Video Game Grooves: Recent Episodes
Video Game Grooves
Jeremy LaMont, Paul Watson, and Anthony Agnello keep you entertained and informed about the latest on video game soundtrack releases on vinyl record. Featured soundtracks every episode, with discussions of the music and the games we love. Join us, and visit us at www.videogamegrooves.com
Blog post link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2023/06/27/b-side-giovanni-rotondo-8-bit-time-adventures-the-legendary-decks
In a special "B-side" interview, we sit down with composer and creative renaissance man Giovanni Rotondo to talk about the third in his latest project to come to vinyl, The 8-bit Time Capsule at Enjoy the Ride Records. This third release of the 8-bit Time Adventures series adds another mashup of video game time and space to the series that already include a Paradox and a Machine. And because it's pretty far out there, we've got to talk about it before we put it on the turntable!
Giovanni describes some of his film score work and "speculative" music, shares his own background with video games and modern media storytelling, and explains how that background has fed into his recent video game projects and collaborations with other artists. We also get to hear about another foray into the world of physical musical media and storytelling, The Legendary Decks. We discuss some of the interactivity and programmatic options in the history of vinyl and in the future with projects like The Legendary Decks and what might be possible in the future.
The 8-bit Time Capsule (and represses of The 8-bit Time Paradox and The 8-bit Time Machine) are available at Enjoy the Ride Records now.
Find more of Giovanni's work at https://giovannirotondo.com/linkinbio
Join Giovanni's Discord server to be in touch with him and his community, and learn about new projects before everyone else! https://discord.gg/29pTP4p2Bk
Twitter: @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont @grotondoMusic
https://enjoytheriderecords.com/collections/enjoy-the-ride-records/products/the-8-bit-time-capsule-etr180
https://enjoytheriderecords.com/collections/enjoy-the-ride-records/products/the-8-bit-time-machine-etr129
https://enjoytheriderecords.com/collections/enjoy-the-ride-records/products/the-8-bit-time-paradox-ett017
Blog Link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2023/06/22/episode-106-kaze-no-notam-notam-of-wind-jet-lancer-mat-ombler
Up, up and away, in our beautiful balloon! Luxuriate in the wind, in our beautiful balloon!
We are joined by first-time guest cohost Mat Ombler from the GXM Podcast, lover of math rock (or was it numbercore?) to feature some very noticeable and discoverable albums. First, we tap into that balloon-DJ lifestyle with Kaze no NOTAM, also known as NOTAM of Wind. This aeronautic oddity is simultaneously chill and kickin, cerebral and meditative, and it's just not something we expected to exist. We spend some time appreciating Artdink as a studio and as a "Sound Team", which is the only credit offered for this one-of-a-kind soundtrack. The record can still be imported from Japan, but is it worth the trouble? Next, we climb into the cockpit of Jet Lancer, a "Luftrauser-like" which adopts a sound that's far different from the Robotech-esque looking style and jetting gameplay. Mat shows us an example of how the game's mathy sounds can either get our toes tapping or emotionally drain us with sheer brute force. St. Louis duo Fat Bard works overtime to give us the best of what math nerds demand.
We cover recent releases and offer our opinions on their relative worth (links below) and in our final segment we discuss whether vinyl is actually a good medium for discovery of music, or whether it always has to follow a noticeable moment on a digital playlist.
Outro: "The Black Knight" - Jet Lancer, by Fat Bard
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @matombler
GXM Podcast: Twitter, Linktree
Release Links
Suikoden II (Ship To Shore PhonoCo.) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/suikoden-ii-original-video-game-soundtrack Gradius Gaiden (Ship To Shore PhonoCo.) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/gradius-gaiden Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/warhammer-40-000-mechanicus-deluxe-double-vinyl Dragon Age: Selections From The Original Soundtrack (Spacelab9) https://spacelab9.com/products/dragon_age Citizen Sleeper (Lost In Cult Records)(Stumpy Frog Records) https://www.lostincult.co.uk/shop/p/citizenvinyl https://www.stumpyfrog.com/sfr10 Airborne Kingdom (Mana Wave Media) https://manawave.co/products/airborne-kingdom LISA: Pain & Joy (Serenity Forge) https://store.serenityforge.com/products/lisa-pain-joy-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Neversong (Serenity Forge) https://store.serenityforge.com/products/neversong-1xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Detroit: Become Human Vol. 3 (Quantic Dream) https://shop.quanticdream.com/products/detroit-become-human-original-soundtrack-volume-3 Video Game LoFi: NieR Automata (Curaga Records) https://floopy.bandcamp.com/album/video-game-lofi-nier-automata Lame Genie Presents: Turtles In Time The Metal Album (Deep South Minneapolis Records) https://dsmrecords.net/product/865003 You Are Filled With Determination (Undertale ska arrangement) (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.com/collections/undertale/products/skatune-network-undertale-vinyl Mega Remix Man (2).EXE (Firaga Records) https://roborobmusic.bandcamp.com/album/mega-remix-man-2-exe-2 Knockout City (Velan Studio) https://thekoyostore.com/collections/knockout-city/products/knockout-city-original-game-soundtrack-3xlp Soup's On (The 7th Guest & The 11th Hour arrangement album) | Two Guys Records | €50-200 (Kickstarter) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twoguysrecords/soups-on-music-from-the-7th-guest-and-the-11th-hour-on-vinyl
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Blog link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2023/05/24/episode-105-street-fighter-alpha-3-blaseball-discipline
It has been a spell, but in the spirit of of a timeless thing that is happening again for the first time, we have returned. And we’ve brought something special with us from the great unknown: video game music on vinyl record! This episode features Street Fighter Alpha 3, and we’re pretty sure this is the final entry of all the Street Fighter vinyl that will ever exist, forever. Anthony appreciates the departures the game makes stylistically and musically from the rest of the series, observing that the game arrived at a particular technological and artistic nexus, and perhaps the Gameboy Advance game was truly the best version overall. Jeremy then gets out his wild-eyed conspiracy board persona to discuss the weirdest cultural event that has never ceased, with the iam8bit release of Blaseball: Discipline. Most of this segment is pretty breathless and confounding, but maybe you can learn a thing about the unfathomable energy and circumstance of Blaseball. Or if nothing else, listen to some cool music by The Garages.
We then cover the new releases (from a few weeks ago, regrettably, but many are still available!) and we discuss the question that really should have been asked from the beginning: is there anything that is just too weird to go into your collection, or admit to anybody you know?
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Release Links
Devil May Cry (Laced Records)
https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/devil-may-cry/products/devil-may-cry-limited-edition-deluxe-x4lp-boxset
https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/devil-may-cry/products/devil-may-cry-deluxe-x4lp-boxset
https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/devil-may-cry/products/devil-may-cry-deluxe-double-vinyl
Mega Man Battle Network 3 (Ship to Shore Media)
https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/mega-man-battle-network-3-original-video-game-soundtrack
Virtua Fighter (Cartridge Thunder)
https://cartridgethunder.com/products/virtua-fighter-original-game-soundtrack
Victoria 3 + Victoria 3: Melodies for the Masses (Paradox Interactive)
https://vinyl.victoria3game.com/
Batman (NES arrangement) (Hello Sir Records)
https://hellosirrecords.com/batman.html
Rebirth + Despair (NieR:Automata arrangement) (Mango Mage Records)
https://www.mangomagerecords.com/products/rebirth-and-despair
Earthbound Papas – Dancing Dad (Dragon Memories)
https://www.dragonmemories.com/products/2-vinyls-33t-cd-dancing-dad-nobuo-uematsu-earthbound-papas
The Fantastic Adventures Of Dizzy (8bit Is Enough)
https://8bitisenough.com/products/fantastic-adventures-of-dizzy
They Are Billions (Microids Records) (Light in the Attic)
https://microidsrecords.com/en/products/they-are-billions-original-game-soundtrack-1
https://lightintheattic.net/releases/9625-they-are-billions-original-game-soundtrack
Arkanoid: Eternal Battle (Microids Records) (Light in the Attic)
https://microidsrecords.com/en/products/arkanoid-eternal-battle-official-game-soundtrack
https://lightintheattic.net/releases/9626-arkanoid-eternal-battle-original-game-soundtrack
The Many Pieces Of Mr. Coo 7″ (game bundle) (Meridiem Games, Amazon)
Switch: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0C28BLQCG
PS5: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0C289CDQK
Scourge Of The Underkind (Eleventh Hour Games)
https://www.a1200.net/shop/scourge-of-the-underkind-vinyl-gatefold/
THE LO-FI ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES
Zeldawave: Temples (Midwest Collective)
https://marblepawns.bandcamp.com/album/–2
Needlemouse Mania (Sonic arrangement) (Firaga Records)
https://robkta.bandcamp.com/album/needlemouse-mania
Video Game LoFi: Skyrim (Curaga Records)
https://hightidelofi.bandcamp.com/album/video-game-lofi-skyrim
One Beat Angel (Final Fantasy VII arrangement) (Firaga Records)
https://roborobmusic.bandcamp.com/album/one-beat-angel-ffvii
RECORD STORE DAY
Dead By Daylight Volume 3 (Return To Analog)
https://returntoanalogrecords.com/products/copy-of-dead-by-daylight-v2-ost-rsd-canada-exclusive-variant
Gamedec (Winylowa)
https://onvinylstore.com/en_US/p/MARCIN-PRZYBYLOWICZ%2C-MAGDALENA-URBANSKA%2C-MACIEJ-DOBROWOLSKI%2C-PIOTR- MUSIAL%09Gamedec/14316
Wingspan (Winylowa)
https://onvinylstore.com/en_US/p/PAWEL-GORNIAK-Wingspan/14317
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Blog link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2023/04/12/episode-104-sonic-frontiers-the-music-of-starfall-islands
Occasionally the weird world of video game music presents us with something on vinyl that is so confounding, we simply have to talk about it. This is the case for today’s episode as we dedicate this show to a box set with is truly special and wholly unexpected: Sonic Frontiers: The Music of Stafall Islands, by Tomoya Ohtani. The Data Discs release captures Anthony’s heart and bends Jeremy’s head as we try to make heads or tails of the gravitas and the quiet power of one of the best(?!) games of 2022. As we glide through the musical movements of the in-game islands, we hear from the composer’s notes about the cultural flavors he aimed for, the musicians of past Sega games that contributed, and the existential miasma of fishing with Big the Cat. We will probably not be the same after this show.
We also cover new releases and announcements in the world of video game music on vinyl, and we end on a rather downer note as we reflect on the recent announcement of the significant downsizing of Mondo after it was bought by Funko last year. Is there something educational or even positive that might come from it? Probably not.
Outro: “Theme of Starfall Islands” – Tomoya Ohtani, Sonic Frontiers
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
https://www.youtube.com/@TomoyaOhtaniChannel
Release Links
Suikoden (Ship to Shore) (Black Screen Records) (Very OK Vinyl) (Chipfreq)
https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/suikoden
Time Once Lost (Majora’s Mask arrangement) (Mango Mage Records)
https://www.mangomagerecords.com/products/time-once-lost
Sifu (Laced Records)
https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/sifu-deluxe-double-vinyl
Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection (Konami Shop)
https://officialkonamishop.com/collections/vinyl-records/products/arcade-classics-anniversary-collection-lp-video-game-soundtrack
Final Vendetta (Bitmap Brigade)
https://shop.bitmapbureau.com/products/final-vendetta-original-sound-track-double-vinyl
The Last Spell (Kid Katana Records) (The Algorithm, Bandcamp)
https://kidkatana.com/shop/the-last-spell-ost-standard-vinyl-edition
https://kidkatanarecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-spell-original-game-soundtrack
p e r s o n a (Wizard of Loneliness, Halcyon Tapes)
https://halcyontapes.bandcamp.com/album/p-e-r-s-o-n-a
Represses/Reissues
The Order 1886
https://atthemoviesshop.com/products/the-order-1886
From_. piano works
https://qrates.com/projects/27025-from_-piano-works-vinyl-edition
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Blog link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2023/03/31/episode-103-last-ninja-2-kings-chill-vol-1
When time is a flat circle, the turntable of continuity brings familiar things around again. This is the case with today’s episode as we plumb the depths of gaming nostalgia with Troels Pleimert, the Space Quest Historian. In this episode, we finally get a chance to talk about the Commodore 64 tour-de-force ninja simulator, Last Ninja 2 by Matt Gray. Our discussion reminds us that 30+ years ago, truly pioneering things were happening in the gaming space and in the music space that still echo in creativity today. Also we learn that ninjas and New York City were (and remain) the cultural touchstones of many a 1980s kid, wherever that 80s kid may be. We continue by vibing along to King’s Chil Vol. 1, produced by Troels and Two Guys Records. We hear about the unusual origin of the album, the talented community that stepped up to create it, and learn a thing or two about floppy diskettes and seagull butts.
We continue with the new releases for the month, including some that have quickly been snapped up and still a few others that are calling to you to give them a forever home. The fare has been lighter than expected this year, but don’t expect that to last!
Finally, we discuss the notable difficulty that music from games in the MS-DOS platform era have had being represented on vinyl. Troels discusses difficulties and opportunities in that vinyl space, and gives Video Game Grooves listeners advance notice of an upcoming crowdfunding project that will interest a number of PC gamers and FMV fans.
Outro: “Oracle (Infinite Knowledge Remix)” – Brandon Blume, King’s Chill Vol.1
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @sqhistorian, @error47band
http://youtube.com/spacequesthistorian
http://www.error47.band
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Blog link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2023/02/28/episode-102-best-of-2022-frederik-blipblop-lauridsen
This year we’re sliding into your DMs (that’s “decorationary meetings”) with a brand-new undercarriage holding up the edifice of the best video game music on vinyl record released in 2022! That’s right, we’re doing this thing like a real awards show, reminding you of all the best stuff from absolutely ages ago. Bu the good part is that not only are we presiding over the best releases of the year that was 2022, but we have taken your votes all the way up to the end of December, and this year it’s getting real.
As we are accustomed at these functions, we are joined by Frederik Lauridsen of Blipblop.net to choose the panel’s favorite releases, and to count down your top 5 (or 10) ((or 11)) video game vinyl releases so that the will of the people shall be known. Thank you for voting, and thank you for listening!
Outro: “Victory Fanfare” – Octopath Traveler, by Yasunori Nishiki
http://www.blipblop.net/
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @blipblopwax
Oh you want to skip to the good stuff? It’s a secret to everybody.
Blog link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2023/01/31/episode-101-parasite-eve-pixeljunk-eden-2/
Our podcast returns in the year that is and will be 2023! We open with features of one of Anthony’s all-time wishlist items (in unofficial off-the-back-of-some-guy’s-vinyl-truck form), Parasite Eve. We reflect on the oddity of this memorable Square Enix PS1 title, both in its plot and its development, as well as Yoko Shimomura’s dynamic snare drum skills. Is it possible to make this into a “lofi beats to study to” album? We weigh in. Next we shift subtly into the dreamythumpy sounds of Q-Games’ Pixeljunk Eden 2, and the fingerprints of electronic artist Baiyon are all over it. We flash back to 2008 when the original Pixeljunk Eden came out and discuss the zeitgeist around the game, and reflect on the singularly simple mechanics and zone-out vibe. Jeremy discusses his desire for Eden-inspired wall art, and the after-market price of the game suddenly changes during recording.
We look at the “mercifully short” list of releases so far in January, although several big box sets (possibly from Japan!) are looming out there ready to grab your wallet and choke it to death.
Finally, we look at a recent article asking the question “did the music business just kill the vinyl revival”, and we talk about whether the hobby is in a slump, a recession, or whether it’s the nature of the beast. (Original article here.)
Glad to have you back in 2023! Niche team, unite!
Outro: “Se Il Mio Amore Sta Vincino – CM Version” – Parasite Eve, by Yoko Shimomura
The Quietus, on the topic of materials advances: https://thequietus.com/articles/31382-green-eco-vinyl
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
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Blog link: https://videogamegrooves.com/2022/12/26/episode-100-streets-of-rage-4-mr-x-nightmare-traveler-journey-symphony-2022-in-review
Scene: an idyllic cabin on the wooded hilltop, piled high with fresh snow. Inside, the glow of a fire illuminates festive nerds surrounded by bearskin rugs, wooly blankets, mugs of mulled cider, and a pile of video game music on vinyl. Their highly-tuned ears mistake the light sounds of snowfall for surface noise on their records, and they fastidiously brush nonexistent imperfections from their prized vinyl in the quest for audio perfection which can never be achieved. And yet all is merry and bright, because the Video Game Grooves podcast is back for the final episode of 2022!
While we look forward to tabulating our favorites of the year in coming months, we are joined by Tom Quillfeldt of Laced Records to recap the numbers and preside over the facts and feelings about the year that was. But before we do, we discuss a couple of releases that we just have to blab about. First, Anthony features Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare, by Tee Lopes, which is the over-the-top banger-filled musical expansion to the brawler’s recent revival. Everyone thrills to the fact that the soundtrack is nothing but hero tracks, but we somehow find a way to single out a couple to feature and we discuss Lopes dynamism, the “maximalist” style used in this release, and speculate where that kind of approach might also be used in the video game music scene. We slide over next to Traveler: A Journey Symphony, by Austin Wintory, which is a Wintory-on-Wintory adaptation of the celebrated thatgamecompany Jawa simulator from a decade hence. But does everyone celebrate it, or are our Journey feelings more complicated than that? We explore and make our way toward the distant mountain… of feelings.
Finally we get to the number-crunching and backward-looking for this year. Although we do not pick our favorites (yet), we take a look at some of the trends in genre, publisher, franchise, and other little statistical extractions that we make, thanks to some help from blipblop.net. We hope everyone has a wonderful close to 2022 and we’ll see you in 2023!
Outro: “Aerial Justice” – Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare, by Tee Lopes
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Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/11/25/episode-99-symphony-of-zeal-art-of-rally
As we drift through the festal season of the year, Video Game Grooves returns like some kind of semi-mythic fae village which serves as the object of various musicmaking... Could be Zeal, could be Brigadoon, who can say? At any rate we are back with special guest Chehade Boulos from Mana Wave Media to see what he's been up to, lo these many years. And it turns out he's been quite busy, and we're excited to look at a couple of projects he contributed to! First, we explore the wonder and mystery of Symphony of Zeal, the symphonic adaptation of Chrono Trigger originally produced by Malcolm Robinson. We may just be confirming suspicions that this is a Chrono podcast disguised as a game music vinyl show, but what the heck, we like it. We take a moment to reflect on our discussion topic mid-selection: the relative high standard of quality control that we have enjoyed in the midst of huge production delays and resource scarcity. We then turn a tight corner and head into the turn with Art of Rally, which is simultaneously a casual car-racing time-trial game but also a hardcore education about rally racing by way of a speculative alternate history. And did we mention the music by composer Tatreal is super chill and awesome?
There's also plenty of new releases this season and a lot of stuff is shipping to you, so we take some time to remind you about all of that, and we hope your season-so-far is merry, bright, and filled with game music on vinyl record! We sure ❤️ that, don't you?
Outro: "Last Battle" - Symphony of Zeal, by Malcolm Robinson
Manawave Media website
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @manawavemedia
Links: Kind Words (Mana Wave) https://manawave.co/products/kind-words-lp Lifeless Planet (Serenity Forge) https://store.serenityforge.com/products/lifeless-planet-1xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Final Fantasy XI 20th Anniversary Best Selection (Square Enix) https://store.jp.square-enix.com/item/SQEX_10964.html Bravely Default (Square Enix Music) https://store.jp.square-enix.com/item/SQEX_10969.html Various iam8bit releases https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/black-friday Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocture (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.com/collections/shin-megami-tensei-iii-nocturne/products/shin-megami-tensei-iii-nocturne-vinyl-soundtrack-box-set A Plague Tale: Requiem (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-releases/products/a-plague-tale-requiem Tunic (Stumpy Frog x Mango Mage) https://www.mangomagerecords.com/products/tunic-original-game-soundtrack-4lp-vinyl-box-set Konami Lofi Beats To Chill To (Ship To Shore PhonoCo.) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/konami-lofi The Ninjawarriors (Ship To Shore PhonoCo.) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/ninjawarriors Rogue Legacy (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.com/products/rogue-legacy-vinyl-soundtrack Sonic Frontiers (Data Discs) 2LP: https://data-discs.com/products/sonicfrontiers2lp 4LP box set (sold out): https://data-discs.com/collections/records/products/sonicfrontiers4lp Fantasy Zone (Data Discs) https://data-discs.com/collections/records/products/fantasyzone RuneScape: Elder God Wars (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/runescape/products/runescape-elder-god-wars-dungeon-deluxe-double-vinyl-digital-download Resident Evil (PS1) (Laced Records) Limited: https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/resident-evil-original-soundtrack-and-original-soundtrack-remix-limited-edition-deluxe-triple-vinyl Standard: https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/resident-evil-original-soundtrack-and-original-soundtrack-remix-deluxe-triple-vinyl Hotline Miami 1 & 2 Complete Collection (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/hotline-miami/products/hotline-miami-1-2-the-complete-collection-limited-edition-x8lp-boxset
Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/10/15/episode-98-banjo-kazooie-re-jiggyed-returnal
The time has come to return to our value-added past, and we are joined by Justin from Respawned Records to take a wild wormhole to an alternate version of bird and bear with Banjo-Kazooie Re-Jiggyed. Composer Grant Kirkhope explodes our (very prepared) expectations with a new interpretation of the original goofy and bouncy score with a new interpretation that goes...everywhere. We discuss the benefits of artist-led works, and challenge some of our notions about "cohesive listening experiences." We then decide to give everybody whiplash and we crash with abandon into Returnal, by Bobby Krlic. Jeremy evaluates his feelings about long droning game soundtracks, but will he find some value in the subtle inflections in this fast paced exercise in arcade action, dynamic repetition, and spooky sci-fi?
