Review Summary: Great driving music, but too little to really appreciate.
The evolution of video gaming music comes at a price. Junkie XL has taken that into consideration. After spending years in the industry making hit after hit, remix after remix of endless spaced-out beats, the opportunity of a life time approaches him. As far as I can remember, the last video game JXL had ever done an original score for was SSX3, back in 2003. I could only be hesitant to listen to his installment of the Need For Speed franchise, having already evolutionized it with the big-beat up-tempo Rage Against The Machine-styled funk of his debut album. In fact, the same day I bought the game was the day I bought the soundtrack as well, and I was pleased. But as time grew out, so did the game. The music, however, stuck with me for a while, and to this day many would still jam to certain songs from the creative dutchman. In all fairness, the soundtrack to Need For Speed: ProStreet was absolutely repetitive. It might have lasted a good length doing well in the eyes (and ears) of geeks who spend hours on end tuning up virtual cars with an understandable amount of virtual money they could only dream of having.
The soundtrack kicks up steam with the opening track, “Decalomania”, a super-beat frenzy filled with cheesy loops, techno basslines and whirlwind synth effects. The rock influence comes heavily too, mainly including a live drum set which is impressive for a video game score. “Dampener Rod” is the following track, a funk-guitar session that is very poorly mixed. A lot of the instruments feel out-of-place, including the horrible rippling thunder effects. “Choke” saves the day, or at least the moment, with its intense rock mix. A lot of crafty set work is done here, and enough fit in to please gamers, being just over 4-minutes and ultimately the longest song on the album. I cannot get into detail with every song because, well, it all sounds the same. You will hear continuous basslines, synth pumps and drum sets that sound oddly familiar to the next. JXL doesn’t really spark up a club, though. His mixing sounds amateur, knowing some of his older work I wouldn’t exactly say so. Everyone should find their fair share of technotrockatronica here, but hardly enough to make a suitable full-length album.
What it comes down to is quantity over quality. All the songs feel rushed in concept, as if someone had stuck a knife into a mixer board and expected sound to come out. While it serves its purpose of being a cool-as-ice driving musical, the whole idea of it being an actual studio album is near impossible. The soundtrack to a crappy game just may make it better, but that’s about it. The replay value is good, I have to admit. You will find yourself listening to this every once in a while if you’re brave enough to stroll down the local highway at 180km/ph. Its good fun, but like I mentioned earlier not enough effort and thought was put into action. If you’re a fan, I give you a thumbs up to purchase NFS: ProStreet OST immediately. Otherwise, listen to some Crystal Method and smoke a joint.
Recommended tracks
“Choke”
“Bezel”
“More (Bonus Track)”
