[.Falk]

So, let's just forget what's happening or not happening for a moment and look at what's already been made. Digging through some of the old discussions I came across a recurring opinion (back then, at least, around launch time) that the BS/CE songlists just weren't as outstanding as the older stuff.

Now that I've actually gotten my hands on the games rather than just looking at youtubes (and drooling) I've really gotta ask myself. Is there a modicum of truth to the opinion that Portable 2 is/was the pinnacle of the series?

I've decided to really go in-depth and give my opinions/mini-reviews on pairs of songs which I consider extremely similar and/or fulfill the same niches within the songlists. Music is subjective, so you may disagree with some of the opinions or even the validity of each pairing. I'd like to hear other people's thoughts as well, of course.

A recurring point that I keep coming across is that BS/CE songs are generally just shorter and regardless of if this is to cater towards an arcade feel and/or simply just a filesize issue (due to full motion MVs now), it really, really does affect the music and I try to keep that in mind while doing the comparisons. Also, while I really shouldn't be including MV material in the comparisons, they do make up part of the complete experience, so I'll just not penalize the P1/P2 stuff for being glorified swf files and concentrate on the content instead, especially how it complements the music

I've also tried to keep the composer the same for each pair of songs (along with genre, but in some cases the application of that is questionable - oh well) to 'keep it fair' and see how the series has progressed/regressed musically on a style-by-style basis.

So, on with the show!

(Electro Funk) Out Law vs Desperado
Croove more or less implies that the latter is a continuation of the former. While the concept of an entire track adhering to monophony throughout (only one recognizable pitch) is interesting, and Desperado has some really cool rhythmic ideas going on, I'd have to say Out Law is a much more solid track overall. Outlaw does the whole buffer glitching thing (before second verse) a lot better.

Perhaps that's also because Out Law has a full 20 seconds more and doesn't feel like it's being rushed - that last section afterthe break really brings the track around full circle.


(RnB) Sunny Side vs (Acin (lol) House) Sweet Shining Shooting Star
Yes, I'm comparing RnB to House, but other than the underlying beat being different, I really feel that both songs stem from the same underlying inspirations - similar chord/tensions, similar syncopation, and of course the same vocalists. The alternative would be to compare SSSS to Get Up, which I feel would be a little unfair. ;p

It's a tough decision, and both songs only grew on to me after a while. (I distinctly remember disliking Sunny Side way back when - don't hit me) SSSS develops and flows much better overall despite being shorter, although Sunny Side has a really memorable keyboard solo. Adhering to my principal of not penalizing BS/CE material for being shorter, I'm going to assume that SSSS might also have had a similar solo on an extended version (real pity :/). So excluding the Sunny Side solo, SSSS strikes me as a better composition overall.


(Pop/RnB) First Kiss vs Ask to Wind
Different composer, different MV themes, but the songs are actually pretty similar and probably could be medleyed.

First Kiss has a catchier beat, better bassline and arguably better chord progressions, hands down. Also despite being shorter, has a much more dynamic bridge section. Clear winner.


(Hip Hop/Rap) JBG vs Mutu
SCREW OFF WHY IS THIS EVEN A COMPARISON JBG WINS. NEXT.

(Although it's a shame it got cut even shorter for BS/CE )


(Psy Trance) Hamsin vs Fermion
Tough call. While Hamsin's chart has always been one of a kind, I'm comparing music first and foremost, not gameplay. I'm going to go with Fermion - Makou obviously refined his style in this genre over the years and it shows.


(Dance Pop) Remember vs Ladymade Star
Okay, I feel really bad about this one. I love Ladymade Star. I really do. However, despite this being a somewhat unfair comparison (different composers) Remember is by leaps and bounds much more memorable. Lin-G is definitely a master of the genre, and if it's one thing BS/CE is strong in, it's that. I nearly used I Want You as a comparison instead due to a more similar singing style, but felt Remember's chord progressions better matched Ladymade Star. I guess we could tag-team Remember/I Want You against Ladymade Star/Bright Dream? (Lin-G still wins!)


(Guitar-driven Dance) Hello Pinky vs In My Heart
This is a side of Tsukasa that wasn't previously featured in DJMAX. Again, I'm a little uncomfortable pairing up songs by different composers, but them songs do share a lot in common. Hello Pinky feels forced in places, while In My Heart flows beautifully. The latter has a much simpler/slower pace for the guitar lead, but somehow it really gels with the rest of the song much better.


I had a bunch of other comparisons to make as well (Planetboom/Bexter/ReX), but I'll hold off for now.


Aside from all the direct comparisons, there are plenty of songs which just don't have a real analogue in the other era. Shoreline and Secret World, for example, would be completely unfair to compare to anything else - I feel tracks like those really branch DJMAX out into uncharted territories. And yet on the flipside, I feel BS/CE has had a severe lack of DnB to stand toe-to-toe with Blythe/Sin/Nightmare (all of which have been brought forward - coincidence?) as well as hardcore rock aside from Real Over Drive (which is more a Trilogy song than BS/CE - in fact the movie isn't even synced and it feels tacked on :/ )

The bottom line conclusion I've arrived to is... BS/CE gained quite a lot yet lost quite a bit as well. Also as someone put it quite colorfully, there's now a much larger fraction of immemorable 'elevator music'. I don't think The Last Dance for example fits in the series. At all. Neither does a lot of Cooly's Hot Box stuff.

Thoughts?

What would you like to see should the series release another title? (cue mario-falling-into-pit sound)