Customer Reviews

7/11

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With the majority of The 7th Guest's score available for standalone listening on the game's second disc, along with both titles' MIDIs being freely available over the web, I was skeptical at the value of a compilation release. While there are a good number of crossover tracks from T7G, the CD is nicely balanced between The Fat Man's non-incidental cues (Mr. Death, The Game, Skeletons in My Closet), selections from The 11th Hour's cinematic score and extended versions of tracks originally included with T7G. Plus a liberal helping of 11H's in-house music.

The first quarter of the disc is taken up exclusively with non-incidental cues from the two games. The Final Hour Hawaiian sets a wispy, stormy mood; giving us a short introduction to the Fat Man's trademark eccentricity before moving directly into the stuttering beat of Mr. Death. The CD continues on it's jagged path with the brassy big band of Skeletons in My Closet, the "mad choir" of Chapel Pain, the section concluding with the soft guitar rock of The Game and The Final Hour.

7/11 wisely chooses to put its strangest fare out in front, though the choices tend to be a mixed bag. I absolutely love The Game and Skeletons in My Closet, both from T7G, while I never quite warmed to Mr. Death. I don't fault the composition of Mr. Death, but it's choice to serve as the background music for 11H's main menu always struck me as a missed opportunity. It's odd, sardonic tone about death looking over one's shoulder seemed an off way to set the stage for a story about sexual and materialistic desire steering a person's fate. The Game, which features lyrics that tie so well into T7G's plot, was never used anywhere in the actual game. Chapel Pain comes directly from the start of the T7G audio CD, the half minute demonic chant Dutton commented on in the library.

Wrapping up the section is The Final Hour, a bonus song included in the behind-the-scenes features of 11H and my least favorite track on the CD. Running for ten bloated minutes, it was written as a sequel to The Game, but replaces the hypnotic slow burn of the original with a truly out of left field pairing of acid rock and rockabilly country motifs, smothered and covered with lyrics that borderline on acoustically grating. The influences have been so mixed together that instead of the conflicting elements playing off one another to create something wholly original, they're lost mingling in and out of focus. A thin paste rather than a multi-layered cake.

The next four tracks are drawn from the cinematic score for 11H. Whatever can be said of the plot quality in 11H, I really, really enjoyed The Fat Man's music for the game's cut scenes, in that they created a completely different mood than what was present in the mansion. While the rooms set the tone for the music of the exploration sections of both games, since the majority of 11H's story took place outside in the town of Harley-On-Hudson the moods of the characters drive the tone here, letting the quiet melancholy that infects Harley taint the music.

The only composer's work that I can liken to these tracks' style is Badalamenti's score for the TV show Twin Peaks, with the soft guitar undercurrent driving the pieces. A veiled, yet unrelenting control in the subtext. Badalamenti's work for Twin Peaks was rooted in playful whimsy tempered with darkness, the score here substituting the uniquely Northwest small town quirkiness with a sun bleached tranquility more suited for the Hudson River Valley of New York. The jewel of the bunch, Ashes, played while Carl watched the mansion burn at the end of 11H and is great piece to mellow out with.

Following the main titles for the T7G (Short Intro), the CD moves into a long selection of pieces from the puzzle and exploration sections of the two games. Many favorites are included and if you know the games you know the high quality of the music here. Doorbell, Dolls of Doom, We're the Ghosts, Bedspread and Coffin Dance are carried over from the T7G audio CD, plus a dialogue-free version of All the Guests ("I heard singing upstairs...") and the uncut Foyer tune Ghost of Bo. A welcome new addition to the fold is the track Bolero, the music that accompanied the infamous microscope puzzle.

Selections from 11H are intermixed with the T7G tracks. For the sequel, Sanger employed an even more widely diverse range of music styles to paint the mood of the assorted rooms of the derelict mansion. Love Soupreme, used in the kitchen, starts out like a shock cue with a spooky mix of tapping drums and electronic strings before slurring into a catchy salsa rhythm. Funky Tubes and Rain take a darker path, bringing a playful, exuberant spirit to a gothic style that would ordinarily accompany a vampire's castle. For a house in such rampant disrepair, it's tenant forces seem quite spry for their years.

Music Box starts out reusing, note for note, the classic T7G puzzle theme before segueing into the aloof library cue of 11H, a union that shows how far Team Fat had come between the two games in layering their theme elements. Rain in particular, used for Robin's entering the mansion, starts out strong, as she views the house from afar, propelling her forward. As she reaches the front porch, the cue's strength, along with her confidence, is cut down by half, replaced with an air of sad hesitation, the song seeming to know Robin's choice even before she crosses the threshold. A breath held amongst the pitter patter of rain drops... or tears.

The CD concludes with a brief hawaiian rendition of The Game, returning us once again, with a short "Ahui hou", to the wet and windy frontier of the raging, faceless storm.

I was a little hesitant to buy this, since I had the 7th Guest, which comes with a soundtrack cd. I also didn't like the 11th Hour quite as much as Guest. However, this is well worth the money. You not only get all the 7th Guest music, but the tracks that have low-quality speaking over them (as in the 7th Guest soundtrack) are now present with no speaking parts.

