The Humble Music Bundle
July 29, 2012 7:38 AM Subscribe
You remember the Humble Indie Bundle, (previously) and the Humble Holiday Bundle (previously)? The Humble Music Bundle is out. Following the same pay-what-you-want plan, featuring six albums.
Ars Technica:
MC Frontalot, Damian Kulash, Jonathan Coulton, Christopher Tin, Jeffrey Rosen, John Graham, Richard Esguerra did an AMA on reddit.
Ars Technica:
There's a definite gaming vibe running through the six albums being offered here. Besides the Best of Valkyria Chronicles soundtrack, the selection contains Christopher Tin's Calling All Dawns (including the Grammy winning Civilization IV theme "Baba Yetu") and a greatest hits album from Jonathan Coulton (complete with a live version of his memorable, Portal-ending song "Still Alive"). The bundle also features nerdcore rapper (and frequent Penny Arcade Expo performer) MC Frontalot, a remix-filled album from power pop group OK Go (who helped launch the 3DS's downloadable video service last year) and geek-rock favorites They Might Be Giants (who… actually don't have much of a connection to gaming, it seems).EFF:'All of the albums are DRM-free and can be downloaded as MP3s and/or FLACs, meaning you can play them anytime, anywhere, on any device that supports MP3 or FLAC audio formats.'
MC Frontalot, Damian Kulash, Jonathan Coulton, Christopher Tin, Jeffrey Rosen, John Graham, Richard Esguerra did an AMA on reddit.
That's awesome. I recall suggesting to Warp Records that they should do charity compilations every so often, though I hadn't pictured the Humble Bundles approach of "pay what thou wilt"... They never took me up on the idea, but some of their artists did work on the Japan benefit after the Tsunami.
I think it's great that they're branching out beyond just games. I wonder what other sort of media is ripe for this kind of thing.
posted by symbioid at 7:55 AM on July 29, 2012
I think it's great that they're branching out beyond just games. I wonder what other sort of media is ripe for this kind of thing.
posted by symbioid at 7:55 AM on July 29, 2012
I saw some links to this on twitter but got confused when seeing the OKgo album having a diff price than the rest.
I had a lot of $5 signups sitting at PayPal so I just made mefi the top donation!
posted by mathowie at 8:58 AM on July 29, 2012 [6 favorites]
I had a lot of $5 signups sitting at PayPal so I just made mefi the top donation!
posted by mathowie at 8:58 AM on July 29, 2012 [6 favorites]
OKgo album having a diff price than the rest.
Apparently, if you donate more than the average donation, you get the OKgo album.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:03 AM on July 29, 2012
Apparently, if you donate more than the average donation, you get the OKgo album.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:03 AM on July 29, 2012
I hope this catches on, and am considering donating just for this reason, but I'm not a fan of any of these bands. I know that makes me an outcast, but so be it.
Ah, fuck it. I see the money goes to the EFF and technology for kids. I'm contributing now. Maybe I'll be surprised.
posted by cjorgensen at 9:19 AM on July 29, 2012
Ah, fuck it. I see the money goes to the EFF and technology for kids. I'm contributing now. Maybe I'll be surprised.
posted by cjorgensen at 9:19 AM on July 29, 2012
Yeah, I haven't yet played a single game from the last humble bundle, but I bought it just on principle.
posted by 256 at 9:32 AM on July 29, 2012
posted by 256 at 9:32 AM on July 29, 2012
I hope this catches on, and am considering donating just for this reason, but I'm not a fan of any of these bands.
Same here. It'd be great to see, say, nicely themed selections from an independent label's back catalogue, or a set gathering together an artist's side-projects in future.
The computer game music and nerd novelty acts are the obvious choice given the Humble Indie Bundle heritage, but it'll really get interesting when/if they stretch beyond their existing gamer audience.
posted by jack_mo at 9:55 AM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Same here. It'd be great to see, say, nicely themed selections from an independent label's back catalogue, or a set gathering together an artist's side-projects in future.
The computer game music and nerd novelty acts are the obvious choice given the Humble Indie Bundle heritage, but it'll really get interesting when/if they stretch beyond their existing gamer audience.
posted by jack_mo at 9:55 AM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Its version of Baba Yetu is improved compared to the Civ 4 version
How is it different? It sounds exactly like the Civ4 version to me, in preview - is a different version included on the album itself?
posted by ellF at 9:57 AM on July 29, 2012
How is it different? It sounds exactly like the Civ4 version to me, in preview - is a different version included on the album itself?
posted by ellF at 9:57 AM on July 29, 2012
I think it's great that they're branching out beyond just games. I wonder what other sort of media is ripe for this kind of thing.
They included Kooky with the Botanicula Debut bundle. They've also included downloadable soundtracks for a while, I think.
posted by aloha at 10:08 AM on July 29, 2012
They included Kooky with the Botanicula Debut bundle. They've also included downloadable soundtracks for a while, I think.
posted by aloha at 10:08 AM on July 29, 2012
Chris Tin was an acquaintance in college, and we worked together on a project (he did some arrangements for a production of Jesus Christ, Superstar, and I was Sound Designer. Not being super knowledgable about video game music, I knew he would be successful; he was incredibly talented musically, and also one of the most driven and focused people I've ever known. It's not normally a genre of music I follow, but I think I might buy this just to hear his stuff.
posted by JMOZ at 11:54 AM on July 29, 2012
posted by JMOZ at 11:54 AM on July 29, 2012
Oh yay, I'm excited to listen to these--especially the MC Frontalot album!
