Lurker > Plasman

DOUBLE
A Dance of Fire and Ice

NOMINATION
Dicey Dungeons | 13 August 2019

No Time To Dice | 7 July 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei8H5iATrgg
Let The Good Times Roll | 7 July 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oes4TNGu2SM
Reunion | 7 July 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQocyF_0ZLk
The Gall And The Gumption | 7 July 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra4iJT4wQUk
Not Today, Satan | 7 July 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spFKP08p8Jc
Just Roll With It | 7 July 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oThk7mXxEW0

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Idk when supports end, if they're at the same time as noms then I apologize

NOMINATION
Spark the Electric Jester 3 | 14 August 2022

Samples:
Shopalo's Goods | 14 August 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTLG9LNp1hs
Final Loop - Boss Fight - Linework | 14 August 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB7UnDV4L5I
Historia Hysteria | 14 August 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PumEF-9W5Jc
Protest Prison | 14 August 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EttFmYSumvc
Utopia Shelter - In The Depths | 14 August 2022 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhJq7JYpDq0
Floating Point Error | 26 Jan 2023 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz0xHi2kfXs

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DOUBLE
Splatoon 3

SINGLE
Melatonin

Top 10 wooooo

Anyways, of whats left I know of Mouth Moods, Dark Side of the Moon, and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and I know I like all of em. Lot I haven't heard though, so will be looking forward to what does the best

Very glad you liked it, and generally didn't expect it to do well enough to get top half lol! But I did think it still had a shot, as it's notedly different (in a less-accessible way, but a way I thought you had a chance of appreciating more) from most of their stuff that's been in contests, and most Alice fans think their output that makes it in rhythm games is kinda eh compared to their whole discography anyhow lol. Hypnotized and Children in the Ashes are probably my favourite songs in the album as well! Though I'd probably have Endorphin in there too. Appreciate the writeup and explanations on your feelings, and I still wanna go back to listen to all the top songs after!

That album was the exact midpoint of the rankings! We're into the top half now, epic

If there's one thing I'm learning most through this aside from rwlh's tastes it's that RYM is a completely useless site lmao

is just "Dead-End Apartment" again, lol

All of the "Alt Rock" being at the bottom is a bit wild yeah lol. Though fwiw I think Mouth Moods takes a lot of alt rock in it too lol

I should probably mention that February Air is unavailable to me, idk if it is to anyone else but

Seems like a perfect pace to me, idk

I do like rating and talking about music cuz music is a big passion of mine, and I like to share my tastes! But yeah, making actual write-ups and stuff is hard especially with my also limited actual music theory/etc knowledge. I just end up saying a lot of the same words for things. It happens. Think it helps just to get your base feelings and thoughts out without worrying too much about 'objective' correctness and hope people will be understanding enough.

I can say at least that this first writeup is perfectly fine to me, I can understand it and the comments perfectly well even if I don't dislike the music (on a cursory glance) as much! Said music does feel a bit generic, though, and if they're all like that I could probably also get sick of an entire album of it. Interesting about your musical taste that your least favourite album of all 57 is simply one that seemingly mostly bores you, and not something that you find directly unpleasant or offputting. I respect that honestly, somewhat wish I could be the same.

I can somewhat get behind Azu's system if we're gonna try auto-includes. I don't think having less people nominating original songs is a positive for the tournament as a whole either, though.

I should also probably mention that there were 80 nominators last year. That means that, potentially, almost a third of all songs in the bracket would be gotten in without any input from anyone else. Really not a fan of that tbh. Kinda ruins the nomination phase when so much less of what people end up liking in said phase gets in, and I still much prefer the bracket being full of songs that at least several people already have listened to and enjoyed.

I'd understand it a bit more with it being just like . people without any noms being able to autoinclude a song or something, but I don't really see a way of doing that without retroactively removing songs from the bracket, which sounds pretty awful as well.

