Howard Drossin - Comix Zone


Comix Zone composed by Howard drossin. Published in 1995 by Sega Enterprises - Developed by Sega Technical Institute.




For the creators of Comix Zone, music was obviously very important and because of that, music is composed by Howard Drossin. Game has three chapters with two levels each, three bosses, and for that... TWENTY compositions. Let's say, that video game should have different music on every level and every boss, intro, main menu and end credits. Under that criteria most of video games do not have music for half. In that case  Comix zone needs 12,but , CZ has 20, and they are all great!





To make one more comparison. How many famous bands you know, who have two or three good songs per album? That is, approximately, 30% of success in the work they do. If it comes to any other business, that low success rate would be unacceptable. Imagine that an engineer says "it's a good car, has a radio and lights, lacks engine and few other things, but this is business, you can not have it all." Or " We finished construction of your home successfully, south and west wall are still standing." LOL! Here is a better example: imagine that Beethoven rarely made ​​good symphonies. Today, probably, would not be considered as a legend, but for a man who was lucky. How come the people in "music industry" never ask themselves: "Why between us there is no people competent enough to make music?" Well, unlike these phonies, the real composers and musicians such as Howard Drossin, make music with 100% of success. So, out of  20 tunes, 20 are fantastic.





It is amazing how many bands and musicians covered music from this game. I singled out one, created by Dr. Manhattan, which was made for a competition Dwelling of duels.(competition in covering music from video games)

Original from the game                                Cover by Dr. Manhattan




Here is one interesting thing. In 1996, bonus CD was added to the game packing, it contained the game music played by the band Roadkill (with vocals). 

Guitar: Howard Drossin; Solos on 2 & 5: Philip Stevenson
Bass Guitar: Weird Guy
Drums: Philip Stevenson
Lyrics & Vocals: Howard Drossin, Tim P.
Producers: Howard Drossin, Tim P., Philip Stevenson
Executive Producer: Roger Hector

Six songs have been made in grunge genre version (very popular in the 90s). In my opinion this is not an enhanced music from the game, just an interesting addition, because the grunge is a very limiting concept. I'll put this into a phrase: If you want to put an angel in a coffin, you have to cut the wings out.


Original from the game                                Roadkill version





I still have unfinished business with Comix Zone. I have dealt with only 5 tunes and plenty of covers are waiting to be heard. So it will be continued.

You tube clips posted by Mafiosotucanazo -  SegaClubMusic - TheVGMshow
(original Comix Zone tunes) 
FlikTheBlueLightning (Dr manhattan) - Mechatails (Roadkill)

World of Warcraft Cataclysm - Cinematic



Developer & Publisher Blizzard Entertainment.


This composition, like many other compositions from World of Warcraft, is powerful and scary, makes a man to tremble like Miles Dyson. The Cataclysm cinematic composition  also contains the old melodies from WoW, for example Stormwind melody. That makes it even more difficult to determine who wrote this composition than it's been in the last post about World of Warcraft music.




The problem is following: On the last post about WoW I have hired Sherlock Holmes to find who, of the four composers, wrote Stormwind composition, and now he's dead. Too much for him, I'm afraid.  


Stormwind theme is part of this composition so the problem of who wrote it is still there, and it escalated. This composition is intertwined with more old melodies from the old expansions and vanilla. And each expansion  is composed by different team of composers. So unknown factor 4 becomes 9 (Sherlock Holmes is turning in his grave). By credits screen from WOW the composer is Neal Acree (Cinematic composer), but my ear knows better.  Neal Acree composed new score for this intro, but old melodies are composed by... hm. The best thing I can do, without the guesswork, is to present a list of composers from vanilla and expansions.


But before that info I want you to listen to this music with cinematic.




World of Warcraft
Audio Supervisor (Cinematics)
Glenn Stafford
Lead Composer
Jason Hayes
Music
Jason Hayes, Tracy W. Bush, Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford


World of Warcraft The Burning Crusade
Music
Russell Brower, Derek Duke, Matt Uelman
Additional Music
Brian David Farr, David Arkenstone
Cinematic Intro Music
Neal Acree


World of Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King
Music
Russell Brower, Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford
Cinematic Intro Music
Neal Acree


World of Warcraft Cataclysm
Russell Brower, Jason Hayes, Neal Acree, Glenn Stafford, David Arkenstone, Derek Duke
(This info is from Cataclysm soundtrack, not from game credits like text above. Maybe there is a difference, I'm not sure)


