Over the ‘hood, through the streets, and right into your braaaaain!!!!!
Savor the sweet sounds of Reps, because it’s Jet Set Radio month on Tuesday Tunes! Over the course of the next few weeks you’ll be powering through the wave of nostalgia, energy, and the sheer, absolute, unmistakable musical sexiness that we know of as the soundtrack to Jet Set Radio and its sequel, with a little branching out for good measure.
This week’s chosen song is none other than ‘Bout the City, an infectiously catchy track coming from British artist Reps. Though Kogane-Cho is undoubtedly my least favoite of Jet Set Radio’s three main districts, I can’t help but crack a smile when I drop into the level and this is the first track that plays. To me it embodies everything that makes Jet Set Radio what it is; it was a free spirit in an industry that was growing more gritty and “mainstream” by the year. The punk-flavored ‘Bout the City seems to want nothing more than for the listener to have a total blast, and that to me is everything that Jet Set Radio stood for; Poison Jam may have kidnapped the dog, the Noise Tanks may have flooded the Garage with frogs, and they were constantly pursued by a batshit crazy police captain…yet, you never got the feeling that the GGs weren’t enjoying just about every minute of it all.
Their world was always colorful, the funky melodies were beamed directly into their heads, and the streets of Tokyo-to sure looked beautiful when blasted through on rocket-powered skates. For another upbeat but very different tune, hit the jump for Toronto’s Electric Toothbrush, which pretty much sums up everything awesome about not just SEGA, but hell, the year 2000 as well.
This is exactly why I wanted to get other writers in on this feature. I NEVER would have picked this song XD.
Interesting choices man, I definitely see we’re your coming from in regards to the “spirit of freedom” this track has.
Electric toothbrush rules, so does the Year 2000 and SEGA and the Dreamcast!
Both songs had better be in the rerelease!
Good pick on Bout the City. I recall it being a Benten-cho tune, but I’m sure it played in both Kogane and Benten.
One of my least favorite songs from the soundtrack, but it definitely has energy.
“I recall it being a Benten-cho tune,”
hahaha nah Bout the City was deff a Kogane-cho song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsDaWafr9ac&feature=player_detailpage#t=550s
I don’t remember if it played in Benten-Cho as well, but it might have.
And thanks Nuckles, I’ve always gotten into this track.
“Both songs had better be in the rerelease!”
Indeed. A lot of people probably don’t remember licensed songs like ‘Bout the City but they play a major role in the game’s sound and feel, that’s why I really hope they can manage to secure 100% of the soundtrack.
“One of my least favorite songs from the soundtrack, but it definitely has energy.”
Yeah it’s very much a pop-punk type of song but with its own distinct flavor. Not everyone’s cup of tea but I’ve always dug fast rock.
Oh I remember, it played during the Noise Tank chase in Benten-Cho.