GameChops has released Poké Emo, a new 17-track album from multi-instrumentalist and sound designer Tune In With Chewie that reworks classic Pokémon music through the sound of early-2000s emo and alternative rock.
Yes, Lavender Town somehow just got even sadder.
Available now across major streaming platforms, Poké Emo spans eight generations of Pokémon music. The album pulls inspiration from bands including Mineral, American Football, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance and Thursday.
From the warm nostalgia of Pallet Town to the rather less comforting atmosphere of Lavender Town, Tune In With Chewie takes some of Pokémon’s most recognisable themes and gives them a guitar-heavy makeover.
Poké Emo brings Midwest emo to Pokémon
As per the press release, the idea followed the success of Tune In With Chewie’s previous project, Zelda’s Midwest Emo Mixtape.
“Pokémon has been a series I’ve wanted to do an album on for a long time, but I just never got around to it,” said Tune In With Chewie.
“After the success of Zelda’s Midwest Emo Mixtape, I knew I wanted to do Pokémon in this style. I love this style of music and always have.”
Chewie cites Midwest emo favourites including Mineral, American Football and Sunny Day Real Estate among the album’s influences. There is also plenty of inspiration from the wider 2000s emo scene, including My Chemical Romance, Jimmy Eat World and Thursday.
There is even a little math rock thrown into the mix, because apparently Pokémon music did not already have enough ways to live permanently inside our heads.
The album is built around guitar performances recorded using a range of alternate tunings. Chewie also reharmonised several of the arrangements to better suit the musical style.
There are a few genre-specific nods tucked away too. The intro to “Pokémon Theme” borrows its chord progression from Sunny Day Real Estate’s “8”, while the trumpet in “Jubilife Village” pays tribute to American Football.
Meanwhile, eagle-eyed fans can spot a “Minerals” poster hidden in the album artwork as a reference to Mineral.
Poké Emo full track list
The complete Poké Emo track list features 17 arrangements:
- Pokémon Theme
- Pallet Town
- Littleroot Town
- Route 201
- Pokémon Center
- Slumbering Weald
- Emotion (An Unwavering Heart)
- Surf Theme
- Undella Town
- Cianwood City Theme
- Jubilife Village
- Pewter City
- Jubilife City
- Lavender Town
- Lavender Town Pt. II
- Lacunosa Town
- Outro
Poké Emo was produced by Tune In With Chewie, with artwork by Cristina Gomez and mastering by Chris Davidson.
Emunator handled the brass arrangement and additional instrumentation on “Jubilife Village”. The original compositions featured across the album come from Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose, Hitomi Sato, Shota Kageyama and Morikazu Aoki.
If your Pokémon nostalgia has always needed a few more alternate tunings and emotionally devastating guitar chords, Poké Emo appears to have you covered.
Poké Emo is available now on major streaming platforms.
Learn more: https://gamechops.com/poke-emo/