Developer & Publisher Blizzard Entertainment


You tube clips posted by Krisp4ever (Soundtrack) and WorldofWarcraft (Cinematic)

World of Warcraft at Play! Symphony Toronto (Stormwind)


What can i say for this composition? Well this is a hymn of the alliance. (it plays in Stormwind, capitol of alliance)  20 million people cry, in a burst of patriotic emotions, when they hear this. They prefer it instead of their national anthem and who can blame them. The music is better than any existing national anthem and the alliance is more honorable than any real state 200 times. (without exaggeration)


Play! A Video Game Symphony are international concert series played by local symphonies and choirs. Play! was launched 2006 in Chicago and after the incredible success in Europe it became a world tour. 



Music from World of Warcraft was composed by  Glenn Stafford (Audio supervisor, cinematic), Jason Hayes (Lead composer), Tracy W. Bush and Derek Duke. This information is from WOW (vanilla) credits. But who, from those composers, created this particular (Stormwind) composition?I Don't have idea. I didn't expect to find that in credits. However, Blizzard  released a soundtrack CD.  ;)  In addition of each composition, there's, of course, no clue as to who composed what.  I mean,why is that information important anyway? Money, that is important.




Glenn Staford is creator of Warcraft II music and it is  one of best music ever made by human  being (also he is a senior composer in Blizzard). So I assume if some composition in WOW is awesome, then it must be Glenn Stafford's work. On the other hand, I found that Jason Hayes  composed  "Call to Arms" (my favorite) and also on one soundtrack he is credited for all wow compositions, after all, he is a lead composer. :) Also I've found many places on Internet where one composer is credited but on some other sources is credited another. So I will talk to Sherlock Holmes to reveal this mystery, meanwhile you must be satisfied with this.



I like to put live symphony versions, instead of regular, on this blog, to remind that compositions from video games need same number of instruments as Mozart's or Beethoven's compositions. Still, Mozart and Beethoven are legends, and Glen Stafford is not. This is not, entirely, fair. OK they were the pioneers and without them, maybe, music from WoW would not be so awesome. (do not forget to think in four dimensions - Dr. Emmett Brown) But what with, for example, John Williams? He is not a pioneer, but he is the living legend, hm? Music from World of Warcraft is complex and filled with innovations as Mozart's, Beethoven's, or John Williams music, as a fact. Wow has 36 hours of music and not to mention the whole Warcraft series. Don't take me wrong, I like Mozart's, Beethoven's and John Williams's music,  the only thing I am saying is that the music from WOW has equivalent quality, unequally credited. 


Listen to the original theme. On this clip is also second Stormwind theme.




Developer & publisher - Blizzard entertainment
You tube clip uploaded by xetrog (live) and SkyquakeLT (original)

Civilization IV - Christopher Tin - VIDEO GAMES LIVE



Outstanding composition by Christopher Tin for Civilization IVThis music can actually make you feel like you are witnessing the true dawn of first civilizations. He made it with all kind of modern instruments,and yet he made it sound like we are 5000 years in past. And that feeling is not easy to provideOn this clip, orchestra plays music from intro and then main game theme "Baba Yetu". In Swahili the title means "Our Father" , and the song lyrics is the Lord's Prayer rendition (also in Swahili). This clip is from Video Games Live (television special, concert on PBS.)


Video Games Live tour is a brilliant creation of Tommy Tallarico and Jack WallVGM veteran composers. The concert started on July 6, 2005 at the Hollywood Bowl, and that year there were two more concerts. Today Video Games Live have more then 70 shows a year.


Here's something interesting: Song "Baba Yetu" won a Grammy Award in 2010, but the game was launched in 2005 (wtf?!) and 2010 was released next Civilization V. Do you see a band get Grammy for an album that was released 5 years ago? Why admit something that five years ago did not? So what's that all about? In my opinion, Grammy awards are false measure of "music industry", a fraud. They ignore the music from video games for twenty years, and promote something that has nothing to do with music, and now this? I think that it's because of the success of Video Games Live. They saw that VG music has audience, smelled the money and now they suddenly like music from 2005. Or maybe the decision of who gets the prize was so difficult that it lasted five years. :)

Of course I do think that it deserves every award, but I do not think that Grammy can be called award. It seems to me more as a warning, that the leeches got an eye on the only thing that music fans have today.


