition seems perfectly seamless. The last portion of the track, ("Dance On...") is a lively slice of Jazz Samba, which features an energetic flute, that is features in some slick call-and-response sections with a horn section.

If you enjoyed this track, I would encourage you to give the rest of the album a listen. Not only does it feature some of Kanno's best work, but it showcases her immense musical range (you have an Irish Jig, a Spanish Guitar track, and Medieval, Arabic and Eastern melodies, all within the same album.)

Excrono

"Die Hard 3: Wall Street" is one of the game's few standout tracks. This is due in part to the simplistic-yet-extremely-catchy melody, the strong instrument/sample usage (from guitars to coins), and the powerful beat that moves the whole piece along. It's not really an ornate piece, but it has a rich sound, and it is carefully composed to maintain harmony. A great "surprise" track this week. One that reinforces my reasons for starting the SotW event, and one that will find a permanent home on my hard drive.

Kaleb.G

This is a nice, mellow guitar track that would go nicely along a beach at sunset. The instrumentation is very rich, (having almost Latin overtones) and the accordion is a nice compliment. On the whole, this is the best track among this week's offerings.

Excrono

Now this is the kind of music I enjoy. A little repetitive for the first minute but groovin' the rest of the way with a few different melodies incorporating a jazzy feel. Easily the class of this week.

_DH_