We hit the new releases and highlight a few things to be on the lookout for, and a few things that will be on their way to your turntable soon. Plus, we talk to Justin about the re-emerging convention scene, and what it's like to have video game music on vinyl out there on the floor to find new friends and loyal fans!
Outro: "Rusty Bucket Bay" - Banjo-Kazooie, Re-Jiggyed
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @respawnedrec
http://www.respawnedrecords.com/
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Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/09/26/episode-97-space-quest-historian-space-quest-6-reorchestrated/
It's been a while since we had a real episode, but we're back from summer vacation into a lovely autumn, chock full of outer space, intestinal parasites, and swing harmonica. Of course this means that we are joined by Troels Pleimert, the Space Quest Historian, for his inaugural voyage into the moderately unknown world of video game music on vinyl. We finally get to dig in deeply to the world of adventure games and their presence (or lack of it?) in the game music vinyl space, and we open with a "Stellar" entry from SQH himself, Space Quest VI: Roger Wilco in the Spinal Frontier Reorchestrated! We talk about the music of the series going back to Space Quest 3, the vagaries of MIDI (possibly pronounced "meaty") music, and eventually end up in a discussion about how many cats have been lost in vinyl mishaps. We also get to hear about an upcoming project from Troels and friends in the band Error 47 that absolutely boggles the mind in its niche-ness, and we may get a special sample on-air!
Outro: "8-Rear" - Space Quest VI: Roger Wilco and the Spinal Frontier, by Dan Kehler & Neal Grandstaff
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @SQhistorian
https://www.youtube.com/spacequesthistorian Error 47 Bandcamp
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Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/08/21/b-side-the-superweaks-team-lazerbeam
As the hot days of summer drag on, the thoughts of music lovers (and video game lovers, and vinyl lovers, and video game music on vinyl lovers) turn naturally to... bands and jams. And particularly, our thoughts turn to INDIE bands and jams. And one of our favorite little indie game + music projects that has also been released on vinyl is Teenage Blob, now celebrating its second birthday. So it's the perfect time to sit down with members of the band The Superweaks to discuss this "EP game", or a game that was developed in conjunction with a 6-song EP album release, to create a bite-sized game jam that is also a music jam.
Evan Bernard and Chris Baglivo introduce us to the band and its history, its relationship and collaboration with Ben Rausch and Team Lazerbeam, living in a warehouse-style artist collective in Philadelphia, and what does hot sauce have to do with all this?
Teenage Blob is a delightful, referential, and bite-sized game experience that can be found on Steam and Itch.io (the vinyl edition has sold out between the time of recording and publishing! sorry!)
The Superweaks https://thesuperweaks.bandcamp.com/
Team Lazerbeam https://www.teamlazerbeam.com/
Hello traveler! We have been traveling too! Our turntables are not especially portable so we've been off the grid as the weather has gotten warm, but we're back and the time is now! Anthony and Jeremy combine to form one large man podcast who wants to talk about some video game music on vinyl, so let's get to it!
In this episode we have a lot to say about arrangement albums, and to give their props where they are due. So we're featuring a scarcely-known unofficial mash-up release that imagines the music of Square Enix at a huge stupid rave. This is Rave SQ, so get your twirling glowsticks and hula hoops! We talk about the curation involved in a "mixtape" style vinyl record, and discuss the unusual choice to feature community and official tracks, and we learn that you can still have a lot of fun with cheap 3D glasses. 👓
We turn our attention to a fully-official remix album, in the form of Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition vinyl from Square Enix. Yasunori Mitsuda takes the already-unique score for Chrono Cross and applies a new layer of composition and delicacy over the top of it that we just love. We talk about the "maturity" of the musical style of the album and appreciate everything from the intimate guitars to the dry macaroni shakers. The opinion is split on the "out-of-frame anime hair" cover, though.
We then power through to a broader discussion of the remix and arrangement community, and discuss the general lack of official interest in arrangements and remixes. The game-music-loving public has stepped up though, and we reflect on the range of quality output from both official and unofficial sources.
Finally, the new releases and announcements for recent weeks get their airtime, and the links below will help you snag your needed fix! Thanks for listening!
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
http://videogamegrooves.com/2017/11/02/episode-14-sq-trax-brutal-legend/
Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/05/21/episode-95-mega-man-legends-across-the-worlds-chrono-cross-wayo-piano-collection
Spring has sprung, and like may flowers so have we! This episode is a tiny salute to game series that took a hard left turn but wound up right where they were always meant to be. Our exemplars this week begin with the cult favorite Mega Man Legends from Ship to Shore Media. We look back at this trailblazer of 3D storytelling from before the likes of Metal Gear Solid, and we appreciate its "Saturday morning anime" vibe. The music, too, is a fun little grab-bag of music from disco to classical to synthy cartoon rock or swing, and it's all pretty ahead of its time. We also dive into our first piano arrangement album with Across the Worlds: Chrono Cross Wayô Piano Collection, which is a multi-artist adaptation of a game that still divides fans of the "Chrono series" today. We appreciate the emotional range of the piano, and the daring of a piano arrangement album in general to augment or approach a favorite score with nothing but the instrument and someone to play it. We also examine the time and place of Chrono Cross, and whether or not it is actually a sequel to the universally-acclaimed Chrono Trigger.
We continue our discussion with some reflections on game series that changed creative direction, and how the story, aesthetic, and music either benefited or suffered. And finally, we look at all the new releases that have come out in the past few weeks, along with some non-release news that might save you a few bucks on your next vinyl order! Join us to laugh, love, and learn.
Outro: "La tresor interdit" - Across the Worlds: Chrono Cross Wayo Piano Collection, by Benyamin Nuss
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Mushbuh artist Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mushbuh/
Video Game Grooves Episode 8 (Super Castlevania IV, Hero of Time) http://videogamegrooves.com/2017/07/25/episode-8-super-castlevania-iv-hero-of-time/
Ace Attorney 20th Anniversary (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/ace-attorney/products/ace-attorney-20th-anniversary-limited-edition-x6lp-boxset Trek To Yomi (Devolver Store) https://merch.devolverdigital.co/products/trek-to-yomi-deluxe-double-vinyl Ghostwire Tokyo (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/ghostwire-tokyo/products/ghostwire-tokyo-deluxe-double-vinyl https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/ghostwire-tokyo/products/ghostwire-tokyo-limited-edition-x4lp-boxset Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/6-siege/products/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-extraction-deluxe-double-vinyl A Monster's Expedition (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/a-monsters-expedition-earlier-adventures/products/a-monsters-expedition-earlier-adventures-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Phantasy Star (Ship To Shore PhonoCo.) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/phantasy-star Art Of Rally (Mana Wave Media) https://manawave.co/products/art-of-rally-2xlp Heart Of The Woods (Very Ok Vinyl) https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/heart-of-the-woods-official-soundtrack Banana Jamz 2 (Cartridge Thunder) https://cartridgethunder.com/collections/new-releases/products/banana-jamz-2 Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator (Serenity Forge) https://store.serenityforge.com/products/space-warlord-organ-trading-simulator-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Kingdom: Two Crowns - Norse Lands (ByNorse) https://bynorsestore.com/products/kalandra-kingdom-two-crowns-norse-lands-extended-soundtrack-12-black Attack Of The Petscii Robots (The8BitGuy) https://www.the8bitguy.com/product/petscii-robots-soundtrack-vinyl-record-pre-order/ DuckTales (Hello Sir Records) https://hellosirrecords.com/ducktalesrandomcolor.html Nü Horizons (Wizard of Loneliness) https://halcyontapes.bandcamp.com/album/n-horizons
Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/04/24/episode-94-street-fighter-alpha-2-skullgirls
No fighting game soundtrack left unfeatured! At least, that seems to be our motto, but can you blame us? We just can't pass up these pristine pressings of pugilistic polyphony! This week, Anthony takes us back to class and demonstrates the musical evolution of the Street Fighter series with Street Fighter Alpha 2. We listen to some of the riffs on the classic SF2 themes, and we're introduced to some new ones that fit seamlessly into the pantheon of music... but what are we left humming? Then we take a jog on the jazzy and jiggly side with Skullgirls, jamming to Michiru Yamane and Vincent Diamante's homage to the 1940s, while the gameplay recalls Marvel vs Capcom 2. The game's interesting history and ambitious art and music are front and center for appreciation. We may throw down a few gauntlets in this episode. Ready? Fight!
We press on to discuss the "genre" considerations of listenability and vinyl pressing. Why have fighting games been regularly featured on VGG, and what types of games seem to be missing? We also catch you up on the latest releases and announcements! Could international currency exchange work in your favor this week? Mmmmmaybe.
Outro: "Guy Theme" - Street Fighter 2 Alpha, by Setsuo Yamamoto, Syun Nishigaki, Tatsuro Suzuki
Links: Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition Vinyl (Square Enix US) (Square Enix JP) https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/725855/chrono-cross-the-radical-dreamers-edition-vinyl https://store.jp.square-enix.com/item/SQEX_10936.html Final Fantasy Chocobo and Friends (Square Enix US) https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/725858/chocobo-and-friends-select-tracks-from-the-fantasy-series-compi-vinyl-set Final Fantasy 9 (Square Enix US) https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/726993/final-fantasy-ix-vinyl Needy Girl Overdose (Frontier Works, Amazon JP) https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09WYJYL5K/
Deathloop (Limited Edition X4LP Boxset) (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/deathloop-original-soundtracklimited-edition-x4lp-boxset Deathloop (Deluxe Double Vinyl) (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/vinyl/products/deathloop-original-soundtrack-deluxe-double-vinyl Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/tiny-tina-s-wonderlands-limited-edition-deluxe-double-vinyl Far Cry 6 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/far-cry-6-limited-edition-deluxe-triple-vinyl Mercenary Kings (Yetee Records) https://theyetee.com/products/mercenary-kings-soundtrack Streets Of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare (Brave Wave) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/all-soundtracks/products/streets-of-rage-4-mr-x-nightmare-vinyl-soundtrack Umurangi Generation (Stumpy Frog Records) https://www.stumpyfrog.com/ About That... Paradise Killer B-Sides (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/paradise-killer/products/about-that-paradise-killer-b-sides Eastward (iam8bit) Standard: https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/eastward/products/eastward-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Board game: https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/eastward/products/eastward-2xlp-limited-edition-board-game Unpacking (Limited Run Games) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/all-games/products/unpacking-2lp-vinyl-soundtrack Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarök (Lakeshore Records) https://www.lakeshorerecordsshop.com/product/assassin-s-creed-valhalla-dawn-of-ragnarok-original-game-soundtrack Banjo-Kazooie Re-Jiggyed (Respawned Records) (Black Screen Records) https://respawnedrecords.com/collections/vinyl-releases/products/banjo-kazooie-re-jiggyed https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/soundtracks-vinyl/products/banjo-kazooie-re-jiggyed Hypnospace Outlaw (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.
Blog post: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/03/25/b-side-erik-elsom-magic-map-studio/
Welcome to our next B-side conversation, this time with Erik Elsom from Magic Map Studio about King's Quest V: Songs of Serenia. This crowdfunding project currently on offer at Qrates ("crates") is a reimagining of Sierra Online's touchstone point-and-click adventure game. In this conversation, we talk to Erik about his history with point-and-click adventures, and with the personal relationship he has with the music of that genre and time. We discuss the tight-knit community (which has already produced a handful of similar albums based on the Space Quest franchise) and its involvement with the project, as well as how he adds his own touch to the process of reimagining such well-loved music from Mark Seibert and Ken Allen.
The Qrates project ends in 1 week. Hear samples and pledge here: https://qrates.com/projects/25365-king-s-quest-v-songs-of-serenia
Magic Map Studio https://magicmapstudio.com/
Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/03/16/episode-93-king-of-fighters-98-sayonara-wild-hearts
We are back, and this time our social relations link is tight and powerful. Jeremy and Anthony finally tackle the labyrinthine world of SNK fighting games, and we dig allllll the way in with King of Fighters '98 by Brave Wave. We learn what it means to fight in the Dream Match, how KOF invented the "city pop" vibe, and what would Jeremy do to the shrimp cocktail bar at the party on the album cover. We move it along to a more electro-pop vibe with Sayonara Wild Hearts from iam8bit. This tarot-themed relationship recovery magical girl simulator is full of some bops, and we may bend the rules just a bit to give you a full taste of it, as we talk about the best ways to consume such a thing.
We cover the newest releases and preorders that are available to wreak havoc on your bank account, although this time the slate is merciful. We then observe recent moves in the game publisher space by Square Enix to give the people what they (musically) want, and discuss what that might mean for game music broadly, vinyl releases, and what other publishers may be watching.
Outro: "ESAKA?" - King of Fighters '98, by Hideki "sha-V" Asanaka*
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xpdud47G0s
Links:
Viewtiful Joe 2 (Ship To Shore PhonoCo.) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/viewtiful-joe-2 Risk Of Rain 2: Survivors Of The Void (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-releases/products/risk-of-rain-2-survivors-of-the-void Stardew Valley 1.4 & 1.5 (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.com/collections/stardew-valley/products/stardew-valley-1-4-1-5-vinyl-soundtrack Zeldawave II (Midwest Collective) https://marblepawns.bandcamp.com/album/mm Genesis Noir (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/genesis-noir-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack A Plague Tale: Requiem (Focus Home Entertainment) https://store.focus-entmt.com/us/product/720474/a-plague-tale-requiem-collector-s-edition Elden Ring (Bandai Namco US) (Bandai Namco UK) (Bandai Namco EU) US: https://store.bandainamcoent.com/elden-ring-the-vinyl-collection/ UK: https://store.bandainamcoent.eu/uk/product/719395/elden-ring-the-vinyl-collection-limited-edition EU: https://store.bandainamcoent.eu/eu/product/719394/elden-ring-the-vinyl-collection-limited-edition Diablo II: Resurrected (iam8bit) Collector's Edition: https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/diablo/products/diablo-3xlp-boxset Standard Edition: https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/diablo/products/diablo-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Doshin, The Giant (Silent River Runs Deep) (Ship to Sore PhonoCo) (Black Screen Records) https://diskunion.net/portal/ct/detail/1008448990 (proxy required) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/doshin-the-giant https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/doshin-the-giant Skeler Boy Kickstarter (ManiacBoyStudio) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/skelerboy/skeler-boy-part-ii-for-game-boy-cartridge-and-pc/description King's Quest V - Songs Of Serenia (arrangement) (Two Guys Records) https://qrates.com/projects/25365-king-s-quest-v-songs-of-serenia
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Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/02/28/episode-92-demons-souls-astro-bot-rescue-mission
We have returned, just in the nick of February, with a wildly schizophrenic show that his the boundaries of human emotional response. Ryan Huff from One Run Records joins us again but we're not sure he knew what he was getting into this time... We decided February was a fine time to look back at Demon's Souls from Milan Records, and work our way through the trauma. This game may have launched not one but two genres of media: "souls-like" games and "souls-like" music! Composer Shunsuke Kida gets way out of his regular discography to bring us intense-Latin-choir-ala-Dante-Alighieri, and quiet understated themes of quiet and dark reflection. Some of what we discuss is hearsay (because we're bad at the game) and some of it is grammatical. (No, we do not finally solve the apostrophe thing.) Next, we swing to the far opposite side of the mood spectrum with Astro Bot Rescue Mission from Fangamer. Kenneth CM Young brings forward his experience with completely joyful games like LittleBigPlanet to make even the darkest moments of Astro Bot colorful and adorned with blinky digital eyes. We discuss Sony's relative success of using pack-in games to demonstrate new tech functions in a way that rivals or even surpasses Nintendo. We stop short of singing the praises of Astro's Playroom, which is not yet on vinyl... but we will bide our time.
New releases and news bring up the middle section, with a quick solo dash through the newest vinyl your money can buy (links below), and we all reflect on the relative benefits and drawbacks of the now-biannual Record Store Day. Questions have arisen whether it helps or harms independent record store owners. We also observe that it doesn't tend to touch video game releases, and whether that's a good or a bad thing. We also discuss whether it might be better for RSD to take a break for a year, so the world might be mended (So the world might be mended). What do you think?
Outro: "Follow Me (Into The Storm)" - Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Kenneth CM Young
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @onerunrecords
Links: Russian Subway Dogs (Very Ok Vinyl) https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/russian-subway-dogs Guild Wars 2: End Of Dragons (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-vinyl-soundtrack GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon (Ship To Shore PhonoCo.) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/getsufuma-den-undying-moon Wallachia: Reign Of Dracula (PixelHeart) https://www.pixelheart.eu/produit/wallachia-reign-of-dracula-ost-vinyle-2lp/ Samorost 2 (Amanita Design) https://merch.amanita-design.net/collections/frontpage/products/samorost-2-soundtrack-by-floex-double-vinyl Martha Is Dead (Wired Productions) https://shop.wiredproductions.com/products/martha-is-dead-official-soundtrack-vinyl Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles (Wired Productions) https://shop.wiredproductions.com/collections/lumote-the-mastermote-chronicles/products/lumote-the-mastermote-chronicles-vinyl-soundtrack Evil Dead: The Game (Boss Team Games) https://boss-team-games-store.myshopify.com/products/test-evil-dead-the-video-game-collectors Call Of The Sea (Raw Fury) https://www.amazon.de/-/en/MER-CALLJOURNEYPS5/dp/B09NCMXT3B/ Neo (Friday Night Funkin' mod) (Turtle Pals Tapes) https://www.turtlepalstapes.com/product/neo-vinyl-pre-order $ S.E.B. (Diggers Factory) https://www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/244694/bastien-agussol-seb-original-game-soundtrack Affinity Sorrow (Second Dimension) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/seconddimension/affinity-sorrow-a-true-16-bit-turn-based-rpg-adventure/description
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Show Notes: http://videogamegrooves.com/2022/01/31/episode-91-final-fantasy-viii-battletoads-smash-hits/
We're back for 2022, perhaps a little bit sleepy, but hibernation can do that to you. Jeremy, Anthony, and Caleb are kicking off the new year with a giant spiked boot and a cool Squall Leonhart necklace. (Yeah, we know.) We are ready to return to the days of slow MIDI beats to study to with Final Fantasy VIII from Square Enix, extracting a few thematic elements from the generally well-liked Uematsu score, and putting them on the turntable for all to see. Redbook audio? Who needs it?? And who in the Final Fantasy universe is the Vin Diesel analog from The Fast and the Furious? We move it along to a much earlier (and also much later) era with Battletoads: Smash Hits from iam8bit. We discuss a bit of the origins of the franchise with David Wise's not-actually-heavy-metal leanings in the 80s, and run through the weird and warty history up to Battletoads (2020). David Housden expertly weaves many metal threads together into a simultaneously self-aware but genuinely great metal album... along with some calliope music.
We look at the new releases that have come out or been announced in January, and the list is not too bad and generally pretty encouraging! We also put down some predictions for 2022, including production and industry matters, the kinds of releases we expect to see, and we toss a few out-loud wishes into the podcasting ether to see what comes back to us.
Outro: "Balamb Garden" - Nobuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy VIII
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ch3records
Caleb's other prediction is that game music vinyl labels will be releasing a lot of other kinds of "merch" this year. We shall see.
Links:
Guilty Gear (Channel 3 Records) (sold out) https://ch3records.com/products/guilty-gear Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection (Limited Run Games) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/neo-frontpage/products/valis-the-fantasm-soldier-collection-3-lp-soundtrack Cris Tales (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/cris-tales Bämeräng (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-releases/products/bamerang Ys Origin (Wayô Records) https://www.wayorecords.com/en/vinyls/754-ys-origin-vinyl-collector.html Dead Cells Volume 2 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/dead-cells/products/dead-cells-volume-2-original-soundtrack Yooka-Laylee And The Impossible Lair (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.com/collections/yooka-laylee/products/yooka-laylee-vinyl-soundtrack-impossible-lair Shadow Dancer: The Secret Of Shinobi (Data Discs) https://data-discs.com/products/shadowdancer Syberia: The World Before (Decca Records) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QCY1MCX Arknights: Journey Of Hope (Yostar) (requires proxy; sold out) https://yostarshop.com/view/item/000000000161 Martha Is Dead (Wired Productions) https://shop.wiredproductions.com/products/martha-is-dead-official-soundtrack-vinyl Chocobo & Chill (GameChops) https://gamechops.bandcamp.com/campaign/chocobo-chill Duke Duke Dance Party (Duke Nukem arrangement) (Qrates) https://qrates.com/projects/25478-duke-duke-dance-party
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Show notes: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/12/29/episode-90-best-of-2021-frederik-blipblop-lauridsen/
The best-thing-we-do-every-year* is here again! And, we may not have realized it even while we were making it, but it is the fifth one. Five is a big round number, especially in Podcast Land, and we're thrilled to have done the thing this long. Thank you for being here with us to do it.
