One of the main reasons Jet Set Radio and its sequel Jet Set Radio Future garnered high acclaim by critics and fans alike are both games' upbeat soundtracks, courtesy of Hideki Naganuma. The soundtracks featured an array of original and licensed songs of combined music genres such as J-pop, funk, and trip hop to name a few. In this case for both games, it's not so much Awesome Music as it is an Awesome Soundtrack.
See also the Sonic Rush section in AwesomeMusic.Sonic The Hedgehog, which also had music by Hideki Naganuma.
There is now a collected effort to find music in the vein/style of Jet Set Radio here.
Even better, there's a fan website radio station dedicated to playing songs from the games, and many other cool and hip songs!
Jet Set Radio/Jet Grind Radio
- "Let Mom Sleep" gives the standard (but no less great) baseline behind these beats; a funky backbone, with some well-placed samples on top. "Would you stop playing with that radio of yours? I'm trying to get to sleep!"
- Sweet Soul Brother. Even with the electronic stutter, it gives of the air of a band performance.
- "Sneakman". The brass hits are great, but the background keeps this song together, especially when the bass gets to cut loose. What's going on? I don't understand what's going on here!
- That's Enough, Rock It On, and Humming the Bassline all definitely deserve mention. Funky Radio, too, especially when the vocoders kick in.
- From the North American version: Dragula. Not very fitting considering the game's atmosphere, but damn if it isn't cool!
- Deavid Soul's tracks are probably the most iconic licensed songs in the game. Miller Ball Breakers, Yappie Feet and Up-set Attack are definitely worth a mention.
- "Everybody Jump Around" by Richard Jacques. The most important part of dance is music. Now, let us listen to the music, and identify the beats.
- Grace and Glory. Proof that beats that summon demons can still be awesomely funky.
- Electric Toothbrush is an often overlooked song that is just as fresh and catchy as the others.
Jet Set Radio Future
- Concept of Love. "UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND! UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND! UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF LOVE!" It's become one of the defining tracks of the JSRF soundtrack, and its beat is very catchy.
- Fly Like A Butterfly. This song might feel floaty sometimes, but that bass keeps it grounded.
- Oldies But Happies. A great mix of electronic hits with older, bouncy bass beats.
- "Teknopathetic". Uniquely funky, so much that the electronics and sample make it feel purely alien. Stop playing games till I'm done exchanging names...
- Funky Dealer. The guitars and bass almost entirely dominate this song, giving off a new feel of pure funk.
- Cibo Matto's Birthday Cake is quite a fan favorite due to So Bad, It's Good. Something about it gives off pure punk in spite of the subject matter.
- Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) by Scapegoat Wax has a jazzy beat to it that makes it sound like a normal rap song you'd actually hear on the radio (where it actually was an extremely minor hit in the early 2000s).
- The JSRF remix of Sneakman. Great yet alien, making it sound like the new main beat has jumbled up the guitar and the sample.
- Shape da Future. Almost constant electronic, even throwing out aggressive sirens.
- Sweet Soul Brother (B.B. Rights Mix). An encore performance with more bass and a new keyboard backing.
- Let Mom Sleep (No Sleep Remix). An all-around bigger song, like every new beat was hiding in between the old ones.
- Grace And Glory (B.B. Rights Mix). The funky beats have only brought out one demon this time, and it likes the guitar...
