{NEW ALBUM} UNIVERSE B???

[PrincessOfSwords]

This entire album was amazing! It's hard to single out songs when I'm basically spazzing over all of it.

So I'll take a moment to talk about some transitions.

Pink Cat - has several interesting transitions that take the song in completely different directions. I love how it all sounds coherent and fits her so perfectly, while also sort of being more than one song within a song. The dial-up noise transition...I don't even.

But then there's the winner - Emerald Terror - wins the transition award for that beginning. Going from that old-timey music to what it changes into...I just got this huge amazing smile on my face and each time I listen to it again, I can't think of any better way to sum up Jake in a short span of music - that transition. Just. Yes. Hell yes. Hell fucking yes.

[Wesley Foxx]

My MVP picks from the album would probably be Cyan Beast, Squiddle Song (Seriously, someone needs to animate this in the style of Adventure Time) and Phantasmic Youngsters.

[Dirtiest]

For anyone interested, here's an early draft of the song that would become Fuchsia Witch, back when it was still a Jake song.

Jake proto 1.mp3

I originally wanted the song to have kind of an Indiana Jones-feel to it. I substituted the 8-bit synthesizer for steel drums to give the song a more tropical sound better suited for Jake's island home. I also made some slight rearrangements to the melody to make it sound less like Green Greens from Kirby. (The resemblance between this early version of the song and Green Greens wasn't intentional; when a friend of mine pointed the similarities out to me, I was furious that I hadn't noticed them earlier).

The final arrangement ended up being (more deliberately) inspired by the opening theme to Super Mario RPG.

The original version of Checkmate is still on my Tindeck. It didn't change nearly as much between conception and album release (a few new arrangements, a lot of remastering).

David Dycus - Checkmate (Final Battle Theme).mp3

[Blaperile]

So, I just finished listening to Universe B.

I'm not sure which of the 2 Universes I like better.

They both had their appeal, but I'm a bit sad that there only was one song with lyrics this time!

And I was also a bit sad that certain characters like PM or Bec or Dad or the sprites didn't get a song.

Anyway, here's my thoughts about all the songs.

- SIDE 1: That was a nice introduction to the album! I like how it was much lighter than the Side 1 from Universe A. It fits, because the Trolls in the A universes are much darker than the humans, who are much lighter.
- Green Ghost: This sounded to me like a much ligter version of Doctor. I imagined that John was thinking about what happened to him while playing SBURB, maybe he does this while still travelling to B2, both the good and bad memories. The end reminded me of Saviour of the Waking World specifically too. A very nice song! Really John-like.
- Orchid Horror: Good music for while Rose is slowly becoming grimdark. Also for when she found the bodies of the parents and was fighting against Jack. Did I hear some more Doctor in the background? Nice music, but it's one of my least favorites of the album.
- Red Disc: I'm imagining that the beginning is about Dave preparing to fight Hephaestus, and later on in the song he really begins fighting him. Oh my god dat Atomyk Ebonpyre. I love me some Atomyk Ebonpyre. But alas, it was not enough for me to really like it a lot. It's one of my least favorites of the album.
- Blue Atom: Oh god this song makes me see Jade walking through some streets like a true coolgirl with a lot of swag. Like she's pretending to be Dave, maybe to flirt with him. And then I suddenly began imagining that this is some kind of background music for a documentary showing Jade participating in a competition. Oh my holy god. I quite liked it, but absolutely not as much as Green Ghost.