But to get right to it, we are here to preside with an iron fist over the best of the best in the 5th Annual Video Game Grooves Awards, or the "Groovies" as we occasionally call them, along with good friend of the show Frederik "Blipblop" Lauridsen of BlipBlop.net, veritable godfather of the hobby. Spoilers, this one gets a little weeby. In round-robin style we call out our top 3, 2, and 1 for the whole year**, and then we run through YOUR top picks for the year, from the running poll from the major record labels to the self-released indies, and see who has twenty-twenty-won your heart for video game music on vinyl.
Outro: "Third District" - Katana Zero, by LudoWic
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ch3records, @blipblopwax
http://www.ch3records.com/ http://www.blipblop.net/
If you're more of a visual learner, you can check our secret blog post here, but these spoilers are potent and highly infectious, and should be handled with utmost care.
debatable *also debatable, but within reason
Show notes: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/12/14/episode-89-silent-hill-3-guacamelee
It's that time of year again: thick fog makes things difficult, surprises abound, relationships with loved ones get complicated, and someone is always watching you. Christmastime? Or Silent Hill? On the Video Game Grooves podcast it is both! Curl up in your fuzzy slippers with some eggnog and check in on three jolly elves bringing you some of our all-time favoritest video game music on vinyl. First, Anthony lets loose with the long-awaited Silent Hill 3 from Mondo. The music and vibe of the series is simultaneously worthy of praise and ridicule, and we indulge in a bit of both. We recognize He-Who-Konami-Shall-Not-Name (Akira Yamaoka) and we shame whoever designed the jacket because they probably did it in the dark. Next, Jeremy takes us beyond the veil (of lucha libre!) with Guacamelee, from Ship to Shore Media. We heap praise on this meme-infused platformer of yore, while appreciating nearly every aspect of its design and execution, not least of all is the score by Rom di Prisco and Peter Chapman. We explore the vibe and culture of the game and its music as well as the lasting impression it has made on the gaming scene and for the developer.
We continue with the recent news in vinyl releases, including some crowdfunding opportunities and quick sell-outs (remember to follow us on Twitter!) and we discuss the recent supply shakeups in vinyl production resulting from big orders of Adele's recent album and what this all means for the relatively niche market for video game music on vinyl. Check us out and share!
Outro: "Hometown" - Silent Hill 3, by Akira Yamaoka & Joe Romersa
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @ch3records
Links: Double Dragon I & II | (Channel 3 Records) https://ch3records.com/collections/vinyl/products/double-dragon-i-ii Death's Door (Laced Records) https://merch.devolverdigital.co/collections/deaths-door/products/death-s-door-deluxe-triple-vinyl Tekken 7 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/tekken/products/tekken-7-limited-edition-x4lp-boxset Gears Of War (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/gears-of-war/products/gears-of-war-1-deluxe-double-vinyl Gears Of War 2 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/gears-of-war/products/copy-of-gears-of-war-2-deluxe-double-vinyl Gears Of War 3 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/gears-of-war/products/gears-of-war-3-deluxe-double-vinyl Godfall (Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/GODFALL-Darkness-Original-Soundtrack-Purple/dp/B09HXT29R3/ The Artful Escape 7" (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/under-25/products/artful-escape-7 Ruined King - A League Of Legends Story (Riot Games) https://merch.riotgames.com/en-us/product/ruined-king-collector-s-edition/ OneShot (Fangamer) (sold out) https://www.fangamer.com/products/oneshot-vinyl-soundtrack Ballads Of Hyrule II (Rozen) https://music.rozen.audio/album/ballads-of-hyrule-ii Celeste Complete (Ship To Shore) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/video-game-soundtracks/products/celeste-complete The 8-Bit Time Machine (Enjoy The Ride) (Respawned Records) (both sold out) https://enjoytheriderecords.com/collections/enjoy-the-ride-records/products/the-8-bit-time-machine-etr129 https://respawnedrecords.com/collections/vinyl-releases/products/the-8-bit-time-machine Distant Worlds V (Distant Worlds website) https://ffdistantworlds.com/product/dw5-vinyl/ Friday Night Funkin: The Bob Album (Turtle Pals Tapes) https://www.turtlepalstapes.com/product/the-bob-album-vinyl-pre-order Beasts Of Maravilla Island (Kitty On Fire Records) (Bandcamp) https://kittyonfirerecords.com/collections/soundtracks/products/beasts-of-maravilla-island-ost-by-kyle-van-wiltenburg-and-tavi-zeir?variant=39531715625015 https://kylevw.bandcamp.
Show notes: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/12/05/b-side-7inchstravaganza-ii/
It's back, and smaller than ever! Or, maybe it's just as small as ever! The freshly-perennial 7inchstravaganza returns with our second entry in this Burning Man style fanfest for some of the smallest music we've got on record. Jeremy is joined by a power-duo of your favorite regular guest hosts, Aaron from Ship to Shore Media and Jeff from Marshall Art, to go through a full listen to a gaggle of the greats. This is undoubtedly the most convenient, enjoyable, and informative way to hear these, so get on board and make some room as we take a walk on the teensy side!
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @STSphonoco, @MarshallArtBand
Links: Phogs (Channel 3 Records) https://ch3records.com/products/phogs Hecho en Hyrule (Channel 3 Records) (sold out) https://ch3records.com/products/hecho-en-hyrule Diablo II: Resurrected (Blizzard Gear Store) https://www.blizzardgearstore.com/games/diablo/diablo-ii:-resurrected-iam8bit-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack-blizzard-gear-store-exclusive-color-variant/o-10052475+t-98615713+p-267080440+z-9-2386521569?_ref=p-CLP:m-GRID:i-r23c0:po-69 Demon Turf (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/demon-turf-the-rx-album-by-fat-bard-m-r-miller Highway Blossoms (Very Ok Vinyl) https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/highway-blossoms-original-soundtrack Forza Horizon 5: Hospital Soundtrack (Hospital Records) https://www.hospitalrecords.com/shop/release/various-artists/nhs448-forza-horizon-5-hospital-soundtrack Dying Light 2 (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/dying-light-2/products/dying-light-2-original-soundtrack-by-olivier-deriviere Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/turnip-boy-vinyl-soundtrack Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy (Mondo) https://mondoshop.com/products/marvels-guardians-of-the-galaxy-official-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp The Belmont Tapes (Noir Grime Bandcamp) https://noirgrime.bandcamp.com/album/the-belmont-tapes The Falconeer (Wired Productions) (Limited Run Games) https://shop.wiredproductions.com/collections/soundtracks/products/the-falconeer-vinyl-soundtrack-2xlp https://limitedrungames.com/collections/in-stock-soundtracks/products/falconeer-2lp-soundtrack-vinyl Overcooked! (Demon Records) https://bigwax.io/collections/bigwax-distribution/products/overcooked Tsuhikime -A Piece Of Blue Glass Moon- (CD Japan) (Play-Asia) (HMV) https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/VVJL-8 https://www.play-asia.com/tsukihime-a-piece-of-blue-glass-moon-theme-song-ep-limited-edi/13/70f25x https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_ReoNa_000000000767209/item_%E6%9C%88%E5%A7%AB-A-piece-of-blue-glass-moon-THEME-SONG-E-P-%E3%80%90%E5%AE%8C%E5%85%A8%E7%94%9F%E7%94%A3%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%A4%E3%80%91-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8A%E3%83%AD%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AC%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89_12366746 Pieces Of Eight (Respawned Records) (sold out) https://respawnedrecords.com/collections/featured/products/pieces-of-eight-by-tpr-octopath-traveler-melancholy Paprium (Kickstarter) ($80 add-on after $1 pledge) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/573261866/paprium-the-16-bit-beat-them-all-coming-to-the-next-gen King's Chill Vol. 2 (Qrates) https://qrates.com/projects/25263-king-s-chill-vol-2
It's Halloween, and like the man said: "Ve vant to spin your winyl!" Well, we're spinning our winyl anyway, and they're all rather spookity in honor of the season. First, Jeremy brings new meaning to the season of chilling with a rather cool rendition of Resident Evil with RE:Mixed [The Save Rooms], which is the kind of compilation we always wanted but then didn't want but then secretly totally really wanted. We suppose synthwave might have limited breadth but it's always fun and we pick some fan favorites to show off. Next, Anthony takes us to the weird intersection of horror and feng shui with Kowloon's Gate, a 1997 horror game that defies classification. The game's soundtrack by Kuniaki Haishima is similarly tough to comprehend but we stare into the mouth of its madness with our ears, and marvel at Haishima's liner notes, an absolutely epic manifesto of existence. Finally we shift into horror of another kind: moral panic, with our long-overdue coverage of Night Trap from Ship to Shore Records. We compare and contrast the music of Sunny Blueskyes and Martin Lund with the gameplay, and place it all in the context of the US congressional hearings of the 1990s. No, it doesn't make any more sense now than then.
Finally, we fill your trick-or-treat bag with all the new releases in the world of game music on vinyl, but we're going to take our dad tax because it's just how this holiday works.
Outro: "RE0" - RE:Mixed [The Save Rooms] by Mono Memory
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @ch3records
Links: Final Fantasy - Heroes And Villains (Square Enix) NA: https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/694930/heroes-and-villains-select-tracks-from-the-final-fantasy-series-set-vinyl EU: https://store.eu.square-enix-games.com/en_EU/product/694989/heroes-and-villains-select-tracks-from-the-final-fantasy-series-box UK: https://store.eu.square-enix-games.com/en_GB/product/694988/heroes-and-villains-select-tracks-from-the-final-fantasy-series-box Crest Of Flames, Fire Emblem Three Houses (Materia Collective) https://music.rozen.audio/album/crest-of-flames Deltatunes (Roborob Deltarune remix) (Materia Collective) https://roborobmusic.bandcamp.com/album/deltatunes Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/tekken/products/tekken-tag-tournament-2-limited-edition-x4lp-boxset Serious Sam 4 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/serious-sam-4-deluxe-double-vinyl Mega Man Legends 2 (Ship To Shore PhonoCo) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/mega-man-legends-2 Darius II (Ship To Shore PhonoCo) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/darius-ii Axiom Verge (Limited Run Games) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/neo-frontpage/products/axiom-verge-2-vinyl-soundtrack Axiom Verge 2 (Limited Run Games) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/neo-frontpage/products/axiom-verge-2-vinyl-soundtrack-1 Going Under (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-releases/products/going-under-original-soundtrack-by-feasley Jet Force Gemini (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.com/products/jet-force-gemini-vinyl-soundtrack The Last Of Us Part II: Covers And Rarities EP (Mondo) https://mondoshop.com/collections/all-music/products/the-last-of-us-part-ii-covers-and-rarities-ep Jettomero: Hero Of The Universe (Stumpy Frog Records) https://www.stumpyfrog.com/ Heroes Of Might & Magic III (Gamemusic Records) (sold out) https://gamemusic.net/product/heroes/ Metal Slug X (Wayô Records) https://www.wayorecords.com/en/vinyls/748-metal-slug-x-vinyl.html STS (exclusive): https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/metal-slug-x Theme From Space Guards (Notstands Komitee Bandcamp) https://notstandskomitee.bandcamp.com/album/theme-from-space-guards TrickStyle (Respawned Records) https://respawnedrecords.
This Video Game Grooves podcast episode finds itself bookended between "magicians making machine gun sounds" and "undeniable cello" somehow, so figure that out. We're joined by Chehade Boulos from Mana Wave Media to talk about the work his young label is doing and how he plans to win the three-way-standoff with VGG cohost Caleb and Hiroki Kikuta. We begin this extraordinary discussion with Anthony's feature of Magician Lord, which is itself one of the better-known releases on the extraordinary Neo Geo. We appreciate its preposterous gameplay and its equally awesome music score by Yuka Watanabe. The Neo Geo exists in its own special world, including its sound, and we immerse ourselves in the experience while sparing ourselves the financial burden of the singular game console. We then let Chehade entrance us with The First Tree, the first release from his burgeoning label. We spend time talking about the game itself and its rather low-key development philosophy, and discuss how the "cinematic" score by Josh Kramer (and cello by Tina Guo) elevate the entire thing to make it an unassuming hit across multiple platforms. We take a moment to discuss the relationship between the most rudimentary of creative work being done in video games and how music forms a synesthesia to become a new entity in your mind and experience.
...but that gets a little too deep so we head over to new releases and announcements to get you in on that dirty capitalism you love to hate.
Outro: "Magician's Dream" - Magician Lord, by Yuka Watanabe
Mana Wave Media: http://www.manawave.co Twitter: https://twitter.com/manawavemedia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manawavemedia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manawavemedia/
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @ch3records
Links: Death's Gambit (Serenity Forge) https://store.serenityforge.com/products/death-s-gambit-afterlife-2xlp-vinyl-soundtrack Windbound (Mana Wave Media) https://manawave.co/products/windbound-lp-pre-order Star Stories (Super Mario Galaxy arrangement) (Mana Wave Media) https://manawave.co/products/star-stories-lp-pre-order Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/super-monkey-ball-vinyl-soundtrack Evergate (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/evergate-original-soundtrack-by-m-r-miller Power Stone (Ship To Shore PhonoCo) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/power-stone NARITA BOY (Studio Koba) https://studiokoba.com/music/ Incredibox - The Unreleased (Bandcamp) https://incredibox.bandcamp.com/album/incredibox-the-unreleased Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (Square Enix NA) (Square Enix EU) (Square Enix UK) https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/685130/endwalker-7-inch-vinyl-single-vinyl https://store.eu.square-enix-games.com/en_EU/product/685472/endwalker-7-inch-vinyl-single https://store.eu.square-enix-games.com/en_GB/product/685471/endwalker-7-inch-vinyl-single Jettomero: Hero of the Universe (Stumpy Frog Records, EU) (Channel 3 Records, US) https://www.stumpyfrog.com/ https://ch3records.com/collections/vinyl/products/jettomero-hero-of-the-universe Sable (Channel 3 Records) (Mondo) (Light in the Attic) https://ch3records.com/collections/vinyl/products/sable?variant=40906805477528 https://mondoshop.com/products/sable-original-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp https://lightintheattic.net/releases/8098-sable-original-video-game-soundtrack
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We're riled up for this episode of the podcast with a select screen full of fighting games! This week we're joined by DJ Mengzy from the dance/club scene in Hong Kong to do some chip damage against Guilty Gear Memorial Record, released by Arc System Works and based on the Daisuke Ishiwatari rock-themed fighting game series. Jeremy comes clean on this serendipitous but expensive Tokyo Games Show pickup, and Caleb finally understands what is Guilty Gear. We explore the over-the-top self awareness of the game's soundtrack and revel in the unnecessarily epic storyline. Next, Mengzy helps us unbox the Tekken 3 original soundtrack from Laced Records. We wax nostalgic over the Playstation home version and discuss the differences between the arcade and PS1 soundtracks for this seminal game. Mengzy gives us an education about tempo and genre as we explore the character roster and listen to some "phat beats."
We get a chance to talk to Mengzy about remix, dubstep, and what it's like to go from being a music fan to an academically-accredited and experience-rich DJ in the club scene, and she shares a few game-adjacent selections that may or may not be consider "novelty" music in the serious club scene
Finally we cover new releases and a highlight a few records you may want to add to your shelf, and, spoilers, a purchase might be confirmed from the panel before the end of the show! Who exhibited weakness in the Iron Wishlist Tournament? Tune in and find out!
Outro: "Big Blast Sonic" - Guilty Gear Memorial Record, by Daisuke Ishiwatari
DJ Mengzy: Instagram, Facebook
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ch3records
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hLlVVKRwk0
Links: The Elder Scrolls Online (Spacelab9) https://spacelab9.com/collections/featured-products/products/eso-box-set A Total War Saga: Troy (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/total-war/products/total-war-troy-deluxe-triple-vinyl Spiritfarer (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/spiritfarer/products/spiritfarer-vinyl-soundtrack Sonic Colors: Ultimate (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/sonic-colors-ultimate-2xlp Gris Piano Collections (Materia Collective) https://themateriastore.com/products/gris-piano-collections-2xlp-vinyl-record NieR: Become As Gods (Materia Collective) https://themateriastore.com/collections/video-game-music-vinyl/products/nier-become-as-gods-rozen-reven-2xlp-vinyl-record Children Of Morta (Minimum Records) https://www.minimumrecords.net/shop/baovigseys35z3i68et75e1hdtk0gv World Of Ruin (FFVI piano arrangement) (Respawned Records) (sold out) https://respawnedrecords.com/collections/featured/products/world-of-ruin-by-tpr-ffvi-melancholy Sable (Hello Merch) https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/japanese-breakfast/products/sable-double-vinyl In Other Waters (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-releases/products/in-other-waters-original-soundtrack-by-amos-roddy Summer In Mara (Kitty On Fire Records) https://adrianberenguer.bandcamp.com/album/summer-in-mara-ost-2 Magic Castle (Yetee Records) https://theyetee.com/products/magic-castle-ost FAR: Lone Sails (Limited Run Games) (sold out) https://limitedrungames.com/products/far-lone-sails-2-lp-vinyl
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Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/08/29/episode-85-very-ok-vinyl-necrosphere-actraiser/
Your favorite single-button adventure through the round (and flat) world of video game music on vinyl has returned! This week we speak with Scott Geoffrey from burgeoning record label Very Ok Vinyl about the particulars of curating, producing, and (mostly) shipping wax from the not-so-frozen-right-now north. Scott takes us right into our first feature this week as we discuss developer Cat Nigiri's two-button metroidvania game Necrosphere. The game is unusual, the developer and composer are rather distinctive, and the music itself jams. We go into a bit of the special characteristics that made Necrosphere the optimal choice as VoV's inaugural release. Anthony glides us down (Mode 7 style) to our next feature, Wayo Records' Actraiser. The idiosyncratic SNES class-by-itself "god game plus action platformer" also enjoys a great Yuzo Koshiro score, and the vinyl release fully brings it. The Wayo release also includes a recently-reorchestrated symphonic arrangement of the game's score, and we weigh the pros and cons of either interpretation.
We cover the recent releases and upcoming chase items (as well as breaking Anthony's heart and wallet a few times), and call it a wrap for this episode, because we're just that efficient and awesome.
Outro: "All Over the World" - Actraiser (unofficial release), Yuzo Koshiro
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @veryokscoot, @veryokvinyl
https://www.veryokvinyl.com/
Links:
Esperwave (Channel 3 Records) https://ch3records.com/collections/vinyl/products/ch3-006 Silent Hill 3 (Mondo) https://mondoshop.com/products/silent-hill-3-original-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp Silent Hill 4: The Room (Mondo) https://mondoshop.com/products/silent-hill-4-the-room-original-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/products/street-fighter-alpha-3-limited-edition-deluxe-triple-vinyl The House Of The Dead (Cartridge Thunder) HOTD1 https://cartridgethunder.com/collections/new-releases/products/the-house-of-the-dead HOTD2 https://cartridgethunder.com/collections/new-releases/products/the-house-of-the-dead-2 Box set https://cartridgethunder.com/collections/new-releases/products/the-house-of-the-dead-box-set-1-2 Ys VI: The Ark Of Napishtim (Streaming Arrow Records) (Very Ok Vinyl) (Chipfreq) (Black Screen Records) https://streamingarrowrecords.com/products/ys-vi-the-ark-of-napishtim https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/falcom-sound-team-jdk-ys-vi-the-ark-of-napishtim-original-soundtrack-4xlp-boxset https://www.vinylguru.co.uk/collections/chipfreq/products/star-008c https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-soundtracks/products/ys-vi-the-ark-of-napishtim-original-soundtrack-by-falcom-sound-team-jdk Dragon Slayer: The Legend Of Heroes (Streaming Arrow Records) (Very Ok Vinyl) (Chipfreq) (Black Screen Records) https://streamingarrowrecords.com/products/dragon https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/falcom-sound-team-jdk-dragon-slayer-the-legend-of-heroes-original-soundtrack-special-edition-2xlp https://www.vinylguru.co.uk/collections/chipfreq/products/star-005c https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-soundtracks/products/dragon-slayer-the-legend-of-heroes-original-soundtrack-special-edition-by-falcom-sound-team-jdk Fields Of Ys (Streaming Arrow Records) (Very Ok Vinyl) (Chipfreq) (Black Screen Records) https://streamingarrowrecords.com/products/fields-of-ys https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/falcom-sound-team-jdk-fields-of-ys-1xlp https://www.vinylguru.co.uk/collections/chipfreq/products/star-006 https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-soundtracks/products/fields-of-ys-by-falcom-sound-team-jdk Ys Healing (Streaming Arrow Records) (Very Ok Vinyl) (Chipfreq) (Black Screen Records) https://streamingarrowrecords.com/products/ys-healing https://www.veryokvinyl.
Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/08/18/episode-84-toy-music-dancing-super-mario-bros/
We have returned once again, this time from a time warp to the mid-1980s where we have altered history by stealing away with a couple of choice records from Japan... they'll never miss it and our resulting timeline is probably not the darkest one as a result! This week Jeremy and minty-fresh-cohost Caleb are joined by fan favorite Frederik "Blipblop" Lauridsen to show off our anachronistic booty in the form of Akihabara Electric Circus – Toy Music: Dancing Super Mario Brothers. If you think that's a mouthful, just wait until you get an earful! "Thriller via Ray Parker Jr" vibe is something else, and we're reminded that Nintendo franchises from the 80s were still a less defined and less homogenous phenomenon. Next, Caleb brings us our Super Mario entrée two ways with Mario Syndrome, which is not only a credible name for a congenital disease but also a pretty funky Lionel Richie style proto R&B jam, and more! We don't want to spoil anything for you but let's just say that you will find this record both a fun listen as well as a learning experience.