It makes me happy that @metafilter is the top donor.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:55 AM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
It makes me happy that @metafilter is the top donor.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:55 AM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
on the Boing Boing post about the music bundle, Cory Doctorow indicated that he's working on an e-book bundle for the near future. So it looks like they are branching out in quite a few directions...
posted by jkosmicki at 12:37 PM on July 29, 2012
posted by jkosmicki at 12:37 PM on July 29, 2012
I'm JoCo crazy, so this is good.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:32 PM on July 29, 2012
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:32 PM on July 29, 2012
It makes me happy that @metafilter is the top donor.
Yeah, like the bronies will let that stand.
(Actually, whether or not @metafilter, @notch or @humblebrony wins this one, it's like I'm on the winning team.)
posted by JHarris at 3:29 PM on July 29, 2012
Yeah, like the bronies will let that stand.
(Actually, whether or not @metafilter, @notch or @humblebrony wins this one, it's like I'm on the winning team.)
posted by JHarris at 3:29 PM on July 29, 2012
Cory Doctorow indicated that he's working on an e-book bundle for the near future.
Can I be the first to hate on this idea? Yes, I can! Maybe get a writer I don't hate?
posted by cjorgensen at 4:57 PM on July 29, 2012
Can I be the first to hate on this idea? Yes, I can! Maybe get a writer I don't hate?
posted by cjorgensen at 4:57 PM on July 29, 2012
I'm sure it's a short list. I bet you could include them all in a single comment.
posted by hippybear at 5:19 PM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 5:19 PM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
JMoz: I knew he would be successful; he was incredibly talented musically, and also one of the most driven and focused people I've ever known. It's not normally a genre of music I follow, but I think I might buy this just to hear his stuff.
Well, Calling All Dawns isn't computer game music by any means. I'm not sure whether Baba Yetu was composed just for Civ4, but in listening to it, it certainly doesn't sound computer game related at all. And it won a freaking Grammy, for "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists", so clearly non-gamers like it.
I think it's just an outstanding album, and I enjoy it very much. Paid list price of $10 a year or two ago, and am very happy I did.
ellF: How is it different?
I don't remember clearly anymore, as I don't have Civ4 handy to check against, but I'm pretty sure the performance was different. I know I liked the album better than the Civ4 version. But I'm afraid I can't be more precise than that, damn my failing memory.
posted by Malor at 6:03 PM on July 29, 2012
Well, Calling All Dawns isn't computer game music by any means. I'm not sure whether Baba Yetu was composed just for Civ4, but in listening to it, it certainly doesn't sound computer game related at all. And it won a freaking Grammy, for "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists", so clearly non-gamers like it.
I think it's just an outstanding album, and I enjoy it very much. Paid list price of $10 a year or two ago, and am very happy I did.
ellF: How is it different?
I don't remember clearly anymore, as I don't have Civ4 handy to check against, but I'm pretty sure the performance was different. I know I liked the album better than the Civ4 version. But I'm afraid I can't be more precise than that, damn my failing memory.
posted by Malor at 6:03 PM on July 29, 2012
Aha, apparently you do it at the bottom of the download page.
posted by jepler at 7:21 PM on July 29, 2012
posted by jepler at 7:21 PM on July 29, 2012
Aah, I would have joined in if I had noticed that. So that's how the @humblebrony guys do it....
posted by JHarris at 7:35 PM on July 29, 2012
posted by JHarris at 7:35 PM on July 29, 2012
Christopher Tin is an all-round lovely guy, and if you liked Baba Yetu there's a lot to enjoy in Calling All Dawns, including Kia Hora Te Marino, which is the spiritual successor to Baba Yetu (and was disappointing in its absence from Civ 5).
Also, in yo' face @metafilter - @zombiesrungame is now the #1 contributor! ;)
posted by adrianhon at 8:17 AM on July 30, 2012
Also, in yo' face @metafilter - @zombiesrungame is now the #1 contributor! ;)
posted by adrianhon at 8:17 AM on July 30, 2012
Hm, I didn't see a place to add my contribution to @metafilter. @zombiesrungame remains unchallenged!
posted by Secretariat at 12:09 PM on July 30, 2012
posted by Secretariat at 12:09 PM on July 30, 2012
geek-rock favorites They Might Be Giants (who… actually don't have much of a connection to gaming, it seems).
Here's a tenuous connection- they were on a music sampler that was included with the Sega CD.
posted by Dr-Baa at 10:14 AM on July 31, 2012
Here's a tenuous connection- they were on a music sampler that was included with the Sega CD.
posted by Dr-Baa at 10:14 AM on July 31, 2012
« Older Sharron Kraus - Thrice Toss These Oaken Ashes | A Problem in Emotionally Applied Semantics Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Malor at 7:52 AM on July 29, 2012