For Music of the Year 2024, instead of having all music releases in a single pool, we opted to spin off arrangement and remix albums as well as vinyl releases, to let us highlight an even larger variety of music from throughout the year. See five of our favorites below and check out the rest of the feature as well!
Overall Best Music of 2024
Podcast
Editors’ Favorites
A New World: intimate music from Final Fantasy – Volume III
by Hilary Andreff
It’s always a joy to see an arrangement series with potential truly find its footing and flourish, especially when it’s two very dear things to me: chamber music and Final Fantasy. I was (some might say overly) delighted at the concept behind the first A New World, willing to overlook a few confusing and suboptimal choices in those arrangements and recordings because of the novel format. (Maybe also because I saw it live.) Not this time! The arrangements are strong, there’s some fantastic new music to draw from, and the album sounds significantly more polished. I have no reservations saying that it’s a top arrangement album for 2024 when I hear tracks like “Lenna’s Theme” from FFV that feel absolutely made for the chamber format, followed by surprising choices, like Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers‘ “Sands of Amber,” executed well. I’m still wondering how they made a comprehensible chamber piece out of that one, and I love the original.
Highlighted Track: “Blue Fields (Final Fantasy VIII)“
Jazz Arrange Version: Chrono Cross
by Gio Castillo
The word that constantly bubbles up with Jazz Arrange Album: Chrono Cross is… tasteful. Sean Schafianski and company reinterpret each selection with a light touch, preserving the core motifs and letting the improvisation blossom naturally. Take the glow-up for “Fleeting Thoughts”; Schafianski transforms the austere piano ballad into a guitar duet best described as soothingly soulful. Like Patrick in his review, my only negative is that I wish the album contained even more tracks, but I’m happy with what we have. All in all, Jazz Arrange Album: Chrono Cross is squarely in my Goldilocks zone. I’m never left wanting more by these arrangements, and I’m not sure Square Enix itself could have done better. But I’d love to hear them try.
Highlighted Track: “Fleeting Thoughts“
Megami Tensei I・II Rearrange / Tsukasa Masuko
by Patrick Gann
Before Atlus even had the rights to the franchise, before it had even become Shin Megami Tensei, once upon a time this franchise was simply titled Megami Tensei. Two Megami Tensei titles were released on the Japanese Famicom (NES), with music composed by the venerable Tsukasa Masuko.
A solid 35 years after their original release, and out of the blue, Tsukasa Masuko self-published this crazy rock-ballad arrange album. The entire album feels like something stuck out of time, like a Falcom JDK Band arrange album from the late ‘80s. If you enjoy bands like Journey or Foreigner, you’re likely to find a lot to love in this esoteric collection of arranged music celebrating the beginning of all things MegaTen. I will personally give a shout-out to the back-to-back tracks “Recollections” and “Ex-convict,” as they are presently my two favorites!
Highlighted Tracks: “Recollections” & “Ex-convict“
Octopath Traveler Orchestral Arrangements -To travel is to live-
by Patrick Gann
Yasunori Nishiki has composed over 14 hours of music for the three Octopath Traveler titles currently in existence (with a fourth on the way!). I cannot imagine trying to pare his incredible source material down to a 40-minute selection to perform with an orchestra. And that’s about the only complaint I have for Octopath Traveler Orchestral Arrangements -To travel is to live- … I want more! I suppose that gives an excuse for a second concert in the future.
The orchestral arrangements for “The Riverlands” (OT1), “In Pursuit of Kingship: Critical Clash II” (OT2), and “Bestower of Wealth” (OT: Champions of the Continent) are my favorites on this album. All three translated exceptionally well to orchestral form. All ten tracks sound great, of course, but yours truly would have loved to hear “The Frostlands” and “Toto’haha” with a full orchestra. Maybe next year!
Highlighted Track: “To travel is to live“
Zelda & Jazz II
by Matt Wardell
There are plenty of jazz covers of VGM out there both official and amateur, but Zelda & Jazz II, arranged and performed by Rob Araujo masquerading as “The Deku Trio,” has to be one of the most satisfying and lushly produced. Improving from 2024’s earlier release of the first Zelda & Jazz and featuring 18 tracks from three decades of The Legend of Zelda’s finest tunes, this album is the perfect companion to a relaxing night and a tall jug of Lon Lon Milk. Sizzling drums? Piano solos? Upright bass grooves? Da-da-da-daaaaa! We got ‘em. The closest sound I can compare it to is Peanuts’ Vince Guaraldi’s jazz trio, which is a compliment of the highest order. Filled with nostalgic melodies and “a-ha!” moments alongside a heaping of originality, Zelda & Jazz II has been consistently on my rotation and shall continue to be long after a hopeful third collection.
Highlighted Track: “Full Steam Ahead“
