Chudah's Corner

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

View Back Cover	Voodoo Vince Original Xbox Game Music
	Composed by: Steve Kirk
	Arranged by: N/A
	Publisher: Sumthing Else
	Catalog Number: SE-2005-2
	CD Info: 1 CD - 24 Tracks
	Released: 2003

Review by: Zane

There are some impulse buys that have left me wanting much, much more than what I paid for. Then there are other impulse buys that I have been merely satisfied with. Then, there is the rare "OMG Impulse Buy" that happens to be the hardest to come by, yet is the most rewarding of the three. I have picked up the rare OMG in the usual hotspots, such as eBay or GMO, but one afternoon a few weeks back I was perusing the soundtrack section of my local Best Buy when I found the ever-elusive cousin of the OMG, commonly referred to as the "OMFG". This manifested itself as the Voodoo Vince OST, which I hesitantly purchased for $11.99 USD.

In retrospect, given the low-cost to high-quality ratio here, something is terribly wrong. I feel that there was a truck of these CDs that was forced off the road somewhere in desolate Arizona during the wee hours of the morning, three black cars with government issued plates flickering their high beams in the rear view mirror of one of Microsoft's big, ugly, neon-vomit-green trucks. These cars were carrying men in expensive suits and sunglasses, all with nondescript names like "Agent 8" or "Mr. Z" and they held the driver of the truck up at gunpoint - no scratch that - at rocketpoint. And while the driver was frozen in the cab with a SAM pointed at his stomach these agents propped open the back door of the cargo section of the truck, pulled out their brandless black label makers, and stamped yellow stickers with prices of $12 and $15 over the more appropriate and somewhat standard $28 USD per OST.

I know what you're thinking. "Zane, you're crazy. The CD was so inexpensive because it's a domestic soundtrack. Have you ever heard of Tokyopop?"

Okay, so maybe that is the "real" truth here, but as far as I'm concerned there has to be some sort of a Defcon 5 Black Op in place because there is no logical way for me to rationalize how this CD is so damn good if it costs such a small amount. Then again, after paying $25 for my FF Mix CD, paying a little more than half of that for something even slightly enjoyable is a relief. But I digress. I was understandably hesitant while I alphabetically browsed somewhere between the Jurassic Park and X-Files CDs in Best Buy that afternoon. I was holding a domestic release of a soundtrack written and arranged by an American composer, and it was shelved not more than ten minutes away from my house. I hate to generalize, but I've been self-taught that most CDs need to be composed by people named Noriko or Yoshimitsu and must also be imported from Japan to be worthwhile. However, Steve Kirk and his Voodoo Vince OST has rightfully proved me wrong.

If you've stuck with me here this long there is something extremely important that I have to tell you about the Voodoo Vince OST. This CD is completely unlike anything else I have in my collection, especially in the section of my CD holder that houses my precious game music collection. Save the clichés, I'm being completely honest with you. This is not orchestral, not synth rock, not techno-fusion, nor is it even remotely close to any of these semi-styles of VGM. The only way to describe this style of music somewhat accurately would be to classify it as this: it sounds like a soundtrack from a black and white big band movie mixed with music out of an episode of Scooby Doo, married with background music from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (pardon the pun), mish-mashed together with slide guitar and bluesy riffs. I can almost hear you cringing on the other side of the vast world that is the Internet, but you can stop now. Honestly. This CD is excellent.

As soon as I fired up the disc on my way home from the store that day I knew I was in for something different. As the first beat and string solo of "Voodoo Shop" kicked in I was very confused. This was from a video game soundtrack? I listened on, and the light-hearted mood of the track ultimately won me over, and is now one of my favorite songs on the CD. "Voodoo Shop" does a wonderful job as the disc's opener because it sets the tone for the entire soundtrack; never too serious and always different from what you expect from a game soundtrack.

The beginning of "Zombie Guidance Counselor" has to be heard to be believed; the slide lick on the guitar is one of those extremely simple melodies that gets planted in your brain and refuses to go away. Toward the end of the song the melody is changed a bit and sung with low vocals, providing a backdrop for the piano solo that is playing in the foreground. Afterward the riff comes back in all its glory, finishing the song right where it started. It's musical genius, really.

"Jean Lafitte's Ship" is another interesting track that starts out with a bouncy accordion playing in a minor key, but after a couple of measures the riff is laced with two acoustic guitars playing a beautiful melody. A violin solo follows shortly thereafter, contrasting to the previous mood that was set by the guitars. The amazing part about this is that all of this happens within the first thirty seconds of the song! The way the varying instruments are used here is a perfect example of how different sounds that would normally not be heard together are layered and swapped. Most of the rest of the OST follows suit in this manner; it's apparent that Steve Kirk set out to try something different, and succeeded vibrantly. In this vein, "Vince Theme" is an interesting take on a vocal song, drawing its influences from jazz and bebop styles, somewhat bordering on scat at times. The lyrics are priceless. I won't spoil them for you, but I find the phrases and rhymes very humorous.