Next we catch you up on the new releases and announcements, including a little more time travel to announce something from Channel 3 Records that is both unknown but also thoroughly sold out. We discuss the continuing Great Vinyl Weirdness of '21 with respect now to the possible ongoing fallout for labels and consumers as backups and lead times only get longer. Indie bands and small businesses are reportedly starting to turn away from the vinyl format for logistical reasons, and Caleb and Frederik give a bit of insight on whether there's any danger for video game music on vinyl record!
https://www.reddit.com/r/VGMvinyl/comments/nzib65/why_are_we_seeing_expensive_preorders_for_2022/
Outro: "Metroid" - Toy Music: Dancing Super Mario Brothers
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ch3records, @blipblopwax
www.channel3records.com www.blipblop.net
Links: Viewtiful Joe (Ship to Shore) (Very OK Vinyl) (Black Screen Records) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/viewtiful-joe https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/viewtiful-joe https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/viewtiful-joe-original-soundtrack-by-capcom-sound-team Darkwood (Ship to Shore) (Black Screen Records) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/darkwood https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-soundtracks/products/darkwood-original-soundtrack-by-arthur-kordas Gears of War: Original Trilogy Soundtrack (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/gears-of-war/products/gears-of-war-original-trilogy-soundtrack Tekken 5 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/tekken/products/tekken-5-limited-edition-deluxe-triple-vinyl Tekken 6 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/tekken/products/tekken-6-limited-edition-deluxe-double-vinyl Sounds of Summer 2021 (Black Screen Records) (free, pay shipping) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-releases/products/sounds-of-summer-2021-by-various-artists The Medium (Black Screen Records) (Ship to Shore) https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/the-medium-original-soundtrack-by-akira-yamaoka-arkadiusz-reikowski https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/the-medium-original-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp Humankind (G4F Records) https://www.g4f-records.com/en/produit/humankind-edition-vinyl/ The Songs of Time (Respawned Records) (Mango Mage) (sold out) https://respawnedrecords.com/collections/vinyl-releases/products/the-songs-of-time-by-tpr https://www.mangomagerecords.com/products/the-songs-of-time-by-tpr-king-of-thieves-var Ys: The Oath in Felghana (Wayo Records) (Light in the Attic) https://www.wayorecords.com/en/vinyls/738-ys-the-oath-in-felghana-vinyl-collector.html https://lightintheattic.net/releases/8013-ys-the-oath-in-felghana Dead By Daylight (Return to Analog Records) (sold out)
Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/07/18/video-game-grooves-gaiden-1-gaiden-gits-arise-countach-for-giorgio-welcome-to-brght-falls/
No, you haven't fallen into an interdimensional facsimile of your favorite video-game-music-on-vinyl podcast, this is just the side story. In our first "gaiden" episode, we are joined by Ryan Huff from One Run Records to investigate the video games "adjacent" world of vinyl, and do we have a weird lineup for our inaugural outing. Anthony bring us the soundtrack to Ghost in the Shell: Arise, by Japanese alternative musician Cornelius. We flow with (yet remain pleasantly unsettled by) the surprisingly chill vibe of Arise, and ponder the lyrical technique and philosophical questions posed by the unique tracks. Jeremy then takes us into the mind of Shooter Jennings and Richard Garriott with Countach (for Giorgio), a tribute album dedicated to the prolific (and still kicking) music producer Giorgio Moroder... adjacent to video games by association with Lord British and with a launch party that took place inside Shroud of the Avatar, we take the opportunity to appreciate both the music of Moroder and Jennings doing whatever he darn well pleases. Finally, Ryan takes us on a guided tour of one of the most enigmatic releases we've ever heard of with Welcome to Bright Falls, the soundtrack to the prequel webisodes to the well-loved (but not THAT well-loved) Alan Wake from Remedy Entertainment. In a great example of life imitating art, this inexplicable album seems to have come from nobody nowhere who is willing to shed any light on it... but it's also filled with a variety of little original gems.
Even though we head down some bunny-trails in this episode, we still make sure to keep up on the new releases and a couple of non-release tidbits (such as Rockstar Games starting their own music label with vinyl releases) and just have a generally good time. Hang out with us and get weird!
Outro: "From Here to Eternity" - Shooter Jennings
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @onerunrecords
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJAxcD_yVqI
Links: VA-11 HALL-A Complete (Black Screen Records) BSR: https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/va-11-hall-a-complete-sound-collection-vinyl-boxset-by-garoad STS: https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/va-11-hall-a-complete Chipfreq: https://www.vinylguru.co.uk/products/bsr060 Mega Man Legends (Ship To Shore Media) STS: https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/mega-man-legends BSR: https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/mega-man-legends-original-soundtrack-by-capcom-sound-team Chipfreq: https://www.vinylguru.co.uk/products/sts-123 Very ok Vinyl: https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/mega-man-legends-ost-vinyl Streets Of Rogue (Ship to Shore Media) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/streets-of-rogue West Of Loathing (Ship To Shore Media) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/west-of-loathing Tell Me Why (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/tell-me-why-vinyl-soundtrack Mega Remix Man .EXE (Materia Collective) https://roborobmusic.bandcamp.com/album/mega-remix-man-exe Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (Mondo) https://mondoshop.com/products/metal-gear-2-solid-snake-original-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp Snake's Revenge (Mondo) (sold out) https://mondoshop.com/products/snakes-revenge-original-video-game-soundtrack-lp Mighty Fight Federation (Yetee Records) https://theyetee.com/collections/all/products/mighty-fight-federation-ost Scarlet Nexus (Bandai Namco) US: https://www.bandainamcoentstore.com/product/668397/scarlet-nexus-official-soundtrack-vinyl EU: https://store.bandainamcoent.eu/eu/product/648311/official-scarlet-nexus-vinyl UK: https://store.bandainamcoent.eu/uk/product/648312/official-scarlet-nexus-vinyl Tales Of Arise (Bandai Namco Entertainment) (EU only) https://store.bandainamcoent.
Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/06/27/episode-83-horizon-zero-dawn/
In the far-flung future, civilization has collapsed. Humanity has forgotten its roots. Robots roam the earth. CD audio has decayed. Only vinyl records remain. Video game music is scavenged from the rubble of our past to rebuild society. The year is 2021. The podcast is Video Game Grooves. Tom Quillfeldt from Laced Records joins Jeremy to explore, appreciate, and illuminate the music of Horizon Zero Dawn. We devote the entire episode to this 4xLP box set, discussing the game's future-tribal setting and sounds. Appreciating the sound team for Horizon Zero Dawn begins with Music Supervisor Lucas van Tol at Guerrilla games, and the guidance and instruction given to the composition team led by Joris de Man. Combining the skills of The Flight, Jonathan Williams, Niels Van der Leest, and of course Julie Elven providing vocals, the weave of thematic and evocative audio perfectly augments the game's unique setting. We pick several selections from across the HZD spectrum to showcase how the game's music sets the stage and communicates the setting to players, and makes for a darn listenable experience too. We also find some "never-before-internetted" music from the score and share it here for what we reckon must be the first time in knowable human history.
After setting our campfire for the day, we summon up the new releases and announcements, including a nice one from Laced, and quite a few that may be worth spending your metal shards on as the month closes out. We also take a cue from the "found music" elements of Horizon Zero Dawn to uncover a few other bespoke instruments, engineered sounds, and altogether fabricated soundfonts that exist in the music you listen to on your own vinyl records... your indestructible time-capsule of a music format.
Outro: "The Good News" - Joris de Man ft. Julie Elven
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @laced_audio
Links: Resident Evil 2 (2019 remake) (Laced Records Limited Ed) (Standard Ed) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/resident-evil/products/resident-evil-2-limited-edition-x4lp-boxset https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/resident-evil/products/resident-evil-2-2019-standard-edition-x4lp-boxset Rad (Ship To Shore PhonoCo) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/rad Road 96 (G4F Records) https://www.g4f-records.com/en/produit/road-96-vinyl-edition/ Zeldawave (Polygon Dream Bandcamp) (sold out, repress incoming) https://marblepawns.bandcamp.com/album/oot Weezer: Tell Me What You Want (Wave Break) (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/wave-break-7 Surviving Mars (Paradox Interactive) https://vinyl.survivingmars.com/ The Dark Pictures: House Of Ashes (Bandai Namco EU only) https://store.bandainamcoent.eu/eu/product/648305/the-dark-pictures-house-of-ashes-vinyl Mighty Fight Federation (Yetee Records) https://theyetee.com/products/mighty-fight-federation-ost Soulless I & II (Kickstarter) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/amicomretrobooks/soulless-commodore-64-chiptune-game-soundtrack-on-vinyl-and-cd The Last of Us 2 restock (Playstation Gear store) https://gear.playstation.com/Product/1525832-The_Last_of_Us_Part_II_Vinyl_Record Skies Of Arcadia repress (Wayô Records) https://www.wayorecords.com/en/wayo-records/651-skies-of-arcadia-eternal-soundtrack-vinyl-edition.html Samorost 3 repress (Minority Records) https://store.minorityrecords.com/
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Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/06/12/episode-82-rozen-extravaganza-nier-glory-to-mankind-the-keyblade-war/
Here at Video Game Grooves we are not above admitting our mistakes, and we do our best to rectify them. This episode we rectify the error of omission as Rozen comes back to the show after a "mea culpa" amount of time way back on Episode 21 when we were just a baby podcast. Well now as a bratty teenage podcast we slouch and kick a rock, and finally get him back on for you. To make up for lost time we are covering not one but two of his awesome vinyl releases. First up, Anthony returns us to that old Nier well with Nier: Glory to Mankind. Of course we talk about the music of Keiichi Okabe but also the dovetail with the "gravitas" of the Rozen+Reven adaptation, as well as the vocals on every single track, and what it takes to deliver on what Nier musically promises. Jeremy ends up humblebragging about the re-release variant he snagged. We continue with the more recent release of The Keyblade War, Rozen and vocalist Reven's adaptation of the inscrutably-storied Kingdom Hearts franchise, and whether it was easier or harder to match up with the iconic music of Yoko Shimomura. Everything has meaning in this release, and we get just a taste of that in our listening party today.
We continue with the new releases and make a few harsh judgments over here and a few drooling hype statements over there... but ultimately we let you decide where to spend your money (links below as always) and we finally discuss the weird time-delayed climate of video game music on vinyl record, including some production insights from Rozen who also does some design work at Materia Collective, and he even pulls out the crystal ball for one or two predictions about what fans can expect in the future from the "hurry up and wait" situation we've been experiencing over the past year. Trust the power of feelings and friendship and enjoy this one!
Outro: "Dearly Beloved" - The Keyblade War, by Rozen
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @rozendj Website – Rozen.audio
Links: NieR Replicant 10+1 Years (Square Enix US) (Square Enix EU) NA: https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/647841/nier-replicant-10plus1-years-vinyl-lp-box-set-vinyl EU: https://store.eu.square-enix-games.com/en_EU/product/647860/nier-replicant-10plus1-years-vinyl-lp-box-set Sea Of Thieves (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/sea-of-thieves-vinyl-soundtrack PixelJunk Eden 2 (Limited Run Games) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/soundtracks/products/pixeljunk-eden-2-2lp-exclusive-vinyl Double Dragon IV (Limited Run Games) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/neo-frontpage/products/double-dragon-iv-vinyl-soundtrack Final Fantasy IV Song Of Heroes (Square Enix US) (Square Enix EU) https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/647846/final-fantasy-iv-song-of-heroes-vinyl https://store.eu.square-enix-games.com/en_EU/product/647906/final-fantasy-iv-song-of-heroes Solasta: Crown Of The Magister (G4F Records) https://solastacrownofthemagister.bandcamp.com/album/solasta-crown-of-the-magister-original-soundtrack-2 Stonefly (Diggers Factory) https://www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/239652/natureboy-flako-stonefly-original-game-soundtrack VGM Jams Mixtape Vol. 1 (Qrates) https://qrates.com/projects/23814-vgm-jams-mixtape-vol-1 Skyrim Box Set (Spacelab 9) https://spacelab9.com/collections/featured-products/products/available-now-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-ultimate-4-lp-box-set-exclusive-dragons-breath-vinyl
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Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/05/29/episode-81-bat-out-of-hal-spelunky/
The procedurally-generated treasure hunt for video game music on vinyl record continues, and we've brought in a couple of strong-jawed Indiana Jones style action archaeologists to get it done. This week, Caleb Denney of Channel 3 Records joins us alongside game music guitar savant and audio mixing sorcerer-king Stemage to get it done. We begin our endeavor by uncovering the hidden gem Bat out of HAL, by Kirby's Dream Band. We praise the band's knack for letting all the musical elements come out and sparkle, as well as the interesting set of choices for inclusion on the album. We then continue to the quizzical and well-known music of Spelunky, by Phlogiston. This release is unique in a few ways, and so we turn it around in our minds and ears to explore its peculiar beauty, and the interesting way it's been arranged to take us through the shifting corridors and caves of its musical labyrinths.
We continue by illuminating the releases and products that seek your treasures these days... and there are many, bold vinyl adventurer!
We then head back to the university to ruminate on our findings by discussing the art and science of audio mixing. Grant and Caleb describe what the process actually is and how it relates to the production of a digital or physical version of our favorite tunes, and how that translates into the finished vinyl that sits on your home treasure altar turntable.
Outro: "Goblins 3" - Bat out of HAL, Kirby's Dream Band
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ch3records, @stemage Facebook – Channel 3 Records www.ch3records.com
Links: Final Fantasy XIV Vinyl Box (Square Enix NA) (Square Enix EU) https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/634858/final-fantasy-xiv-vinyl-lp-box-vinyl https://store.eu.square-enix-games.com/en_EU/product/639581/final-fantasy-xiv-vinyl-lp-box Melodies Of Midgar (KupoCon) (sold out) https://kupo.shop/collections/really-new/products/melodies-of-midgar-limited-edition-vinyl Enter The Gungeon (Devolver Digital Store) https://merch.devolverdigital.co/collections/enter-the-gungeon/products/enter-the-gungeon-vinyl-deluxe-triple-vinyl Manifold Garden (iam8bit) (Black Screen Records) https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/manifold-garden/products/manifold-garden-vinyl-soundtrack https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/distro/products/manifold-garden-original-soundtrack-by-laryssa-okada Mutazione (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/collections/mutazione/products/mutazione-vinyl-soundtrack Little Nightmares I & II (Bandai Namco US)(Bandai Namco EU) https://www.bandainamcoentstore.com/product/637031/little-nightmares-i-ii-vinyl-the-music-box-collection https://store.bandainamcoent.eu/eu/product/637612/little-nightmares-i-ii-vinyl-the- music-box-collection Papetura (Minority Records) https://www.minorityrecords.com/en/releases/papetura-soundtrack Aerial_Knight's Never Yield (Black Screen Records) (US distro Ship to Shore) https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/aerial_knights-never-yield-original-soundtrack-by-neil-j-daniel-wilkins https://shiptoshoremedia.com/products/aerial_knights-never-yield Dandara (Mana Wave Media) (Bigwax) https://www.manawave.co/product/dandara https://bigwax.io/collections/mana-wave-media/products/dandara Maverick Hunters (Mega Ran Bandcamp) https://random.bandcamp.com/campaign/maverick-hunters
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Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/05/08/episode-80-gradius-rebirth-dropsy/
The season has turned, and for a brief time in Video Game Grooves climes life will be a bit more active and a bit more moist. So we are joined by Aaron from Ship to Shore Media to preside over the action and the, uh, moistness in the form of video game music on vinyl records! Specifically this episode the action belongs to the release of Gradius Rebirth from Ship to Shore. The Rebirth series is a bit special in the pantheon of games and their remakes, and Gradius in particular, ostensively lost forever on Wiiware, lives on with its cutscenes and darkness in this vinyl release. We look at both the narrative-driven elements of DARKNESS and also the fast-paced space jet vibe ala Manabu Namiki, and generally appreciate the little spot Gradius Rebirth holds in the series history. We move on to the moisture with Dropsy, from Joyful Noise Recordings, and it feels just like a damp hug. The mood of Dropsy is something rather unique as well, and we get as close as we can stand to the horrifying/maudlin/sweet combination without freaking out. We appreciate the musical output of the 12-hour Chris Schlarb recording marathon, as well as the Mothersbaughan element of the album, and its overall listenability.
Of course we have new releases and represses and shipping announcements to cover, as always! And finally, we talk to Aaron about the sustainability of the market for video game music on vinyl through the introduction of new (and possibly younger) devotees, and what that means for the release schedule and selections for labels in 2021.
Outro: "Fugitive Foxtrot" - Dropsy, by Chris Schlarb
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @stsphonoco Facebook – StSPhonoCo
Links: Yakuza 0 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/yakuza Apex Legends (Enjoy the Ride) https://enjoytheriderecords.com/collections/enjoy-the-ride-records/products/apex-legends-soundtrack-etr110 Myst (Fangamer) (Black Screen Records) https://www.fangamer.com/collections/myst/products/myst-vinyl-ost https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/myst-original-soundtrack-by-robyn-miller Frostpunk Complete Soundtrack (Gamemusic Records) https://gamemusic.net/product/frostpunk-complete-soundtrack/ Mr Nutz (Wayo Records) https://www.wayorecords.com/en/vinyls/724-mr-nutz-original-soundtrack-vinyl-collector.html Super XYX (Respawned Records) (Black Screen Records) (sold out) https://respawnedrecords.com/collections/featured/products/super-xyx-vinyl-soundtrack https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/distro/products/super-xyx-original-soundtrack-by-epilis R-Type Original Sound Box (NIS America) https://store.nisamerica.com/preorders/r-type-original-sound-box NeoGeo Pocket color Selection Vol 1 game bundle (PixnLove) (sold out) https://www.pixnlove.com/nintendo-switch/902-neogeo-pocket-color-selection-vol1-snk-limited-edition.html https://www.pixnlove.com/nintendo-switch/901-neogeo-pocket-color-selection-vol1-capcom-limited-edition.html Arknights: Contingency Contract (Monster siren) (requires proxy) https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.1-b-s.w20726869-22044789652.1.4a2d66adw4St78&id=640489773953&skuId=4599001768177 Necrosphere (Very Ok Vinyl) https://www.veryokvinyl.com/products/vov-001 Friday Night Funkin (Needlejuice Records Kickstarter) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/funkin/friday-night-funkin-the-full-ass-game
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Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/04/22/episode-79-nick-marinelli-sonic-adventure-1-2/
We're back with a new episode dedicated to the spinning lifestyle: not JUST the vinyl, but the Blue Blur makes a return to the podcast after a rather lengthy wait. We could just feel him tapping his toe in our direction. To bring Sonic back to the show we have called upon the only man with the game music event chops to get it done! We're joined by Nick Marinelli of Video Games in Concert to discuss Sonic's seminal first foray into 3D and late-90s lyrical hip-hop and grunge pop. We close our eyes and feel it burn with the Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 box set from Brave Wave, hitting the feels hard with music that feels nostalgic even on the first listen. We are simply natural, exploring a bit of development history and design challenges that Sonic faced in a complete rework of the franchise. We wanna be cool; we also wanna be like him.
Several new releases and announcements have hit us this month, and make sure to keep you tougher than leather and rougher than the rest of 'em, we update you with links below to get your hands on them. Finally, we sit down with Nick to talk more deeply about the game music fan scene, which has brought up lots of individual artists and groups that have contributed significantly to the catalog of game music, remixes, arrangements, and others--some of which have been released on vinyl! So follow us, set us free, trust us and we will escape from the city. We'll make it through, prove it to you.
Outro: "Pleasure Castle (for Twinkle Park)" - Sonic Adventure, by Jun Senoue
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @gamemusicrocks www.gamemusic.rocks
Links: Mass Effect Trilogy (Spacelab9) (Black Screen Records) (Bioware Gear) https://spacelab9.com/products/mass-effect-trilogy-vinyl-collection https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/distro/products/mass-effect-trilogy-vinyl-collection-by-various-artists https://gear.bioware.com/products/mass-effect-vinyl-collection-4lp-box-set Jet Lancer (Ship to Shore) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/video-game-soundtracks/products/jet-lancer Overpass (Ship to Shore) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/overpass Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/resident-evil/products/resident-evil-7-standard-edition-x4lp-boxset Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Lakeshore Records) https://www.lakeshorerecordsshop.com/product/assassin-s-creed-valhalla-original-game-soundtrack-red-w-yellow-splatter-teal-w-black-smoke Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Wave of Giants (Lakeshore Records) https://www.lakeshorerecordsshop.com/product/assassin-s-creed-valhalla-the-wave-of-giants-opaque-white-vinyl-einar-selvik https://nordicmusicmerch.com/products/einar-selvik-assassins-creed%c2%ae-valhalla-the-wave-of-giants-lp-white-vinyl (sold out) Demon's Souls (Milan Records) Mondo: https://mondoshop.com/products/demons-souls-original-soundtrack-2xlp LITA: https://lightintheattic.net/releases/7691-demon-s-souls-original-soundtrack Newbury: https://www.newburycomics.com/collections/exclusive-vinyl/products/shunsuke_kida-soundtrack-demons_souls_exclusive_2lp Black Screen Records: https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/demon-s-souls-original-soundtrack-by-shunsuke-kida Channel 3: https://ch3records.com/collections/vinyl/products/demons-souls Chipfreq: https://www.vinylguru.co.uk/collections/all/products/194398431314 Ketsui -Kizuna Jigoku Tachi- (Brave Wave) Limited Run Games: https://limitedrungames.com/collections/neo-frontpage/products/ketsui-kizuna-jigoku-tachi-the-definitive-soundtrack-vinyl Bigwax: https://bigwax.io/collections/brave-wave-productions/products/ketsui-kizuna-jigoku-tachi Chemical Plant Zone / Sagat Theme (Colemine Records) https://www.coleminerecords.com/collections/new-releases-upcoming-pre-orders/products/black-market-brass-chemical-plant-zone-release-date-5-7-21 ...
Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/04/01/episode-78-paradise-killer-pepsiman/
Welcome to this refreshing AND tasteful episode of Video Game Grooves! This week we throw it back to chrome, shuttered lighting, palm trees, smooth jazz saxophones, and a horrific faceless nightmare-fuel running facehole fizzer who will compel you with the power of cola. This is just how we do it. This week, Paul leads us to the beautiful and bizarre world of Paradise Killer from Black Screen Records. The game is exceptional and captivating, not least of which due to the musical score by Barry Topping. The nostalgia-nouveau fusion jazz soundtrack keeps us enthralled even if we have no idea what's going on in the game (although we try to explore that too). We then move on to Jeremy's feature of an unofficial Pepsiman release and we ask "Is Pepsi(man) okay?" We take a slice of the original music by James & Gang (James Shimoji) for the inscrutable sugar-water Japanese ad campaign of the 90s, and we appreciate the amazing saxophone and keyboard work, exploring topics such as improvisation, animal attraction, and corporeal miming.
We flow into a discussion about soloists and performers in video game music, who seem often to go under the radar and we shout out several that we know (and a few we didn't) and invite you to seek their work on vinyl and off. And we wrap it all up with new releases and announcements that you can pay for right now! And isn't that just what you want? Of course it is.
Outro: "Idle Lands" - Paradise Killer, by Barry Topping
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikMwQxaSRjU
Mizucat Illustration, Art, & Design https://www.mizucat.com/ Kristin Naigus http://www.field-of-reeds.net/credits.html Reven Music https://revenmusic.com/ Julie Elven https://www.julieelven.com/about
Links: Tales of Symphonia (Ship to Shore) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/tales-of-symphonia The King of Fighters 2002 (Limited Run Games) (Bigwax) https://bigwax.io/collections/brave-wave-productions/products/the-king-of-fighters-2002-the-definitive-soundtrack https://limitedrungames.com/collections/neo-frontpage/products/the-king-of-fighters-2002-soundtrack-vinyl-or-cd The King of Fighters 94/95 (Limited Run Games) (Bigwax) https://limitedrungames.com/collections/neo-frontpage/products/the-king-of-fighters-94-95-soundtrack-bundle https://bigwax.io/collections/brave-wave-productions/products/the-king-of-fighters-94-95-the-definitive-soundtrack Blaseball (iam8bit) https://www.iam8bit.com/products/blaseball-vinyl-soundtrack Simian Symphony (Donkey Kong 64 arrange) (Respawn Records) https://respawnedrecords.com/collections/featured/products/dk64-simian-symphony-vinyl-record Murder by Numbers (Black Screen Records) https://blackscreenrecords.com/collections/all-releases/products/murder-by-numbers-original-soundtrack-by-masakazu-sugimori Noby Noby Boy (Fangamer) https://www.fangamer.com/products/noby-noby-boy-vinyl-soundtrack Watch Dogs Legion (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/watch-dogs Donkey Kong Country Recreated (Mental Groove Records) (Forced Exposure, USA) https://www.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/jammin-sam-miller-donkey-kong-country-ost-recreated-2lp/MPD.036LP.html https://shop.mentalgroove.ch/album/donkey-kong-country-ost-recreated-2 Street Fighter II cover album (Retroleaf Records) https://retroleafrecords.com/products/street-fighter-ii Post Void 7" (Diggers Factory) https://www.diggersfactory.com/vinyl/240060/ycjy-x-karlflodin-post-void
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Blog Link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/03/06/episode-77-ikaruga-quake/
This could be the stressiest episode of Video Game Grooves, as we dive into the merciless black-and-white polarized world of Ikaruga, the insanely difficult vertical shooter from Treasure Games, which got a soundtrack release by Data Discs last year. Anthony guides us through the game's monochromatic landscape and its noble-yet-frenetic soundscape, and we place the game in its context alongside other musical and mechanical offerings from Treasure. Jeremy decides to go a little more toward the dark side of the musical spectrum with Quake, by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. We investigate what the sound of "industrial music" is, and whether Quake's musical score is what we think it is, and what the value of Quake to gaming at large might be. We also look subconscious musical-emotional manipulation right in the face, and did you just feel your phone buzz in your pocket?
We carry on with the new releases, (which are manageable!) along with some recently-shipped records that might be finding their way onto your shelf right now, as well as a few new announcements that will lighten your wallet in the future.
Finally, we chew on a list of "real musicians" who have contributed their compositional skills to video games alongside the likes of Trent Reznor (perhaps even some of his NIN bandmates!) and whether their video game compositions have graced the vinyl market yet... and perhaps whether they should. But of course, we can't always be perfectly thorough, so who might we have missed? Listen in and help us out!
Outro: "Reality" - Ikaruga, by Hiroshi Iuchi
Links: Itta (Respawned Records) (sold out) https://respawnedrecords.com/products/itta-4lp-box-set Borderlands 2 (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/borderlands/products/borderlands-2-limited-edition-x4lp-box-set https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/borderlands/products/borderlands-2-deluxe-x4lp-box-set RuneScape: Old School Combat Classics (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.co/collections/runescape/products/runescape-old-school-combat-classics-deluxe-double-vinyl RuneScape: God Wars (Laced Records) https://www.lacedrecords.com/collections/runescape/products/runescape-god-wars-dungeon-deluxe-double-vinyl Esper Dream 1+2 (Ship to Shore) https://shiptoshoremedia.com/collections/featured/products/esper-dream Double Kick Heroes (G4F Records) https://www.g4f-records.com/en/produit/double-kick-heroes-vinyl-edition-pre-order/ Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (Yetee Records) https://theyetee.com/collections/all/products/anodyne-2-original-soundtrack-lp YIIK (Yetee Records) https://theyetee.com/products/yiik-a-postmodern-rpg-original-soundtrack Stubbs the Zombie (Stubbs Hub) https://stubbshub.com/#collectors Wave Break: Neon Rides (NewRetroWave Bandcamp) https://newretrowave.bandcamp.com/album/wave-break-neon-rides-game-soundtrack
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Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/02/03/episode-76-street-fighter-iii-the-collection
The World Fighting Championship returns to your turntable in the form of the underappreciated little brother of the Street Fighter franchise: Street Fighter III. We're joined by Ryan Huff of One Run Records for this one, so you know it's going to be a little offbeat to begin with! In this episode, Anthony takes the helm and steers us through the musically- and canonically-complicated waters of Street Fighter III: The Collection from Laced Records, with stops at New Generation, 2nd Impact, and Third Strike. The evolving music and sound of Hideki Okugawa as the game saw its various iterations from 1997 to 1999 and finally settled on something more evolved and distinctive than the series had dared previously. We discuss the art, the cultural impact, and the mechanical import of this Capcom gem, and help you to appreciate it as only a black-clad beret-wearing teenager traipsing around Germany could!
We take care of some housecleaning with the new releases and other announcements of the past couple of weeks. We muse over the thematically-appropriate question of pan-series box sets, such as Laced has done with Street Fighter 3, and we discuss the relative merit of "less-popular" games getting unsuccessful standalone releases versus folding them into a larger set. Curation!
Outro: "Crowded Street (Yun & Yang Stage)" - Street Fighter III: Third Strike, by Hideki Okugawa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg1xPOUn7vQ
http://www.onerunrecords.com/ Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @onerunrecords Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Onerunrecords/
Links: Dungeon of the Endless (G4F Records) Warhammer: Vermintide II (Laced Records) Spinch (iam8bit) Pac-Man fever 7" (Cook and Becker, book bundle) Afterparty (Limited Run Games) King of Fighters 2000 (Limited Run Games) Black Materia: The Remake (Gamechops Bandcamp crowdfund) Klonoa restock (Ship to Shore Media) Memories of Tokyo-To (glow-in-the-dark repress) (Ship to Shore Media)
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Blog link: http://videogamegrooves.com/2021/01/23/episode-75-goldeneye-64-orchestrated-untitled-goose-game/
We're putting the needle down on the run-in groove for 2021. It's a little noisy so far, so we might need to damp clean the whole thing. For our first episode we're joined by Justin O'Rear from Respawned Records to look at some our favorite recent game-music-on-vinyl releases that are just begging for a closer look. We begin with one of Paul's runners-up for last year, Goldeneye 64 Orchestrated, from Respawned Records. This music takes us immediately back to rowdy group gaming sessions with friends, and punishing cheaters who looked on our quadrant of the TV! We explore the game's weird development history and its eponymous tie-in (but we forget to mention last month's collapse of the Areceibo Observatory!) and how the convergence of pop culture and circumstance made N64 Goldeneye a household name in the late 90s. We continue with a look at Untitled Goose Game from iam8bit, and discuss its similarly-unexpected captivation of pop culture. Claude Debussy's "Preludes" get a bit of airtime and we talk about impressionist piano composition (take THAT Debussy!)
We run through the most important news... make sure not to skip this part! There's a lot going on!
And finally we use the "fun old memories" of Goldeneye to springboard to the "fun new memories" of music and experiences like Untitled Goose Game, and we talk about whether game music on vinyl can be a catalyst for some latter-day nostalgia.
Jeremy's Favorite Goldeneye Comedy https://realgoldeneye.ytmnd.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RR5V0rmN4o
Outro: "Depot" - Goldeneye 64 Orchestrated, by Rich Douglas (composed by Grant Kirkhope, Graeme Norgate)
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @respawnedrec FB – https://www.facebook.com/RespawnedRec/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/respawnedrecords/ https://respawnedrecords.com/
Links: Tree of Life (Manawave) Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game (Limited Run Games) Grindstone (iam8bit) Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege (Laced Records) Panzer Dragoon: Remake (Bigwax) (Brave Wave / Limited Run Games) Panzer Paladin (Limited Run Games) Little Big Adventure symphonic Suite (Wayo Records) Super Meat Boy Forever (sold out) (Yetee Records) Banjo-Skazooie (Respawned Records) Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World (Strictly Limited Games) Mutant Mudds (Cartridge Thunder) Red Dead Redemption 2 "House Building EP" (Lakeshore Records) Ty the Tasmanian Tiger (Kickstarter)
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What a year. Period, not exclamation point. But what a year for video game music on vinyl record! The full VGG crew is joined once again for our annual best-of-the-year episode by Frederik "Blipblop" Lauridsen from BlipBlop.net for the definitive breakdown of the very best releases from across the niche universe of our weird hobby.
In our round-robin fashion, we count down our top 3 individually, as well as a few special shout-outs, and then we get to your favorite picks, as the community of Lovers of Video Game Music on Vinyl Record in the year 2020.
Big thanks to you, our community, for toughing out 2020 with us, and get ready to spin up 2021 as big new things come our way! Happy New Year!
Outro: "Staff Roll" - Tekken 3, by Nobuyoshi Sano, Keiichi Okabe & Yuu Miyake
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @blipblopwax
http://www.blipblop.net/
To shortcut to the good stuff you all wanted (community picks) you can click here, but it's a secret to everyone.
Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/12/14/episode-73-ultimate-doom-doom-2016/
Oh hello there, welcome to our cozy winter fireside for the latest episo—PROFANE BLOOD OF THE DAMNED DID FLOW OVER THE PLAIN OF TORMENT—of the Video Game Grooves podcast! We're joined by "extended family" show hosts Tom Quillfeldt from Laced Records and culture maven Brock Wilbur to make the season merry! This episode goes a little off the glowing holiday message you'd usuall—AND IN THE THRALL OF THE HELLISH LEGIONS THE WEAK SHALL KNOW NO PEACE—in this festive time of year, but we think you'll love it! This episode features the unofficial release of Ultimate DOOM, by Bobby Prince circa 1993, and 2016's DOOM by Mick Gordon. We think you'll really enjo—AS THE UNQUENCHABLE WRATH OF THE NETHERWORLD POURED THROUGH THE GATE—fantastic heavy metal sounds of the series, originating—RENDERING THEIR FLESH INTO PUREST AGONY—and still iconic today.
Plus, we continue with the news and new releases, and there's plenty of —UNSPEAKABLE VIOLENCE—your wallet, so watch out! ;)
Plus, we discuss games of 2020 that we think deserve a vinyl release, including a few so obscure, you might think we invented them! Listen in and—SUFFER ENDLESSLY.
Outro: "BFG Division: - DOOM (2016), by Mick Gordon
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @laced_records, @brockwilbur
http://www.brockwilbur.com BROWSE: Brock's Discogs profile for charity DONATE: Harvesters Community Food Network (food bank) DONATE: Veterans Community Project (veterans housing)
http://www.lacedrecords.com/ Laced Records Blog
LAST CHANCE TO VOTE: Video Game Music on Vinyl's Best of 2020 Community Poll, by BlipBlop.net
Links: Terraria (Laced Records) ActRaiser (Wayo Records) Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Mondo) Klonoa: Door To Phantomile (Ship to Shore) Vampire: The Masquerade-Shadows Of New York (Bandcamp) Alwa's Awakening (Thunderful Games) Rez Infinite: Area X (iam8bit) Disco Elysium (iam8bit) (Open Edition) (Limited Edition) Katana Zero (Fangamer) LocoRoco (Fangamer) Battletoads: Smash Hits (Rare Ltd) Shovel Knight King of Cards (Bigwax EU) (Limited Run USA) Shovel Knight Treasure Trove Empty Box (Limited Run) Earthnight (Limited Run, sold out) DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou (Bigwax EU) (Limited Run USA) Clockwork Aquario (Strictly Limited Games) MOTHER Music Revisited (Amazon.jp) (CDJapan) (HMV) Slice of Life: Songs from Wholesome Games (Black Screen Records) Doctor Who: Edge of Time (Amazon) Sinnohvation (insaneintherainmusic Bandcamp) Twin Mirror (Diggers Factory)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/11/25/episode-72-manawave-w-f-music-from-final-fantasy-13
It's time to talk turkey about video game music on vinyl record, and we're going to start with the drunken uncle at the gathering: lo-fi hip-hop. We're joined by Caleb Denney, formerly of Debug Records but newly of Channel 3 Records, to talk about some great and noteworthy feature picks! We begin with the cross-label release of Manawave, an ostensibly low (but not-low) fi (but not-fi) hip (but not-hip) hop (but not-hop) adaptation of Secret of Mana. We admire its aspirations and discuss the album's flowing intentionality and mood, as well as the improbable path to approval by Mana's original composer, Hiroki Kikuta and the album art by Hiroo Isono. We continue to Anthony's pick of W/F Music from Final Fantasy XIII, and champion the unusual divergence the divisive game's music takes from the rest of the canon. A tiny bit of soapboxing and gushing later, and we ponder Square-Enix's vinyl trajectory toward mediocrity from this serendipitously wonderful release.
We take care of the news and releases, as always, keeping you informed just in time for those spendy, spendy holidays. And for our final segment, we decide to deeply interrogate the idea of "exceptional" music in the game music vinyl space. What qualifies as exceptional? Are we getting exceptional releases? Do we deserve them? What does the future hold? Is Mass Effect's music really that good? Listen and find out!
Outro: "Can't Catch a Break!" - Final Fantasy XIII, by Masashi Hamauzu
VOTE: Video Game Music on Vinyl's Best of 2020 Community Poll, by BlipBlop.net
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ch3records
Channel 3 Records Website
Links: SteamWorld Tower Defense Reimagined (Thunderful) The Pathless (iam8bit) Radirgy Swag (fashionstore.jp) Carrion (Materia Collective) Guacamelee (Ship to Shore) Guacamelee 2 (Ship to Shore) The Music of Destiny Vol 2 (Bungie US) (Bungie EU) Haven (G4F Records) Resident Evil 6 (Laced, Limited Ed) (Standard Ed) Art of Fighting 3 (Bigwax) (Limited Run Games) Shenmue III (Standard Bigwax) (Standard Limited Run Games) Blossom Tales (Respawned Records) Serious Sam 4 (Special reserve Games) Zelda & Chill 2 (Bandcamp crowdfunding) Ends Dec 11 Firewatch (Kickstarter) Ends Nov 30
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/10/30/episode-71-castlevania-rondo-of-blood-darkest-dungeon
Emerging from the darkness and shadows of the night hours, an ominous figure looms. It moves like a vapor, with menace, and exudes a hunger--an unholy NEED--transfixing all who gaze upon it. It moves closer, too close for comfort and in a smooth but sinister voice, it rumbles "I vant to spin your winyl!" #podcastchillers
Our newest podcast for the witching time of the year is replete with the sounds of the season! Jeremy and Anthony pair up to investigate the dark corners (so to speak) of vinyl, and we've made otherworldly contact with Castlevania: Rondo of Blood from Mondo! Believe it or not, we haven't covered this Castlevania record yet, but Anthony takes full advantage of the opportunity. We discuss how it may be a "pivot point" for the Castlevania series in a few ways, and Jeremy has a hard time tearing his eyes off the album art. When he does, he decides to lead us through the Darkest Dungeon, from Ghost Ramp. This one is a multimedia experience so be prepared with THIS LINK (https://www.artsy.net/artist/hieronymus-bosch) to experience the full effect of the severe music of Stuart Chatwood.
We take some time out to discuss the "droning" (or amelodic) music of video games, and whether it really makes for a genuinely enjoyable listening experience, and whether it turns out to be a large part of the video game soundtrack experience, and how that relates to "hero" tracks or songs.
We close out by updating you on the video game vinyl that demands your attention and money this week, as well as a few rumors to keep you tantalized and tormented.
Outro: "Mary Samba" - Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, by Akira Sōji, Keizo Nakamura, Tomoko Sano, Mikio Saito
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont
Links: Ikaruga (Data Discs) Coffee Talk (Black Screen Records) Paradise Killer (Black Screen Records) Disc Room (Devolver Store) (sold out) Destroy All Humans! (Limited Run Games) The Mummy Demastered (Limited Run Games) Crossy Road Castle (Yetee Records) Creaks (Minority Records) (Amanita Design) Later Alligator (Fangamer) Pepsiman 7" (Chipped Records)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/10/19/episode-70-outer-wilds-illusion-of-gaia
It is time once again, as the harvest moon waxes, for our thoughts to turn to the round, spinny things that define our place among the stars: our video game soundtracks on vinyl record. Thanks for joining us again for this journey of mystery and vague trepidation! Today our core crew of hosts leads an exploration of what lies beyond our terrestrial and temporal understanding. Paul has brought iam8bit's Outer Wilds in to us with a discussion of its haunting and looping refrain, and the air of journey and discovery the little indie game has left spinning in our minds, and earned the spot on our record shelves. Anthony counters with an uncanny sense of the unknown on our own planet and in our past (the SNES era, specifically) with an unofficial release of The Illusion of Gaia. This Nintendo-published gem of the early 90s has stayed with a lot of people, but we dig through the remains of developer Quintet's past to learn whether the game's thematic and musical weirdness holds up today.
We bid Paul and his gall bladder adieu for our second segment where we try our best to condense recent new releases into a manageable (but quick-paced) PSA about where you might look to get your newest vinyl fix. Depending on your perspective, either it ain't pretty or it's glorious.
Finally, for our third segment, we wade into current events in the capitalist arena to discuss business practices and our personal outlooks on bad situations in merchandising and marketing. We weigh business ethics with fiscal facts and look at the community's reaction to merchants' behaviors, and try to navigate equitably through the choppy waters of circumstance.
Outro: "Great Pyramid" - Illusion of Gaia, by Yasuhiro Kawasaki
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont
Links: Comix Zone (Cartridge Thunder) (Black Screen Records) Angry Video Game Nerd (Ship to Shore) Halo CE Demastered (Respawned Records) The Red Strings Club (Laced Records) Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (Laced Records, collectors) (standard) Manawave (Debug Records) (sold out) Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh (Thunderful Games) Flipping Death (Thunderful Games) Fe (Thunderful Games) Ghost Giant (Thunderful Games) The Last of Us Part II (Mondo) Chasm (Limited Run Games) Horns of Fear (Diggers Factory) Divine Beats (Breath of the Wild remix) (Qrates) Space Quest IV Reorchestrated repress (Qrates)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/09/27/episode-69-metroid-resynthesized-chime-sharp
We've got a very nice episode on deck for you today as we are joined by Ryan Huff from One Run Records to cover their release of Metroid Resynthesized by Luminist, and discuss its art-imitating-life-which-is-also-art-imitating-life-art origins, as well as the healing that it has brought to Jeremy's troubled history with Metroid. We continue with a rare release of Chime Sharp, available only to backers for the game's development, and we explore the raison d'être for the indie title and its very careful musical selection and finely-tuned gameplay.
