[VGMC] Day 2! feat. Flowers, Cards, and Math using 10, 11, and 14.3

Aria Math
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
T11

b10 isnt just passive atmosphere, the lilting melody starting at 0:37 feels like its leading you to explore. The vocals at 1:36 herald your discovery, which the fuller melody starting at 1:50 celebrates. A fitting song for dungeon delving.

I kind of answered this poll question already yesterday. If theres one thing that makes me excited about this years field, its that it has (if Im not mistaken) the most new songs ever in VGMC, beating the previous record of last years field. Pleasantly surprised is exactly how I want to feel when listening to all the new stuff. Case in point: Boing Boing & Roger - T11. What a beautiful song.

Aria Math
b10
Duel VS Fortress Leader

I'm always mildly amused whenever discussions of nostalgia and context are brought up when it comes to Minecraft music. Aria Math is my third favourite piece of video game music and Minecraft is a top ten OST, but I only played the game during a brief period in like 2017 or 2018, long after I was first exposed to the music (funnily enough because of SupraDarky, to the half of you who know of the guy). I do admit that I am more into Minecraft currently (literally watching a Mumbo Jumbo video while I'm typing this lol), so maybe I have overrated it just a smidge in recent years ...

The thing is, 14.3 Billion Years is another song that speaks to me profoundly and completely without context. It already works damn well as a piece of music on its own - being a 9.5/10 sort of song (this match is vile btw) - I can't imagine how much a better context would even do to it.

Both songs in the second match are good, but I'm definitely, perhaps obviously in more of an atmospheric mood. I love cheesy retro Japanese vocal music too.

I remember thinking T11 was kinda blah when I first heard it. I like it a lot more now, though. I barely listened to the nominations phase, but somehow that was enough to to stress me out. I still prefer the opponent, though. The GB goodness is out of this world.

Aria Math
b10
T11

14.3 Billion Years
b10
T11

14.3 Billion Years
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
T11

T11 another great discovery, it has such an eerie yet happy vibe.

Fourteen Point Three Billion Years
Bee Ten
Duel Versus Fortress Leader

Aria Math
b10
T11

Aria Math
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
Duel VS Fortress Leader

From W1ndzs:

14.3 Billion Years
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
Duel VS Fortress Leader

Outer Wilds - 14.3 Billion Years
Sakura Wars - Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
Boing Boing & Roger - T11

Missed day 1. Oops!

Minecraft - Aria Math
?
Pokmon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR! - Duel VS Fortress Leader

Every time I listen to the TCG soundtracks I'm always flabbergasted that they were done with two square-wave, one noise and one more customizable channel.

Aria Math
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
T11

Aria Math
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
T11

Phew, I was sort of dreading match 3 today because I thought that it would be a tough decision for me. But then I started listening and realized that I mixed up the Grandmaster and Fortress Leader songs in my head, and this match isn't close at all.

Aria Math
b10
Duel VS Fortress Leader

14.3 Billion Years is interesting with its 'cozy vibe' core that just explodes in energy at a couple of points. I definitely don't remember how I felt about this song since its appearance in VGMC15, but I'm hoping it sounded just as pleasing as it does for me now.

Aria Math is easily the best I've ever heard from the parts of the Minecraft soundtrack I've experienced so far. Subwoofer Melody and Sweden are nice, Dreiton is really cool...but none of those really get me like this song does. The very quiet introduction, the gradual buildup with the instruments with that perfect combo of handpan and spacey synths, the strings at the end...it's all such a wonderful experience I've not found anywhere else.

Sakura Wars' '80s anime-style opening is pretty nice, it has a classic actiony vibe to it that sticks enough of the landing for me.

WHOA, I would never expect Falcom to get this cool atmosphere piece. It feels like a mix of PSO2 and PMD together, with its synths painting this cave-like, ethereal vibe in my head. My only complaint with it is the sudden end, but I really enjoyed the energy this was going for.

T11 is a weirdly engrossing pick, it's funny how edutainment games end up hiding some neat treasures in them with most none the wiser. It's lighthearted and innocent in its approach, it suits the "adventure for young ones" vibe this game looks like it's going for. Fun choice with this one!

I haven't heard a lot of Pokemon music surprisingly, especially from the Game Boy family, but this TCG song alone probably beats a good portion of whatever I've heard to date. Really good chiptune piece here, such fun energy that pulls you in like nobody's business. This one is a keeper for sure.

Minecraft - Aria Math
RINNE - b10
Pokmon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR! - Duel VS Fortress Leader

MATCH 1

14.3 Billion Years is nice and cozy with the banjo melody. Feels like sitting around a campfire. I guess it helps that the thumbnail shows exactly that lol. It's a nice song, but that's about it in terms of my enjoyment unfortunately.

Aria Math, by comparison, has a similar feel to 14.3 Billion Years but is something I find myself enjoying more. I think it's because it feels more "intricate" for lack of a better word? Like there's more going on in the song, and that draws my attention more.

MATCH 2

I echo the sentiments of Imperial Floral Assault Group having that 90's anime feeling to it. I like it! The electric guitar is a nice surprise as well. Maybe it isn't that much of a surprise, but among the brass instruments, it's a noticeable but welcome change. This song isn't my preferred type of "anime song" though. However, while it's not the standout Japanese vocals song of the contest for me, I do, of course, like this style generally overall, so it certainly gets some praise from me for that!

b10 has a very cool atmosphere to it that gives this impression of something foreboding yet awe-inspiring at the same time. It starts with that 3-note repeating part at 0:22 (the D#-E-F# and variations thereof) and continues with the piano part, but there's definitely more to it as well like the backing strings and other instruments I can't individually single out that create a very immersive effect to the song. These are my top 2 songs up today, so rough draw for Imperial Floral Assault Group.

MATCH 3

For what appears to be a children's entertainment game of sorts, T11 has a surprisingly somber and emotional feeling to it! The instrumentation of it reminds me of playing RuneScape as a kid and hearing the MIDI instruments of the songs. Overall, I appreciate the emotional feeling I get from this song.

Duel vs. Fortress Leader is cool and upbeat. I like the feeling it has of "the game is afoot" or something like that. Though I do like T11, I think this song captures my interest a little bit more.

b10 > Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group > Duel VS Fortress Leader > Aria Math > T11 > 14.3 Billion Years

Aria Math
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group
Duel VS Fortress Leader

forgot to vote today so only getting one for the first match

14.3 Billion Years

Aria Math
Declaration! Imperial Floral Assault Group

don't have time for match 3 oops

Just want to say that shout out to Declaration for being a song with vocals I actually ENJOY (I usually don't enjoy most vocals and am notorious on the Supra server for being the resident vocal hater).