I still really feel like auto-includes go against the spirit of nominations, what's the point of listening to new songs in that phase when your support might not matter anyways. Not to mention if a song gets in bracket when it wouldn't normally it's probably not going to do that well, probably increasing the amount of people who just jump in to nominate and then dip before/very early into bracket. And then comes what's likely going to happen, which is people put in some of the most unlikely stuff to get in possible for their auto-includes because why not, and it harms the bracket experience with it, I think. Obviously you could argue I'm also biased because I often get several nominations in (and they rarely do well in bracket anyways, which is still frustrating to me, but yknow) but I feel like everyone's a little biased in that way and I think autoincludes are somewhat net harmful overall.
Just my opinion though, but I think this year's system went pretty damn well, my only probably proposal for changing it is making the first day's noms like . 3 instead of 5 or something, because I think it's hard for everyone without a lot of time on their hands to get through the entire first day as-is, and it'd help limit a bit of bias to people getting their noms in early on day 1. But I dunno.

Back in Time
To Far Away Times

+2 Can You Feel the Sunshine?

sorry no 100% time sweep today

Professor Layton and the Last Specter - The Last Specter's Theme

Solid finals this year, probably the best I've been a part of? Either that or 16, but Last Specter is still an easy vote here, it'd be the first time a song I supported won, which would be very cool. It's just such a nice piece.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter - The Last Specter's Theme

Looking back, Ragna was a support of mine and Layton was a doubling. This is honestly pretty damn great for a semifinal. Hope whichever wins here wins the tournament, though I also really hope that's Layton lol.

Chrono Trigger - To Far Away Times

Surprisingly close match for me today, both songs are pretty decent for being probably my least favs still in. This was a good round for me

Sonic R - Back in Time

its not happening but itd be crazy to have sonic in finals lmao

Professor Layton and the Last Specter - The Last Specter's Theme

Well, this match is strong. Have to still keep the Layton train going though, this is still a wonderful song.

Destiny Child - Ragna Breakers

Honestly one of the hardest matches to vote on in the tournament. Both of these are super solid, wonderfully obscure (probably) picks, and pretty well deserving of their Quarterfinal - and probably Semifinal - placements. I just really have to appreciate the energy of Ragna Breakers today - I don't remember if it was a support or just a consideration, but sticking with my guns on that today. Won't mind either winner here, and will miss the loser, which is probably the only match this round I can say that for.

Un Deux Trois
Iseki-jima to Nanatsu no Mahou - Banbard (Piano Version)

beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro / jubeat saucer - Rainbow after snow
Super Mario 64 - Staff Roll

Eh I've never really voted any of these but for that they're decent.

SimCity 4 - Epicentre
Professor Layton and the Last Specter - The Last Specter's Theme

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince - Moonlight Concert
Destiny Child - Ragna Breakers

Policenauts - Old L.A. 2040
[-Aka-] - Desert-Duo

Yeah, Old LA is still pretty solid. I guess I want it - or maybe Desert-Duo - to win the right side now. Things have not gone great. But honestly both are growing on me, not that I expect either to win today really...

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis - Song of Mourning: The Eternal Wind
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - An Empty Tome

Weakest day this round for me and it's nooooot close

Astebreed (PS4) - Astebreed ~ The Void
Nirvana Pilot Yume - Rampage

please

Sonic R - Can You Feel the Sunshine?
Professor Layton and the Last Specter - The Last Specter's Theme

Destiny Child - Ragna Breakers
Rogue Legacy 2 - Subterranean Sunrise

Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness - Dialga's Fight to the Finish!
Border Down - Purple Town
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince - Moonlight Concert

-- Final Round 3 Match: Dialga's Fight to the Finish! vs. To Far Away Times --

Don't ask why Round 3 of all rounds is where I decided to have writeups and no other round. Anyways, it ends today with at least at one point my favourite song of all time, and one that I'd say is still pretty deserving of that title. Beautiful, emotional, strong, dramatic, a perfect culmination to a game that means a lot to me. I'm sure a lot may say a lot of these things about To Far Away Times, mind you. Like I've said, it's a really nice and also nostalgic-feeling credits theme, definitely my favourite CT song that I've heard. But it's in tough today. Nice to get a cool theming for the last match this round, though. Hopefully I can get one more song I care about into the retirement round after a tough pill to swallow a couple days ago.

Anyways, neither R4 match is particularly close today. Purple Town is still cool and Moonlight Concert's folky melody has really grown on me in spite of the weird transitions.

Shit, forgot the
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure - Sight of Silence
30XX - Millennium Spark (Firestorm BT MIX)
The World Ends with You - Calling

Glad i caught that immediately.