As always, there are new releases and other announcements to keep up on, and we loop you into the most exciting stuff along with links below to partake! We also spend our third segment discussing some of the weirdest gimmick ideas in vinyl records, and postulate how some of those might be applied to video game music on vinyl record that we'd like to see in the future!
Outro: "Psychonaut" - Chime Sharp, by Chipzel
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @onerunrecords
Links: Quake Remastered (Nine Inch Nails) The Legend of the Mysical Ninja (Ship to Shore) Final Fantasy III - Four Souls- (Square Enix JP) (US) (EU) Hellfire (Limited Run Games) Zero Wing (Limited Run Games) Truxton (Limited Run Games) Neon City Riders (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Turrican 30th Anniversary Sound Collection (Strictly Limited Games) Street Fighter III (Laced Records) Resident Evil 5 (Laced Records limited) (standard) Shenmue II (Data Discs) Hang Onto Your Hat (Black Screen Records) (Ship to Shore) Little Orpheus (Black Screen Records) Undertale Complete (Fangamer) The Church in the Darkness (Minimum Records) The Mooseman (Red Art Games) Until You Fall (Yetee Records) Magician Lord (Wayô Records) Detroit: Become Human (Quantic Dream) Wizpig (Diddy Kong arrangement) (Respawned Records) Hades (Supergiant Games) (Limited) (Standard) the Essential Games Music Collection Vol II (Silva Screen) Northgard (Shiro Games)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/09/18/b-side-7inchstravaganza-i/
Every once in a while, Video Game Grooves has to think... smaller. Welcome to our inaugural 7inchstravaganza festival of 7-inch vinyl appreciation! We have assembled a crack team of 7thusiasts™ to share and discuss and love on the littlest guys in our collections. Jeremy and Paul are joined with Aaron Hamel of Ship to Shore Records and Frederik Lauridsen from blipblop.net to unearth some of the tiny treasures from our collections!
Come along and listen to our little 45s in the most entertaining and convenient way possible! No need to flip your disc!
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @STSphonoco, @blipblopwax
Links: Overwatch Lucio “Synaesthesia Auditiva” (Recruit Kit) Mario’s Great Adventure La Quête De L'Oiseau Du Temps Galak-Z The Dimensional Katamari Fantasy Kid Icarus/Metroid Original Soundtrack Orchestra Version Drift Stage Pizza Power + Tubin
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/08/26/episode-68-vib-ribbon-anno-1800/
In the eternal dance of sound and culture, one podcast's card is always full: someone who is a lot less niche-driven than us. But here we are, showing up to hang out in the corner like the weird wallflowers we are, discussing games, game music, vinyl records, game music on vinyl records etc etc.
This episode focuses on a little sound and a little culture! We begin with Anthony's selection of Vib Ribbon, by Minimum Records. The Vib soundtrack, co-conceived by Masaya Matsuura and a JPop band called Laugh and Peace, represents a level and style of quirk that we just don't see in many places, and the new pressing does it great justice. We discuss the automotive history of the game, as well as developer NanaOn-Sha's other works, more well-known and less. We're careful to listen to this one at the requisite 45 RPM, because otherwise things could get a bit... dank. We then proceed to Jeremy's pick of Anno 1800, from Black Screen records and Ubisoft Loud. Jeremy makes the case for the game's mix of film score and era music, why it was one of his favored releases last year, and how it ties to his weirdly-musically-nerdy childhood. We also explore the secret and unsettling "rule of 9."
We carry on, as we do, to share with you the newest releases and cool projects to look out for. A number of crowdfunding projects are ending soon, so check the links below!
In our final segment we discuss the legitimacy and distinction of music created at dedicated music-crafting studios such as Dynamedion, Basiscape, and Vibe Avenue, compared to music created by individual composers or co-composers. Is there a difference? Should there be? Come listen and find out!
Outro: "Brushwood" - Anno 1800, by Dynamedion
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Risk of Rain 2 (Black Screen Records) Sounds of Summer 2020 (Black Screen Records) Snake Rattle n' Roll (Fangamer) Concrete Genie (Fangamer) Astro Bot: Rescue Mission (Fangamer) Total War: Three Kingdoms (Laced Records) Marvel's Avengers (Mondo) Songs of Supergiant Games (Supergiant) (Deluxe, sold out) Teenage Blob (Team Lazerbeam) Tanglewood (Respawned Records) Trover Saves the Universe (Mondo)
Space Quest V Reorchestrated (Qrates) Forever Famicom Diamond Edition (Mega Ran & K-Murdock) Wii U Grooves (DJ Cutman)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/08/08/episode-67-chrono-trigger/
With a bit of a disc flip // we're into the time slip! One of the great and influential video games of all time, Chrono Trigger, has had a fairly mixed history with its musical handling in the realm of vinyl records... but we're here to make a correction to the timeline. With the release of the unofficial Chrono Trigger box set, the original Yasunori Mitsuda score (with the assist from Nobuo Uematsu and Noriko Matsueda) is finally getting its day in the sun, paid with interest. Jeremy and Anthony explore the timescape of Chrono Trigger as a game, with all its improbably wonderful narrative arcs and themes to their fullest. From the travails of postmodern storytelling to the dubious ideas of societal forward progress, we unravel the deep mysteries of the game's music so deeply that you'll question everything... including whether we know what the heck we're even talking about. The physical artifact of the box set is also under the microscope, and we lovingly dig through this homage to both the game and the presentational art of music on vinyl.
See our interview with the creator of the box set here: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/08/08/interview-chrono-trigger-box-set/
Of course, we don't leave you high and dry without the newest releases and news bits. So while some of the things we discuss today are... shall we say "scarce"... we make sure you get your fix with the game music on vinyl record that you (and we) ❤️.
Outro: "At the End of Time" - Chrono Trigger, by Yasunori Mitsuda
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
VGG Episode 10, Millennial Fair http://videogamegrooves.com/2017/08/23/episode-10-shatter-chrono-trigger-chrono-cross-arrangement/ VGG Episode 64, Nier Box Set http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/06/22/episode-64-nier-automata-nier-gestalt-replicant/
Links: Vexx (Respawned Records) Untitled Goose Game (iam8bit) Bugsnax 7" (iam8bit) Sparkster (Ship to Shore) EverQuest (Darkpaw Games) Borderlands (Laced Records, limited) (standard) Black Future 88 (Laced Records) Made of Sker (Perp Games, PS4) (Xbox One) Ghost of Tsushima (Milan Records) Othercide (Black Screen Records) Risk of Rain 2 (Black Screen Records) Osamu Sato Transformed Collection (HMV) Eiyuden Chronicles (Kickstarter)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/07/25/episode-66-alex-brandon-system-shock-deus-ex-human-revolution
In our newest podcast about the intersection of new and old things, we are joined by Alex Brandon, composer of (among other things) the original Deus Ex, to discuss some of his past and present work, including new releases you can buy right now over at his Bandcamp page!
We open this show with a discussion of System Shock, from Limited Run Games. We go (Jeremy goes) into exhaustive detail about the context of the game's release from a technology, narrative, and musical standpoint, and we explore some of the history of composer Greg LoPiccolo and how some of what was seeded in this game grew to fruition in future video games. We then go back to the future with Deus Ex: Human Revolution to discuss Alex's history with the franchise, the interrelationship between the musicality of the original games and the newer prequel, and the exquisitely-conceived (but somewhat surface-noisy) vinyl release. We did ask for this.
Finally we talk to Alex about his new project, Conspiravision: Deus Ex Remixed from Materia Collective, and how the work on the series and this project has been divided with his contributing partner Michiel Van Den Bos, his own history in game music development (sound cards!) as well as the musical theory behind something that "you can't really hum."
https://alexanderbrandon.bandcamp.com/
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @funkyrustic
Links: Iron Harvest (Game-Legends) Tekken 3 (Laced Records, Limited) (Standard) Tekken 3 (Light in the Attic) The Dark Pictures: Little Hope (Bandai Namco EU) Metroid: Resynthesized (One Run Records) (sold out) Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Breakpoint (Laced Records) Deliver Us the Moon (Wired Productions) The Essential Games Music Collection Vol 1 (Diggers Factory) Horizon: Zero Dawn repress (Townsend Music)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/07/13/episode-65-ultimate-chicken-horse-minecraft
In the land of oddities that is video game music on vinyl records, we like to think that we highlight the special ones, or highlight the special elements in the things you might otherwise overlook, and today we have a bit of both! We're joined this time around by Debug Records' Caleb Denney, primarily to allow us an excuse to highlight hidden gem Ultimate Chicken Horse, from his label. Jeremy divulges some intimate personal secrets about his listening habits, and how it relates to the super-eclectic flavor of the overlooked party game. We reckon with both the high-quality production and variety of UCH, and also the high-quality raccoon action. We move on to Caleb's guest-feature for Minecraft, which, although the world knows the game, we may not have spent a lot of time listening to the music. Composer Daniel Rosenfeld aka C418 has one cardinal rule in the laid-back score, and it's some music to make memories to for sure.
We continue with the new releases, of which there are quite a few, as well as a few important represses and last-chance grabs, as well as some now-shipping vinyl you can get your hands on now.
In our final segment, Jeremy and Caleb ruminate on our interest (and buying habits) for soundtracks from "old games" versus soundtracks for "new games" on vinyl. Our personal collections, clamorings, and actual spending habits go under the microscope, along with the viability of those products for labels like Debug.
https://www.debugrecords.com/
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @debugrecords Instagram: @debugrecords Facebook: Debug Records
Links: Minecraft Volume Beta (Ghostly) Virtuaverse (Blood-Music) (sold out) Wave Break: High Tides (NewRetroWave Bandcamp) Outer Wilds (iam8bit) Conspiravision: Deus Ex Remixed (Materia Collective) CrossCode (Materia Collective) (Bandcamp) The Keyblade War (Materia Collective) Wai Wai World 1+2 (Ship to Shore) (Black Screen Records) Mega Man X 1-8 (Laced Records) (sold out) Mega Man X 1-8 (Light in the Attic) Devil's Crush & Alien Crush (Enjoy the Ride) Röki (Black Screen Records) Beyond Blue (Vinyl Me Please)
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Show notes: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/06/22/episode-64-nier-automata-nier-gestalt-replicant
What is Video Game Grooves? Is it a perfect circle, destined to have no beginning or end? Is it a planar spiral, swirling against entropy ever inward toward an imperfect concentric point of consciousness? No. It is a podcast about video game soundtracks on vinyl that you will make a part of you, forever. This week we dive very deep into the NieR: Automata / NieR Gestalt & Replicant box set from Square-Enix. Paul and Anthony take the lead on this millennia-spanning endeavor, plumbing the depths of meaning from Yoko Taro's inscrutible oeuvre. We take meaning from the music and from the story, exploring themes of consciousness of communication, and we mispronounce ALL of it.
Next we keep you in the know about the new releases and crowdfunding efforts in the world of vinyl. You might say that we keep your heart and mind rich, but your wallet poor. Sorry about that.
Finally we discuss our relationship with video game music, or soundtracks in general, and what it means for us when we do or don't have a personal context with the music. There may or may not be a rant about "VGM." Anime fans and VGM community, direct your angry letters to Jeremy Anthony and Paul [-ed.]
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: A Short Hike (Stumpy Frog Records) Twilight Princess Arrangement (sold out) (Respawned Records) Vib-Ribbon (Minimum Records) What The Golf? (iam8bit) Grandia Memorial Soundtrack Edition (Wayo Records) Control (Laced Records) (Light in the Attic) Dishonored: The Soundtrack Collectio (Laced Records) The King of Fighters '98 (Limited Run Games) (Bigwax) Evoland (Red Art Games) Evoland II (Red Art Games) Blaster Master Zero 1 (Limited Run Games) Blaster Master Zero 2 (Limited Run Games) Skelettack (Mondo) Crowdfunding Across the Worlds (Chrono Cross Piano Collections (Wayo Records) Space Quest III Reorchestrated (Qrates) SID Anthology: To Be On Top (Qrates) (relaunched)
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Show notes and gallery: http://videogamegrooves.com/2020/06/07/b-side-knight-of-the-round/
A new B-Side is fresh from the boat, and this time we're summoning Knight of the Round for a discussion of their newest release, Seven. Band promoter Kyle Gaddo joins Anthony and Jeremy to explore the phenomenon of Final Fantasy cover music, and heavy metal game cover music in general. Band frontman Justin Taylor gives some insight into the composition process for Seven and provides details about the creation of the album and the process of making a vinyl release happen. We also have a chance to listen to a ton of heavy / pensive / outrageous / stompy / portentous metal. The band is looking to tour again soon when conditions allow, but you should consider supporting them so that you know the lyrics to One-Winged Angel to sing along when Knight of the Round comes to your town!
Twitter: @kotrmetal, @kylegaddo, @ajohnagnello, @jeremy_lamont, @vg_grooves
Knight of the Round can be found on: Knight of the Round website Twitter Instagram Facebook
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It's been a while since you've had a dose of that ancient far-east fare, so we are bringing it back in style in another great episode. This time we are joined again by Frederik Lauridsen of Blipblop.net to feature some of the very earliest video game music on vinyl record with Namco Game Music Vol. 2, one of those good old G.M.O. Records releases. Specifically we focus on a little-known game called Youkai Douchuuki, and hear a number of selections from a hell-themed arcade game and talk about how the earliest game music came to turntables in Japan. Next, we have a very special fulfillment of Anthony's long-time dream to feature Suite Dragon Quest II, also a Japanese oldie, but it's specifically the B-side we want. We sit down for a truly mammoth 25 minute listening session for the entire reverse side of the Dragon Quest album which features an arranged "sound story" of the Famicom game from beginning to end. We spend some time talking about the kinds of creativity in arrangements like this that we just don't see these days, although a glimmer of it exists in recent performances and upcoming releases.
We move on to those new releases and announcements with trepidation. It's been an expensive couple of weeks for some of us... how about you? Links below in case you need to catch up on some of those soon-to-be-hard-to-find items. A vinyl collector's work is never done, it seems.
Outro: Gameplay from Youkai Douchuuki - Namco Game Music Vol 2
Blip Blop website Twitter – @blipblopwax, @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Fatal Fury (Limited Run Games US, Bigwax EU) Chex Quest (Limited Run Games) Ape Out (iam8bit) Wilmot's Warehouse (Ship to Shore) PLOK (Respawned Records) Sea of Stars (Backerkit) Hessian (Crowd Ox)
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Rotating like the seasons in the ambiguous and overwrought ending of Mega Man 2, the turntable has again come round to another episode of Video Game Grooves. No reason to despair, we're not dead (unlike Mega Man at the end of Mega Man 2), but rather we're here for another episode of our famously overwrought podcast for you to enjoy! This time we get equipped with guest host Brock Wilbur, as he takes a breather from releasing his new book in the Boss Fight Books series, this time about Postal!
In this episode we take a new tack with our feature as we devote our entire session to Mega Man 1-11: The Collection from Laced Records. We get to take our time and get out into the weeds with some of the more admirable traits of a "full series" musical take on Mega Man, but of course there are always some oddball robot masters in the attic, and we trot them out for all to see. We discuss the breadth of the iconic series and delve into some of the more obscure areas of the series, developmentally and musically. Anthony, Brock, Paul and Jeremy all have their particular spins on the records AND the robots of one of Capcom's flagship series... we just hope we're doing it all in the right order.
After the feature, we head into news and new releases, deftly getting you the info you need to justify your expenses to whatever degree you choose or don't... it's enabling behavior, we know, but it's just one more service we provide to you. Finally, we get out of robot mode and sit down to talk about our feelings, and just what (emotionally-speaking) draws us to our record shelf instead of other outlets for passing time. We learn a lot about life, love, and each other. And we hope you do too.
Outro: "Staff Roll" - Mega Man 10
Brock Wilbur's website: http://brockwilbur.com/ Postal (Boss Fight Books) by Brock Wilbur & Nathan Rabin
Ultimatemavrickx (Deviant Art page)
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Freedom Finger (Rhymesayers) Minecraft Volme Beta (Amazon US) Death Stranding: songs from the Video Game (Mondo) Resident Evil 4 (Laced Records, Limited, Standard) Ultimate Chicken Horse (Debug Records) Void Bastards (Ghost Ramp) Chex Quest (Limited Run Games) Osamu Sato Collected Ambient Grooves (Mentalgroove Bandcamp)
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It's been 84 years since we've seen you, but our ❤️ for video game music on vinyl records has gone on, and so we're back at it! This time, Paul and Jeremy are joined by Justin O'Rear from Respawned Records to discuss a pair of features for this episode that are dubiously thematically tied together for your enjoyment and edification. Our first feature pick this time around is Vectormania by Respawned Records. We grapple with the graphics and opine aout "orbots" in this 1990s blast from the pre-rendered past on the Sega Genesis Megadrive. Justin gives us some insight into the background of the record and we even do a little comparison of the electro-farty soundfont on the original hardware. Next, Jeremy infiltrates Perfect Dark, by iam8bit, and puts the game in the context of its iconic spiritual predecessor while highlighting the style it keeps all for itself. We appreciate Joanna Dark as a cool character and explore the musical unity of this co-composed soundtrack while reliving our comp-stomping glory days of Perfect Dark multiplayer.
Next we have quite a few items to catch you up on, commercially speaking. Times are tough but if you're like us, the call of the vinyl is strong, and we know you want to answer. In our third and final segment we sit down with Justin to learn everything there is to know about his new (but prolific) record label, and some of the... "cult pop" properties he has pursued. We ask the hard questions about Plok, and we even weasel a brand new announcement out of him for the next Respawned release!
Outro: "End Credits" - Perfect Dark, by Grant Kirkhope
Respawned Records: http://www.respawnedrecords.com/ Twitter: @respawnedrec Facebook: respawnedrecords Instagram: @respawnedrecords
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Guardia: The X-Strike Sessions (TheYetee) Ori and the Will of the Wisps (iam8bit) Ori and the Blind Forest reissue (iam8bit) Bloodstained Ritual of the Night (sold out) (Limited Run Games) Sea of Stars (Kickstarter) Life Force / Salamander (Ship to Shore) (Debug Records) (Black Screen Records) Tekken (Laced Records) Tekken 2 (Laced Records) Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Limited Edition (Game.co.uk) Bat out of HAL (Kirby's Dream Band Bandcamp) Benyamin Nuss Plays Uematsu (Wayo Records) Rush 'N Attack (Spacelab9) Red Matter (Enjoy the Ride Records) (Black Screen Records) Lost Ember (Mooneye Studios) (EU only)
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Improbable as it may seem, we are back for another podcast adventure! In this episode we are joined by friend of the show Jeff Roberts from the legendary (yes, legendary) band Marshall Art to discuss game soundtrack releases on vinyl that are a bit... unexpected. Anthony kicks us off with a look at the never-gonna-happen release of Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth from ShiptoShore Media. We explore the downright oddity of the game, the music, and the canon of this entry in the Castlevania series, and revel in the FM-synthiness of it all. Also, we may have devised the greatest track title since "Load BGM." Next we move on to Namco Museum: Arcade Greatest Hits. This one is a bit improbable for different reasons, and Jeremy and Jeff pick a few favorites (and anti-favorites) from this indisputably archival release from Spacelab 9. Is video game music bleeps and bloops or is it not? Who knows?
Changing things around for this episode, we discuss our never-ever-ever-ever-gonna-be-released-on-vinyl picks (perhaps tempting the fates? perhaps just wishlisting). Jeff pulls one from an era and a system you might not expect. Anthony gets out into left field with a hopeful release that may or may not be recorded in an airplane hangar. Jeremy goes for something that sounds great, but just may not have the same pull on others as it does for him. Finally we let you know what all your hard-earned money is begging to be spent on as we outline the new releases, as well as some represses and rumors. Join in! It's not like there's a lot else to do this week!
Outro: "Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth Another Medley" - Minabu Namiki
Marshall Art: https://marshallart.band/
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @marshallartband
Resident Evil 3 (Laced Records) “Bubble-up” Sludge Life 7” (Devolver Digital) Glover (Respawned Records) Red Dead Redemption 2 composed score (Rockstar Warehouse) 198X (iam8bit)
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Hi hi hi. Before you knew it, it was time for another podcast, and here we are! In our weird synchronistic way, we cover a couple of picks this episode that have at least one thing in common: they make Jeremy a little angry. We open with the soundtrack to (of all things) the pinball game Black Knight: Sword of Rage, and we discuss some of the history of video games through the perspective of pinball, and how the two mediums comingle. The soundtrack by Scott Ian thumps and marches to a metal beat as the pinball machine mercilessly takes your money, and we explore the mingling of the musical and mechanical in this very special release. Then Anthony brings the vertical shooter oddity Radiant Silvergun and its recent Data Discs release, which currently represents the ONLY extant vinyl release for music by Hitoshi Sakimoto. We reconcile our "Yasumi Matsuno" expectations for the soundtrack with the fact that Sakimoto is a big shooter fan, and we discuss Radiant Silvergun's place in the pantheon of shooters, and why this one is practically custom-made for frustration.
We then cover the recent news in the world of video game soundtracks on vinyl record with some new releases, announcements, and lots of opportunity for money spending! What kind of podcast would we be running if we didn't cost you some money?
Finally, we discuss the phenomenon of the "B-side" and whether it has a place in the world of video game soundtracks, and what it might take for a consumer to make some room, so to speak, on the releases we have now to allow for oddities and more raw creativity on our shelves versus the "as-seen-in-game" soundtrack reproductions. What do you think? Join us and weigh in!
