After being highly requested by fans, Rockstar Games has finally decided to release a 5-track album from its 2018 action-adventure game, Red Dead Redemption 2. As mentioned, dedicated fans have been constantly asking the developer to release this short compilation, so now it’s available for purchase either digitally or as a limited-edition vinyl record.
When Red Dead Redemption 2 was first released, it was quick to gain acclaim and traction in the industry. It’s unsurprising too, given what the game had to offer; Red Dead Redemption 2 featured an impressive open-world environment, along with incredible attention to detail that can’t be said of every contemporary video game. Not only that, the game’s storytelling is top-tier. Mix all those positive features together and we get a one-of-a-kind gameplay experience.
Now, there’s one other thing that fans loved about Red Dead Redemption 2, and that’s its music. The game’s players and critics alike praised Woody Jackson’s original soundtrack, and it was so well-received that it was nominated 8 times during The Games Awards 2018—winning a total of 4 awards at the end of the event. These awards included Best Performance, Best Score/Soundtrack, and Best Narrative.
Although Rockstar Games already released the full soundtrack of Red Dead Redemption 2 back in 2019, the studio has decided to launch a 5-track music album entitled The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2: The Housebuilding EP. This name is a reference to the first track which is “The Housebuilding Song,” a well-loved piece amongst the community, as it brings forth memories of good moments from the franchise.
For the title track, fans will find that David Ferguson himself performs in it. On the other hand, NYC guitarist Mark Sweeny plays a part in most of the tracks in the album. As briefly mentioned, interested fans can purchase or listen to the album through digital means or through a physical record. For those who want to check the 5 tracks digitally, they can do so via Spotify, iTunes, and other mainstream streaming platforms.
On the other hand, those who prefer the latter can purchase a beautifully made physical vinyl EP either through Rockstar Warehouse or Lakeshore Records. We imagine that copies of this will only come in a limited supply, so definitely grab the opportunity to purchase a copy before stock runs out.
As one can discern from the game’s title, Red Dead Redemption 2 is all about, well, redemption. In this game, we find that the main protagonist is essentially trying to create a new life not only for himself, but for his loved ones as well. The video game—which is all about living one’s life as an old outlaw along with its many difficulties—is a jarring contrast to the hopeful and lively title track in The Housebuilding EP.
While the other pieces may not be as popular as the title track, they’re still able to convey the same heartwarming feeling that transports players back to Red Dead Redemption’s western world. Narrative and plot isn’t the only thing that’s vital when it comes to video games; its music plays an important role as well.
For Red Dead Redemption 2, it seems that Rockstar Games was able to do most if not all things right—from its immersive narrative, to its atmospheric musical pieces.