Another thing about this CD that impressed me is the number and length of the solos played on various instruments as the disc spins on. There are guitar solos, violin solos, trumpet solos ... well, you get the point. This conveys a semi-loose "jam" feeling during certain riffs in the songs that really bring about another dimension of character to an already solid soundtrack.

There are certain OSTs that can be listened to from beginning to end without skipping around, and for me, Voodoo Vince is definitely one of them. It's rare for a CD to be completely devoid of stinkers, but somehow Steve Kirk's funky melodies have permeated the entire disc, providing the listener with a whopping seventy-two minutes of completely original and entertaining music. Based on the retail cost of this disc in relation to its length, its availability, and, above all, the sheer fun contained within, I have to give this a high recommendation. If you're willing and open to try something different, and I mean seriously different, then you really can't go wrong with the Voodoo Vince soundtrack. It's a CD that never takes itself too seriously, but still manages to deliver a surprising amount of quality. Top notch.

Bottom Line: A

Review by: Jay Semerad (Visitor Review)

Where do I begin? This soundtrack exudes such energy and creativity that it simply blows away the majority of game scores I have heard in the past few years. Steve Kirk has engineered a masterpiece of game audio, and not since Grim Fandango and the golden era of Lucas Arts music has there been a soundtrack that exhibits such virtuoso and resounding energy.

It all starts by collecting a talented pool of instrumentalists. No no, not a live orchestra; hiring an orchestra is an entirely different monster. I am talking about compiling a talented group of friends who can sit down together and enjoy the beauty of carefully crafted songs. What ensue are skillful performances with the power and expressiveness that can only come with live sessions.

Kirk is a competent studio engineer on top of being a skillful musician. The album carries a vintage sound with a very "pure" feel; it is not over-produced and the overall dynamics are simply wonderful if you listen on a quality sound system. With the host of instruments included on the soundtrack, Kirk keeps the wacky voodoo vibes going, and every track is tightly performed and recorded, thanks in part to the wonderful beats laid down on many tracks by John Hanes.

Hanesâ€™ kit adds the fundamentals to this very organic mix of drums, guitar (acoustic, slide, various electric), and bass, with, more often than not, a full brass section. Other solo and featured instruments include piano (jazz and honky-tonk), violin, saxophone, accordion (check out the sea-faring Jean Lafitteâ€™s Ship), organ, banjo and the occasional vocals. The last track even features a sort of swing/jazz ballad dedicated to Voodoo Vince himself (the music is solid even if the lyrics are silly at best).

As I mentioned in the introduction, many people might compare Kirkâ€™s score to Grim Fandango, Peter McConnell and Lucas Artsâ€™ masterpiece. Naturally, the game involves some similar elements and a number of Voodoo Vinceâ€™s tracks have that swanky jazz feel that made Grim Fandango so great. While Crypt City, Bones Theme, Clock Tower and others reflect a similar sound, they were all ultimately tributes to the jazz and swing movement of the 1930â€™s. Yet Kirk blends even more into his creations. >From Cajun and Zydeco, sea chanteys to funeral marches, he definitely ensures that each track bears his mark as a composer.

Back Stoop and Main Street are among my most favorite pieces on the album because of the wonderful jazz fiddling brought to us by Catherine Clune. She completes a wonderful groove that is both energetic and laid back at the same time. When Kirk enters in harmony with the violin on his acoustic guitar, you really get a feel for how well-crafted the composition is on the Voodoo Vince soundtrack.

Another favorite of mine is Fanboat Race, a two-step featuring an accordion and banjo duet over the up-tempo drumming. Something about it appeals to my love of bluegrass music and of artists like BÃ©la Fleck, who most convey the dynamo that a well-played banjo can exhibit. Of course the lap slide guitar is not to be outdone, and demonstrates the punch and versatility each performer brings to the score.

A few of the tracks feel a bit too tight, possibly because they were sequenced. Fighting Ace Vince features a xylophone that is so strangely perfect it sounds artificial, especially with the songâ€™s unrelenting "oom-pah" beat playing underneath. But innovative pieces like Glowberry Tangle are great changes of pace and keep the upbeat, punchy tracks from getting out of hand. Featuring the banjo, a number of sequenced instruments and a soprano sax, the song is patient and gives the featured instrument room to play amongst the musical textures.

While it is definitely not your typical "game soundtrack," the music Kirk created further proves the room for musical diversity within the video game world, and with great success at that! Rarely do the Voodoo Vince songs slip into the repetitive sort of rut that appears in even the highest budget games. It is also a shining example that orchestral productions arenâ€™t always the way to go if you put a little extra heart and soul in your mix. This is not only a great game soundtrack but a great album that fans of more than just video games will be sure to enjoy. Be sure to check this out. Heck, even give the game a try! Afterall, with music this superb, it canâ€™t be all bad!

Bottom Line: A+