Outro: "Penta [5th Force]" - Radiant Silvergun, by Hitoshi Sakimoto
Images from Jeremy's visit to the 1UP Arcade Bar in Denver, CO
A Life Well Wasted podcast episode http://alifewellwasted.com/2009/11/25/episode-five-help/
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Death Stranding (Mondo) Kentucky Route Zero (iam8bit) Kentucky Route Zero (mystery vinyl) (iam8bit) The Missing - JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Metal Slug 3 (Wayô Records) Seven (Knight of the Round Bandcamp) Dead Cells Prisoner's Edition (Signature Edition Games) (PS4) Yuppie Psycho (Black Screen Records) Super XYX (Qrates) (ends 7 Mar 2020) The Wonderful 101 Remastered (Kickstarter) Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (Kickstarter) Hessian (Kickstarter)
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Greetings and salutations! The podcast is still running at a slightly slower-than-usual RPM, but the needle is as sharp as ever! This time we've set our wayback machine for "medium rare" and head back to the bygone era of the 2010s for the DoubleFine Productions release of Dropchord for mobile platforms. We talk about the joy of producing music, and the joy of playing games, and what it's like when those two things intersect. Jeremy completes his nefarious plan to force everyone to listen to dubstep... perhaps that was the reason for Video Game Grooves to exist in the first place? Anthony then tweaks the knob and sends us back another decade to look at an unofficial vinyl production of Final Fantasy IV, and we dissect the new storytelling of RPGs in that era, as well as the musical je-ne-sais-quois-ness of Nobuo Uematsu's work.
We steadfastly cover the news, although it may serve as a reminder for you at this point, and those are never bad. 😉 And for our discussion segment, we look at vinyl from the long view for the new decade, exploring its possibilities for longevity as a medium, and what we think it will be like in another 5 to 10 years.
Thanks for venturing with us into the bold new 20XX future. Keep spinning!
Outro: "Spin Ready" - Dropchord, by Brian White & Brian Trifon
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Wattam (iam8bit) Metal Gear MSX2 (Mondo) Metal Gear NES (Mondo) Erica (Black Screen Records) Paper Beast (G4F Records) Samurai Shodown (Brave Wave / Limited Run Games) Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Laced Records) Times End - Majora's Mask arrangement (Materia Collective) Time's End II - Majora's Mask arrangement (Materia Collective) VVVVVV (Materia Collective) Space Quest IV: Reorchestrated & Remixed (Qrates) Space Quest IV: Reorchestrated: Galaxy Galleria (Qrates) Mighty Switch Force! Collection (Limited Run Games)
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In the newest(-to-you)* episode of Video Game Grooves, Anthony and Jeremy tag-team the game-music-on-vinyl scene with a little bit of "weird, avant-garde, and fairly isolated" and also some "has its DNA in everything and is a major publisher's new bread-and-butter." We begin this journey of obscurity and ubiquity with D2 Remixes, an album based on the Kenji Eno survival horror game D2 for the Dreamcast. Although the game itself is an evolutionary dead end, the music itself is very modern... and catchy! Anthony takes us on a voyage of drum 'n' bass beats and gonzo horror creatures to bring us to vinyl knowledge of The Other Eno.
Next, Jeremy steps up to the plate with the formerly-obscure-but-now-inescapable Monster Hunter franchise, with the recent Monster Hunter 15th Anniversary release from T-Annex. Music from the earliest days of monster hunting up through the latest expansion for Monster Hunter World is represented here, and Jeremy and Anthony take the opportunity to traverse the history of the series to chase the choicest tracks for your listening pleasure. But after all is said and done, the important question is: Which of our features is the car-chasiest?
We continue onward diligently to the news and new releases, directing you to the usual suspects that want to sop up your spare cash. A couple of re-releases and a number of artistic reinterpretations have caught our attention this time, and we think they'll do the same for you! Finally, we spend a bit of time ruminating on the best way to gift others of the video game vinyl persuasion for the Christmas season for the Valentine's Day season, and how to help those in your life be bold in gifting you.
Outro: "Searching for the Hidden Hot Spring" - Monster Hunter X
*please excuse any and all references to "it's Fall now"
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Rocket League x Monster Cats: Greatest Hits (iam8bit) Cross Symphonic (Bandcamp) Parallelus (Chrono Cross arrangement) (Bandcamp) SYMPHONIC SUITE DRAGON QUEST XI SUGISARISHI TOKI WO MOTOMETE KOICHI SUGIYAMA [LIMITED EDITION] (Play-Asia) Gears 5 (Laced Records) Banana Jamz 199x (Cartridge Thunder) Metal Gear NES (Mondo) (sold out) Metal Gear MSX32 (Mondo) Toe Jam & Earl : Back in the Groove (Enjoy the Ride Records)
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Sometimes travel takes you to the far ends of the earth. Sometimes it gives you a new perspective on the same places you've already been. And sometimes, dear listener, it returns you, like a turntable, right back to where you began.
We're joined this week by One Run Records' Ryan Huff to explore the idea of travel, and we begin by following Paul's lead to the iam8bit release of Monument Valley. We reflect on the music and art of the game as an invitation to slow down and simply experience, and discuss Ustwo Games' intent to make something meant for display. Ryan then takes us on a deep dive into the largely-forgotten past of early Japanese adventure games with Sound Adventure Hokkaidou Rensa Satsujin: Ohotsuku ni Kiyu!! (Try saying that once fast.) This fairly unknown game, one of Yujii Hori's first for game studio Enix, was a reaction to the adventure game genre of the west but also a template for non-parser adventure games (including in the west!) from that point on. We explore the game's eclectic music through the "sound adventure" adaptation that uses a mix of live and digital instruments for a very early "serious" look at video game music on vinyl record.
We continue, as we do, with the news and releases, and we dig up a few gems in addition to the widely-known products draining your wallet this month. Plug your ears for every other one to save a little money!
Finally, we talk to Ryan about his recent trip to Japan in which he acquired his feature pick for this episode. We discuss the differences between vinyl shopping in Japan and America and Europe, and make plans to visit Asia and spend a ton of discretionary money. Ryan also drops a bit of One Run Records news for us, including the surprise announcement of a Castlevania The Adventure: ReBirth variant exclusive to that label! OOoooooh!
Outro: "Ending Theme~A New Departure" - Sound Adventure Hokkaidou Rensa Satsujin: Ohotsuku ni Kiyu!!, by Akihiko Yabu, Gozo Shiozaki, Toshiyuki Ueno
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @onerunrecords Facebook: One Run Records Instagram: onerunrecords
Links Minibosses Statdemon (Gofundme) Borderlands 3 2LP (Laced Records - USA - ROW) Borderlands 3 4LP (Laced Records - USA - ROW) Castlevania: The Adventure: ReBirth (ShiptoShore - Debug Records - One Run Records coming soon!) Killing Floor2 (Debug Records) Resident Evil: Code Veronica X (Laced Records - USA - ROW) Resident Evil 0 (Laced Records - USA - ROW) Kowloon's Gate (Amazon.co.jp) Jak & Daxter (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Asobi No Oto Vol. 0 (Otakumode)
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Time is a circle, ever spinning, with tiny grooves in it, playing the music of our lives, year in and year out. We might be overworking that metaphor, but, you know, somehow it just feels right. We've arrived at the end of 2019, and looking back on it, there was a lot that happened this year, and it's been really expensive amazing in aggregate.
We're joined once again by video-game-music-on-vinyl-record magnate, Frederik Lauridsen of BlipBlop.net, who holds not only the keys to our hearts, but the keys to this year's community vote for your favorite release of the year!
This year there are some surprises, some no-brainers, and a lot of discussion and love of video game music, vinyl records, video game music on vinyl records, and everyone who works on them, listens to them, or (cough Jeremy cough) just accumulates them and admires them on the shelf. Special thanks to our guests, hosts, and production staff in 2019. We look forward to spinning again in 2020!
Outro: "Clock Town" - Children of Termina, by Rozen
To see our spoiler-filled list of 2019 favorites in text form, click here, but tell no one!
Speculative futuristic war. Speculative futuristic war never changes. Welcome to "Battle" week, in which Video Game Grooves brings the fight to you with a couple of fighty soundtracks that sound nothing alike but share at least one thing in common: circularity. Meaning vinyl. Yes it's too clever, let's move on.
This week we are joined by Jacob Chase of the VGM WAX blog, which recently celebrated its first anniversary covering a more literate form of video game music on vinyl record. We recommend you swing by and check it out! Jacob and Jeremy focus on the dynamic musical score for Battletech, the Harebrained Schemes strategy game based on the iconic tabletop franchise. The unorthodox-but-appropriate musical stylings of Jon Everist underscore the futuristic-yet-feudal storylines while still capturing the flavor of giant stompy 'mechs shooting each other on far-flung worlds, and we highlight a couple of selections to illustrate that. Anthony is excited about Battle Garegga, from Limited Run Games. This vertical shooter lies at an interesting nexus point for the arcade shooter genre, and the complex musical layers of its soundtrack are a great late-era jam.
Then we put Jacob in the hot seat to talk about the story behind VGM WAX, and we have a good old discussion about the process of "coverage" of video game music on record. How do we approach it, what drives us in our respective media, and what is it that we hope to share and give to others? So come listen and be shared with and given to. <3
Outro: "Restoration" - Battletech, by Jon Everist
Check out the VGM WAX review of Battletech and interview with Jon Everist at https://www.vgmwax.com/reviews/2019/9/18/battletech
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @VGMWAX https://www.vgmwax.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vgmwax/ Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/VGMWAX
Links: Slay the Spire (Ghost Ramp) Machinarium Remixed (Minority Records) Sayonara Wild Hearts (iam8bit) TxK Soundtrack (Heart of Neon Kickstarter) Gone Jackals "Legacy" Single (Blueblack Records) (few remaining)
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The spooky season is here! ...or so it is whispered in the darkest corners of the pumpkin-spice infused hipster coffee shops. We will attempt to synergize with that vibe by bringing to you the scariest stuff we can in the most hipster way we can: video game music on vinyl records--horror edition. Well, as much as we can, if you include obsessive anime girls and tongue-in-cheek skeletal film noir. We're pulling out all the candy corns and sugar peanuts and making this a FULL-SIZE CANDY BAR EXPERIENCE... news and three features, and a bunch more music than you can handle, three tracks each!
We're joined by Cassie Baralis of Ship to Shore Media to discuss music of some of the ostensibly scary games we love. We begin with Anthony's choice of a great entry in its own iconic series, Resident Evil 2, pressed to wax by Laced Records. We explore some of the key areas in the game, the idea of "nemesis" monsters and the tropes of the series, and listen to one of the more... distinct.... tracks from the release. Cassie then takes us into Japanese visual novel territory with Doki Doki Literature Club from iam8bit. Spoiler warning, we do about a 70% good job of giving away the plot points, but we leave enough intact that you should still play it. We explore the genre-fluency of composer Dan Salvato and look at the ways he has twisted it and left some really good clues and throwbacks in the compositions that gel with the plot. And our unprecedented THIRD PICK comes from Jeremy: Grim Fandango from iam8bit. Jeremy takes us on a journey through Latin America and discusses the cultural and pop-cultural experiences that meld together into Tim Schafer's 20-year-old adventure. If you ever wanted to hear an exhaustive list of the referential inputs into Grim Fandango... well this is a decent effort.
And now, if you still linger in the land of the living, go forth and put the willies into the world with your devotion to video games, music, vinyl records, and video game music on vinyl records! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHHHH!
PS Did we mention Cassie drops a secret track for an unannounced Ship to Shore release in this episode? What could it beeeee???
Outro: "Ada's Theme" - Resident Evil 2
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello Instagram: Cassie Baralis Ship to Shore Media (Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter)
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Well well well, we see that you have returned. It is fortuitous, because we are actually RIGHT HERE with another new episode of our famous* podcast, Video Game Grooves! And this week, we have a wonderful show lined up, wherein Anthony and Jeremy are joined by very special guest Grant "Stemage" Henry, who is no stranger to the video game music scene... and is now being swayed to the dark (classic black) side. To kick things off, Grant brings us the very special feature Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade, from Data Discs. We explore our relationship with the arcade version of the game, as well as the involvement of the Sega Sound Team in a number of contemporary projects, and we put our finger on the pulse of "cool in Japan in the 90s. 🚬" We then shift gears to a different kind of rails shooter with Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th Anniversary Arrangement, from Brave Wave. The sheer unlikeliness of this project is only surpassed by its excellence, and we explore Saori Kobayashi's composition and layering, and appreciate the production and love involved in the production of the release.
We carry on into the news, and we know it's the most painful part of the show, but we'll hold your hand. It will go quick, and your bank account is only a few hundred units emptier than it was before. You'll survive. There are also a couple of pretty good rumors that you can trade for heroic deeds at the nearby video game tavern.
Finally, we sit down with Grant and examine him thoroughly, from his shocking opinions about Bubsy to his participation in "very welcoming" Steven Universe cults. We might even talk a little bit about music, including his preferred approach to video game cover music!
Outro: "Atolm Dragon" - Panzer Dragoon Saga, by Saori Kobayashi
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @stemage http://www.stemagemusic.com/
Links: Celeste: Farewell (Ship to Shore) (Black Screen Records) ESCISM (Ship to Shore) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (Artist Arena) (Amazon) System Shock (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl (Limited Run Games) Mega Man 1-11: The Collection (Laced Records US) (Laced Records ROW) Wild Hunt Live (2018) (Percival.pl) Black Material Remake (Kickstarter) Gaijin Blues II (Bandcamp)
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Like a big translucent helper-friend or an old war buddy talking to you through a jawbone-resonant radio system, the Video Game Grooves podcast is BACK to aid and guide you in your pursuit of our common love: video game music on vinyl records!
This week, we guide you toward Zoink! Games VR indie game Ghost Giant. Paul walks us through his process of encountering and obtaining this small-run gem. The intimate instrumentation and intimate interface of Ghost Giant makes the game feel like it's in your eyeballs and in your eardrum. We wade through some tricky Swedish to discuss the strange sounds and the silly sousaphone and how the (musical) hands of Ghost Giant reach out and grab us. Our second pick is the vinyl release for the monolithic Metal Gear Solid. We recollect a bit of the series' history as well as the cultural homage (and musical homage).
We then continue to the news and the new releases (and there are many this episode) as well as a few now-shipping notices and rumors that have become fact. And finally, for our third-segment discussion we ruminate on the idea "when NOT to vinyl', whatever that means to us. Join us and vinyl!
Outro: "The Best is Yet to Come" - Metal Gear Solid, by Rika Muranaka, performed by Aoife Ní Fhearraigh
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Wolfenstein: The New Order (Laced Records) Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Laced Records) River City Girls (Limited Run Games) (sold out) The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series (Skybound Games) Supergiant 10th Anniversary Collection (iam8bit) Solasta: Crown of the Magister (Kickstarter) Monster Hunter 15th Anniversary Original Soundtrack (T-Annex) Guilty Gear Memorial (Nin-Nin) (sold out) Blazblue Memorial (Nin-Nin) (sold out) Close to the Sun (Wired Productions) Days Gone (Mondo) Machinarium reissue (Amanita Design)
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Summertime 2019 is drawing to a close, and it's time to beat that last blast of heat with some great tunes. When Video Game Grooves throws a summer block party, we have at least five people, which means regular hosts Jeremy, Paul, and Anthony are joined by two guest hosts this week. First, returning friend of the show Pete Smith is fresh off his release of Witcheye on Android and iOS, and he's here to talk about a little Secret of Mana with us. The music from an unofficial release takes us back to simpler times when trees were whales and JRPGs were pastoral, pastel, and primitivistic. (yes we had to search for a third "p" word -ed.) Also along for the ride is Debug Records' Caleb Denney, who we finally cajoled to come back to feature Mother Fucking Earthbound. In contrast to our first feature, MFE has its tongue in its cheek and its bionic slingshot in hand and hits us with a fun summertime vibe. We discuss the musical stylings of Erich WK and the ways in which Earthbound flirts with... musical re-appropriation.
In our second segment we dismiss Pete to his always-on partying lifestyle, and we cover the new releases during our slightly-extended rest period, as well as highlighting some exciting products that are now shipping.
In our final section we talk to Caleb about the post-mortem of Debug's first release, and talk about the fan (and non-fan) reaction after the vinyl arrives in homes around the world. What went well, what could have gone better, and what will he take into the label's next release, revealed inside!
PLUS, for listeners of Video Game Grooves, Mother Fucking Earthbound can be yours at $5 off for a limited time using code DEBUGONVGG at debugrecords.com
Outro: "A Curious Tale" - Secret of Mana, by Hiroki Kikuta Secret Outro: "El Bimbo x Enjoy Your Stay at the El Bimbo" - Bimbojet x Erich WK
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @turbomcphazer, @debugrecords Facebook – Debug Records Instagram – Debug Records
Links: Red Dead Redemption 2 (Lakeshore Records) (also available through other vendors) Metal Gear Solid (Mondo) Resurrection of the Night: Alucard's Elegy (Materia Collective) The Greatest Video Game Music (Amazon.co.uk) Bit Brigade Mega Man 3 (Hello Sir Records) (secret link to Double Ferrari) The Game Paradise (Dispatch Games) Hover (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Memories of Tokyo-to (Ship to Shore) Horizon Chase Turbo bundle (Minimum Records) Just Cause 4 (Artizan Bandcamp) The Music of Humongous Entertainment (Kickstarter, canceled) Dark Souls I-III repress (Bandai Namco EU) DOOM 2016 repress (Bethesda store US, Bethesda store EU) Owlboy (Yetee Records)
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With summer in full swing, the VGG crew is back to help you beat the heat with some cool tunes and chill game soundtrack records. It's like standing in front of the refrigerator while your hair blows in the wind! This episode brings Paul, Anthony, and Jeremy back together to guide you through the game music we have known, and spin it up on the vinyl you love!
This week, we begin with the Limited Run Games release of Lumines Remastered, and the eclectic but bumpin' sounds of Takayuki Nakamura. We remember the phenomenon of Lumines and how it fits into the pantheon of Q Entertainment titles, and whether their games feel like musical creation... or something else. We also note the music that is NOT on this release as well its overall listenability. Next we shift gears significantly to Sony's God of War (2018), which propelled the franchise to new levels of dadliness and new musical textures and culture to explore. Bear McCreary's dramatic score is a departure from the series' prior motive cues but brings the player along the journey of discovery and epic adventure, and we discuss the brutally-violent Kratos as one of the huggiest protagonists in all of video games.
As always, we bring you the latest news about new releases, crowdfunding efforts, and reprints that you need to know about (or will be disappointed you missed--sorry). We know... it's the segment of the show that causes us the most internal conflict too. We top off the show with a discussion about the importance (or not) of preserving the analog signal of the vinyl audio format versus the convenience of digital technology. What about that Bluetooth-capable turntable you (coughJeremycough) are considering? Wireless headphones? How about putting that signal through a digital receiver or other tech? Listen in for the important-est viewpoints to consider! Thanks for listening!
Outro: "Talk 2 You" - Lumines, by Takayuki Nakamura
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Wandersong (Ghost Ramp) Bad Mojo (Ghost Ramp) Deltarune (Fangamer) Rend (Materia Collective) Poké & Chill (MateriaCollective) Bloodborne (Laced Records USA) (Laced Records EU) Red Faction (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Double Switch (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time (iam8bit) The Witcher 3 repress (Spacelab9) (2LP variant) (4LP variant) Silent Hill (Fangamer) Silent Hill 2 (Fangamer)
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Like a bolt of "lightening" from a clear sky, your Video Game Grooves podcast has returned! In this episode, Anthony and Jeremy visit fantastical lands and the far reaches of outer space to bring you the best of our collections of video game music on vinyl record!
This episode brings us up close and personal with a lauded "shoot-em-up" game (as the oldsters call them) Thunder Force IV, for the Sega Genesis, also known as Lightening Force in the USA. As we've discussed in previous episodes, the Genesis is a delicate musical tool that can take you to heaven or send you to hell... What will the post-metal (yet still jazzy) Data Discs release do for you? Next we move on to a more modern classic, Shadow of the Colossus by Kow Otani. Many listeners may be familiar with the beloved "Oops! All Bosses" style game and its haunting score, and we handle the material with fresh ears and open hearts, exploring the bigness, sadness, and loneliness of the PS2/PS3/PS4 masterpiece.
We catch up on some overdue business, by which we mean commerce... by which we mean we're going to tell you about stuff you'll want to spend money on. Don't worry, it hurts us too (so good). We wrap the episode with
Outro: "Great Sea Power (Stage 6)" - Thunder Force IV, by Naosuke Arai & Technosoft Sound Team
Twitter – @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Blood & Truth (Black Screen Records) Hitman: The Critical Collection (iam8bit) Ghost Giant (Perp Games) (sold out) Sonic CD (Data Discs) Shadow of the Beast (Lag Records) Shadow of the Beast (Light in the Attic) Celeste B-Sides (Black Screen Records) Celeste B-Sides (Ship to Shore) Planet X3 (Eox Studios) Returner (Rillbar.dk) Gris (iam8bit) Dauntless standard (Phoenix Labs) Dauntless glow-in-the-dark (Phoenix Labs) Final Fantasy VII + remake(Square Enix) *check around for cheaper Samurai Shodown (2019) (Wayô Records) Fallout 3 box set (Spacelab9) (sold out) Fallout 3 Radio Selections (Spacelab9) (sold out) Fallout 3 box set (Bethesda Gear Store)
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Ah, June! When the game industry's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of exclusives! And release dates! And launch windows! For us at Video Game Grooves, our fancy turns to the same thing as ever: video game music on vinyl records! But we'll play along, and this episode we're talking about a couple of staples at E3 2019 as well as years prior!
