This article style is adapted from the previous format used for these reviews, which was a Twitter thread.
It's been a while since I've done one of these, so let's get a bigger one out. IIDX RED is the first IIDX edition with a themed title, but in my mind that didn't actually start happening until HAPPY SKY (which came with a hardware upgrade). Therefore, I consider this mix a bit of an in between spot for the series. This'll be my first time hearing most of these tracks.
My music opinions and descriptions are bad, and this article assumes that you've heard the soundtrack before. In addition, it's worth noting that I keep all of my favorite tunes ever on one single playlist. If you see me state that a song has been listed or I've put it on the list, that means I put it in that playlist. That's about it, let's jump in.
ON THE TUBE - Absolutely my jam. Feels slightly RAM-ish, maybe if RAM worked with someone else and did a classic groove coaster track? List it!
EVO66 - It lives up to its name if nothing else. If i'm gonna keep comparing, it does kinda feel like a worse version of the previous song, but only a little bit. Still jams.
believe... ? - Y'know, this is also good, but I'm noticing a bit of a genre trend. Nothing that's an issue of course, but we're tending in a specific direction.
KING OF GROOVE - That trend is continuing. I very much appreciate the sample work, and at least one synth in here reminds me of Super Monkey Ball. And for that, listed!
ROK DA WORLD - Don't like this one as much, not sure why. I guess I don't vibe with the more rock-y style of this one. Also, not what it says.
Kecak - I really like this. Nothing else to say so I'm just gonna relate it to a Tetris Effect stage and list it.
Click Again - I've found myself pretty all over the place in relation to REMO-CON's work. I respect the sample work, but I'm not quite vibing with this one. This either has an incredibly fun chart or an incredibly bad chart.
Be quiet - Somehow reminiscent of beatmania non-IIDX in an aspect to me. Also, the vocal sample just doesn't match the song. Why's it "be quiet". This song is the exact opposite.
gigadelic - It's a classic from my understanding, at least in some aspect. Honestly, it feels like a DDR boss song but made for IIDX, if that makes sense. Difficulty above sound.
Secret of Love - I don't have any commentary besides that I'm putting it on the list. It's just good, idfk
INJECTION OF LOVE - I was not expecting vocals!...and maybe it's my speakers, but they're a little low in the mix. I think it works here, so that's ok.
The Hope Of Tomorrow - One of my friends has stated on more than one occasion that Sota F. serves cunt and I have to agree, minus the vocals which I'm not a fan of here.
Wonder Bullfighter - Hey, this is different! It's pretty good, I wouldn't listen to it randomly but I absolutely respect it and am glad that it's here. I was hoping for a Summer Vacation (CU mix) or AVE DE RAPINA but this is good too!
Back To The Dance Floor - More low key than I would want from this sample selection, which is a very odd thing to say, but it is pretty good. The spring noise usage tips it too far though.
D.A.N.C.E! - Have I played this song before??? The intro feels so strangely familiar. Beyond that, I could make an argument that this song fits in Pump It Up more than IIDX.
KI • SE • KI (IIDX RED EDIT) - It's nice, but it's not really my thing. Which is honestly par for the course with BeForU, sorry Naoki. Maybe this is an IIDX thing, I know they're in DDR a bunch too.
Don't be afraid myself - I feel the same about this as I did the previous song. Nice, but not my thing. That being said, the piano section about 2/3rds in is probably charted in a REALLY satisfying way, and I should play it at some point.
PERFECTWORLD - We continue to be in the "nice but not for me" zone, except also oddly the unchanging sound of the snare drum is bothering me. Always the same volume and texture, never trying to sound even slightly real...it bugs me.
listen to yourself - That guitar (I think? could be bass) came from fucking NOWHERE dude. I audibly laughed, that shit is nuts. I'll put it on the list though, this is smooth.
惑 -perplexity- - Someone in the youtube comments mentioned final fantasy and y'know what? I hear it. Someone should make a Theatrhythm custom, could go hard
TEXTURE - yeah that's SLAKE alright
FAKE TIME - I feel like I should be fucking sprinting listening to this. Listing it could cause issues when I'm driving, but the song is sick as hell. BEMANI racing game when
Fly Away To India - Reminds me of Tetris Giant for some reason, but I think I prefer that game's soundtrack over this across the board.
Raspberry♥Heart (English version) - It's nice but not for me. No other commentary at this time.
AGEHA - Reading the comments is a trip, apparently this song is commonly YTPMV'd or at least was at some point? It's pretty darn good, although it's not anything I'm SUPER crazy about. Slightly youtube outro music, but also you probably know what I use for mine so take that with a grain of salt.
HORIZON - This really feels like it should be more than it is, but it absolutely isn't. I'm not a fan.
BLOCKS - Ok, this is the one everyone really likes. And I love it too, it was on the list before I even did this listen. I've used it in videos before, that's high praise in my opinion. It just sounds fuckin good dude I don't know what to tell you
awakening - When the vocals kicked in I, out loud, went "awwwww :(". Not the song I wanted it to be at all. That being said, the woman on the IIDX RED album art is absolutely the vocalist here, so I do feel bad about this.
