Ok, hands up. No, this is not a car-jacking, this is an informal poll. Who plunked down the extra bones for the super deluxe kick-ass limited edition of Grand Theft Auto IV? Yep, me too. Now granted, the real reason to get this version was the replica safety deposit box the game came packed in, but Rockstar, being the rock stars that they are, saw fit to include a CD called “The Music of Grand Theft Auto IV” inside too.
Usually, game companies don’t make enticing bonus discs like this available beyond the initial run, but the really good news is, if you didn’t buy the limited edition version of the game, you can still get this album and its same mix of songs via Amazon. If you (all two of you) haven’t yet ventured into Liberty City, here’s a little look at what you aren’t hearing.
The disc is an eclectic mix of hip-hop, dancehall and even jazz fusion, kicking off with the game’s theme, an original composition by Michael Hunter that truly sets the tone for the game each time you load it up. If you are a big hip-hop fan this CD was an absolute score, as it is filled with some bangin’ beats and from both American and Russian rhymers.
The real score here though are some of the more unusual songs that only the uber music aficionados could dig up and get licensed for their game. The mashup of Bob and Damien Marley’s “Stand Up Jamrock” is of particular note as is the jazzy “Holy Thursday” by David Axelrod. So if you want to download a good sampling of what the radio stations of Liberty City are spinning, it will only set you back eight bucks on Amazon. Now Rockstar went well beyond this one set of songs though. Next week, we break down the unique songs on what is my favorite GTA radio station, Vladivostok FM.
--Rick “Six Star Wanted Level” Damigella
