Review: V-RARE #3 (Pop'n Music 7)

Pop'n Music 7 is notable as being the first new Pop'n release for the PS2. At the time this came out, I did not have a PnM controller or access to the games, so my only real connection was listening to the OSTs. Let's move on with the review.

1. ロケット・ラブ ～ USSY cool Mix / ミッキー・マサシ
Take the original version, and add a slightly (more) progressive feeling to it, and you end up with this version. It's also way longer, at 4'07 compared to the original's 1'35. Pretty decent reinterpretation. ***

2. @n H@ppy Choice / Sana
This is just a freaky remake of the original good-cool and Hideo Suwa version (H@ppy Choice), but pretty damn good. It's a little more slowed down to better fit Sana's vocals and turns out being a great alterantive to the original while still sticking to its roots. I'm quite H@ppy with it, indeed. ***1/2

3. Betty Boo remix / SLAKE
Slake is one of the Bemani remix kings, as far as I'm concerned. He turned around the decent enough (but not terribly memorable) original and added a more thumping beat along with revamping the backing track. It certainly stands out more than the original and is a quite good song. ****

4. 愛車(キカイ)はタワシで洗ってる！？ / すわひでお
Basically, what I wrote about Rock Rap (song #1) applies here too. It's the same principle. Slow it down a bit, add a bit more progressive feeling, wash, rinse, and repeat. ***

5. Distance ~ Surrealistic Mix / Egoistic Lemon Tea
Arguably the best named musical group ever comes out with this excellent remix of an excellent song. In some ways, it's kind of strange because the mixing makes it almost sound like it was recorded directly from the game. Some of the samples and effects seem to really mask the vocals. Well done over all, though. ***

6. Micro Dream Remix / dj TAKA
I totally loved the original Micro Dream, and at first was utterly shocked by the total Hyper Eurobeatification at first. But, it ends up working pretty well in the end, since dj TAKA is god, and all. On its own merits, it's pretty damn good, but as a remix, it's very WTF. So, um yeah. Still good enough for ****.

7. Ska Ska No. 3 / 亜熱帯マジ-SKA爆弾
I liked the original Ska Ska No. 3, and, here we have the long version at 4'29. Really, I have nothing to complain about here. ***

A pretty decent and solid, but wholly average V-RARE. If you liked the originals, then this is most definitely a worthwhile find. But, otherwise it's not terribly notable.

Konami finally pulled their head out of their asses and really kicked the V-RAREs into high gear when they released their next offering, the 8-bit-tacular V-RARE-4 from Pop'n Music Best Hits. But, alas, that will have to wait for tomorrow.