Actually, I preferred SRA's music over SR's because there weren't as many voice clips. I hated that about SR's music (except for Wrapped In Black, where it worked)
I personally agree with that statement, though voice clips do have their place (Sonic CD, for instance).
You know what, it would have just been better to leave this and "agree to disagree", but that last line is so much crap. Overcomplicated? Nothing in Sonic Rush's compositions is overcomplicated to the degree that you are describing. The use of samples to create an eccentric yet lively and truly "Sonic-y" type of sound (for 2004) is something that really added to the lasting appeal of the game.
As for the evolution idea you've mentioned, that sounds more like playing things safe and sticking to tried and true foundations rather than an evolution, something whose results are proven in Sega's approach to Sonic 4. Who didn't hear the initial title screen music that first day Sega revealed it and say "hey, this sounds like the Genny Sonic intros?" That works though since Sonic 4 is supposed to continue along those styles set by the series in '91 - '94. Sonic Rush tried to do something different and shake up a formula that had been used ever since then (strictly taking about Sonic 1 - 3K to SAdv1 - 3 that is).
Now I understand that this could all be because of musical preferences and the like, but to say the music really didn't possess anything lasting and break it's kneecaps by calling it overly complicated seems highly biased/opinionated. Say the music wasn't for you instead.
Can't. It's more than just the music wasn't for me, now. That all did sound like a generality; there were a few tracks in Rush that did have some soul (the ones I mentioned earlier), but much like a person, you have to dig through a whole bunch of layers before you get to it.
And if sticking to tried and true songs means more tracks like Casino Night, Green Hill, Ice Cap, Flying Battery, songs that inspire people to do remixes that still highlight the soul and basic melody of the songs rather than add distracting horn blasts, long-winded and aimless synth, and shouting (see: 0^2 SSBB Remix) or static voice clips, then I'm sticking to my guns.
The Title Screen sounded vaguely Genesis-esque. Even it was distracted; it had those same short note hits and that same "bop" pattern that the Sonic 1 and 2 title screens had, but it still had too much in the background and not enough emphasis on that main line.
This. This is my gripe with Dimps' music.
It's been over a decade since these games; I'm all for a change to how the games and their music are done, but don't lose yourself in the process.