-- Match 1: Song of Mourning: The Eternal Wind vs. Sight of Silence --
Big FE energy from this PSOng or PSONG or PSong or whatever. It's got some really brilliant moments but I feel like it still doesn't do quite enough to stand out among the rest of similar songs? But it does do what it does really well. I feel kinda bad cuz I feel like this song could grow on me over time but it's hard to beat Sight of Silence. Such a cool piece and I love how it changes and develops over time, esp considering it was very unnecessary for what game it comes from. Classic Gurumin W.

-- Match 2: An Empty Tome vs. Milennnium Spark (Firestorm BT MIX) --
Oh boy, my only song remaining is up today. An Empty Tome is a solid catchy song, so much so that I was fine accidentally listening to the whole upload, but nothing really hits super hard for me. Feels almost like it should be a fighting game song. But yeah, strong melody anyways. Millennium Spark is just such an amazing rendition, the power of the melody is felt throughout, there's enough variation, and there's just a permanent DRIVE to keep going. Very much a headbanger, but also with that adventurous feel that I love with so many of my favourites.

-- Match 3: Dancing Mad vs. Calling --
As I kinda knew already, Dancing Mad is just not for me. Loud and oppressive has just never done anything for me, and no amount of variation or cool times will really change that. It's cool inherently, but just not super enjoyable, and maybe I'm wrong, but it feels kinda simple emotionally still to me. I dunno how Calling hasn't retired yet, though it's too bad it's not in my ideal still lmao. Really bumping back with a lot of strength and rebelliousness of the vocals, just a really great combination and the layered voices makes it feel more like, well, a rallying call. Maybe an unconventional thing to point out, but I love how the rhythm of the vocals is used too, with the stressing on the beat especially when the background music is less complicated - or nonexistent lol.

The Caligula Effect 2 - Miss Conductor (Regret ver.)
Astebreed (PS4) - Astebreed ~ The Void

No time for writeups today sorry sobs

Etrian Mystery Dungeon 2 - Frozen Grounds
beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro / jubeat saucer - Rainbow after snow
Old World - Festival of Dionysus (Greece)

-- Match 1: Frozen Grounds vs. Alabaster Icelands 1 --
This feels like a really strong and suitable end to the Ice Bracket in spite of this tournament not having VIM(P), with two really moving RPG themes against one another here. Really hard to choose, Alabaster Icelands has higher highs (namely when the bass picks up) and also some more lows than Frozen Grounds, I think the more consistent emotion in Frozen Grounds barely takes it for me, though. Good showing from PL:A this time though, I knew it'd have songs that'd hit hard with me. Maybe one day I'll finish it.

-- Match 2: Rainbow after snow vs. Portugal --
Nice chill but vibrant (ha) Nekomata Master song, the vocals really add to it. Feels like an anime ED or something, almost kinda touching. Portugal kinda feels like if a Layton town theme was a bit more laid back and...tango-ey? Anyways it's nice, but a tad too subdued for my tastes. Doesn't quite hit what Southern Twilight hit for me, that was a special song.

-- Match 3: Back in Time vs. Festival of Dionysus (Greece) --
Hard to say a ton about Back in Time that I didn't say about Can You Feel the Sunshine?, really. But I do think I prefer the latter, it's got a more iconic chorus. Not to say this one is bad though, it's anything but and I like the almost more wistful vibe. Festival of Dionysus is super pretty (well there has to be at least one adjective I end up using too much), you can feel a sense of history in it and the flute hard carries. I don't like it quite as much when that isn't there but it's enough to make it memorable for me. Another tough match. Think Festival hits harder for me today, honestly. Maybe my opinions on Sonic R music is more diverse than I thought.

Minecraft - Aria Math
Professor Layton and the Last Specter - The Last Specter's Theme
GITADORA EXCHAIN - Trajectory of the Kiyarora Satellite (Long Version)

-- Match 1: Ring Ring Ring! vs. Aria Math --
Ring Ring Ring! is nice and peppy, certainly feels like it'd actually fit the source material. Could see this one getting stuck in someone's head. It's kinda impossible for me to be totally unbiased when it comes to Minecraft, but the synths here do do something for me. ...More than Ring Ring Ring! is, probably.

-- Match 2: Theme of the Last Specter vs. Apollo --
Gonna be hard to get myself to ever vote against Last Specter. This song is brilliant Layton music and goes so many places that all work. It's not at all the most emotional, obviously, that goes to Unwound Future, but this might be the biggest banger of all the main themes to me. God I hope the new game is as good with the music. Got nothing against Apollo aside from the fact it's facing Layton, really. Though it kinda loses me a couple times, I love the sound effect usage as well with that powerful lead coming out halfway through.