- SIDE 2: Did I hear a bit of Flare in that? A nice transition to the second part of the album.
- Cyan Beast: I had typed out that I'd be really sad if this wasn't used as the land music for Jane. And it didn't happen. THIS IS THE MOST AWESOME SONG OF THE ALBUM, HANDS DOWN. I really imagined this playing as Jane entered the medium, and her fighting Underlings. There were some more action-like parts in it and I had imagined that would play while Dirk and Roxy were fighting drones. Seriously, I'm a bit sad this wasn't used. But alas (at least the real flash still owned the way it turned out to be).
- Pink Cat: This. This is the best song to follow the literal and figural beast that was Cyan Beast. This is my second favorite song of this album. I love how so many different tunes I could recognize in this! I seemed to hear Clockwork, Chorale for Jaspers, Doctor and Walls Covered in Blood in it. I never thought I'd ever hear those songs together! 0_0 And certain sounds were like it could have meant Horrorterrors and general Void in the middle of the song.
- Orange Hat: This sounded like some kind of futurific version of Beatdown and Sunslammer (the latter especially in the beginning of the song). Fitting, as Dirk is in the future in B2!
- Emerald Terror: Oh my god that art. I'M FALLING DOWN ALL THESE LUSUSES (hehehe, I also noticed that Mutie and Brobot). Anyway, about that music. The vibe of the beginning sounded really old-timeish, and reminded me of the "Nannasprite" song. And then it suddenly sounded futurific too xD, nice transition! In the middle I imagined Jake going through his forest, looking around him for lususes. Later on in the song it began feeling like a villain song. Lord English??? The last sound of the song creepily reminded me of a HONK. DAMNIT LE, GET OUT OF MY JAKE SONG. But seriously, it was a good song!

I can conclude that I liked Side 2 much better than Side 1, just like with Universe A. This is mainly the case because there's a lot more action in Side 2, and it has catchier tunes.

- ADDITIONAL MAYHEM: This sounded to me like Skaian Magicant, so like some kind of sleep song. I could swear I heard it in an earlier song on this album too, but I don't remember which.
- Squiddle Song: At the first 3 lines I was reminded of movie music. Then I flipped my shit with the "all your friends are dead" line, and the "buckets" line. Hahahaha, that music was far too optimistic for what was being sung. Ironically perfect.
- Pendulum: Oh god is that art a counterpart for Jake's funeral? A Derse version of it? I first didn't realize that blood was coming out of him and thought some normal roses were around him, I even headcanon'd that Rose put them there. The music seemed some funeral music, Dave-style. I imagined that Rose was bringing Dave to a Quest Bed. Did I hear some Sburban Jungle in the background at certain points?
- Pale Rapture: Dat art. So cute. Those look like Skaian Clouds! Because of the music I'm imagining John sleeping before his dreamself is awake, and he's dreaming of things that are going to happen in the session. The second part of the music sounds like it's God-Tier John looking back to his dreams of when he was younger, and realizing that he has made his dreams come true.
- Do The Windy Thing: Do I hear some more Doctor and some Showtime in the background? Hell yes. Anyway, I'm imagining John putting the fire on LOWAS out with his wind powers. It could also be an alternative for Saviour of the Waking World as John rises up.
- Pilot Light: Is that a more Prospitian-like version for Flare? Hell fucking yes. That was awesome. That seems like the perfect music for the journey of the Prospitian Ship between the Fourth Walls.
- Ohgodcat: Oh god GCat. All I can think of this is that GCat is being a very smug bastard and ruining a lot of things, some kind of cartoon show maybe? Good song!
- Cupcake Girl: This seems like cool videogame music for Jane baking. Hehehe.
- Phantasmic Youngsters: That was awesome. It sounds like music for some kind of sequence of how the Kids lived before SBURB ruined their lives.
- Battle Brotocol: I feel like this is a possible alternative for Anbroids as rap music. I imagine the robotic voice was Squarewave, it also sounded like him malfunctioning at the end of the song. Yup, definitely an alternative for Anbroids.
- Bec Noir: This sounds like an alternative for At The Price of Oblivion. Jack is threatening to fight Rose at first. And then I imagine it being for the pages of them fighting each other. Those barks cracked me up, oh my god.
- The Vast Glub: Oooh! I didn't notice those Dreambubbles in the art at first. I pretty clearly heard the glubs during the songs, good job. This seems like perfect music for a strife with Horrorterrors, but did I hear some Feferi parts in it too? Anyway, I'd swear I heard the Horrorterrors talk at certain parts in the song.
- WV: Become the Mayor of Cans: This is a nice alternative for Vagabounce in the corresponding flash. Thus I'm imaging WV work on Can Town with this song playing.
- March of the Batterwitch: At first I thought I heard some things being moved from their place until I realized it represented cooking and baking and such. In the middle of the song it seemed to transition to her giving coommands to drones, or either she was making a devil meal. HER MEANEST TRICK SO FAR! :O
- Coolkid: That art reminded me a lot of [S] Dave: Accelerate. Oh my, dem beats. The music seems like it would fit the Davesprite timeline. Or a rap battle.
- Clockstopper: Tick tock tick tock tick tock... The beginning strangely reminded me of Japanese music. I flipped the fuck out when I heard that Beatdown and Atomyk Ebonpyre and Upward Movement. THAT WAS PERFECT. MY LIFE IS COMPLETE. I imagined Dave fighting a doomed version of himself to this music.
- Dapper Dueling: This seemed a bit Japanse too. Is it just me, or does the beginning slightly resemble Dissension? And suddenly there was a banjo. I imagine Jake playing a western scene from one of his favorite movies.
- Checkmate: Hahahahaha, that combination of the art and the music. I'm absolutely imagining Jack and the other agents partying after BQ is gotten rid of.
- Vodka Mutiny: Oh god, cat/Dersite strife. A certain part reminds me of this famous music, but I can't put my finger on what. The end reminded me of Sburban Jungle.
- Dord Waltz: Dat art. That's my most favourite art of this album. Don't think I didn't notice those Dreambubbles! The music seemed to resemble music from videogames of when you go to sleep. Alternatively, Roxy is sleep-dancing. CAN'T UNSEE.
- Rustless Fall: Here I'm imagining John being with Rose, just after her death at Jack's hands, but at the same time it also reminds me of her being on the meteor (nope, not influenced by the art, nope not at all). Oh the irony. I heard Endless Climbing. Climbing <-> Falling.
- Pipeorgankind: Oh fuck that art. That's my second favourite of the album. I loved the touch with the wind on it. I never thought Showtime would sound so good this way. And at certain points it reminded me of Harlequin, particularly the Rock version.


