2014-03-05 4:01:54 ¶ ●

By Erik “Jit” Scheele

Every time I listen to this neo-ragtime tune, I find something new to like about it. Its theme is common to Unite Synchronization: the kids get together to jam. Later on in the album things get a little more serious, but this tune’s all about positive energy.

On this album it’s tough to pick a favorite, but I think this is it for me (Under the Hat’s a close second, and FantasyP and Game Over aren’t far behind). Top track.

2014-03-12 3:01:47 ¶ ●

By Alexander Rosetti

WELCOME TO HOMESTUCK! THE ONLY WEBCOMIC THAT FEATURES NOT JUST ONE, BUT MULTIPLE MUZAK COMPOSITIONS! IT MIGHT BE THE ONLY THING THAT FEATURES MULTIPLE MUZAK COMPOSITIONS, BESIDES ELEVATORS, OF COURSE! THIS ONE’S GOT JUST THE RIGHT MIX OF SMOOTH AND SILLY!

2014-03-13 3:02:24 ¶ ●

By Seth “Beatfox” Peelle

PEPPY, FUNKY SQUIDDLES MUSIC! THAT WAH-WAH SYNTH IN THE BACKGROUND GIVES IT JUST THE RIGHT FEEL! BUT IT’S THE BRIDGE AT 1:30 THAT’S MY FAVORITE PART!

2014-03-14 3:02:08 ¶ ●

By Alexander Rosetti. Original (Carefree Victory) by Mark Hadley

A FUN HARPSICHORD DITTY THAT DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM CAREFREE VICTORY! THERE’S A LOT OF ORIGINAL FLAIR TO IT, TOO!

2014-03-15 3:01:43 ¶ ●

By Michael Guy Bowman

THE TITLE SAYS IT ALL! THE BIT WITH THE OVER-AMPLIFIED ELECTRIC GUITAR THAT STARTS AROUND 1:50 IS A COOL DEPARTURE FROM THE OTHERWISE BRIGHT, CALYPSO LATIN TONE OF THE REST OF THE SONG!

2014-03-16 3:01:54 ¶ ●

By Malcolm Brown

NOW WE’RE TALKING! HOMESTUCK’S MUSIC SPANS ALL GENRES AND ALL INSTRUMENTATION, YET ACCORDION IS RARE! THIS ONE SCRATCHES THAT PARTICULAR ITCH! I CAN TOTALLY PICTURE A GRIZZLED LONGSHOREMAN, STANDING ON A DREARY DOCK, MANICALLY HAMMERING OUT THIS TUNE ON THE OL’ SQUEEZEBOX! PROBABLY WHILE DANCING A BAWDY JIG!

2014-03-29 4:02:12 ¶ ●

By Erik “Jit” Scheele

Simple yet effective. Another cool pair of melodies that meander around each other. The playtime’s a little deceptive: the tune’s doubled up in the second half and the fadeout stretches it a little more (in the commentary Jit even mentions as much, which I thought was funny).

It reminded me of reports I’d write in high school: 12 point Arial (so much bigger than Times New Roman), spacing set to 2.2 lines, margins set to 1.75” on the left and 1.25” everywhere else. If I could have exploited word spacing and kerning, I would have. Courier New would have been pushing it over the top, though.

Image source: MSPaint Adventures.

Hey, look at that. Timed it just right to stumble into a moment in the comic that actually relates to the song. Soggy gourds provide the best armor protection. Fashionable, too.

2014-03-30 4:02:33 ¶ ●

By Robert J! Lake

The main riff’s drawn from Arcade Thunder off of Volume 8. I like this tune better, though: there’s a great, rushed energy to it, where Arcade Thunder’s a little more mellow. And it’s as chiptune as a song can be. Have a listen starting at 1:10 or so: if it were any more electronic, it would have been composed procedurally in BASIC. My top track for the album.

Image source: MSPaint Adventures.

Prisioner #2’s emotional high point in the comic. Things will go downhill pretty quick, after he’s shot by (and then, later, shoots himself with) a harpoon gun.

2014-03-31 4:02:08 ¶ ●

By Robert J! Lake

A slow-paced remix of Softly, off of Volume 5. It’s surprising how many unique ‘instruments’ RJ manages to coax out of a limited palette: thumping bass, white-noise percussion, and a couple of triangle- and pulse-waves that carry the main melody.

Image source: MSPaint Adventures.

Jailbreak, the prequel. So many unanswered questions. Why is he wearing a boot on his head? How did they die, with the conspicuous absence of any stumps in the room? Is the handgun just another key, and are the three keys actually just other, assorted firearms?

UPDATE: sometimes the scope of this loosely-bound series of comics boggles my mind. It turns out that some of these questions have been answered.