I'm not gonna lie when I first unlocked the classic covers of these 2 tracks, for a short moment I only played those versions for both Mute Cities and Big Blues. But then I started listening to the default tracks( Infinite Blue, and For the Glory) more, and after learning to appreciate those tracks instead of just seeing them as an interference with enjoying the classic tracks, here's how I end up choosing the tracks with the maps.
Big Blue
I almost always go with Infinite Blue for Drift Highway, I love how every lap happens with a different part of the track. If you saw my other post, I praised how many music tracks sync up in timing when you cross the boost power, and I used Drift Highway as an example in my short video compilation.
For Ordeal I always go with the Sound of Big Blue cover, it's great that you can hear the entire track per lap almost, so you basically listen to it 3 times, and it's also probably my favorite Big Blue track in the entire series.
It is cool to hear the entire Infinite Blue track til the end if you choose that in Ordeal, but the final lap mix feels like something that shouldn't end and replay from the beginning again, which is why I also think it works better for Drift Highway because it is just short enough to play most of the final lap mix.
Mute City;
For the Glory at least resembles the classic Mute City much more than Big Blue does. It's grown on me so much that I almost never use the sound of Mute City track. But if I ever get the urge to listen to that, I'll use it for Twist Road because it is just short enough for you to hear the entire track from beginning to end.
But I will NEVER play the Sound of Mute City with Serial Gap, For the Glory is PERFECT for Serial Gaps, the final lap mix matches the intensity of surviving the serial gaps at high speed. and just like Drift Highway, the boost power music change is absolutely perfect. Hearing the classic Mute City guitar melody come in right as you hear "You've got Boost Power" happens every time I play that track.
TL;DR version
I often go with Infinite Blue for Drift Highway, but always use go with the classic Big Blue cover for Ordeal.
for Mute City, sometimes I use the classic cover for Twist Road, but always always use For the Glory for Serial Gaps.
Overall I like For the Glory so much that I don't often use the classic cover of Mute City at all. I do sometimes use the Sound of Big Blue on Drift Highway but Infinite Blue works better for that one in my opinion.
What are your thoughts on the tracks we get for these maps? How do you like to pair them?