For my first Song of the Week post I am reviewing The Device Has Been Modified by Victims of Science. There is also a really cool music video of it here. Again, I really don't know what I'm doing, so I'll just get right to it. The beginning has no rhythm section, simply a kind of spacy dottish sounding melodic synth which switches to more harmonics once the voice kicks in (yes, this has vocals, I don't know what else to call them), and continues throughout most of the song. The beginning vocals are subtly echoey, but that adds excellent atmosphere to the song. One of the best parts of this song is that it uses a sort of auto-tuned GLaDOS voice for all the vocals. At about 0:30 the drums start up with a very faded sound so that they sometimes get drowned out by the other things, while still laying down a good beat. Some interesting piano is also ghosted in the background at the same time. At 0:45 the voice is used as a harmonic drone with the lead continuing with the melody creating a very cool, almost electric, effect. Immediately after this, a counter melody comes in as part of the spacy synth track. At 1:02 a turret voice comes in with some higher vocals. At 1:08 everything but GLaDOS and some chimes with a string track for ambience stop playing, and GLaDOS starts telling a kind of story. This part actually reminds me greatly of Reogan's GLaDOS's Lament. At 1:38 the song is just straight GLaDOS for a few seconds to make a very good point. At 1:41: "Android Hell is a place and you will go there if you receive unsatisfactory marks..." or something like that. At 1:46 the instrumental parts kick in again, and they seem a bit loud. At 2:09 the backgrounds fade out and only the drums and chimes are still in the song, creating a really neat effect. At 2:24 the dissonant harmonic voices make it sound incredibly robotic. Listen all the way to the end, it's strangely creepy.
Pros: Good melody and really cool vocals with some great drums and countermelodies in the background.
Cons: Some parts are a bit loud and some more "solos" would be nice.
Overview: A good song, if a bit fast and loud in parts, but that sets the tone for the song well. The vocals are really cool also.
Rating: 9/10
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5 comments:
First, I love this song. Always have.
Second, your comment about the Lament has made you my favorite author/admin here (besides myself).
Third, Good work!
Thanks! Glad you like it! Does this negate my previous failings?
It's a good thing you had SotW this time; I had nothing to post! Oddly enough, I didn't even know that you had the responsibility of it this week. Thanks for covering it, Xanthurian.
No failings can be negated. Merely concealed.
Ah well, close enough.
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