I've remained mostly silent for the past few month with my works, and now I'm going to tell you guys why.

After pushing the rest of my projects to the back shelf for a while, I managed to focus on what was closest to accomplish, and now my first full-length music album, FIX0RS TEH JAZZ JACKRABBIT!!! is nearing completion! And what's most important, it's a Jazz Jackrabbit-dedicated work, a concept album AND a video game remix album based on the third game in the series, known informally as Jazz Jackrabbit Advance!

I know most of you are very negative when it comes to this particular game, but let me explain myself. I just felt that while the weakest of the bunch, this game deserves a little love too. The most I could do was make the music seem on par with that from the rest of the series. I did my best to expand both on the game's songs and squeeze out all I could from their simple, yet catchy melodies, as well as on the story. The way I approached it with the album's lyrics is very introspective, and does not follow the events as much as it does Jazz's possible thoughts on them.

...There is also a second thread of meaning to the lyrics. Remember when I used to call myself simply Jazz? (and later on, JaZz!, because clearly that was way more original :P) Yeah, back in the old days, when JSZ was still around, I just started to play online and place myself in the community... As a teenager, I took this moniker because I felt to be similar to the character in a few ways. As much as I've grown out of this, it is now truer than ever, because this album is just as much about GBA's Jazz as it is about myself and what I had gone through in the last few years. I know it sounds crazy and improbable, but trust me when I say it works! The concept here is done in a way that makes the songs possible to identify with, and I believe it does so for many people; it's a story of change, of leaving things behind to make place for new ones, and also a story of anxiety and regret. In a way, it could even reflect this whole community...

Music-wise, well... If you remember my demo EP, I'll tell you this - it's almost nothing like it. Made of Hate was done in a few weeks in late 2008, but on FIX0RS, I have been working as long as since 2007. Remember the two songs I posted on J2O back then, Gone Advanced and A Prisoner Out? Well, they're both here, as tracks 1 and 2, though obviously they've changed a bit. There's a lot of things going on the whole album, there's heavy stuff, melodic stuff, there's rock, breakbeat, disco, metal, jazz, electro-orchestral music, one song even sounds like tribal though it's really something much different. It all blends together well though. Even if you won't like a song or two, there's still a high chance that you may love the other ones.

So, right now I'm finishing the writing process. I still need to complete two songs, and there's many things I want to fix, change or experiment with. Regardless, I've already talked with Luigi Elettrico about recording and mixing the album - we will do it in September. It's settled, unless something really bad happens. When that's done, I will decide on a release date. But I'm going to soothe the wait and share some of the work during the time left. Right now I don't have much, but I'll have gathered my recording equipment by the beginning of August and start recording proper demos right after that.

Ask questions if you wish, but I can't guarantee I will answer them right away.

You don't sing? Then it isn't good But mind you I'm glad to see a fellow musician giving some love to the series.

Question: you don't happen to have used the I-V-VI-IV chord progression in any of your songs have you? It's too common these days.

Originally Posted by Sean

You don't sing?

I do. I took notion that on my demo EP I mostly screamed or spoke, and I worked hard on my vocal skills in recent time.

Originally Posted by Sean

Question: you don't happen to have used the I-V-VI-IV chord progression in any of your songs have you? It's too common these days.

No such thing here, although some of the melodies are of similar kind. :P

If you want to follow the creation of the album closely, make sure to check out my Twitter:

http://twitter.com/2xGJ

http://jsz-jazz.deviantart.com/art/G...over-245353007

It's very rare that I post here, since my interest in the series fluctuates and I tend to avoid forums as a whole, these days... but I have to say, I am extremely interested in this project! Jazz Jackrabbit Advance is the definite black sheep of the series, what with the ridiculously stupid and forced ties to the original series, the considerably slower gameplay, and the overall inferior quality in ever aspect aside from humor, but you know something? It definitely had a solid, if not simple, soundtrack.

DoubleGJ (and I, to a lesser extent) has proven in the past that he can work wonders with the soundtrack, so I firmly believe that this is definitely something to look forward to. Cheers for this, DGJ!

