Jun Senoue

Game Music

Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 Soundtracks to Release to Vinyl via Brave Wave

November 7, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 Soundtracks to Release to Vinyl via Brave Wave Share this

If you thought Brave Wave Productions was only into releasing the soundtracks of Capcom titles, think again! The label has partnered up with SEGA in order to release vinyl copies of the soundtracks to Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 this winter!

Both double-LP collections will feature music chosen by Sonic series composer Jun Senoue and will be completely remastered for vinyl. In addition, they will come in special edition first-print color variants, and include an extensive booklet filled with artwork and interviews with Senoue and Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka. With it being a year away until the 20th anniversary of Sonic Adventure‘s release to the Sega Dreamcast in 1998, the timing of the release is appropriate!

SONIC ADVENTURE OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK VINYL EDITION and SONIC ADVENTURE 2 OFFICIAL SOUNDTRACK VINYL EDITION will be released this Winter, so keep eyes on the Brave Wave website for release details when they become available.
Game Music, Japanese

Sega Band Crush 40 Release New Original Album

May 13, 2015 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Sega Band Crush 40 Release New Original Album Share this

Despite Sega having downsized and largely pulled out of the gaming market, that hasn’t stopped their boys in Crush 40 from making new music. The band just released the newest album, “2 Nights to Remember” on Amazon Japan.

Crush 40 is the band created by Sega and fronted by composer Jun Senoue (Sonic Games, Shadow the Hedgehog) on guitar and Johnny Gioeli as vocalist, originally for the release of the game NASCAR Arcade, and has contributed to the soundtracks of several Sonic titles, including main themes for Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 and songs for Sonic Heroes and Sonic and the Black Knight. This new original album follows the release of their 2012 album “Live!” and contains four newly-record studio tracks, as well as several live-performance tracks from the “Live!” album and various Sonic themes.

You can purchase the album on Amazon Japan for about 2,381 yen (or $19.95 dollars plus tax). You can also check out some previews on their website.

Crush 40 – Website | Twitter | 2 Nights 2 Remember
Game Music

Sonic Generations: Jun Senoue Answers Your Questions!

May 8, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 1 Comment Share this

A few months ago, we asked our readers if they had any questions for Jun Senoue and the other members of the SEGA audio team that worked on Sonic Generations. It may have taken a bit of time to get the conversation flowing, but we make good on our promises! We don’t disappoint!

After the jump, Jun Senoue has answers to two of our readers’ questions. One answer is short and sweet; the other one is quite lengthy. Check it out! (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Before the Saturn: Sega’s SUPER 32X 15th Anniversary Album (Review)

April 25, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Yep, it’s one of those SEGA collections again. I’ve mentioned in past reviews of these kinds of “anniversary” albums including the SEGA Motorcycle Music History album, that I was always more of a Nintendo guy than a SEGA guy growing up, so I love that these albums give me the chance to catch up on the classic music I missed from SEGA’s various systems.

This time we’re looking at SEGA’s ill-fated 32X add on for the Genesis. While there weren’t many games released for the system, and it was rather short-lived due to the impending release of the SEGA Saturn, the music from some of the games is in line with classic SEGA greats, and you may be surprised by which SEGA artists appear on the album.

Hit the jump for our review of SEGA’s Super 32X 15th Anniversary Album! (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Everybody’s Super Sonic Racing: Sonic Free Riders Soundtrack (Review)

March 11, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Everybody’s Super Sonic Racing: Sonic Free Riders Soundtrack (Review) Share this

Okay, so maybe you forgot all about Sonic Free Riders, the Microsoft Kinect launch title that lets you race against other characters in the Sonic universe by moving your body in your living room. There have been a number of Sonic titles that have come out recently, and even some of the hardcore Sonic fans here at OSV have yet to experience Free Riders.

But that doesn’t mean we haven’t taken notice of the music. With a catchy theme song by Jun Senoue, and some upbeat electronic music by Sonic veteran Tomonori Sawada and Koji Sakurai, even if the Kinect isn’t your thing, there’s no reason this music can’t be.

Hit the jump for our review. (more…)
Game Music

Tony Harnell Confirms Recording Music For Unknown Sonic Project.

February 16, 2011 | Audun Sorlie | 7 Comments Share this

Tony Harnell, best known as the singer of the classic heavy metal band TNT, worked with SEGA’s Jun Senoue to provide vocals for the Sonic Adventure and Sonic Heroes games. As those soundtracks made extensive use of melodic rock heroes, Harnell could be heard singing the theme song for Sonic Adventure titled “It Doesn’t Matter” and alongside Ted Poley on “Escape from the City” and “We Can”. Though the songs proved to be very popular among the fans, Harnell would not return to provide vocals on any future Sonic titles after the release of Sonic Heroes in 2003.

It seems that Harnell is finally stepping back into the world of Sonic The Hedgehog yet again however. On February 16th, His official Facebook page posted an update about his current recording sessions and it seems that he is back working on a new version of the famous city level theme from SA2:

“Sang the new version of Escape From The City today w/Ted Poley for the SEGA game Sonic The Hedgehog:) Great seeing all the guys again today. Cheers, TH”

Since no further info was provided, it’s hard to say if it’s for an all new Sonic title or some kind of compilation CD. It is great to hear that he reunited with the old team and hopefully, we will see him appear more frequently as Harnell has one of the best vocal ranges in all of rock music.

To follow Harnell’s Facebook, visit his Facebook page.
Game Music, Miscellaneous

Sonic Boom Trio Part 3: Crush 40 Review

May 19, 2010 | Audun Sorlie | 1 Comment Share this Sonic Boom Trio Part 3: Crush 40 Review

Finally we’ve reached the end of the trio of albums released by Wave Master late last year based on the works of Jun Senoue. Earlier we took a look at both True Colors – The Best of Sonic the Hedgehog Part 2 and THE WORKS which both offered both familiar favorites and retooled duds. But even with the occasional bad apple one thing remains a constant, Jun Senoue’s skills.

Therefore we saved the best for last in terms of his showcase of these talents with the review of The Best Of Crush 40: Super Sonic Songs, which is arguably the side of his works he’ll always be most famous for to game music fans. This CD as the title suggests collects the best so far from the hard rocking duo of Senoue and Johnny Gioeli. But is this a collection worth getting?

Crush your doubts by hitting the jump! (more…)