Hmmmm... There's
way too many to list, but I'll give you some of my favorites.
I love the arpeggios in this track. They're
fierce, and have no reason to be as devastating as they are.
Specifically, I much prefer Stone Tower Temple when it's inverted compared to the regular version. I much prefer the timbre of the sampled instruments chosen, and harmonically it's more interesting. While it's not a complete reversal of the original theme, it definitely gives that same feeling across, while still feeling familiar.
Harmonically, I can confidently say that this track is a
bop. It's got a seriously funky bassline, the chords really give that moody sense of discovering something incredibly serious which makes sense in the context of the game it's from, which the reveal still gives me chills.
It's melodic, moody, groovy, and harmonically interesting. Hallmark of a great track.
Whether or not you like Duke Nukem 3D as a game, there's no denying that this theme is just badass. Sure it may be MIDI instruments, but they sure get the message across. Considering one of my bands plays this live, I can confirm it's a blast to play, and sounds absolutely
killer with real instruments.
And it's in one of my favorite keys for metal of this caliber, F# minor. It's just a key that has a nasty attitude.
I could not, in good conscience, not put this as among my favorites. Not only is it absolutely amazing music, just in general, but it has my favorite guitar player of all time, the man I look up to most in a musical sense playing, which is Steve Vai.
His playing is always a treat for the ears.
If you skipped this masterpiece while playing the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (one of the best games ever made), then I'm sorry to say, we can no longer be friends.
I love the sound of lutes, and the singer has a gorgeous voice that I could listen to all day long.
Not to mention this is beautiful, because it follows Renaissance style songwriting. I hear polyphony, I hear the delicate nature of the lute, and it gels just so beautifully with the voice.
Not gonna lie, I am looking into buying a lute, because I just
love the timbre, and because I want to learn this song.
Monkey Island 1 & 2, just on general principle, are wonderful point n' click adventures, and they have wonderful music (including a scene of skeletons singing "Dem Bones").
But this shuffle from the first game is just fun, and this updated version makes things more interesting than the original.
Dark Souls as a series has great music as a general rule, but this track is so beautiful. The somber F minor key, the anguish and beauty in the voices, the strings are playing some pretty wicked and devastating arpeggios that are in the background that just make the track so much better.
This song is a work of art. I would say it's almost angelic in its glory, but since F minor is such a
somber and depressing sounding key, at least to me, this is less angelic and more sad. Like something was lost that won't ever come back, which of course makes sense in the context of the Abyss Watchers fight.
This song is a
bop, and that's why I love it. It's awesome, no other reason. Also, I just love TMNT as a general rule, lol.
This is the best track on the entirety of OoT. Harmonically, it's the most interesting, and it sets a clear and defined mood.
Plus, in one track, we use different tonalities, the so-called "dark" and exotic scales of metal. It uses in no particular order:
- G Phrygian.
- G Phrygian Dominant.
- G Double Harmonic.
- C harmonic minor.
- C Hungarian minor.
I could ramble on about this track for days, because those are my favorite tonalities because they're just so harmonically
bitichin' sounding, but I believe I analyzed it before.
It's just awesome, on all fronts.
When the drums enter in, laying down that sick groove, not gonna lie, I get the warm fuzzies. It's just
so well composed top to bottom.
And yes, I love how the drum part was delayed. Delaying satisfaction and resolution like that is how you create a beautiful and memorable experience musically speaking.
I know, there's an updated version because of SSBU, but this one still is so good. I love the groove of this, really sells King K. Rool's pirate swagger, and his glory. Also, anytime something's harmonized so well I am going to take notice. Diatonic third harmonies
always sound good in most situations musically, and of course here, they sound fantastic, and really makes the track feel bigger than it is.
I've considered learning this and metalizing it. Such an amazing track. Would make Miles Edgeworth proud.
I love Warhammer 40K, that's no secret, and while I love Orks and Necrons, as they're my favorite factions, I have a soft spot for the Adeptus Mechanicus.
If I needed a track to praise the Omnissiah as I ponder Dark Age relics, this would be the track to listen to.
There's many more, but at the moment, these are my favorites.
