Scramble Dash

With the addition of this post, the grand total post count for 2011 stands at four. Here at Scramble Dash, the emphasis is always on dubious quality over quantity.

Anyway, since I’ve picked up a lot of indie game music soundtracks over the past year either as bonuses from buying indie games, or just buying the music directly, I thought I would make this post a mini sampler of what I’ve been listening to, as well as shamelessly promote the artists involved. I’ve always been a big fan of video game and similar music so I’ve been gobbling these up whenever I have a few extra dollars to spare (and you should too). If your wondering where to start, give the handful of albums below a listen, and go from there:

(Note: The tracks below are mp3 format and are down-sampled to reasonably shit quality. On the off chance one of the artists featured discovers this and has a problem with these being up, shoot me a note and I’ll take them down. OK, I’m done covering my ass.)

Sword & Sworcery LP – The Ballad of the Space Babies

Artist: Jim Guthrie
Where to buy it: Here

Sample Track Selection:

Lone Star – This track has a simple but good main melody and I like how it builds off the background beat/guitar notes.
The Prettiest Weed – I’d pick this one as my favorite. Very climatic and epic sounding.

Return All Robots

Artist: zircon (Andrew Aversa), Mike Worth
Where to buy it: Free Version Paid Version

Sample Track Selection:

 Play – Being a sucker for the 80′s style intense montage type of music, this stood out easily. The best track.
 Play – Pretty upbeat and feelgood. The 2nd half especially reminds me of Super Mario World.
 Play – The title is apt description of how this track goes. I dig it.

Super Meat Boy

Artist: Danny Baranowsky
Where to buy it: Here, or special edition

Sample Track Selection:

Betus Blues – Can’t decide if this or Can O’ Salt is my favorite track. I really like the 2nd half.
Can O’ Salt – It starts off with a fairly intense beat, then slows down a bit in the middle, and picks back up to a great climax.
Hot Dammed – I wasn’t that keen of this one at first, but over time it grew on me.

Tree of Knowledge ~Chie no Ki~

Artist: yogurtbox (Ken Snyder, Steven Velema)
Where to buy it: Here

Sample Track Selection:

Hesitation – This album is a bit odd from the rest since the game it’s from technically doesn’t exist. It is meant to reference the FM soundtracks for the Japanese visual novel computer games of the 80′s and early 90′s. This track in particular is pretty nice for a somber sounding theme.
Ending: Through the Atmosphere – Pretty decent, a bit heavy on the J-Pop though. I feel like I’m listening to an Ys game ending theme when I hear this.

PPPPPP- The VVVVVV Soundtrack

Artist: Souleye (Magnus Pålsson)
Where to buy it: Here. Get the remix album too if you like it.

Sample Track Selection:

Potential for Anything – My favorite track. It’s pretty chill but it gets you going at the same time (if that description made sense).
Positive Force – I think of this as the main theme of VVVVVV. Few songs lift your spirits like this one.
Pressure Cooker – Nice intensity on this song while keeping it catchy.

Imposter Nostalgia

Artist: Big Giant Circles (Jimmy Hinson)
Where to buy it: Here

Sample Track Listing:
Fight the Current – As with Tree of Knowledge, this album isn’t technically from any video game either, but it’s definitely game music in style. If you especially like old-school chiptune music, this is a pretty hot album. Fight the Current is like a baddass Final Fantasy/Fire Emblem map theme.
Katana Blaster – I picked this one as my favorite. Megaman would be proud.

Cobalt EP

Artist: anosou (Mattias Häggström Gerdt)
Where to buy it: Here

Sample Track Selection:

Cobalt (Menu) – As far as I know, the Cobalt game itself is unreleased as of now (it’s pretty cool looking), but the EP has this nice sounding Menu Theme and several remixes of it by guest artists.
Cobalt (Blue BomberJacket) – The Capcom SNES-era Megaman X series-esque musical style of this remix immediately caught my attention. Very similar to the Chill Penguin Stage music from MMX.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game Original Videogame Soundtrack

Artist: Anamanaguchi
Where to buy it: Here or here

Sample Track Selection:

 Play – Okay, I don’t think this soundtrack counts as music from an ‘indie game’, but whatever, I’ll sneak it in. The ‘spirit’ of the music is indie.
 Play – Very catchy and fitting for the beat em’ up format the game is in.
 Play – My favorite. I really like the foreground melody.