After a year of actively searching and placing orders for Dracula Perfect Selection, I nearly broke down and cried tears of joy when I finally found a copy. Three days later, after it had been delivered to my home, I nearly cried again - but for an entirely different reason.
In almost every game music CD, there are good points and there are bad points. Unfortunately for Dracula PS, there are two juggernaut bad points that all but eliminate any chances this CD ever had of earning my recommendation. I can name these two points in 4 words: Ornell Jones & Joey McCoy. Every time I listen to this CD, my cheeks turn red with embarrassment for these two - these two who have managed to reduce the evil and ominous Dracula of legend into DaRacca The Rapper.
And it's a damn shame, let me tell you. Where there should have been powered-up, crowd-pleasing arrangements of the music from the esteemed series, there are laughable rap lyrics and over-the-top performances. And which songs do you suppose are infested with these hideous vocals? The best ones, of course! "Beginning", "Bloody Tears" and "Vampire Killer" all failed to escape the clutches of Jones and McCoy. Talk about vampires! Some vampire somewhere sucked the talent right out of these guys a long time ago.
Allow me to demonstrate with a recitation from "Beginning" (I just wish you could hear this as well): "I sleep all day, just to party at night. You see, the sun bothers me... come go on a fantasy trip to hell." Yeah, whatever buddy. I'd rather go on a fantasy trip to hell than listen to schmack like that.
I just wish I had a magic karaoke machine that could thoroughly remove the vocals from every song, because what's there ain't bad. The arrangements are solid, spanning a variety of genres. Hip hop, rock, jazz, and classical are all represented, and performed well by Nazo 2 Project. Too bad the same can't be said for Jones and McCoy. Nothing I can say will take away the unforgivable blemishes on this otherwise cool arranged album. Strap on some garlic, hold up your crucifix, and stay the bloody hell away from this one.