-- Match 3: Remnants of Celestial (Stage 3) vs. Trajectory of the Kiyarora Satellite (Long Version)
More space! They didn't lie. Tough to describe Remnants of Celestial with anything other than "banger". Just has a great melody and doesn't let up. Still wish Yasui and his hopefuls *did* let up once or twice, to give the song time to breathe and make the stronger parts hit harder, but still really good. Have similar things to say about Kiyarora as I did about Apollo. It has really cool parts, and then it really kinda loses me. But man, the good here is really good. That guitar gives me big NSR vibes in particular. And the violin too, man. I wish this was always the good, ironically considering what I just said, but I think it's enough to take the win barely.

[-Aka-] - Suna Gin
Sonic R - Can You Feel the Sunshine?
Destiny Child - Ragna Breakers

-- Match 1: Suna Gin vs. Me and My Little War --
Suna Gin is a classic great emotional folky song from B8. It's nice throughout, but that super short bridge before the ending really makes it stand out more too. Me and My Little War my uneducated brain struggles to properly describe, but it has a fair bit of things I think are cool and things that take me a bit away from it happening at the same time. Hard to pin this one down, really, but I like the dnb and sorta chilly parts. Think Suna Gin's gotta take it though. My vocals bias has really gone up lately I'm not exactly sure what to do about that

-- Match 2: Can You Feel the Sunshine? vs. Blue Whitecaps --
Now THIS is a peak Sonic R song. Though really most are pretty similar quality to me. But the chorus just hits so hard here and it's such a great 90s pick-me-up song. Man, I don't remember/know if I've ever listened to like most of this song after the chorus lol. But I wouldn't say I'm complaining, it's good. Blue Whitecaps is a pleasant tune, I think I've said this before but it really kinda feels like an instrumental version of It's Dangerous To Go Alone at times. Just not quite enough energy on its bones, especially compared to its opponent.

Match 3 is a tiebreaker I've actually voted in, and I don't plan on changing it. Doubt I'll win this one though lol.

Touhou 17.5: Submerged Hell of Sunken Sorrow - Beware the Umbrella Left There Forever
Shin Megami Tensei IV - Tokyo
SimCity 4 - Epicentre

-- Match 1: Apex of the World (Rain) vs. Beware the Umbrella Left There Forever --

Strong match here, I've liked Apex of the World for a while, possibly not as much as DSHN but it's a really solid climactic FE theme without being *too* clichd. But tbh today I'm liking this song a bit less than I usually do, and liking this remix of BtULTF more every time I hear it. It's probably not my favourite version of the song still, but it's pretty and I like how much and how little it changes the super strong melody of the original.

-- Match 2: The Sunleth Waterscape vs. Tokyo --
Sunleth Waterscape is a pretty vocal song. Not super complicated or stand-out to me, but pretty. Tokyo just feels like it should go the full way in its darkness into . Well . NeoTokyo, but I love the kinda screechy guitar and synths, it adds a lot of layers to it. Also this is a short song, wow. Think I'm gonna give it to Tokyo for being more memorable with the time it had.

-- Match 3: Banbard (Chroma Remix) vs. Epicentre --
Celtic music! No wonder this song is in the contest two separate times. I do tend to be a bit of a sucker for semi-chiptune music, and this has a strong lead, but it gets a bit repetitive to me. Mind you, the bridge is really nice. Okay, and points for the funky piano. Certainly a strong piece, really like a rhythm composer arranged a very B8core song. Epicentre's just become a bit of a classic at this point to me. So beautiful, man. Really sets a scene. Can't believe this song hasn't retired yet, lol. Don't quote me on this, but these two miight be the strongest of the day. Hard to say.

Destiny Child - Ragna Breakers
Medarot 5: Susutake-mura no Tenkousei - Beat the Diamonds
Granblue Fantasy - for you

-- Match 1: Ragna Breakers vs. Crystal Caves --
Ragna Breakers is such a peppy and fun song. I really vibe with it, and . well. good ass guitar. Crystal Caves is a nice song, I like its melody, but I definitely don't really get the "definitely retiring+" hype.

