Posted 2003-11-06, evaluated by djpretzel


I really like what Jason Merrill, alias silent, is bringing to the game arrangement world; his combination of original vocals and extensive rock/ballad rearrangement basically turns the source material into entirely new pieces of music, but if you listen, sure enough, the original game melodies are there in full force. The vocal parts he writes for himself are pretty difficult, and there will be occassional falters or areas that aren't as polished, but this arrangement of the Atrium theme from Ninja Gaiden 2 does more to compensate for that than his previous 'Tororian Love Song', which was a more spartan mix that gave the vocals less company. Here, we get a more energetic arrangement that also branches out sonically a bit more, with layered solo and rhythm guitar, nice B3 organ, and an appended section that goes into acoustic Extreme 'More than Words' territory (as in, get your lighters out and start wavin' em) - great stuff. He's also a good lyricist, and manages to come up with words that flow perfectly in context and sound very natural, which is always the trick. There's some rockin' guitar soloing as well, and even some synth backup at 2'52" that gets thrown competently into the mix. Recording is cleaner than before, and the stereo imaging is very intimate and powerful - the acoustic section towards the conclusion in particular. At the very end some vocal self-harmony is introduced that doesn't really work; this would be the one primary beef I have, and would have preferred he ended on the really rather beautiful high note hit just moments before. Ending criticism aside, this is really quite a unique and creative thing to have done with a piece of Ninja Gaiden 2's BGM, and Jason's style produces a very singular type of ReMix you won't find from other artists. This is the logical 'next step' beyond what he did with Tororian in terms of arrangement, and the extra bits only add to the effectiveness of his style. Recommended; this is pretty much the type of mix you'll either be into or not, like its predecessor, but has some truly great musical ideas that are very well executed.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
avatar
djpretzel
on 2019-01-17 23:36:06
7 hours ago, WorkSnakes said:

Ah, this takes me back to the early days of remixing. I remember that remixes with lyrics were extremely unique at that time. Heck, remixing as a whole was unique at that time.

I always liked the first verse here, in particular; fits the melody like a glove, angsty-but-still-interesting... good stuff.

avatar
WorkSnakes
on 2019-01-17 16:04:32

Ah, this takes me back to the early days of remixing. I remember that remixes with lyrics were extremely unique at that time. Heck, remixing as a whole was unique at that time.

avatar
Bahamut
on 2010-11-26 20:14:08

Can't say I care about the lyrics that much, but I agree with OA, nice arrangement overall sound here.

avatar
OA
on 2010-03-19 15:45:03

Pretty nice singing throughout, and a cool arrangement. I wonder what happened to this guy.

avatar
Dafydd
on 2009-03-23 19:07:21

I don't know what happened at 5:30 and on.

The rest is very nice.

avatar
PlastikBag
on 2006-07-21 03:52:49

This just randomly came up on my playlist and I was very impressed. I immediately added this to my favorites after hearing it. I totally dig this type of stuff and I was delighted when heard it. Great stuff! I didn't like the ending, so I cut the ending off and put in the ending of your newer version. Overall, I like the old (OCR) version better. I didn't like the vocal effects you put in the new version, and I just dig the raw sound. However, I must say that the drums sound a lot better. This easily became one of my favorite songs on this site.

Edit: The second version really grew on me. The introduction has a lot more character and the drums are just a lot better.

avatar
Br0
on 2005-08-23 01:41:49

okay - im sure you've heard this several, if not hundred times; I love you.

secondly, Your Second mix sucked - the More raw first version was AWESOME - So much emotion, less bullshit.

It makes me tingle every time I hear you hit those high notes. This is easily one of my favorite songs, ever.

Please become famous, so you get the fame you deserve.

avatar
Larryboy
on 2005-08-21 02:48:32

You have some serious talent boy 8O

The parts where you sing "and maybe someday both of us will see" and the one from 5:02 to 5:24 are sung with so much feeling I can seriously consider you one of the singers with the best potenital I've ever heard. There are still things you need to polish, but with time you can become a huge singer.

avatar
jasonbrianmerrill
on 2005-02-27 16:17:26

sorry about any confusion.

avatar
djpretzel
on 2005-02-27 13:50:31

While it's all good for Silent to have posted a link to his newer, debatably improved version, please restrict further review posts to the version posted here at OCR.

avatar
Sinewav
on 2005-02-27 13:47:57

Actually, I think I'm liking this one better than the original.

First of all, I have know idea what Wicked was talking about when he said the original was relaxed and the tempo felt rushed. I think you nailed the feel of the original, while upping the quality quite a bit.