The entire album has been re-mixed, so you don't get all of one game's music, and then the others. The album begins and ends with the Hawaiian versions of the 11th Hour and 7th Guest themes, sort of as bookends for the whole work. Then it gets into the singles, which are (in no order): The Game, Skeletons In My Closet (both 7th Guest), Mr. Death, The Final Hour (both 11th Hour). Then the disc has all the room and game music, mixed so that sometimes a 7th Guest song segues into an 11th Hour song, and vice-versa.

I found that being very familiar with the track listing of the 7th Guest was no impediment to liking this disc. The tracks are all skillfully mixed together to make a hauntingly beautiful work. If you're a fan of the 7th Guest, played the 11th Hour, and love the music, this is the disc you need.

One of the reasons why the music for the 7th Guest and the 11th hour worked so well, was the quality. It didnt sound like game music. There were real songs with real instruments, vocals and texts, and it all worked on a level none of the young gamers could imagine. Coming from the Fingers of the Fat Man and his team, the soundtrack to 7/11 is a fantastic summary of one of the biggest highlights of these two games. Even 11 years after 7th guest`s release, the songs still sits as glue, and this record does mainly give you a chance to play all the songs again.

This record is like a big, long trip down memory lane, filled with all the haunting melodies and sounds you remember all too well. It doesnt leave it at that, no, it sounds crystal clear too, and every song is wonderful and a piece of art in their own right.

It combines parts of the cutscenes from 11th hour, to puzzles, to theme songs, to the whole soundtrack from the 7th Guest. It mixes 7th guest songs with 11th hour, so that you get a enjoyable experience all the way thru, and you are not tempted to skip any parts, because pieces are often glued together so that after a while in one song, it changes subtle into another piece. Skipping the songs will cause you to miss these parts.

The more I listen to this album, the better it gets. It really, really have to be listened to at its fullest, without any skipping or stops. It begins with a enjoyable hawaiian version of The Final Hour, and ends with another Hawaiian version of The Game. Excellent relaxing intro and outro.

The highlights of this album(If I MUST point out some), is:

-The Final Hour Hawaiian: Relaxing, cool tune with a slide guitar and some rain and thunder in the background, all backed up by some tropical beat. Enjoyable to the max.
-Skeletons in my Closet: Yes, this is a classic. Wonderful vocals, a great text and an memorable tune. I always imagine skeletons as the backing choir, making me smile everytime I hear it.

-Chapel Pain: Ahhh the good old Choir from 7th Guest. This one is dramatic and short, and it leads into......
-The Game: One of my favorites from the two games. Taking the theme, making it into a rock song, it sounds just awesome. The rock is laidback and, interesting enough, relaxing yet headbanging. It works without question. Major highlight.
-The Final Hour: First listen may scare you away, not because its scary, but it sounds very weird. Its a rock song, but more like a crazy one with tons of weird vocals, a totally awesome backing choir, a hilarious front vocal by Fat Man himself, a catchy rocktune driving everything. I cant stop listening to this one. Best song on the whole album when you finally get the point.
-In Front of Docs: Relaxing, non vocal song, with soft drums and guitars. Very easy on the ears, and fading into the even better
-Ashes: A more melodic continuation of "In Front of Docs", with a very catchy yet laidback rock. Sounds somehow like a softer piece of Smashing Pumpkins. Great.
-Big Ol`Outro: I love this tune, sounds like the end of a longer rock song, gotta be heard to be believed. Works very good when trying to reach something in time in a game...trust me...:)
-Short Intro: WHO can forget this one? Its the song playing when you first see the title screen in 7th Guest! Need I say more? Naaaaaaaahhhhhhh...
-Dolls of Doom: Haunting. Thats the key word. One of the most eeriest songs in the game. You just feel the unearthy evil that is going on. Freaky as a nightmare, yet with a funny and relieving end.
-Xmusic Box: AAAAAAAHHHHH The memories! AHHH the pain! The Puzzles! This is the MOST known puzzle song of them all, I both love it, yet I hate it for the reason it appears in the game, but it isnt a negative hate. Its spooky with a twist, and turns into a twisted jazzy piece at the end.
-All The Guests: This one works better with the conversation spoken, it doesnt have the same spooky effect without. The one with the conversation can be heard on the second 7th Guest cd.
-Doorbell: This one is great! Dramatic, spooky opening with a doorbell sounding, it drags you back to the house no matter how far away you are...
-Hey Conductor: Can it be any more snazzy than this? Finger tipping, bluesjazzy and fun, this one is a total winner.
-Foyer Entrance: Ahh yes, when the guests arrive. Who can forget this masterpiece. One of the big highlights from the 7th Guest.
-The Game Hawaiian: Another of the hawaiian pieces, yet not as good as the Final Hour, but it is great as the finishing track, to take away some of the tension built up earlier.

