Covering the music from old Nintendo Entertainment System games is nothing new, not even doing so on traditional rock instruments. Based in Phoenix, Minibosses have been doing it since 2000, though they've only released a full-length album recently. Sacramento's The Advantage take essentially the same approach as their southwestern brethren, covering their favorite tunes on guitars, bass, and drums, and the repertoires of both groups include some of the same material. Warm, fuzzy nostalgia aside, what's most impressive about The Advantage's debut is the way the arrangements and recordings of these tracks highlight the skill inherent in the composition in the music. Taken for granted throughout the Nintendo era by countless children and adolescents, some of the music from these classic games proves to be far more than simple background noise or mindless melodic accompaniment to frantic button mashing. The Advantage don't give writing credits in the album's liner notes, and Yuzo Koshiro may never get his due for the composition of the theme to The Legend of Zelda, but some of the musical accompaniment to these and other video games is music that can stand on its own, and its in formats such as this disc that this idea clearly comes to light.
The Advantage, which consists of the full roster of Sacramento's Generic, have streamlined the approach to Nintendo music on rock instruments, opting for a clear, well-mixed recording, little in the way of obvious or obtrusive guitar effects, and very straightforward arrangements of the tunes they cover. Played solidly, but without frills, The Advantage's music is allowed to become more than just innocent fun, as Ghosts 'n' Goblins' main theme becomes a full-on prog track, and a selection from the soundtrack of Ninja Gaiden is seen as the rollicking dance track it always was. The sound restrictions that existed when the NES was still a viable, first-tier gaming system led to fairly simple music, but it's amazing how well much of it translates to the rock format. More obscure songs without wistful ties to hours of childhood gaming (who ever even knew there was a Batman 2, much less remembers the music?) are equally enjoyable as favorites such as the underworld music to the Super Mario Bros. games. The Advantage don't stick only to the more serious, epic soundtracks, delving into Super Mario Bros. 2's goofball "overworld" music, and the buoyant, cheerful Bubble Bobble theme.
Though someone who didn't grow up trying to reach minus worlds or memorizing the password that would take the straight to Mike Tyson might not be as enthralled by The Advantage's Nintendo noodling, this disc easily has the potential to thrive outside of the gaming niche, something that can't always be said about some of The Advantage's stylistic siblings. One can only hope that the few bonus mp3's available on the group's website (www.theadvantageband.com) is a sign of more to come, and that their aspiration to cover every bit of Nintendo music before they die is one that can come to fruition. Their takes on the introductory music to Tecmo Super Bowl and the Dragon Warrior theme are things that this world truly needs.
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