ReMix: Skate or Die 'I've Got 5 Skateboards Right Here'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: Skate or Die (Electronic Arts, 1987, C64)
- ReMixer(s): norg
- Composer(s): Kyle Granger, Rob Hubbard
- Song(s):
- Posted: 2009-04-25, evaluated by djpretzel
norg! It's been awhile! We're finally posting Mr. Nowik's kickin' Skate or Die ReMix, our first from Rob Hubbard's score to the C64 version, and it's badass. George writes:
"I did this track for the August 2007 DoD originally and decided that, based on some news, that I needed to finish it in the way that I intended to finish it. It turns out that someone is going to be sending it to Rob Hubbard, the guy who originally wrote the soundtrack, but the caveat was that I had to finish it tonight in order to do so. Sooooooooo I retooled the whole thing tonight and this is it. In conjunction with that, it seemed like a good time to submit a new song to OCR. I promised I'd submit more stuff, so I better not stop at just one!"
Not sure if Mr. Hubbard ever received the track; hopefully norg can chime in with the story, but either way this is a great homage to one of the giants of C64 VGM and VGM in general. norg blends metal, ska, punk, classic SID elements, and isn't afraid to segue from:
- a more menacing, aggressive tone into...
- major-key, anthematic synth power chords, then follow THAT up with...
- a more ambient section at 1'49" with twisted, metallic fret noises, chromatic synth passages, and a snare with a reverb tail the size of Texas...
... and we're not even halfway through. Things build back up, then at 3'08"... disco? Almost... Organ and clavichord join in along with a strong downbeat for a bit before the mix gets back to its rock roots with some soaring lead guit bits before concluding triumphantly with a jam-out finish. This mix delivers a satisfying five-course meal of guitar, drums, synths, bass, and keys, exploring several different ideas in one energetic, fuel-injected chassis.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the With a mix like this, it's important to not let a second be wasted, and to not allow the listener to stop and analyse exactly what you're doing and how you're doing it. That's totally incosequential to the purpose of this type of music, and I'm glad that purpose is fulfilled here.
Of course, that's not to say is sounds bad. Because it's actually got a great sound to it, made even greater by impeccable production work and constantly shifting tempos and leads.
This is probably the most hectic as they come, though I wouldn't describe it as too complex. It's a masterful slice of chaos that harkens back to the birth of progressive rock and beyond. A very impressive package and a great one for those really late nights.
- Marmiduke on June 26, 2010
It indeed brought a smile to my face. Thank you, norg!
- metaphist on May 23, 2009
I really love how the remix makes you think it's over at the 3:04 mark, before it all of a sudden starts again, even weirder (and better) than before.
Very nice.
- Martin Penwald on May 14, 2009
- OA on May 2, 2009
- Arian on April 30, 2009
3:40 guitar moment TOTALLY SWEET Wow!!!
- Mtlbro on April 29, 2009
- Alexis on April 27, 2009
On another note, this mix has some balls on it. Wicked chunky bass at the start, the synth lead is killer and I absolutely love the breakdown section at 1:49.
Keep up the great work, norg!!
- Sir_Downunder on April 27, 2009
We are commonly super-biased as remix-listeners while the effect it has on us, or some of us at least, might turn it around for the better!
I must be honest with you, I have never (until late) been at all interested in this kind of music. Many factors have been major parts in the process to make me like it.
And You! are one of them: (seriously, keep reading ^^)
Being super biased, one of the first tracks I downloaded from this site was "Duck Blur" by Star. When your track was released "Harden the Duck Up!" Of course I started listening madly to it, because of how biased I am with the love for the source material.
BUT now, this madness has given me an opportunity to really enjoy this track as well, because I have, through the experience of Duck Tales, learned how to love what YOU do, and what this kind of music can give me.
Whoa, now that's was perfectly pretentious rant... ;)
long live OCR! and go NORG! one of my favorite DoD-Dwellers!
- Platonist on April 27, 2009
- jintoreedwine on April 26, 2009
this is amazing
im gonna have to get back to downloading remixes again
- Red Shadow on April 26, 2009
But I think the best part of this song is the inadvertent immortalization of [URL="http://www.myspace.com/hvyriffsmusic"]HVYRIFF[/URL] on OCR. He does in fact have 5 guitars right there.
- KyleJCrb on April 26, 2009
- Scaredsim on April 25, 2009