To summarize this review, I will say that this is one of the best game soundtracks ever. The music it self is legendary, and Fat Man should be credited and praised for the work he did. Without him, the 7th Guest and the 11th hour would NEVER have been what it was. For those who never played the 7th guest and/or 11th hour, I cannot guarantee you will like what you hear, because this isnt mainstream. But for the souls that played the 7th Guest on a dark night for the first time...this is the biggest Deja Vu you will ever get in your life, and one darn good time. The cd player will smile after a spin with this cd.

I played the 11th Hour before I played the 7th Guest and one thing that really creeped me out was the music of these games. Music does make the game when it comes to a game like 11th hour. If you were like me staying up a good part of the night to solve the puzzles, you were totally drawn into the nightmare experience with the addition of Fatman's music for the game. Even after I had finished playing for the night, I could still hear the main theme song for 11th hour in my head as I lay in bed alone in a dark room. I give huge props for The Fatman composing and creating this music that I love to hear so much, it pretty much compelled me to buy the cd. It is sad that Trilobyte went down the dumps and never released or started a 7th Guest III. I am sure that The Fatman would have been close by to spice up the game with his orginal music. If you loved the music of the game, then quit reading this and buy the cd!

No matter what one's opinion about the 1992 PC game, "The 7th Guest", is there's no denying the game's developers, Trilobyte, struck gold when they released this gem that gave gamers a decent excuse for purchasing a CD-Rom drive for their 386. Despite the focus of it's success being contributed by it's cutting edge technology and FMV sequences that were way ahead of its time, it's popularity was also due to it's great overall atmosphere of an old spooky mansion, which the soundtrack is to thank for. This album is a compilation of the music employed that developed that eerie environment of both "The 7th Guest" and its highly anticipated yet unsuccessful sequel "The 11th Hour".
Many who still have some vague memory of the games will instantly recognise the majority of the songs on the album such as the title theme, "Short Intro", to the sequence upon first entering the scary Stauf mansion, "Foyer Entrances", which shows the strength of the music leaving a great impression more then a decade ago of it's release. The music itself is a mixture of orchestrated, ragtime, rock, choral chant and even rap in the amusing "Mr. Death", all melded together by the versatile talent of composer, The Fat Man, and his talented crew. Despite some of the later tracks in the album sound like MIDI files and the throw away rock theme "The Game", such tunes like the cabaret ditty "Skeletons In My Closets", Hawaiian style interlude, "In Front Of Doc's", and the chilling "Ghost Of Bo" will be sure to bring back those feelings of nostalgia of playing the game back in the glory days of 2X CD-Rom drives.

I haven't heard the actual CD (although I will soon, since I've ordered it ^_^), but I am a great fan of both the games its music is from and heard essentially all the music (I'll be very glad to have it in portable form ^_^), and I can safely say that it is among the best soundtracks of any kind that I have ever heard. I've never seen so many different styles in one soundtrack--bouncy and light (only occasionally, thankfully, although here it's done rather well), dramatic and suspenseful, outright terrifying...there's even some choral work (Chapel Pain RULES). And I don't normally like rock, but The Game and The Final Hour are among the best songs I've ever heard, and the way their basic melodies are interwoven into the rest of the music for their respective games is a manifestation of musical genius. Whether or not you liked The 7th Guest or The 11th Hour, there's no way you can go wrong with this CD.

I had no idea until today that this soundtrack even exists! While I have to admit that I *never* liked the modernized/recorded music from the 11th Hour (it reminds me of cheesy updates of classical songs) I do like much of the music from the 7th Guest (in fact, I was *just* thinking of setting up a DOS box and playing the game again) and will enjoy this album. Even though I have some midi hardware from the era (MT-32 and SC-55mkII, the latter is, I believe, what the music was composed for) and all of the midi files, this is still a treat. I often hum the tune that I now learn is called "The Foyer" quite regularly and it will be nice to have it at my fingertips when it bores its way into my ear!

First of all, Lavode's review is off. The 7th Guest didn't exactly come with a soundtrack. It was a 2 CD package. The first install CD also contained a 1 track compilation of the music in the game. And heaven forbid you don't skip to track two when you put it in your CD player: static galore! That said, the "low quality speaking" is not removed in 7/11! Surely it's high quality now. And still the lines from the game are present, which I personally like.

The tracks have been more than sufficiently reviewed, as well as available for demo on amazon and The Fat Man's sites, so I'll let you make your own decision. I however found them all catchy and still sing along 10 years after the games came out!

As a 3D modeler on The 13th Doll I definitely appreciated having this official soundtrack as a backdrop to my work!

The title says it all: if you're keen into these two classic puzzle games for PC, The 7th Guest and The 11th Hour, this is your drug of choice. So beautiful soundtrack and very well mixed together that you couldn't possibly even imagine better.
Took me some time and (some more) money to find and buy this fantastic piece of art but believe me, it really was worth of it. <3

Pretty sweet! They tweaked the original 7th Guest song a little, but did a good job w/ it. I compared it to the original 7th Guest soundtrack and 11th hour and was pretty happy w/ this one. You'll like it!