Walrus The KnightsofSonata I Just Can't Get Enough Cross-server Walrus [Walrein Wins]

[Panic Station]

22nd Place
Submitted by Jellicent
Score: 7.6

Prime Of My Life by Human Switchboard

Frantic and startling. I feel like my brain’s been blindsided, but there’s a bemused smile on my face.

 

[Panic Station]

21st Place
Submitted by acidphoenix
Score: 7.7

Parasites by San Fermin

It has a somewhat ethereal quality to it that I like, but the horns end up mostly muddled in the cacophony.

 

[Panic Station]

20th Place
Submitted by Granny Pie
Score: 7.8

Team Fortress 2 Main Theme by Valve Studio Orchestra

Ngl, this song kinda reminds me of the Peter Gunn theme.

 

[Panic Station]

19th Place
Submitted by shubaka17
Score: 7.9

Strings Of Light by Yussef Kamaal

It takes a while to see anything other than the drumming as the feature of the song (and even afterwards the drumming competes for that spot), but the initial explosion of that vivid trumpet catches your attention just when you need something to keep it interesting. It does feel like the trumpet was used a little sparingly, though.

 

[Panic Station]

18th Place
Submitted by Myzozoa
Score: 8.0

Wanderlust by Bjork

Interesting how the backing seems to be disconnected from the vocals. That disconnect doesn’t stop it from being good, though.

 

[Panic Station]

17th Place
Submitted by Martin
Score: 8.1

Maji De Kansha by T-Pistonz+KMC

Like a more grandiose version of Home Made Kazoku. Digging the fanfare feel of the horns.

 

[Panic Station]

16th Place
Submitted by LightWolf
Score: 8.2

Kandou Kyouyuu! by T-Pistonz+KMC

Sometimes it’s awkward for me to get multiple songs by the same artist, because then I’m comparing them against their own work on top of everything else. For one thing, I can’t help but notice these are both the 2nd OP for their respective series. However, Kandou Kyouyuu! has a completely different feel from Maji de Kansha. The horns play a more supporting role here, but the vocals go harder. Both are great, but I think this one just barely squeaks by its series counterpart.

 

[Panic Station]

15th Place
Submitted by BLOODYRAIN10001
Score: 8.3

Mashups Like This by Triple-Q

The songs list reads kinda like a meme utopia. What I like most is the base song, with its persistent and enjoyable horns. It’s like the canvas on which these audio colors are carefully blended.

 

[Panic Station]

14th Place
Submitted by vonFiedler
Score: 8.4

Tusk by Fleetwood Mac

I’m staring at my fingernails right now. I’ve always wondered if using that stand would be painful.

 

[Panic Station]

13th Place
Submitted by Lebossle
Score: 8.5

Jitterbug by Stepcat

The clarinet feels like the star here, but the combination of glitch hop and electroswing is such a sweet fusion.

 

[Panic Station]

12th Place
Submitted by Isa
Score: 8.6

The National Anthem by Radiohead

With Radiohead, my preference steers more towards OK Computer (and even then I have a hard time deciding whether or not I like it more than Easy Star All-Stars’ Radiodread). But the bassline on this song is unmistakable and comforting, reminding me that there’s more to Thom Yorke’s life than OK Computer. This song does cacophonous in a way that most cacophonies only strive for.

 

[Panic Station]

11th Place
Submitted by Da Letter El
Score: 8.7

City of Delusion by Muse

The combination of acoustic and electric guitar is pretty choice. Add in the violins and vocals, and I’d gladly call this one of their underrated greats. My one critique is I. Want. More. Horn. The three and a half minutes before the solo leaves me impatient.

 

[Panic Station]

10th Place
Submitted by Lord Gaius
Score: 8.8

Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo

Bouncy and quirky. The instruments all seem to have equal time on the stage here, with the horns adding flair to the piece. They might not be at the forefront, but the song would feel incomplete without them.

 

[Panic Station]

9th Place
Submitted by Earlio
Score: 8.9

Misbehaving by Labrinth

Mm? Such a great funky song, but such a minimalist approach to the horns. It leaves me both wanting more and wanting to fullplay it.

 

[Panic Station]

8th Place
Submitted by Aladyyn
Score: 9.0

Ache by No Doubt

Reminds me of the dentist I used to go to. The best thing he ever did for me was giving up and going for an extraction instead of trying to upsell the crowns again. Luckily I have this sweet song to cut the bitterness.

 

[Panic Station]

7th Place
Submitted by Steven Snype
Score: 9.2

My Type by Saint Motel

The horns provide an excellent hook to the funky backing. I heartily approve of sax loops, especially when they work well like in this song.

 

[Panic Station]

6th Place
Submitted by Morgan
Score: 9.3

All The Lights by Kanye West ft. Rihanna & Kid Cudi

That cello intro is an example of “how to make KoC happy”. Other methods present: harmonizing vocals, exciting percussion, using metaphor and the meter to add nuance to storytelling, and an ego that unashamedly embraces the (literal) fanfare.

 

[Panic Station]

5th Place
Submitted by Adam
Score: 9.4

Battery by Aesop Rock

Aesop Rock sometimes sacrifices flow or rhyme for the sake of lyricism. I can hear a little of that at points, but this is pretty tight otherwise. I was expecting that fine poetry to outshine the horn, but instead its presence intertwines with the backing and lyrics in a way that can’t be ignored.

 

[Panic Station]

4th Place
Submitted by MyNameIsNothing
Score: 9.5

Number 9 by Moon Hooch

The scenery invoked by the song is crystal clear in my mind. That little white-tiled corner of the subway right next to the stairs… just enough room for two saxophonists and a drum set. People walking by or stopping to listen before realizing the rush crowd is about to come trampling through and hurrying off. The trains keep coming and going and the musicians just keep jamming.

 

[Panic Station]

3rd Place
Submitted by Robert Alfons
Score: 9.6

Lonely Woman by Ornette Coleman

Coleman’s sax is so expressive that it has the feel of vocals. I just want to block out the world and immerse myself in this song. Is anyone still willing to argue that sax shouldn’t have been included in this category?

 

[Panic Station]

2nd Place
Submitted by RODAN
Score: 9.7

Guerilla Laments by Diablo Swing Orchestra

Swing revival is my happy little wheelhouse for brass. But this song is so much more than that. I can hear the latin influences crystal clear here and I am eating it all up with spoons.

 

[Panic Station]

1st Place
Submitted by Walrein
Score: 9.9

Brother Sky by Ripe

They did… THIS… in one live take? Are you fucking kidding me?! These guys blew my face off in a single take!

 

[Panic Station]

Walrein snags the brass ring in 1st!
RODAN is a brass hat in 2nd!
Lord Gaius gets down to brass tacks in 3rd!

Cat 11, Short! All fullplays! Next week, TBD!

Our Current Scores

And now for our outro:

 

[Panic Station]

Shit, I forgot to change the title. Fixed.

Still working on judging the short songs category. Reveal's gonna happen sometime next week. For the sake of a smooth reveal under time constraints, I will not be doing the thread reveals simultaneously with the live reveal this time. The threads will be updated immediately after the live reveal finishes.

 

[Panic Station]

Category 11: I Like Short Songs

We're doing it semi-Kong style this time around. But first, your quadruple header.