If your interest is lost because you don't know or remember the game's original soundtrack, here's something for you. I have uploaded all of the game's songs to YouTube. This is a link to a playlist which will play all of the tracks for you in proper order:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL414D37AF8F64F35C

It may look like I'm mostly talking to myself here, but judging from the topic views I know better than that. At any rate, here's a little spoiler for you guys, the tracklisting. I'm almost completely positive it won't change at all anymore, but then again, you may never be 100% sure. :B

1. "Gone Advanced" [Main theme remix]
2. "A Prisoner Out" [Chameleon World remix]
3. "50 Bananas" [Interlude]
4. "City in the Starlight" [Carrotopolis remix]
5. "March of the Turtle Troopers" [Icebox3 remix]
6. "Mad as a Jackrabbit" [SFX mix]*
7. "Critical Brain Pollution" [Pollutus remix]
8. "City in the Starlight (Reprise)" [Weapons depot remix]**
9. "In the Void" [Interlude]
10. "Feel This" [Chelonia IV remix]
11. "The Duel" [Boss / final boss remix]
12. "See You, Space Rabbit..." [Credits remix]

* - This song is an original composition, not a remix of any song from the game. However, its relevance comes from the fact that it is made entirely out of JJGBA's sound effects; not counting the vocals, that is.
** - Well, actually, weapons depot has the same song as is in Carrotopolis. The reason why I wrote it so here is that the reprised song on the album is less 'city-ish' and more dramatic, akin to the feeling of arming for an upcoming battle.

I finished all the albums lyrics today. The concept is as clear as it gets, everything sticks together and individual songs make sense on their own as I wanted them to, more or less. Just one thing: I'm not entirely sure about my grammar or choice of words in a few places, so if anyone to whom English is their native language is reading this, and is willing to help, I would gladly send them the lyrics for review. Such participation will be credited, of course!

I'm happy to help, I'm a songwriter myself, and a writer too.

Here's a demo of the Icebox3 remix!

March of the Turtle Troopers (2011 Demo) by Two Games Joined

(if the widget does not work just click on the link, I'm relatively new to this)

Sounds nice.

There will be a small delay in album recording; I've been really sick for the past few days. My throat is in ruins, and I need time to recover if I want my vocals to sound good (my coughing sounds like a freaking tractor engine or something). I'll be doing my best to try and arrange a recording period with Luigi E. in mid-October - so, putting it simple, in a month. This shouldn't affect the proper album release as I shall just do the booklet artwork earlier so to not waste any time, but it means less track previews before said release...

Originally Posted by DoubleGJ

Here's a demo of the Icebox3 remix!

That... was freaking epic, DoubleGJ. ._. I am in awe. If the other tracks are this awesome -- and I pretty much know they will be! -- I think you should try submitting this stuff to OverClocked ReMix, if not as an album then track-by-track. I'm [b]positive[/i] you'll get some weird looks from the chosen game, but people will absolutely [b]love[/i] what you've done with the tracks!

Hehe, thanks. I want to put out another demo in 3 days (which my birthday), so do hang around. The recording got postponed as far as to late January, so I'm trying to keep the people still interested.

Consider us still interested. (Free copy please?)

With You (Part 1 2011 Demo) by Two Games Joined

And here it is, a remix of the credits theme. Not the song I planned to post, but difficulties forced me to use what I had. I might post the other song really soon, though!

I can find no fault with it.

Hmmm, reminds me of Stan's Theme.

What Stan? :S

Probably the sampling

Oh, okay. I should probably be ashamed that I never played any Monkey Island game. I'm not big on point 'n click. :[

Been a while since I last changed the quote in my signature. This one comes from the second part of the song I recently posted. Being an outro to the album, it's an unassuming redux of the Jazz1 outro song, with heartfelt vocals backed by an acoustic guitar and piano duet. I don't think I've ever done something like this before, but I'm really proud of it. Can't wait until you people hear it.

Got any estimated release date yet? I can't wait!
If you need and extra mixing or anything done lemme know, I've been working on my production stuff a bit.

Also PM me sometime, I might have a project proposal for you/.

I have everything I need for mixing. As for a release date, geez, I really wish I could say. Right now it's looking like February... I'll tell a date when I can KNOW there can be one.