In short, this was AWESOME! I love how most sounded like videogame music. It was too bad that there was only one song with lyrics though. Oh well.

[nerdgirl1122]

I think Universe b isnt as exciting as A. But i like both.
Also, I think there's a problem...
GREEN ghost...
BLUE atom
Jade never had any interest in ghosts and John never had much interest in science. is this a mistake????
(or... is the title referring to the symbol on the shirt?.... hmm)

[Dirtiest]

(or... is the title referring to the symbol on the shirt?.... hmm)

Yes.

[Doc Scratch]

In all honesty, I thought Universe A was better. UB would've been improved if the themes for some of the characters were completely original instead of reused. I like the songs, but I wanted to hear newer songs like in A. I did like the bass clarinet solo in March of the Batterwitch however. I really liked how UA showed us a different side of some of the characters.

[tinaun]

I much preferred this one, except for, oddly the beginning. I didn't like any songs until Blue Atom, and the album didn't really pick up steam until around Ohgodcat, but the songs that hit were some of the best songs I ever heard out of out of a homestuck album and really could stand on their own as pieces. My favorite was Dapper Dueling, but I wish it could have been longer.

I didn't like universe a that much because it all sounded the same to me, sort of faux-orchestral that didn't really work. None of the songs (except Fuchia Ruler) really stood out in a good way.

[lizard-socks]

For anyone interested, here's an early draft of the song that would become Fuchsia Witch, back when it was still a Jake song.

Jake proto 1.mp3

This is really neat

[Primal Zed]

So I certainly like Universe B better than Universe A. (Was overall disappointed with A to begin with.)

I love Pipeorgankind.

[Mary Leathert]

Yeah, I must admit that at this point I like universe A more. From this one my favorites are Blue Atom, Orange Hat and March of the Batterwitch.