Intro rocked. I loved it, sounded 100% better from the original.

I love your voice, but I gotta agree with Wicked about the effects; I like it better when it was raw and dirty and not effects laiden. Same for the accoustic guitar at the end. But the whole effects thing is really a minor complaint.

Your (sorta clean) rhythm guitar that you're strumming on the off beats needs to be turned way down on the verses.

Also, the acoustic guitar seems to just completely drop out at the end of the song. Leaves you hanging, in a bad way. Needs an ending, even if it's just a singe diamonded tonic chord.

That annoying miditechnocrap thing that comes in at the climax (2:50-3:02) needs to die. This is my only major complaint. I'd rather chew and swallow a sardine flavored glass grenade than listen to that again. This is the kind of thing you use to interrogate prisoners. Delete it completely. The ending has enough energy on its own to sustain itself. Sometimes less is more.

Honestly, this has always been one of my favorite songs. I always hoped you go back and re-record it, and it seems today is my lucky day. It probably seems like I'm railing on this song a lot, but that's only because it's almost perfect. Good job.

avatar
Wicked
on 2005-02-27 10:04:22

..........

I'm stunned. And I mean that in a bad way.

Man, I hate to be offensive because I love the older version so much and this...I can't think of what to say other than something mean. It's a pile of shit. First off, your voice is much better when it was raw and natural, not effects laden. Not only that but it sounds like the tempo of this was raised and it makes it sound really rushed. The original sounded relaxed, like there wasn't a care in the world any more. Plus certain instruments are way too loud and some way too far in the background, like the guitar right before the vocals start.

Now, as we transition into the soft part, I start to dig it again. It sounds like you're singing from maybe a bathroom or somewhere dark and damp, lonely and the like. Then your voice goes severely off-key several times and I want to shove sharp objects into my ears. However, the revamped ending with just the guitar rubs me the right way and is one of the few good things I like about it.

I don't mean to sound like a complete hardass but I think this is sort of the same deal that was with the remake you did of Tororian Love Song (Over and Under). Your original recordings of both are so many levels above the remakes because they concentrate more on YOU and YOUR playing rather than on trying to be fancier and sounding more like say, a more well-financed effort by a more upscale musician. I think that's your strongest point is your ability to completely expose yourself and come out completely strong. If you were signed onto a label, I think your live show would be so much better than your CD. Get the picture?

I miss the organ. :(

avatar
jasonbrianmerrill
on 2005-02-26 16:29:15

new version of atrium! TOTALLY redone

http://www.sectionzmusic.com/detail.asp?SZID=18384

free download, no signup. tell me what you think :D

avatar
McFadden
on 2004-12-12 15:50:31

Wow, this mix is amazing! Now if only someone could tab it...

avatar
djpretzel
on 2004-10-29 23:02:29

I emailed Jason and posted the lyrics he provided.

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (Tecmo , 1990, NES)
Music by Keiji Yamagishi,Mayuko Okamura,Mikio Saito,Ryuichi Nitta
Songs:
"The Parasprinter"
"Unlimited Moment"

Tags (6)


Genre:
Rock
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Acoustic Guitar,Electric Guitar,Singing,Vocals: Male
Additional:
Lyrics > Lyrics: Original

File Information


Name:
Ninja_Gaiden_2_In_the_Atrium_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,813,426 bytes
MD5:
a56f2b81bf14b5db22d4c62aed81a9a1
Bitrate:
128Kbps
Duration:
5:57

just a little thought in your heart
for a place to exist in
a smile from afar
not this passive resistance

lie to yourself
and deny all your feelings
as i try to reveal
all your words'
double meanings

i have always waited
you will be alone
never known

maybe i should fade, fade, fade away
and deny that i know you
it could hurt today
but in the end would it show you

pain, pain unknown
until now, with my leaving
despite of our sunsets
it's you...

i will always be waiting
you will be alone
never known
so sick of initiating
all this will still
come to pass

[transition]

in this i stare into myself
i see
1000 good reasons why you aren't here
in a fog of doubt
and fear my life
appears as i turn around and you
aren't here

i know and maybe
some day we will both see

but thoughts in your heart
for a place to existing
a smile from afar
nothing's passing existence

lie to yourself
can't deny all your feeling
and i try to hold on
to this life
that i'm leaving.

the setting sun
the crashing waves
my falling tears

the setting sun
the crashing waves
my falling tears

Promotion

8-bit Jazz Heroes - Press Start
View All

Latest Albums

View All

Latest ReMixes