Just for the record: i know that Christopher Tin released in 2009 album Calling All Dawns which includes Baba Yetu. Question still stands: why he didn't get award first time when it was published? Pay attention: this is the first VG music that has ever won a Grammy. I think that Grammy doesn't give VG industry equal chance as it gives to other Industries. Well, at least so far this is the case.


Developer: Firaxis Games, Publishers: 2K Games & Aspyr, clip uploaded by channel PBS

Oldies: Demolition man - Orca games - (Rooftop)



Music from Demolition man, level 1 (Rooftop). Awesome music so fast and melodic, just imagine it with real instruments.  I'm not sure who actually composed this, in credits stands: music by Orca games, additional music Keith Arem and special thanks to Tommy Tallarico for his musical and sfx insights. Internet had nothing about this, I was forced to cross the entire game to get to the credits (I've got little help, cheat code :) )



Developers: Virgin Interactive - Alexandria Inc. - Acclaim Entertainment. Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment. You tube clip posted by Heardofrvb

Emperor: Battle For Dune - Frank Klepacki - Ride the Worm




Composition called "Ride the worm" from video game Emperor: Battle for Dune composed by 
Frank Klepacki



One of the best game soundtracks ever. For each of the three factions in game the music was written by different composer. House Atreides (Frank Klepacki), House Harkonnen (David Arkenstone), House Ordos (Jarrid Mendelson).

I am a huge fan of book Dune (Frank Herbert) and I think that of all movies, music and games inspired by book, music from the Emperor (House Atreidas) and Dune 2000 (also Frank Klepacki) best fits the book. Dont take me wrong, rest of houses in Emperor also have a lot of awesome music (so it will be included in blog) . And music perfectly describes all houses.

Developers are Intelligent Games, Westwood Studios - Publisher EA Games
Clip upload by chanel Banzay27


Unreal Tournament 2004 - Kevin Riepl - Sniper Time



 Unreal Tournament 2004 music was developed by three composers, this track (Sniper Time) was written by Kevin Riepl. Awesome combination of orchestral and synthetic sound. It proves that music doesn't need  to be a new synthetic or classical acoustic.

Neither conservatives nor trend followers are right when they say that their music is better. It is best to use all knowledge and resources if you want to find the best way to deliver your idea. There is no need to predetermine your work by genre, genre was made up by people like bureaucrats. They are not able to make music but are good in classifying things. This composition is nightmare for them. 



Developers are Epic Games, Digital Extremes 
Publishers are Atari (Linux/Windows), MacSoft (Mac), Midway, GOG.com
Clip is uploaded by channel Boxdeup1



Mortal Kombat 2011 - Dan Forden - The Armory


Composed by Dan Forden - release date 2011 - published by  Warner Bros Interactive entertainment - developed by NetherRealm studios


This composition is a recreation of classic composition from the Mortal Kombat 2, Although it is my opinion that the old compositions are more complex than new ones, this recreation is valuable as an original and i can't say which is better. That can not be said for most  recreations from newer Mortal Kombat games. I put old version also, for you to compare.




Music is known as The armory, MK2 Kombat area in which music plays, same as in MK 2011.



Mortal Kombat 9 (2011) Soundtrack- The Armory upload by channel Stimpackswe


Listen now classic version from Mortal Kombat II (arcade)



Mortal Kombat 2 Arcade Music - The Armory. upload by channel Nnap215

Mortal Kombat- Dan Forden (Arcade Music)



Composer Dan Forden, release date 1992 by Midway Games.  


Very original tune, although short, manages to express seriousness of the situation in which you are. One of my favorites from first Mortal Kombat, the music playing after your death, while you are considering whether to put the new coin, for what you have 10 seconds. (continue screen)


This music comes from the arcade machines, which had the best sound quality among all other platforms from that time. But each version of the game had its own unique parts of music that other platforms didnt have.

Simple, but very unusual





Now listen to something a little bit more complex.
                          
   Warrior  Shrine                                                Victory



And my absolute favorite: Goro's Lair (arcade). Keep in mind that this is made fifteen years before dubstep! 







Today all rights belong to Warner Bros.Interacive Entertainment (the publisher of MK 2011)
Developers are NetherRealm Studios (formerly Chicago Midway Games)


Although the rights were sold, the team in the main remained the same, so the composer for the MK series still is Dan Forden who recreated most of cllasic mk music for Mortal Kombat 2011.



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