Video Games Live, Vol. 1

Wendy Carlos (Composer), Michael Giacchino (Composer), Jason Hayes (Composer), Utada Hikaru (Composer), Martin Leung (Composer), Gerard Marino (Composer), Martin / Salvatori, Michael O'Donnell (Composer), Tommy Tallarico (Composer), Tommy / Plowman, Michael / Fratianni, Emmanuel Tallarico (Composer), Christopher Tin (Composer), Steve Zuckerman (Composer), Jack Wall (Conductor), Slovak Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Martin Leung (Performer), Gracie Wall (Performer), Laurie Robinson (Performer), Nicole Bonsol (Performer), Tara Clark (Performer), Ron Ragin (Performer), Cindy Shapiro (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Martin Leung, Gracie Wall, Laurie Robinson, Nicole Bonsol, Tara Clark, et al.
• Orchestra: Slovak Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Jack Wall
• Composer: Wendy Carlos, Michael Giacchino, Jason Hayes, Utada Hikaru, Martin Leung, et al.
• Audio CD (July 22, 2008)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B000VO8O6W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,046 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2008 release, the soundtrack to the true gamer's life! Conductor Jack Wall leads the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus through many of the most popular video game themes and creates a glorious aural paradise for the gamer in all of us. If you are hooked on the music from video games like Sonic The Hedgehog, Myst, Final Fantasy, Warcraft, Super Mario Brothers and others, then imagine those themes as performed by an orchestra. Yes, it is like heaven without the joystick! EMI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Every Penny, July 28, 2008

By 

Flynn "flynn" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Video Games Live, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

Video Games Live Vol. I music album. Trust me to everyone who is considering buying a copy: it is worth it. The more people who buy this album, the more sales they will get, and the more chance VGL Vol. II will come. Jack Wall actually said he wants to make AT LEAST four albums, and that won't happened unless this album is successful. So if you know anyone who enjoyed this album and pirated it, PLEASE, PLEASE, urge them not only to not do something so illegal, but to purchase this album whether here or in digital format (also offered by Amazon) to help promote future volumes by making this one successful!

First thing: Where were these songs when I went this last time to VGL '08? Hahaha. Yeah we had some fantastic music, but one thing I noticed was a total lack of the use of the live choir. It's like they were standing back there for no reason the whole time except to sing in the Halo Suite, God of War, & Sweet Emotion.

That's not the case with this album. If you are a fan of live choirs in orchestrated music, this has an abundance and beautiful harmony.

Track o1:: Kingdom Hearts [3:37]
For fans of the intro track to the KH games...this is the Hikari Orchestrated track, but better. Definitely more bombastic, the horns are louder, the bass is louder. It's gorgeous.

Track o2:: Warcraft Suite [5:05]
A montage of music throughout the Warcraft games. Many of you will recognize the main songs throughout the track as the themes of Warcraft III & World of Warcraft. Emotional music accompanied by a beautiful choir...nothing makes you want to commit massacres of entire villages of centaurs and jungle trolls quite like this. The various different songs are seamlessly interwoven within this track. Definitely a favorite, really gets that dramatic feel down beautifully.

Track o3:: Myst Medley [6:04]
The one and only Myst. Yet another choir-accompanied piece, this track definitely captures the ethereal quality of the Myst soundtracks. This is a beautiful and moving track, complete with dramatic solo chanting and rising melodies. Around [4:10] the ethereal child solo turns into the bombastic melody I'm sure Myst fans will recognize.

Track o4:: Medal of Honor (LIVE) [5:43]
I'm not familiar with the source material, so I'm not sure what particular songs are included in this. All I can say is that it's a beautiful, moving track. Starts off with a choir, then moves down into a soft moving orchestra piece, and then a rising choir and melancholy violin, piano, rises back into a rousing melody, then finishes with percussion.