We kick off the event with The Big One: the picture disc release of Final Fantasy VII, by Square Enix. Anthony digs deep into Nobuo Uematsu's beloved score to this classic RPG to pluck out a pair of underappreciated gems. A remake is coming (allegedly! we'll believe it when it's available for sale…), but we wade into the luscious MIDI sounds of the 1997 game and discuss its impact on young gamers, and the music of Uematsu himself and what it's made of. Then we move on to a newer (and older) E3 fixture with Battletoads by David Wise. Jeremy wrangles this iam8bit release to discuss a bit about Rare, about Wise's entry into the games industry, and a bit about the eclectic nature of the game itself and its iconic experience.
Moving along to the new releases, we brave the street festival outside Paul's place to make sure you know about all the latest announcements and releases and their need to drain your pockets and occupy your shelf space. Finally, we proceed from Battletoads and its exclusive San Diego Comic Con variant to discuss the phenomenon of "convention exclusives", and whether they are an innocent benefit of labels and fans getting together in one place, or an abusive chase system that leaves few happy and many feeling left out. Join us and chime in!
Outro: "Cosmo Canyon" - Final Fantasy VII, by Nobuo Uematsu
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Pulstar (Brave Wave, Fangamer and Bigwax) Desert Child (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Skies of Arcadia (Wayô Records) Little Big Adventure/Twinsen's Adventure (Kickstarter) The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan (Namco Bandai) Battletech (Black Screen Records) Bonus Levels (DIBIA$E Bandcamp) The Sensible EP (ReadOnlyMemory)
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Oh you thought for SURE we were gone for good, but in fact we have RETURNED! In this episode of our ongoing love letter to video games, video game music, vinyl records, and video game music on vinyl records, Anthony and Jeremy hold down the fort to discuss a couple of new favorites!
First, Jeremy begins with the iam8bit vinyl release for Florence, a charming little mobile-only game published by Annapurna Interactive. We explore the simple and wordless thematic elements of the game about romantic relationship, and how the score by Kevin Penkin fills in the missing dialogue with intertwining instrumentals. Paul, absent from the show today, more fully explores the personal meaning of the game in his piece for Eurogamer. Next, Anthony brings in the classic (perhaps TOO classic) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which never received an official licensed release but actually saw two unofficial records circulate in the community in the past 12 months. Anthony picks a couple of favorite tracks by the master composer Koji Kondo. This segues into our third segment discussion of pressed versus lathed records, the different approaches to preparing the music for the format, and... a bit of that "Legend of Zelda fatigue" we might all be suffering from.
Then we remember to come back to the news, and of course we discuss new releases, crowdfunding, represses, and rumors! Poverty is a somber thing to end the show on, but we have to stop somewhere. Thanks, as always, for listening!
Outro: "Exploration" - Florence, by Kevin Penkin
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Crazy Cat Lady (Stumpyfrog) A Plague Tale (Black Screen Records) Battle Garegga (Limited Run Games) (sold out) Lumines (Limited Run Games) Mother Fucking Earthbound! (Debug Records) Kingdom Heartbeats (DJ Robo Rob Bandcamp) Mario & Chil (GameChops Bandcamp) Shinobi III (The Analog Music Project Bandcamp) Zelda Cinematica (Sam Dillard Bandcamp) Reformation Series (C64 remixes) (6581 Records) Gaming in Symphony (Amazon.de) Cross Symphonic (Kickstarter, funded) Smooth McGroove Repress (The Yetee) VA11 HALL-A Repress (Black Screen Records)
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How does it feel when you got no Grooves? Five-one blaze it everyone! It's a new VGG podcast, and we once again got the munchies for video game music on vinyl records! Don't touch that desk calendar, and join us for our latest and dankest episode yet!
Paul and Jeremy are joined today by Ryan Huff of One Run Records, who has a brand-new announcement for a really stellar initial release, but is also one of the biggest weird-audio nerds we've ever met. We jaw a bit about what's actually coming from the new label, but then we roll right into today's dank offerings!
We begin with a hit of Flyrule: A Terrible Fate, by Shag. This Majora's Mask-themed (yet Link-to-the-Past-skinned) release has us pondering the mood and themes of the game, as well as the flowing yet edgy beat and samples from Shag's sophomore game vinyl. Ryan picks a couple of his favorite tracks from this stylish record and we let the dankness flow. We continue with a bit of a harder sound with Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number from iam8bit. Another second-in-a-series, HLM2 continues the tradition of being excellent and listenable, while going even harder than its predecessor. There's so much good music and art in this release, we may just have to break the "2-per" rule. You'll have to listen to find out!
We keep blazing with the new releases and news, highlighting the best bets for you to spend your cash or pass to the lefthand side. A few newsworthy announcements and other highlights of the last couple of weeks will definitely stoke some paranoia in your wallet, but we try to keep it mellow.
Finally, we dig into the news that Bandcamp is beginning to roll out a vinyl pressing service for artists on its service. We discuss what the ramifications of this might be and whether it's all good or all great for the video game vinyl market and artists in general. It's a good and legal time (in several states) so why not join us?
Outro: "Zora Hall" - Flyrule: A Terrible Fate, by Shag
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
One Run Records: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram
Links: Oure Limited Edition (Red Art Games) Kingdom Come Deliverance (Official Store) Below Original Soundtrack (Jim Guthrie Bandcamp) (crowdfund) FRACT (Qrates) (crowdfund) Cuphead 2xLP (iam8bit) BLAM! Machinehead (Nathan McCree) Finnsids (Official Site) Mario & Chill (GameChops Bandcamp)
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It is time once again for us to reckon with the darkness inside us. The pain and longing. The struggle. The loss. The nurses. Yes, it's time for another VGG! Thanks for coming! We are joined this week by first-time guest but already-friend-of-the-show Cassie Baralis from Ship to Shore. As one of the "many hats" people at StS, Cassie handles brand and licensing for the label but is also a fan of music, vinyl, and darkness in her own right. And for this episode, Cassie is bringing us LISA the Painful RPG from Ghost Ramp Records. LISA is one of those hidden gems (totally unknown to some of our hosts) and Cassie sheds some light on the game itself, enlightens and evangelizes it over some of its contemporaries, and brings special focus on Austin Jorgensen's... unorthodox... score for the unusual one-man-created game. Next, Anthony is back in Mondo Records' thrall again with the release of Silent Hill 2. This iconic game and its iconic music both deserve some illumination, and Anthony and Cassie both have this one in their blood. Although we may not have composer Akira Yamaoka's recommended alcohol pairings on hand, we nurse our intoxication with the music and the mood, and generally adore the vinyl incarnation of this video game legend.
In our second segment, of course, news and releases, and links below to let you spend that money (or those "dirty mags") on some stuff you might not have even known you needed. At least one record label is shutting down, but another will rise from its ashes!
Finally, we get to spend some time with Cassie talking about some behind-the-scenes stuff working at a "weirdo" label like Ship to Shore. When you've spent so much of your life on a record label and you know what you like, what does that mean for licensing? How did Osamu Sato get involved on their recent release of LSD Revamped? What are the complications with licensing anyway? Did she get another tattoo? Anime?? Give us a listen!
Outro: "Overdose Delusion" - Silent Hill 2, by Akira Yamaoka
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello Instagram: Cassie Baralis Ship to Shore Media (Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter)
Links: LSD Revamped (Ship to Shore) Pocket Rumble (Yetee Records) Hotline Miami EP (Das Mörtal Bandcamp) Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition Box Set (Laced Records) Devil May Cry 5 Deluxe Double Vinyl (Laced Records) Thunder Force IV (Data Discs) Thunder Force IV (Mondo Distro) Katamari Damacy (final pressing) (Mondo)
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Welcome, listeners! Be you girl or shadow-girl, or bear or bird, you are all invited to our latest endeavor here at Video Game Grooves! Sometimes you climb a mountain, sometimes you traverse a boingy swamp. Sometimes you do a podcast. We did that one.
This week we make our acquaintance with brand new record label Debug Records (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) and meet its owner Caleb Denney. Caleb is joined by warrior-poet-badass Erich Beckmann, daddy to the label's first release Mother Fucking Earthbound, coming soon to a turntable very near you!
Our features this week are fresh and exciting, as we scale the mountain of sound that is Celeste, from Ship to Shore Media. The Lena Raine score has garnered praise and awards since its release in 2018, and Erich takes point to tell us about his love for the game's technical-yet-poignant music and message. We then climb in Caleb's backpack for a grand tour of Banjo-Kazooie from iam8bit. As we gallop along, we keep our bulbous eyeballs peeled and appreciate Grant Kirkhope's dynamic and thematically-varied composition, and genius use of mouth-harp.
Our second segment is filled with all the news you can use, keeping you apprised of all that discretionary spending that you're missing out on! A few other news blurbs arise, and we tackle those too.
Finally, we sit down (we stood up at some point) and talk to Caleb and Erich about the initial outing from Debug, and we field your questions for the duo about the label, this release, and its influences and origins!
Outro: "Onett" - Mother Fucking Earthbound, by ErichWK
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello,
https://www.debugrecords.com/ The Gardens Between (Vinyl Me Please) The Messenger (iam8bit) Diggin In The Carts Remixes EP (Hyperdub)
LSD Revamped (Ship To Shore Media)
Colours (EastAsiaSoft) Project Sidologie (C64Audio)
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Banjo-Kazooie Photos Courtesy Anthony Shebastak [The Reginald Project]
Cowabunga, creatures of the night! ...okay that was a little dissonant. But that's how we roll--or spin--here at Video Game Grooves! And just like a pepperoni and ice cream pizza, we're bringing you two great tastes that taste great together! We're joined by writer, comedian, and vinyl addict Brock Wilbur with a couple of great features and some good discussion about video game music pressed onto records!
First, we're beginning with the Black Screen Records release of Vampyr, by Olivier Derivière. This dark adventure game from DONTNOD sits on the cusp of action and adventure, Victorian and industrial. The music by Derivière similarly rides a line between melodic and neo-classical sounds. Brock leads us through his (extensive) experience with the game, and highlights the unique sound available on this blood-infused vinyl release. We continue with Anthony's pick of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, an unofficial release of the NES power duo from the late 80s. Based (loosely, in some cases) on the comic and television series, these Konami games earned distinctive places in the memories of gamers of the day... and not always for the best reasons. However, the soundtracks are above reproach, and we feature some shell-shocking picks to take you back to a more turtle-powered time.
We cover the new releases and happenings in the world of game music on vinyl record. The financial damage isn't too bad this time, but there are a few to keep an eye out for!
Finally, we sit down with Brock and look our ugly addictions right in the face. Based on the article he wrote last year for Medium on the topic. We've tried to be honest with ourselves before about the darker side of collecting, but Brock holds our eyelids open and forces us to stare into the abyss. Luckily you only have to listen.
Outro: "Turtle Boogie & Game Over" - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, by
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @brockwilbur
www.brockwilbur.com
Links: Sword & Sworcery Super Deluxe Edition (iam8bit) Silent Hill 2 (Mondo) (out of stock) Silent Hill repress (Mondo) (out of stock) Arcade High by Pixel Passion (Bandcamp) Cross Symphonic (Kickstarter) Dubmood "Lost Floppies Vol 1" Repress (Bandcamp)
Image Gallery (Vampyr photos courtesy VGM WAX)
It's been a little while, but technical issues be darned to heck! We are back! And we're back in style. Video Game Grooves returns for a probably-classic episode as Paul and Jeremy combine forces with our good friend Tom from Laced Records!
This week we explore some classic indie "chip-style" music with a throw back to 2011's precision-platformer Dustforce, with Fastfall: Dustforce by Lifeformed. We discuss some of the influences that the album had on indie music for the next several years, and where the Hitbox Team game fits into the pantheon of punishment that the genre represents today. We then continue with every year's game-of-the-year The Last of Us, from Mondo Records. We ruminate on the virtuosic style of Gustavo "Gus" Santaolalla, and how his personal compositions might have been translated into the audio design of the game itself.
We then proceed to the news and new releases (which are now slightly-aged releases) and point you in the direction of the next opportunity to drain your wallet, and the latest happenings in the world of video game music on vinyl records.
Finally, inspired by Dustforce, we enter into a discussion of the identity of "post-chip" music, and whether its day has come and gone, where it is now, and some of the essential picks in the genre that have been released on vinyl.
Outro: "Sepia Tone Laboratory" - Fastfall: Dustforce, by Lifeformed
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @tquillfeldt Links: Celeste "Aurora and Strawberry" variant (Fangamer) Anno 1800 (Black Screen Records) Beckett (The Secret Experiment itch.io) The Last of Us Vol 2 (Mondo Records) Florence (iam8bit) Skullgirls Switch bundle (Skybound Games) Resident Evil 1 and 2 (Laced Records) (sold out) Rain World (Black Screen Records) Metro Exodus (Amazon.it) Cross Symphonic (Kickstarter)
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Darkness. Emptiness. Silence. Only dim and distant lights, providing no heat and only scant illumination to an otherwise cold and barren expanse. Is this episode about:
a) Your wallet after record release day b) Outer space c) Why not both?
Welcome back, star voyager, as we bring you the warmth and music of another Video Game Grooves episode! This time we are joined by Mohammed Taher of Brave Wave Productions for an exciting episode about spaaaaace! We begin with the 2018 Data Discs release of Policenauts, one of the early oeuvres of Hideo Kojima. The fairly-uncredited music captures the buddy-cop genre with a jazz backdrop to keep you pointin' and clickin' and investigatin' space cases, and we discuss our own musical maturity. Next, we let Mohammed off the hook as we explore the 4X musical genre in Endless Space 2, released by G4F. We learn to let music breathe a bit as the FlyByNo score walks the line between melodic and ambient, and Mo makes his love known for the Amplitude Studios series, and mmmmaybe even sneaks in an extra feature track! ;)
We cover the news and new releases, which aren't too taxing this time around, but a few interesting finds will keep your turntable busy for a long time to come.
Finally we discuss your community answers to the question "What bonanzas have you found 'in the wild?'" A few of you have gotten verrry lucky and we are so jealous. Mohammed teases us with an exclusive announcement or two, and we rocket off for reaches unknown (and our next episode)!
Outro: "No! No! No!" - Policenauts, by Konami Kukeiha Club
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello, @robokick
Brave Wave Productions website Brave Wave Productions twitter
Links: Smooth McGroove - VGM Acapella Volume 1 (Yetee Records) Endless Legend – Vinyl Edition (G4F Records) Wargroove (Yetee Records) Metro Exodus (Italian Amazon) (Russian retailer) Lil Bub’s Hello Earth (LilBub.com)
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Yo dawg, we hear you like video game music and vinyl records and video game music on vinyl records and memes from 2008. So we put some video game music on vinyl records so you can vid-- Okay anyway, we're back! Hello!
This week, Anthony and Jeremy tackle the topic as a twosome, bringing you some great tunes and talk as we spin a special spread from our vinyl collections. First, Anthony takes us back to a cult PS1 favorite with the Xenogears -SHINKAKU- compilation, with arranged versions of the original soundtrack, including its "Creid" and "Myth" interpretations. We discuss the trajectory of composer Yasunori Mitsuda and the shearing point between old- and new-school music. Jeremy chimes in with an exploration of the "drum & bass" music scene with the Forza Horizon 4: Hospital Records soundtrack. The diegetic radio station provides some very "racy" music for the game, and we learn about the entire genre, from drumfunk to jumpstep, and hear what Hospital Records brings to the world of vinyl on their glow-in-the-dark release.
For our final segment we discuss our updated wishlists for 2019, and we have a special play-with-the-hosts invitation for our listeners! Remember to hit us up on Twitter and comment below if you'd like to explore the luxurious gluttony of Dragon's Crown with Anthony and Jeremy!
Outro: "飛翔 : Soaring -Orchestral Version-" - Xenogears, by Yasunori Mitsuda
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Links: Pikuniku (Ghost Ramp Records) The Banner Saga 3 (iam8bit) Donut County (iam8bit) Iconoclasts (Limited Run Games) Sonic Zones (The Yetee) Metro Exodus "Aurora" Edition (Micromania.fr)
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Greetings and salutations, vinyl voyagers! It is the year 20X9 and it is the future of video game music on vinyl records. We are here to kick off the new calendar with some great video game music on vinyl records! Jeremy and Paul, your dynamic duo for this episode, have a couple of picks and some great discussion for you. First, Jeremy takes a journey into the music of Jesper Kyd's score for Borderlands the Pre Sequel: Claptastic Voyage, and delves into a brooding electronic score that worked for him on a few levels. We discuss how music can be overlooked, both while playing, but in the marketplace. Paul follows up with more time for his tally in outer space with The Music of Destiny: Volume 1. Both hosts reminisce about the mood and drama of Destiny, and discuss musical moments that have just "got inside them" at some point. We cover all the news and new releases that hit at the end of 2018 so you can make sure your wallet gets its workout, but don't forget those fiscal resolutions for the new year! Finally, we talk about the idea of buying duplicates, either intentionally or unintentionally. We also discuss the knotty issue of reselling records, and buying them intentionally for short term or long term "investment." Outro: "Guardian" - Destiny, by Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori, C. Paul Johnson, and Paul McCartney Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello Links:DeathMark Limited Edition (Aksys Games)Face My Fears single (HMV.co.jp)Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest XI (Amazon.co.jp)Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 (Laced Records)Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (Laced Records)War of the Triad (Knight of the Round Bandcamp)Celeste Piano Collections (Trevor Gomes Bandcamp)Celeste Soundtrack (Limited Run Games) (sold out)Rainworld Soundtrack (Limited Run Games) (sold out)Windjammers Soundtrack (Limited Run Games) (sold out)Cosmic Star Heroine (The Yetee)Fortuna: The Sector X Sessions (The Yetee)Xeno Crisis (Bitmap Bureau)Tomb Raider Dark Angel (TRDA website)
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This is a test of some test stuff.
How does it work?
Another year of video game music on vinyl is coming to a close, and your Video Game Grooves hosts are convening once again for the 2nd Annual... we suppose we shall call them the "Groovy Awards" (or the "Groovies", as they are colloquially called far and wide)! But we are not alone. Along with Anthony, Paul, and Jeremy, you will be treated to Frederik Lauridsen from BlipBlop.net, who will preside over the proceedings.
And our task is not small, dear friends. For we are choosing our favorite video game vinyl music releases of 2018! The best, the brightest, or perhaps just our completely biased personal picks! There were great releases by the various labels this year. Some we covered earlier, and some we have yet to feature, but we only have so much time.
But that's not all! You also voted and made your collective voice heard. We listened, and we will also present your picks for your favorite releases.
So without much more ado, please enjoy. Agree with our picks? Disagree? Let us know about it in the comments, or you can reach us all on Twitter! (You can find a complete list of picks in this hidden corner of our website... Keep those spoilers to yourself!)
... a little more ado... we figured we'd better take care of the news and releases. Special episode or not, new releases wait for no man (and no bank account)!
also this
and this
Outro: "Launch" - Spaceplan, by Logan Gabriel
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @ajohnagnello, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @blipblopwax
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment (Fangamer) (Bigwax) Spelunky (Fangamer) Switched on SNES Secret of Mana (Bandcamp) (Vinyl Digital) Distant Worlds 3 (Amazon) Megacopter (Data Airlines) (Bandcamp) Shantae (Game Boy Color) (Fangamer) (Limited Run Games, sold out) Minimum Records Holiday bundle (Minimum Records, 1 remaining!) Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (Laced Records) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 (Laced Records)
We're here in the nick of time with a podcast full of counter-programming for the holiday music cropping up everywhere around you. We got you fam. This week, Anthony, Paul and Jeremy tackle the self-referential music of the everything-referential game Saturday Morning RPG, by Vince DiCola and Kenny Meriedeth. Jeremy opines that the technical guitar and smooth synth are highly overlooked in the pantheon of game music, and we get a dose of Stemage RIGHT IN THE FACE. Paul transitions us to the baller sounds of Grand Theft Auto V (volume 2), the musical score discs from the big box set, and we spend a lot of time having Tangerine Dream..s.
In our second segment we round out the new releases you've been dying not to not pay money for, including a few cool represses and even a rumour or two!
And lastly, to round out our loquacious third segment, we discuss the dirty little topic of MONEY and SPENDING and COMMERCE. Our biggest spends? Our greatest bargains? We talk a little bit about that, anyway.
Twitter - @vg_grooves, @walnutsoap, @jeremy_lamont, @ajohnagnello
Into the Breach (Fangamer) Stardew Valley Complete Vinyl Soundtrack (Fangamer) Robo Puzzle Smash (PxlPlz Bandcamp) Mortal Kombat 1 & 2 (Enjoy the Ride Records, ThinkGeek) Cosmic Star Heroine (Ship to Shore) Gradius II (Ship to Shore) Gradius III (Ship to Shore) The Elder Scrolls Skyrim Box Set (Spacelab 9 US, Spacelab 9 EU)