Up next for review: Homestuck Vol. 9. Must be a pretty good one, to rile up Roxy like that.
By Clark “Plazmataz” Powell and Astro Kid. Original “Crystalmanthequins” by Erik “Jit” Scheele, featuring the melody from “Crystalanthemums” by Alexander Rosetti
I liked this song’s predecessor (awesome instrumentation, awesome hook), but it felt a little rough around the edges: the opening is a little jarring, the siren kind of comes out of nowhere, and it lingers musically in places that seem a little odd. It feels a little like the middle of a song, rather than a whole composition.
This new version takes the best part of its source, and expands it into an excellent stand-alone track. The instrumentation is almost exactly the same: it’s only been re-arranged in a very effective manner. Parts that were jarring (like the intro) become smooth and ascending. Even the wailing siren finds a more effective spot in the melody.
It’s like taking an old, faithful car, and then souping it up with a supercharged big block, a new paint job, and a leather interior (complete with new car smell). I can’t complement this song enough.
And if I had to predict, of all the unfeatured tracks, which one had the best shot at being picked up for a Flash animation, I’d have to go with this one. This is my favorite unfeatured ‘sleeper’ track in the catalog.
By Toby “Radiation” Fox
On top it’s playful and lively, but below the saccharine piano and xylophone, that heavily processed, low-pitch synth line reveals something of a mean streak. It’s maybe best demonstrated by that peculiar churlish laugh that sounds more like it’s directed at you, rather than with you.
By Malcolm Brown
It’s an unholy combination of cantillated Russian folk music and Celtic Lord of the Dance (and I mean that in the most complementary sense possible).
By Toby “Radiation” Fox
Another bouncy chiptune track. You could almost call it chirptune – some kind of electronic bird makes up part of the instrumentation. It takes something of a Castlevania turn in the middle (like this).
By Michael Guy Bowman. Featuring Thomas Ferkol on electric guitar
For a song called ‘irreconcilable’, that combination of western acoustic guitar (Tavros) and electric (Vriska) seems pretty damn reconcilable. The horn at the end seems a little played out by now though – that damn juggalo’s everywhere.
By A Lunatic’s Daydream. Featuring melodies by various team members
A rockin’ metal take on Black. The first half’s slick and simple, just a kick-ass jam. Love the clean electric guitar solo that starts around 2:30 or so. The middle section of the song has a completely different feel from the rest of the song: it lazily drifts into a medley of some old favorites, before jumping back into a heavy metal conclusion.
By Malcolm Brown
A marching-band track with a pretty cool backing trumpet and brass section. It teases a little bit of Showtime throughout the first part. A little bit of Unite Synchronization features, too. Then, in the second half it kind of intersects with Showtime a little more for a while. It’s a cool track, if a little heavy-handed in the later parts.
By Michael Guy Bowman
It’s ‘Sburban Jungle’ from a wonderful, not-too-distant future (even more so, somehow!). If the original were written in the 50’s, then this would be the version played at the 'World of Tomorrow’ exhibit at the World’s Fair. It’s also a little poppier, maybe even a little bit new wave.
By Seth “Beatfox” Peelle
Epic. It’s got the booming symphonic presence of a Hollywood soundtrack. It kicks off dark and brooding. Most of the track, though, suits its title a little better. It’s almost a chase scene, with a mellow interlude not too far from the end.
By Toby “Radiation” Fox. Featuring Samm Neiland on viola and Clark Powell on cello
A chipper vaudeville romp. Upright piano and strings all the way. This song gets a ton of mileage out of that simple trio.
By Svix
Catchy. This song ought to feature Sawtooth on the track art instead of Squarewave: the flow is that good.
Image source: Homestuck.
Frustracean (by Toby “Radiation” Fox) is a bonus track on the album (featured in the comic during a memorable mental breakdown). It’s short (don’t let that three minute run time fool you), but it’s so damn funny. It’s a wobbly mix of Crustacean and Hardlyquin. Perfect for watching Karkat’s mind unravel.
By Michael Guy Bowman. Vocals by Tavia Morra
It’s a ridiculous gallop through the land of chocolate on a tiny sugary horse.
By Michael Guy Bowman. Featuring Erik “Jit” Scheele on keytar (!) and vocals by Tavia Morra
(I’m just going to back away slowly from this one. I mean, I remember the Spice Girls and Aqua and all that, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it. Whoa.)
RATING: 10 / 13 - IT IS PRESENTLY THREATENING TO MAKE ME ITS BITCH
The penultimate volume in the Homestuck library (Volume 10, which is expected to be the final volume, has yet to be released yet). There’s a ton of energy on the album: it’s more often bombastic than reflective. The very first track (Crystalmethequins, one of my personal favorites) sets the bar for everything that follows.
There’s more than one song on this album that ‘revisits’ prior works. Not 'remixes’ that carry over motifs and melodies (though there’s a fair share of them on the album as well): more like tracks that are inspired by prior pieces (such that Another Jungle is inspired by Sburban Jungle). In some cases, the new versions surpass the old (Hate You takes a fun, dark turn on Love You (Feferi’s Theme)), and in some cases, the new renditions don’t work out as well.
It’s not quite as good as Volume 8 (or Volume 5, for that matter), but it’s a fine album (and the longest of all volumes so far, to boot).
Click here for individual song reviews for Homestuck Vol. 9.