Minecraft – Volume Beta is the fifth studio album and second soundtrack album by German electronic musician Daniel Rosenfeld, known by his pseudonym C418. It was digitally released independently on 9 November 2013 as the second installment of the soundtrack for the video game Minecraft, and has been physically released by record label Ghostly.[3][4] The album peaked twice at number 14 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart in 2013 and 2023.[5][6]
| Minecraft – Volume Beta | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album and soundtrack by | ||||
| Released | 9 November 2013 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 140:48 (digital) 81:39 (vinyl) | |||
| Label | ||||
| C418 chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Lenticular cover as seen on vinyl pressings | ||||
| Minecraft soundtrack chronology | ||||
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Like the album's predecessor Minecraft – Volume Alpha, Volume Beta comprises most of the music featured in the game, including for the first time dedicated music for the game's nether and the main menu. The album also contains other music included in trailers for the game and exclusive instrumentals for the album that were not included in the game's final release.[7] A completed untitled succeeding instalment remains unreleased due to licensing issues with Mojang Studios parent Microsoft.
Composition and release edit
In 2011, Rosenfeld released Minecraft – Volume Alpha.[8] For this next release, Rosenfeld was again given complete creative control on the soundtrack that would be implemented as part of Minecraft's November 2013 Music Update.[9]
The mostly ambient album has a generally darker tone than its precursor. Rosenfeld described the track "Alpha" as a medley and "a celebration of past music from Volume Alpha." The first song he had composed with the clear intent for the game's "creative mode" to have a distinct soundtrack was "Blind Spots". The track "Taswell" was created as a tribute to Rosenfeld's friend, the late Ryan "Taswell" Davis, co-founder of American gaming website Giant Bomb.[10] Rosenfeld stated he "didn’t want to remember them for their death, but the happiness they showed every day of their life."[7] Rosenfeld admits that the record is "extremely varied", being "much more percussive, melodic, and progressive" than Volume Alpha.[11] Several songs on the album are remakes of themes from the prior soundtrack album Volume Alpha; "Moog City 2", "Mutation", and "Beginning 2" are remakes of the songs "Moog City", "Minecraft", and "Beginning", respectively. The average song on Volume Beta is far longer than its predecessor[4] – at the time of the album's release, it was Rosenfeld's longest ever work.[12]
Volume Beta also contains the music of nine collectable discs within Minecraft.[13] A stark sonic departure from the rest of the soundtrack, these discs often rely on synthesisers and percussion instruments.[14]
In August 2020, record label Ghostly released the first physical versions of the album, in CD and LP formats.[15] The album's artwork features an extremely dark 3D model of a block of grass from Minecraft, surrounded on the edges by a larger black and orange cube. On some vinyl pressings, lenticular printing is used to give depth to the blocks in the image and highlight the inner grass block.[16]
Critical reception edit
Online publication Digital Trends praised the album for moving "beyond pieces that are simply 'peaceful' or 'sad' and creates tracks like 'Taswell' and 'Kyoto' that feel like distinct performances".[17] Richard McDonald of music blog Original Sound Version called the album "an amazing achievement".[18] The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album "showcases C418’s ability to make grander, more sonically diverse ambience".[19]
Track listing edit
|
Digital download (140:48)
|
LP (81:39) Side A
Side B
Side C
Side D
|
Charts edit
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[5] | 14 |
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] | 68 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[21] | 78 |
| US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[6] | 14 |
| US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[22] | 23 |
Release history edit
| Region | Year | Format | Catalogue | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 2013 | Digital download, streaming | – | Independent | [7] |
| United States, Europe | 2020 | 2×LP | GI-360LP | Ghostly | [23] |
| 2×CD | GI-360 | [24] |
References edit
- ^ "C418 – Minecraft Volume Beta". Boomkat. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ Moeser, Jack (6 February 2022). "'Minecraft' gave us the soundtrack to a generation". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ Patston, Manning (18 June 2020). "Minecraft fans alert: C418's legendary soundtrack is getting a physical release". Happy Mag. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ a b Rosenfeld, Daniel. "Minecraft Volume Beta". C418. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ a b "C418". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ a b "C418 Is No. 1 on Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Minecraft – Volume Beta, by C418". C418. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ C418 – Minecraft Volume Alpha Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 20 September 2022
- ^ Adams, Nathan (16 November 2013). "If you restart Minecraft, it'll become a whole bunch more awesome thanks to C418's latest works :)". Twitter. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "New Minecraft music unveiled, includes the song "Taswell"".
- ^ Callwood, Brett (1 July 2020). "C418 Offers Block-Rocking Beats". LA Weekly. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Who Is Minecraft's C418?". Lifewire. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "Minecraft Soundtrack Review from Katy and Ian". NSULA Gamers' Guild. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "How To Get All Music Discs Minecraft & Full Rank From Best To Worst". GuruGamer.com. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ C418 – Minecraft Volume Beta, 14 August 2020, retrieved 23 September 2022
- ^ Ghostly (18 June 2020). "Announcing the first-ever pressing of C418's Minecraft Volume Beta..." Twitter. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Gurwin, Gabe (24 October 2021). "The Best Video Game Soundtracks of All Time". Digital Trends. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ McDonald, Richard (28 May 2014). "Minecraft - Volume Beta (Review)". Original Sound Version. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Tsai, Raymond (17 May 2019). "Review: German musician known for Minecraft soundtrack C418's latest, 'Sweden'". HS Insider. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 July 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1739. Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 July 2023. p. 6.
- ^ "C418 Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "C418 Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Minecraft Volume Beta". ghostly.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ C418 - Minecraft - Volume Beta, retrieved 21 September 2022
Notes edit
- ^ a b Although there is a music disc titled "11" found in game, the track "Eleven" is different from the in-game music disc. On the track, the start of the music disc can be heard, but this is then interrupted by a record scratching sound; the track then switches to a calm piano piece not found in the game.