[omrifan67]

I probably share the same option that I hate Bec Noir on this album.
It would be hella better if it didn't have all the barking in it.

[Bandages]

wrong wrong wrong wrong

bec noir is the first d&b song to grace homestuck's hallowed archives and the punctual dog barking makes it 50x better :B

[Stormspirit]

wrong wrong wrong wrong

bec noir is the first d&b song to grace homestuck's hallowed archives and the punctual dog barking makes it 50x better :B

It sounded like an old man coughing to me, the first time I listened to it.

[Bandages]

Well I can't help you with that

Just realized Mr. Dycus was posting in this thread! Brother, your track "Red Miles" is so fuckin' cool. I downloaded it off tindeck and made my own album art for it and everything just because "damn" is the only reaction one can make after listening :B

[MyUsernamesMud]

when will homestuck get its first r&b song

[Dirtiest]

Just realized Mr. Dycus was posting in this thread! Brother, your track "Red Miles" is so fuckin' cool. I downloaded it off tindeck and made my own album art for it and everything just because "damn" is the only reaction one can make after listening :B

That's awesome! I'd love to see it! (And thanks for the compliments!)

when will homestuck get its first r&b song

Let's do it. Let's make it hapen.

[Navyisme]

My absolute favourites of Universe B are:

Orchid Horror
Cyan Beast
Do the Windy Thing
Pilot Light
Phantasmic Youngsters

I am currently considering Emerald Terror and couple of other songs in the album as well, but damn! Those five are really great. Also, what the HELL is that ending bit in Do the Windy Thing? It starts at 2:16 and it sounds so familiar but I have absolutely no idea what it's from. What's worse is I feel like I should know right away what it is but I don't. It is a perplexing situation.

[Bandages]

That's awesome! I'd love to see it! (And thanks for the compliments!)

Ah, it's just a panel crop of vriska after getting exploded, with the blood turned red instead of blue. I know the song is about Red Miles but I thought it was kind of fitting for the whole [S]Make Her Pay shindig. Again, I super love your music, and I'm glad checkmate made it on the album. Have you done anything Homestuck recently? I'd love to hear more from you : D

[Velmen]

My absolute favourites of Universe B are:

Orchid Horror
Cyan Beast
Do the Windy Thing
Pilot Light
Phantasmic Youngsters

I am currently considering Emerald Terror and couple of other songs in the album as well, but damn! Those five are really great. Also, what the HELL is that ending bit in Do the Windy Thing? It starts at 2:16 and it sounds so familiar but I have absolutely no idea what it's from. What's worse is I feel like I should know right away what it is but I don't. It is a perplexing situation.

I believe it's the incorporation of Showtime.

[Dirtiest]

Have you done anything Homestuck recently? I'd love to hear more from you : D

I haven't done any Homestuck music since January. I spent the entire month working on music for the contest and very nearly drove myself crazy in the process. However, I'll probably upload a few of the other songs that I made for the contest to my Tindeck.

In fact, here's one I made for John, but didn't submit:


I'll post a few more of my contest b-sides in the HS music thread in Artbound soon.

[kaoticAntagonist]

Cyan Beast reminds me of showdown in being discordant (though less than showdown)

I totally love that.

[Bandages]

I haven't done any Homestuck music since January. I spent the entire month working on music for the contest and very nearly drove myself crazy in the process. However, I'll probably upload a few of the other songs that I made for the contest to my Tindeck.

Whoah these are all really great. the PM song is so... relaxing and soothing. You have a real gift, I look forward to hearing more from you!

[AnotherHomestuckUsername]

Universe B probably surpasses Volume 8 as my favorite album. I like pretty much everything. Green Ghost is my favorite track, and Ohgodcat is just so happy aaaaaaa.

Also, did anyone else think WV: Become Mayor of Cans totally sounded like Anamaguchi?

[Navyisme]

I believe it's the incorporation of Showtime.

Ahh it WAS Showtime--and I SHOULD have known that! Thanks for clearing that up for me.