Topic: Nintendo Rock Band Featured in NY Times

[WindyMan]

Read all about how someone gets into this line of work, from inspiration to production.

The New York Times today has published a fascinating article, detailing how Spencer Seim found his true calling, becoming part of a band  that plays nothing but songs from the great games of NES past.

The name of the band is The Advantage, and they recently released their first album.  Much like game songs were back in the day, all of their tracks are pretty short, at about two minutes each, but that's how the band wanted them to be.  In addition, the band used some professional tools to breakdown the NES beeps and boops, so they could more easily identify what instrument should be playing what part of the track.

To read the whole Times article, click here.  The band's website, odd looking as it might be, can be found here, and if you're interested in supporting the band, you can buy their CD from their record label, 5 Rue Christine.

[LousySpy]

They're not bad, but I've been a fan of The Minibosses since I found out about them, and I still think they're about as good as it gets when it comes to videogame cover bands.  (Not to mention their website doesn't make my eyes bleed like The Advantage's does.)

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

I agree.  The Advantage does a remarkable job of "exactly" translating the NES tunes for rock instruments.  However, I still get a better listening experience from Minibosses (I first heard them 4 years ago, me think) due to the liberties they take with interpreting the general melody, rather than direct translation.  (Minibosses' Mega Man 2 track is like... Mega-heaven.  I also bought one of the last copies of their latest EP, solely for Mega Man 2, but the cover is awesome.)

Here's some other great artists I've found:

Ryan 8-bit @ Castlevania Dungeon - Rock covers of the entire Castlevania 1+2 soundtrack.

Metroid Metal - Rock covers of the Metroid(1) soundtrack.

Estradasphere @ OC Remix - Super Mario Bros. 2 'SuperBuckJazz' - YOU WILL REGRET NOT LISTENING TO THIS!

[nickmitch]

Won't they eventually just run out of material?
Or will they just go to SNES and keep going?

[Shift Key]

Nah, they'll just go on and make dance covers of "Boys of Summer" hrhrhr

[seven_chaos]

Quote
Originally posted by: LousySpy
They're not bad, but I've been a fan of The Minibosses since I found out about them, and I still think they're about as good as it gets when it comes to videogame cover bands.  (Not to mention their website doesn't make my eyes bleed like The Advantage's does.)

YES!  The Minibosses are sooooooooo much better.  Everyone should go check them out.  I was lucky to see them perform about two years ago and it was awesome.  A tiny room filled to the brim with video game nerds going nuts because of how insanely good this band was.  Good times.

[joedaddy]

hmmmm. after listening to their version of that wizards and warriors tune i decided to come here and give props to the minibosses version which is about a gazillion times better. not that these guys arent pretty damn good too. its great to hear that ducktales song and reminisce the good old days when bouncing around on a pogo walking stick was still cool

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

pogo walking stick... that was before they started to require helmets and outlaw all those "unsafe" children's toys, right?

All these groups are freaking talented.  But Minibosses and Estradasphere sound *so* good I sometimes wanna cry.  *_*

[mouse_clicker]

Eh, am I the only one that doesn't really like videogame cover bands at all? I mean, these guys are certainly very talented, but there's something about videogame music being played in the traditional band setting that turns me off to it. :\

[Shift Key]

I'm with Mouse on this - sure, if they've got fans, then go nuts making video game covers. But I rather the regular kind of music, and some original video game music on the side. Both together? PASS!

[Salmon]

Well...don´t get me wrong, but this band really sucks. They would have been great with better musicians. Even the Minibosses makes me "Swing my arm from side to side"...but this...naaah.

[joeamis]

That cover of the Marble Madness level 2 song
is just pure genius