Kirby Super Star 'Ska Buffet

I seriously can’t stop listening to this, after hearing it on the most recent Extra Credits episode.

Listen. Now. You won’t regret it.
(Unless you have some work to do. Finish it, and then listen. Again and again and again...)





Okay, so, every single part of the track may not be spectacular. However, the spectacularly awesome aspect of it lies in the easily overlooked arrangement and structure. Every single piece, whether excellent or not (and it mostly is), come together, if considering when and how, in a pretty much perfect way.

At first, the structure is deceivingly simple, as it is quite linear in terms of intro, chorus etc., but it stands really strong due to the use of the looping nature of old-school videogame music, as well as the subtle variations that makes it feel fresh, over and over.. Adding to this, I keep on noting how the professional grade shifts in wall of sound give it a thick density, as well as softly delicate textures where it simply fits the structure.
This also allows for the instrumentation and arrangement to absolutely shine. Every instrument, including vocals, fit together in a ridiculously solid way, seamlessly handing out solos and whatnot, especially to brass and (as just mentioned) vocals. Percussion, bass, etc., stay in the background (while being good, just not as fantastic), as if to serve the ‘main’ parts, but from 2:47, there’s even a gentle filling-the-bridge-in-an-excellent-way acoustic guitar part that is soooooooo smooth.
Also, I suppose it’s hard to stay objective when it come’s to female punk-ish vocals (reminds me of Stolen Babies in a similarly fun and awesome way), but goddamnit it’s engaging and kinda hot.

Whatever, I suppose this brings me to my main point. I don’t have a particular interest in ska rock, nor do I have that much nostalgia to the original song (apart from Super Smash Bros., good times..), but the way Kirby games have a genuine sense of fun, displayed by the jammingly improvisational feeling of the upbeat Reggae, juxtaposed with the serious scales of the melody, and the gritty punk influences of this version, makes it an incredible and creative treatment of the original and already awesome soundtrack.

Seriously, that brass :E