BREATH - It just ends up sounding like a Tetris remix trying too hard to be good without the underlying Tetris medley. C'mon dude, you made BLOCKS, this can be good!
AA - It's definitely the sequel to A, but it does feel different in a way I really like. Honestly on the border of listing, but I think I'd remove it very quickly, so I'm not doing it. I might reconsider that though
Sphere - tatsh be naming songs "sphere" (I don't want to repeat the "neat but not my thing" thing again)
ULTiMΛTE - Again, neat, but not my thing. And the Λ in the name makes me strangely annoyed.
HARMONY - Hey, eurobeat is here once again! And again I'm not into it. Usually eurobeat is a "it's not my thing but it's great and i respect it" but actually I don't think this song is good.
NIGHT FLIGHT TO TOKYO - There we go, this is closer to what i'm thinking when i think of eurobeat. The prior "it's not my thing but it's great and I respect it" now applies. I hope he made it to Tokyo on time.
RED ZONE - This is the one. If you know An Bemani Song it's probably this in all realism, and there's a reason for that: it's pretty damn good. That being said, it's still not something I'm putting on the list. The vocals just aren't there for me.
spiral galaxy - Ooooooh this is good. Very fast. I think this is the third song under D.J.SETUP up to this point? It's been all hits, and this one's on the list.
ANDROMEDA - Damn! It's giving more of the previous song in my mind, but it's very much a different track. I'll pop it in the list, it might not stay but it deserves it's spot for a lil bit at least.
RESONATE 1794 - Very pretty, but it doesn't resonate with me. lmao good joke Cublex :) But to be fair, it is a classical remix from what the comments say, which i've never vibed with that much
earth scape - Tangerine Stream vibes, which is pretty damn nice and also makes me hope for a house remix, as the latter got one.
Les filles balancent - It has been a while since I've done one of these rhythm game album listens, and a lot has changed, but I'm still not a fan of Orange Lounge. It always feels kinda close to something I'd enjoy and then it just very much isn't.
Move Me - I'm always a good-cool supporter. This is definitely a little different than their previous work but not at all in a bad way and I'm vibing with it for sure!
Close my Eyes for Me - This was really close to listing, but the second third tanked it. sorry buddy
大桟橋 - Another nice but not my thing. It really does sound good though, and it also turns into eurobeatish?...I think?...which definitely caught me off guard during listening.
SPEEDY CAT - More eurobeat, and Y&Co. at that, always good to hear. They're at the top of eurobeat in rhythm games for me, with my only listed eurobeat being their own Monkey Dance. This track doesn't make it there, unfortunately.
CAR OF YOUR DREAMS - The most eurobeat song title I've ever seen, and it delivers. I audibly said "I don't know why, but this gets me" when I added it to the list. Congrats to this track, it's a high bar for the genre apparently!
太陽 ~T・A・I・Y・O~ - More neat but not my thing. I can't tell if this is eurobeat or not, I can barely hear the synths compared to the vocals. I think it is?
KEY - More neat but not my thing. I've used this phrase a lot, but it is worth remembering that IIDX soundtracks are all over the place genre and artist wise, so it happens.
GENOCIDE - I'm just gonna put the song aside, because it should set aside honestly, and note my worry of "dj killer" making a song called GENOCIDE. Bro has plans. This song is too much. Get me out of here.
ピアノ協奏曲第1番 "蠍火" (大きな鍵盤と円盤のための) - Every IIDX needs a pure classical track apparently. More neat but not my thing. I should just acronymize that by this point, actually.
Ending - I've still got 7 songs left, this is a lie! Jokes aside, this is obviously the ending theme for the game. It sounds juuuust a bit like HAPPY SKY's title music, just a little bit. :thinking:
エブリデイ・ラブリデイ -L.E.D.STYLE MIX- - Not a fan. The whisper vocals in the beginning and end make me want to never listen to this again. Otherwise, it's another NBNFM.
Tell Me More... - The song itself sounds like Oops! I Did It Again partially, and the "low quality" vocals at the beginning remind me of Reality Check, featured in Lumines 2. This is a great song but honestly I'd rather listen to the first association here.
NEBULA GRASPER - This is very L.E.D. which isn't an insult by any means but it's not the most standout title within their work at all. Not bad, just average L.E.D. in my opinion.
STEP INTO THE NEW WORLD - I mean, I just don't like it. I don't know what else to say.
LOVE BOX - This is very nice, I'd say a NBNFM but honestly it's better than reducing to that if nothing else. Worth my time, probably worth yours.
MORE MOVE - A YouTube comment states "unironically sounds like elevator music" and while I get it, I'd be floored to get this good of elevator music honestly. Pretty good!
suggestion - Oddly, I think I had this listed previously. I think I might put it back on, it's really good!
That's IIDX RED done! My favorite here is BLOCKS, I think everyone is gonna say either that or RED ZONE which I've acknowledged, so…cut, print, put on the site, post the back to articles link, we're done.