> No, he does not need to be made lead composer just because his scores harken back to Marty’s. I don’t understand why people seem to think that Marty is the be-all and end-all of Halo’s music, it’s utterly ridiculous because as soon as a composer deviates from anything he did then apparently it’s wrong. It’s simply bloody not.
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> It’s a new trilogy with a new tone, new theme and new atmosphere and the music is supposed to reflect that, like the music in ODST was supposed to be completely different from the trilogy. Plus, there are subtle musical cues in some of the Halo 4 tracks which are similar to Halo 3’s that play at a number of character-defining moments like when Lasky tells John that “soldiers aren’t machines” and closes the door on Halo 4’s thematic message. It makes it all the more poignant to have these musical throwbacks then rather than throwing it in every other track because HURR DURR IT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE HALO OTHERWISE.
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> Before ODST came out, if I told you that Halo would have a new artist for a new Halo game, and that he was going to be heavy on the jazz and saxaphone, would you have flipped your Yoink!? Probably. If I told you that artist was not new, and was just an experimental Marty, you would have absolutely no issue despite the hypocrisy. And then ODST’s soundtrack ended up being one of the best, despite not being anything like Halo “should sound” according to people, it’s up there with the likes of Journey and Shadow of the Colossus because it expanded and grew. There is no ‘Halo sound’, no arbitrary definition for that, Halo’s music (like its atmosphere, themes, characters and story) is ever-changing and always adapting. Just because the music isn’t out to start kicking you with mind-addling nostalgia like you crave, that doesn’t in any way lessen its quality.
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> Neil and Kazuma make a perfect duo and they should be kept that way - Neil is able to create really definitive alien ambient pieces (Aliens, Swamp, Legacy, Haven, Cloud City, This Armour etc) as well as character themes (Revival, Nemesis, Green and Blue, Awakening etc) while Kazuma handles the more epic, large scale tracks which bring you back to the more familiar ground of Halo’s music (Lasky’s Theme, Sacrifice, Never Forget, Majestic, 117, Gravity etc).
Oh my, assumptions my friend…let’s dissect this.
> just because his scores harken back to Marty’s. I don’t understand why people seem to think that Marty is the be-all and end-all of Halo’s music, it’s utterly ridiculous because as soon as a composer deviates from anything he did then apparently it’s wrong. It’s simply bloody not.
First I never said deviating from Marty was bad. However the deviation Davidge took IN MY OPINION was bad. I didn’t really enjoy most of Davidges work in Halo 4’s OST. Kazuma did deviate from Marty, but not completely, and I thought he hit a perfect balance. It is not just “Marty’s style” It’s “Halo’s Style”. There is a certain style of music that Halo has, and I think Davidge departed to much from Halo’s style.
> It’s a new trilogy with a new tone, new theme and new atmosphere and the music is supposed to reflect that, like the music in ODST was supposed to be completely different from the trilogy.
I agree, I just don’t feel the tone f some of the music composed by Davidge hit it correctly, balancing halo’s style with the new atmosphere. I think Kasuma hit it better.
> Plus, there are subtle musical cues in some of the Halo 4 tracks which are similar to Halo 3’s that play at a number of character-defining moments like when Lasky tells John that “soldiers aren’t machines” and closes the door on Halo 4’s thematic message. It makes it all the more poignant to have these musical throwbacks then rather than throwing it in every other track because HURR DURR IT DOESN’T SOUND LIKE HALO OTHERWISE.
First, the throw backs were cool, and I thought were perfect, not overdone, not underdone…Guess which pieces had the throwbacks thoguh… The ones composed by Kazuma. Second NEVER did I say the tracks should all have throwbacks. There is a certain FEEL and STYLE that halo’s music has that Kazuma nailed on the head. That does NOT mean he rehashed old music, it’s all about nailing the style which again I think Davidge missed on and Kazuma flourished.
> Before ODST came out, if I told you that Halo would have a new artist for a new Halo game, and that he was going to be heavy on the jazz and saxaphone, would you have flipped your Yoink!? Probably.
Nope…cause it was a departure from normal tunes yes…but it still hit the style of halo’s music. It fit the environment while maintaining a style. I think Davidge departed to much from the Style.
> f I told you that artist was not new, and was just an experimental Marty, you would have absolutely no issue despite the hypocrisy.
Nope, I actually think there are a few pieces that MARTY did for ODST that diverted a tad to much from the Halo style.
> And then ODST’s soundtrack ended up being one of the best, despite not being anything like Halo “should sound” according to people, it’s up there with the likes of Journey and Shadow of the Colossus because it expanded and grew.
It was a great soundtrack…however I have to take issue with one thing you said. It DOES sound like halo (aside from a few pieces which I did take issue with). He nailed the environment, but also still made it within halo’s style.
> There is no ‘Halo sound’, no arbitrary definition for that, Halo’s music (like its atmosphere, themes, characters and story) is ever-changing and always adapting. Just because the music isn’t out to start kicking you with mind-addling nostalgia like you crave, that doesn’t in any way lessen its quality.
I disagree, I think there is a “Halo sound” I would call it a “style” but either way, I disagree with you on that one bud :).
Also I never said his music was terrible, I just don’t feel it fit the game, hit the style correctly, and therefore was not on par with the expectations that I think most of us have, and rightfully so.
> Neil and Kazuma make a perfect duo and they should be kept that way - Neil is able to create really definitive alien ambient pieces (Aliens, Swamp, Legacy, Haven, Cloud City, This Armour etc) as well as character themes (Revival, Nemesis, Green and Blue, Awakening etc) while Kazuma handles the more epic, large scale tracks which bring you back to the more familiar ground of Halo’s music (Lasky’s Theme, Sacrifice, Never Forget, Majestic, 117, Gravity etc).
I think That Davidge had some good pieces, but overall I think most of his stuff missed the style of halo’s music, and fit uncomfortably in this game and universe.
So don’t attack me, I’m aloud to prefer one composer over the other because I like one’s style over the other -_-. I don’t like Davidge’s at times EXCESSIVE thechno style, nor do I think it fits the Halo style. I said in my OP it is MY opinion. Thanks for commenting, good fun 
He just seems to have a magical touch…and it all sound very halo. Nailed the style.