-- Match 2: Beat the Diamonds vs. SHININ' QUEEN --
Beat the Diamonds has such a good melody man. It's going all out for a fully chiptune piece. SHININ' QUEEN is certainly catchy too, very much so. But I think Beat the Diamonds speaks to me moreso. Today is such a better day than the first two of this round.

-- Match 3: Subterranean Sunrise vs. for you. --
Whaaat a match. Two songs I've kept coming back to here, and pretty much the one solace of how Bracket A has gone for me so far. They're probably my two favs left lol, Subterranean Sunrise starts a bit slow but gets so cool with its definitely-not-4/4 switchups and campy, almost cold synthy style. And for you. is just classic B8core brilliance, it has a surprising amount of variety to back up its doing it's thing so well and the backwards lyrics is so cool to me. Going for you., and it winning Bracket A is not only my prediction but my ideal at this point, we'll see how it goes. Please one of these retire at least, though.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Northeast Frost Street
Ogre Tale - Samsara
Iseki-jima to Nanatsu no Mahou - Banbard (Piano Version)

-- Round 3, Match 1: Northeast Frost Street vs. MNN+@0 (Day) --
Just distinctly feel the fact that both of these franchises consistently produce much better songs than these. Northeast Frost Street is nice in some moods though, I certainly like it more than BotB at least.

-- Round 3, Match 2: Samsara vs. Purple Town --
While I know my preferred retiree here is gone, neither of these songs are bad candidates at all, Samsara especially. Such a cool funky song considering its simple instrumentation. And Purple Town hits a specific vibe really nicely. Purple Town will probably win, but that's fine. I just hope it wins R4 if so.

Also a tiebreaker, I guess.

30XX - Millenium Spark (Firestorm BT MIX)
Sleepwalker - City Centre (Construction Site)
DEEMO II - Un Deux Trois

3 really good songs today. Of course one of them is against my song. Also finally listened to Dancing Mad today. It's about what I expected.

Mileneninum Spark > City Centre > Town > Un Deux Trois > God Sh***ering Star > Dancing Mad

Velocity 2X - Jintinda Lab
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure - Sight of Silence
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - An Empty Tome

A classic "best 2 songs are against each other" day.

Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter - PowerOne
Journey of 1000 Stars - You Can Have Mine
Spark the Electric Jester - Megaraph Fleet

Astebreed was the only non megaraph song i liked today lmao.

SimCity 4 - Epicentre
[-Aka-] - Suna Gin
7th Dragon 2020-II - Shutoko - Spiral Maze

Good day today. Spiral Maze keeps surprising me, it starts slow but man it makes up for it. Feels kinda like what a full level of Null Space from Forces could sound like.

Granblue Fantasy - for you.
abstain
Octopath Traveler II - Battle on the Sea

Honestly surprisingly really good day today. For such a weak early R1 i had this is 6 good songs, the umbrella remix grew on me even if i still kinda wish it was the original song or at least the remix that was in Groove Coaster. for you. still deserves that top 4 spot i predicted even if it seems like some other voters have something to say about that (i havent looked today yet)

Pokmon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness - Dialga's Fight to the Finish!
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - The Grand Finale
Chrono Trigger - To Far Away Times

White Spell was honestly really nice, probably an A+ for me. Unfortunately it's up against Primal Dialga. Still has unmatched "end of an adventure" energy and emotion. It's called The Grand Finale? Anyways, it's still great, 3 Karma had its moments though. Aegleseeker, clasically, has parts that are far too noisy for me but always comes back with some really cool parts in between. The good outweighs the bad for sure to be tbh. This was the best CT song i'd ever heard after like 5 seconds. Sounds like a credits theme, which I am generally weak to, but it felt like it lost a bit of steam as it went, though it picked it back up again a couple times. Really tough last match honestly.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - An Empty Tome
Red Dead Redemption - Deadman's Gun
30XX - Millenium Spark (Firestorm BT MIX)

Nothing bad today, but best two songs were in the final match whooops

Velocity 2X - Jintinda Lab
Abstain
Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure - Sight of Silence
Jintinda Lab does a bunch of things i am very here for. Already knew i loved sight of silence

Etrian Odyssey IV - Labyrinth IV - Echoing Library
Hatsune Miku -Project DIVA- Arcade version B - nATALIE
War Thunder - Fatherland

Really happily surprised by Fatherland in noms. nATALIE is kinda just my thing.