Track o5:: Civilization IV Medley [4:56]
This has turned out to be by far one of my favorite tracks on the entire album despite not being familiar with the source material (I'm going to go find it now.). A nice medley of various tracks from the game of various ethnic origins, around [2:00] a soloist kick in alongside with the choir for some beautiful African (?) singing. This is a very beautiful, very moving track that both fans and those like myself not familiar with the source material will enjoy.

Track o6:: Tetris Piano Opus No.1 [1:09]
Martin Leung plays Tetris on piano. Yes! Korobeiniki!

Track o7:: God of War Montage (LIVE) [3:35]
I'm not familiar with all the source material, though I do plenty recognize the rousing choir and symphony accompanied by soloist from the various game footage I've seen. Very cool track, GoW fans will definitely enjoy this one.

Track o8:: Advent Rising Suite [6:27]
Again, not familiar with the source material. I feel ashamed to call myself a game music fan now hahaha. Anyways, beautiful and moving track with orchestra and live choir. Definitely a joy to listen to.

Track o9:: TRON Montage [5:18]
I would literally kick an elderly woman (a mean one, of course) to see this song live. The second the first note hit I knew which track it was. The way they've recreated the completely digital soundtrack with a live orchestra, and even have the choir. Oh man. This has hit the nostalgia chord for my favorite Disney film dead on. Beautiful.

Track 1o:: Halo Suite [6:38]
The song I spent the entire show waiting for. Halo's soundtrack is hands down one of my favorites, and this does not disappoint. A montage of themes from Halo 3, the Halo 3 version of the main theme plays a huge part in this Suite. Oh yes, Tommy Tallarico on guitar. This is a very moving track, call me dorky, but listening to this stirs something inside of me. I love this song.

Track 11:: Castlevania Rock (LIVE) [4:44]
To quote Jack's shouts at the beginning of this live recording..."The one, the only, Castlevania!" You've got it: Vampire Killer! If I said this is the best rendition of the song I've ever heard, I wouldn't be exaggerating. Orchestra, electric guitars, drums, everything. It's amazing. Hands down the best ever!

I give this CD a full 100%! Whether or not you've been to a VGL concert before, you MUST buy this album! It's worth it for all game music fans! Even friends and family who do not know anything about game music still enjoy this album as well. The music is just that beautiful.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite what I expected, but still good!, August 9, 2008

By 

Jason Sander (Fremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Video Games Live, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

I had the pleasure of attending Video Games Live furing its first run in San Jose, CA two years ago. It was a highly enjoyable concert, even though I personally felt it was run a bit too much like a rock concert. I was there for the music, and didn't appreciate bouncers all over the place watching me.

I, like many others, been looking forward to this album for a long time, waiting patiently while the organizers worked through all of the legal red-tape. I really, really respect the organizers for all of their hard work, and congragulate them on their incredible success. Having said that, I'm a bit disappointed with the final product. All of the advertising I had read regarding this album lead me to believe it was to be entirely studio recorded (at Abbey Road Studios, no less), utilizing the Crouch End Festival Chorus, one of my favorite choruses, made famous by their collaborations with the City of Prague Philharmonic. Instead, the album is a mix of live performances, studio recorded elements, and in the case of Advent Rising, simply a re-edit of tracks from the original soundtrack release (seriously guys, that's just lazy).

Still, despite all that, there is much to recommend here. The Civilization IV Medley is probably my favorite track on the disc, as well as the God of War Montage (finally, recorded by a live orchestra!). Other honorable mentions include Medal of Honor, and the Warcraft Suite. I'm hoping this is merely an appetizer for what is to come, and if sales warrant it, perhaps they WILL fund a proper studio recording of these pieces, and that will make me a happy man indeed!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Beautiful just like the live performance!, July 23, 2008

By 

J. Martin "-Josh Martin (AbsolutelyGeek.com)" (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Video Games Live, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

Worth every penny. While it's not every song performed at the live performance, it's a good handful of the songs. Every last one sounds gorgeous and the quality is amazing. This is a must have if you've been to the live performance of Video Games Live! Although, any game fanatic would enjoy it.

Amazing, truly.