Review: V-RARE #10 (beatmania IIDX 9th Style)

I'll admit, I never thought we'd see another CS mix of IIDX after 7th Style, and then in the same year we get 8th and 9th Styles. 9th has endured as one of the best overall styles musically in my opinion. It seems that nearly every track is a winner. Let's see what Konami does with the V-RARE for its CS release.

1. moon_child [E-S style mix] / 少年ラジオ / Remixed by Mr.T
Ever wonder what happened when you feed moon_child through a Progressive Trance blender? Apparently Mr.T did. But, since he's a god and all, it managed to work out very well while still managing to hold true to the original (even the original, original, as in Castlevania original) in many ways. A great start. ****

2. LOVE♡SHINE [Tropical mix] / 小坂りゆ / Remixed by Mr.T
Mr.T strikes again, perhaps he was bored or needed the work. Either way, he once again delivers with this completely different, and totally chill version of Love♡Shine. Slowed down, made a bit more J-Poppy, and overall just totally awesome. I dig this version. Put this in a Pop'n Music -now-, Konami. ****

3. Silvia Drive [NIGHT FLY MIX] / dj TAKA feat.Noria / Remixed by DJ SIMON
Call it blasphemy, but I prefer this one in many ways to the original. It's weirded out, a little darker (yes, that's possible, go figure). Somehow it pulls together to make something that's once again a very good, but very different remix. But, not great (at least compared to the rest of this V-RARE). ***1/2

4. 昭和企業戦士荒山課長 [時間外勤務mix] / AKIRA YAMAOKA / Remixed by DJ SIMON
The hard synth is removed and replaced with some ambient sounds and piano(!). Don't ask me what kind of drugs Konami had their staff do before these remixes, but damn, were they good. I almost don't even notice the Konamifanmixitis in this song. Almost. ****

5. BRIGHTNESS DARKNESS [WHITELIGHT MIX] / SPARKER
This is a holyshitfuckingamazing remix. It shares many similarities with the original, which is fine, because why mess with perfection, after all. Stretched way out to 5'15, and just when you think it's over around the 4 minute mark, it does a HA JUST KIDDING and throws more amazingness at you. I love you, Takehiko, I want your children. Please. *****

6. lower world [FIND A WAY MIX] / D.J. SETUP / Remixed by SLAKE
This is a totally rad remix of Lower World that's way different, but keeps enough hints from the original to keep it interesting. But, it's just a tad too repetitive and kinds of runs out of steam near the middle. Still, good. Very good. ****

7. BREEDING [ZETA MIX] / SLAKE / Remixed by PINK PONG
They are cranking out more amazing remixes than a whorehouse cranks out STDs. This keeps the feel of the original while adding a Pink Pongy feel to it. As far as I'm concerned, that's just great. ****

8. ライオン好き [HEADLINE MIX] / AKIRA YAMAOKA / Remixed by PINK PONG
They are really putting those Beatmania artists to work with this album. This remix absolutely owns, and by owns, I mean it. At the beginning, it's kind of like, ah, it's a slightly harder version of the original, but then around the 2 minute mark it gets all omgfuckingamazing with cool synth action that lasts through to the end. I love it. *****

9. CHARLOTTE [i-dep mix] / Db.Saka feat.Piasa / Remixed by i-dep
Totally stripped down with a light beat and distorted piano backing track. Hey, I can dig it, even in spite of its repetition. ***

10. The end of my spiritually [Post Production Mitsuto Suzuki 050218mix] / EeL / Remixed by Mitsuto Suzuki
Lots of cool weird effects over an amazing backing track. Once it gets to the 4 minute mark, it bridges into this rad dark sounding break. Did I mention it's all in minor key? God damn, this is great. *****

11. 80's カプセル [original long version] / め組 upper-slope
What can I say. It's the original. It's long. It's not bad. It's not great. It's just there, but I guess we need some segue into the new CS songs. ***

12. 5PM ETERNAL [original long version] / GUHROOVY fw.NO+CHIN
Japanese dub reggae at its finest. I realize how contradictory that must sound, but this track is amazing. And, as the title says, it's an original long version. I immensely dig this track. ****

13. エブリデイ・ラブリデイ [L.E.D.STYLE MIX] / Togo-chef feat.Sana / Remixed by L.E.D.
I. Fucking. Love. This. Track. I can listen to it over and over again. L.E.D takes a ho-hum typical Sana song and applies his magic to it making it a freakin' amazing piece of music. Typing this is detracting from my listening to it, so.. *****

This album is 100% absolutely essential. I honestly feel that the long delay that happened between AC and CS IIDXes gave the musicians over at Konami some real inspiration to put out some truly amazing, and truly unique remixes. Every track on this album is great, with even the mediocre tracks still being better than some of the crap on the previous V-RAREs. If you don't love this album, you deserve to get your Bemani Pass revoked. 'Nuff said.

Well, this concludes the sonic journey that was my 10 Days of V-RARE. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed reviewing them.. well for the most part. :)