Mario Kart 64 On Club Circuit

Mario Kart 64 On Club Circuit is a curious one. Even though I knew that this was the arranged album of Mario Kart 64 (this was actually the first N64 arranged album), what this CD has isn't at all what I expected. As one can guess, the Mario Kart songs on this album have been transformed into club mixes (with the exception of some that are the game's actual music). This is not what one would expect an arranged album to be, but it works well for some tracks.

Honestly, I didn't know what kind of music this is, so I played it for a friend or two, and they said it was "techno" stuff and weird. I agree, but there are some great tracks. "Title", "Select", "Circuit", "Farm", "Battle", "Castle", "Rainbow", and even "Star" are all groovy, rocking, jamming, and totally cool. They remain faithful to the original versions, even though there are a few additions and embellishments, such as extra bridges, extended beats, and so on. In fact, I almost find myself dancing at some points whenever I listen to them.

The rest of the tracks, on the other hand, are mediocre and forgettable! Just to give you an idea, "Beach" has been transformed from a lively, bright calypso to a slow and draggy piece of crap. As for "Prize #1 (1st-3rd)", the triumphant, victorious march has been replaced by a melancholy, dissonant dirge. Ack! Who was responsible for this? I'll sue them for ruining some great songs!

The character voices, which pop up unexpectedly throughout the tracks, are occasionally funny for a few moments, but afterwards, they become downright irritating, especially since Luigi, Peach, and even Wario all have the lamest lines. (These voices actually correspond to the Japanese version; the American version's voices were funnier.)

In short, this CD might be worth checking out, especially if you're a diehard fan of the music from Mario Kart 64. But be warned, there are some tracks that you will barely be able to tolerate.