5 a.m. - 10/10. One of the best in the game imo. I love humming along to it. Only thing I don't like is how it's the first song after the day rolls over. Makes me feel like the hourly music was made before the decision to move the rollover time back by one hour was? It reminds me of 5 a.m. in NL, one of my favorite NL hourly songs because like NH's it prepares you for the start of the new day. It's not the new day yet, but it's anticipating the sunrise/new day with joyful expectation. But that's not the music's fault it doesn't line up the same anymore.
6 a.m. - 5/10. Like the world is starting to wake up a little more, you've got your normal villagers starting to run around... not memorable, but it does its job. Again, would feel more right if 6 a.m. was still the rollover time.
7 a.m. - 8/10. Honestly I really like this one. I like the upbeat percussion, it reminds me of the hustle of getting ready for school since classes started at 8. It uses the title theme without being too overbearing like many other tracks are. Catchy.
8 a.m. - 3/10. It's not unbearable, just one of the less inspiring tracks. The infamous screechy synth doesn't help. Has a few nostalgic tones to it I might've heard before in say WW, but they don't really redeem it. Doesn't have much of its own character.
9 a.m. - 4/10. If not for the synth I might've ranked this one or two steps higher. It's better than 8 only because it doesn't feel quite as unoriginal, developing a melody that remixes the title theme a little more subtly. This song makes me want to go check the shops. Ik Nook's opens at 8, but this feels like prime "go shopping" time to me LOL.
10 a.m. - 7/10. I like the trumpet. We could stand to have a little more of that trumpet, less of the synth. Reminds me of elevator music a little. Calm, chill.
11 a.m. - 3/10. Is it the slow pace I don't like? The combination of acoustic guitar with the bass? The generally unattractive, boring melody? Yeah probably all of those.
12 p.m. - 9/10. The Bop(TM). I like it better the way it sounds on my Switch Lite than on my computer - with less bass. I find myself swaying to it a lot. This is when I've been getting up to fix myself coffee lately. Anything associated with fixing myself coffee is likely bound to make me feel good. Simple, catchy rhythm. Nice.
1 p.m. - 5/10. I don't dislike it. There's just not enough substance to it to get me into it either. Like 6 a.m., it serves its purpose. It's background noise.
2 p.m. - 2/10. It gets its hate for good reason. That synth just comes out of nowhere and absolutely slaughters the chill groove it starts you up with. Is it meant to reflect the day feeling like it goes on forever and won't end? Because it succeeds on that front. Please end it.
3 p.m. - 7/10. It reminds me of the 3 p.m. (or was it 1 p.m.?) from Wild World with its bouncy rhythm. Also my friend the trumpet is back! Another tune to hum along to. Lots of character. Doesn't particularly stand out against the crowd, but still a good jive.
4 p.m. - 6/10. It's not quite memorable, but it's chill. I can groove to it. Melody isn't that catchy, but still pleasant-sounding.
5 p.m. - 9/10. It may not be as catchy as some other AC games' bops, but for NH it's one of the top ones for sure. Flavorful, definitely memorable. Conveys the pre-sunset effectively. It's the transition from the bright, hot afternoon to the soothing sunset.
6 p.m. - 10/10. Probably my favorite. The sun saying goodbye until tomorrow. That accordion sound from WW - ah! my heart! Best hourly track goes well with sunset being the prettiest time of day in NH. Just perfect.
7 p.m. - 6/10. I'm sad when this hour rolls around because I don't get to hear 6 anymore. But this isn't too bad. It's like the chill music they play through the speakers when the cool event thing is over and goodbyes have been said, this is what you walk back out into the world to. It grooves.
8 p.m. - 5/10. This is like 9 p.m. from NL. Which disappoints me a little because I miss the soulful 8 p.m. tune from WW, and the okay one from NL. The fanfare for the day is officially over by this point, sun's set, it's officially nighttime now, we're not gonna play you another sweet tune for it.
9 p.m. - 6/10. Memorable? No. I like the jazzy flairs of this one though - reminds me of 10 a.m. Good sneaking-up-on-tarantulas music.
10 p.m. - 5/10. Eh. There's a melody somewhere in there, but it's too short to hook me. But I'm fine hearing it. Does its job.
11 p.m. - 6/10. Same structure as the previous hour, but more somber and I like its short melody a little better. Reminds me of the night sky - nice to wish on shooting stars to.
12 a.m. - 8/10. Now this reminds me of 8 p.m. from WW! Calm, sweet, nice guitar, nice tune. It's midnight.
1 a.m. - 7/10. Soulful K.K. vibes. It swings that way. Sounds full. Sounds good.
2 a.m. - 8/10. The other sweet tune. I like it, but after a while the three guitar notes grate on you a little and you're grateful for the piano bit that lifts them off for a few measures.
3 a.m. - 8/10. Ah, the obligatory "you're a clown for staying up this late" track. I guess it's like our favorite clown sheep himself, you either love this track or you hate it passionately. Me, I like it. For one it's a welcome change from 2 a.m., and for another even with the discordant notes I just find it funny. I love the "wah wah" saxophone/Peanuts sound. Nintendo laughs at me for being up that late, I laugh with them.
4 a.m. - 7/10. It fits its role as an early morning song. In this game it also has the added weight of being the last song before the day rolls over. It doesn't do that job as well as 5 a.m., but it's fine. You could go without ever hearing it and you wouldn't miss much. As long as you wake up for 5 at least once, haha. Also, I'm kinda glad this isn't a creepy track like NL's 4 a.m. was. Darn you, Aika.
