2013-09-14 21:02:00 ¶ ●

Written by George Buzinkai, Arrangement by Michael Guy Bowman

The first really ‘epic’ end-of-act Flash track. It’s a great combination of chiptune (the main melody) and rock. It works brilliantly: it feels like neither a piece of video game music, nor a radio play. It’s something else entirely. Each verse adds a new layer, whether it’s an accent to the melody, a more elaborate drumbeat, or distorted power chords driving the anthem home. My top track for the album.

2013-09-15 21:03:00 ¶ ●

By Michael Guy Bowman

The song featured in the end of Act 3 Flash animation. Good highs and great lows. Especially like the manic xylophone that drives most of the track.

2013-09-16 3:10:00 ¶ ●

By Michael Guy Bowman

Source: Homestuck

Simple and undeniably catchy. What could make a mournful, whistled melody even better? Hoof clops right out of Monty Python’s playbook. I’ve replayed this song far more times than I’m willing to admit (even here!).

Together with the Flash animations in the webcomic, the effect is hilarious. You’d think Rose wasn’t even moving, except for the slow-scrolling SNES background and the scarf whipping spastically behind her.

2013-09-19 2:35:00 ¶ ●

By Michael Guy Bowman. Guitar solo by Nick Smalley. Original (How Do I Live) by Trisha Yearwood. Written by Dianne Warren

Take a generic, trite country song that features at the end of a mediocre action film…

… make it somehow even more bombastic and faux-inspirational…

… while being totally up front about the parody nature of it….

… and somehow you end up with a hilarious track that has actual replay value. This is the ultimate Cage pick. Take us there, Casey.

(all images, source: Homestuck)

2013-09-19 3:20:00 ¶ ●

By Alexander Rosetti and Toby “Radiation” Fox. Meows supplied by Michael Guy Bowman. Original (Chorale for Jaspers) by Michael Guy Bowman

It’s sort of a novelty song, fair enough. But I can’t get past the mad, distorted cat noises.

2013-09-21 0:41:00 ¶ ●

By Erik “Jit” Scheele and Michael Guy Bowman

Starts out simple, with yet another strong piano melody. Starting in the second half, a backing string section starts building up the atmosphere, and the track soars after that. Soars in a moody, mournful way. Somehow. Like Tom Cruise in Top Gun after he got Goose killed.

2013-09-26 1:42:00 ¶ ●

By Malcolm Brown. Originals “Chorale for Jaspers” by Michael Guy Bowman, and “Aggrieve” by Mark Hadley

It’s a shame this wasn’t featured more extensively in the webcomic: only a few short segments are featured here. It’s as ‘strife’ a song as they come. Favorite part? The section with the eerie choir and the electric guitar lead that starts around the two minute mark.

2013-09-27 2:53:00 ¶ ●

By Michael Guy Bowman

I only realized recently that it’s not just generic, Gregorian chanting in the song: it’s ‘Warhammer of Zillyhoo’ repeated twice. That just adds to its cleverness. Bonus points for performing it completely straight, without a hint of silliness or irony.

2013-09-28 20:59:00 ¶ ●

Image source: Homestuck

Maplehoof’s Adventure (By Michael Guy Bowman) is another album-only bonus track on Homestuck Volume 7.

I travel to the South a fair bit, where sweet tea is king. Here in the North, once the sugar stops dissolving in your iced tea, that’s it, it’s sweet enough. In the South, the laws of chemistry aren’t allowed to get in the way: it must be sweeter. The tea is heated to near boiling and even more sugar is dumped in. Then it’s cooled back down again. It shouldn’t be possible, yet there it is. It’s Trickster Mode iced tea.

That’s what I think of when I hear this song. Just ridiculously saccharine sweet.

2013-09-30 1:41:00 ¶ ●

Arranged by Michael Guy Bowman. Original ‘Ocean Stars’ written by Mark Hadley

Great, easy listening. Starts off low key and builds slowly to a pretty cool groove. I’d have to call it a haunting refrain if it weren’t so damn cheerful and bouncy.