OCR00792 - Donkey Kong Country 'Stray Donkey Strut'

[orkybash]

Donkey Kong Country 'Stray Donkey Strut'

HOLY SHIT!!! This kicks ass! I disagree with djpretzel's self-review - he definitely should have made this remix, cause it's the best damn DKC remix on this site.

I'm usually very fond of Pretzel's work. In this case, I am blown away by it.

[Dev]

Well my friends...DJ Pretzel has kicked our asses yet again with another fucking brilliant mix. This just rocks. The instruments are perfect, and the mixage is tight. Easily one of Pretzel's best. Easily one the sites best.

Why are you reading my review? You saw who made this mix. You should be downloading it now. :D

[ella guro]

I wouldn't say that this is one of the site's best, but it's a damn good remix. I'm not sure about the idea to combine those funky keyboards with big band, but it seems to work decently enough. The big thing I like are all those solos that really sounded like they were improvised. They just sounds perfectly...err...human, as weird as it sounds. The arrangement is really an awesome job on DJP's part, and it's one of his best overall...definitely one to check out.

[Degron]

Well, Mr. DJ Pretzel, heres to things we think we should have never done!! :wink: This is an amazing piece of work. Very upbeat and catchy and definitely worth downloading. As in now. :D

[FM]

I've been wanting a mix of this song for a while, and I can't think of a better way DJP could have done it. Jesus, this is good...

[Ebonyks]

Man, i swear to god, DJP must be deaf if he doesn't like this remix ;)

It has a nice feel unique feel to it, but yet, at the exact same time, it clearly sounds like a DJP creation. Not the best remix on the side, but regardless, it's still pretty damn good.

Great job DJP. Now if we could get OCR in .ape it would make my day... :)

[Xaleph]

This is a good remix, it's not one of my favorites, nor is it what I'd consider one of djp's best. Appropraite soundfonts/patches/voices...etc etc... 10/10 appropriate rhythm 10/10 overall affect, I felt it just became tedious/monotonous after a while, it lost my attention after around 2 minutes, it's a good piece, sounds like something we'd play in my jazz band, but it just sounded to... it just didn't seem dynamic in the way it progressed. 8/10

overall would be around a 9.33/10

Good piece, recommended download if you like jazzy/funk pieces, if you like the song from the vg, or if you just like djp :D (my reason :P)

~dj carbunk1e

[BitMaP]

I just.. can't.. stop listening to this one!!

Aye yai yai!! I love the variety of instruments, all well arranged as to where none of them are out of place and alows the music to take over. He didn't even have to take very much out of the original track, either, as brilliant solos do most of the dirty work when the main theme tries to bore us. Hook line and sinker, I'm drawn into this amazing peice of work.

DJP, you have to stop being so hard on yourself. You know you're great. You don't have to break your arm patting yourself on the back, but at least get someone else to review your work. You're depressing, that is until we download and evaluate for ourselves. We love your work! It reminds me of the girls at my school. They have to be SOOOO perfect, or they cry all day and become anorexic (which is their ultimate undoing) when in fact if they want attention from people, all they have to do is show up at school with their natural healthy frame. :) :)

10/10/10

[uglee musashi]

I uh..... 8O :cry: Cuz....uh that was uhhh 8) 8) :lol: :D 8)





so uhmmmm :arrow: :mrgreen: :!: :!:

[provoker]

Bwahahahaaaaaaaaa!!!! This is brilliant!
Noone can handle the brass like ol´DJP!!!!
Not as good as "Pachelbels Ganon" but still a damn fine piece o´work!
Saucy...

[Trance-Canada™]

Even though it seems like taking a chance putting those kind of synths in a jazzy song it really worked well, I just love DJP's style and the way he uses the melody of good songs and puts them in a completely new genre. This is an excellent example of a great remix, it has a completely new sound to it.

[Asterin]

Coooooooooooool.......Very Catchy!

This may not go down as my personal favorite, but it's excellently done and has a great deal of instrumental variety.

...did I mention that catchy beat? Oh ya, I think I did!
......Very Catchy!

[Joe Redifer]

This is excellent. To be honest it is not exactly my cup of tea musically, but you simply have to admire the construction and execution of the piece. The sounds are also extremely good and well used. I can dig this, it just won't be something I listen to over and over everyday. But when I do listen, I will admire the professional sound and style of the song.

When I fisrt heard the "wah" I was immediately reminded of DJP's older days. That's cool. DJP is very versatile, but he's not above using a style, sound or technique more than once.

[EmptyMy]

Yeah.. it IS very cool. Pretzel is definitely one of the best remixers here. I have to agree with Joe above, though. I think you can hear it's DJP's work from the first note. His latest works has been sorta similar (and I love them all). The electric piano is DJP's trademark. But also, take a listen to the drums, and compare them with the drums of Super Mario World SwankyVegas. Heheh, pretty similar, no? Even the basslines are very alike :)
Don't take this for criticism. Like I said, DJP is one of my favourites here. Love Hurts, Pachelbels Ganon, SwankyVegas, and my all time favourite on this site: Actraiser FillMoreFunk, are all EXTREMELY good.

[djpretzel]

But also, take a listen to the drums, and compare them with the drums of Super Mario World SwankyVegas. Heheh, pretty similar, no? Even the basslines are very alike :)

Yes and no. It's the same drum kit, different bass patches, both acoustic uprights. If the notes themselves sound similar, consider that they're not too far from the originals. The term "reusing" implies that it's not common to use the same sound twice in two different songs - it is. I don't particularly consider that it's an issue of being "above" this reuse - it's a matter of common sense. If you've got a jazz drum kit that sounds like a good jazz drum kit, and you do two jazz pieces, why would you arbitrarily force yourself to switch to a different kit? With purely electronic timbres I can see the need to switch more as they have no real-world counterparts and are often so ubiquitous it's scary (see the FL bass drum + snare combo for reference) but for acoustic emulations, if it's the closest you've got, use it. I think the overall feel of the piece is markedly different - no synthetic textures in Swanky, and no brass or big-band feel (in general, less "swing"). But I didn't reply to defend the song, just the practice of reusing good sounds, esp. acoustic emulations :)

update: hope that didn't sound bitchy, just trying to make a point - IMO, it's always best to do what's right for that specific track.

[Moogle!]

Interesting.

[EmptyMy]

It was just an observation. I have been listening to Swanky so much, that I spotted this similarity instantly. And I'm not just talking about the patch used.
I expressed myself a bit clumsy (Hey, I'm teh Swede! ;) )
Like I said, I really dig your work.

[Psionicist]

Wow this thing is GROOVY. I love them happy and jazzy remixes (read everything Noppz plus some djp). I feel like singing when I hear this one :)

[vdj_microbe]

Excellent!!! Excel-ante'!!!! I love this remix! Finally someone did a remix on this.. now I can die happy. :p

[Emjay]

I really like how this song more or less sticks to the old school Donkey Kong theme while at the same time kicking it up with the jazzy percussion. They're coupled really well, giving the entire remix a shady, but upbeat and entirely interesting atmosphere.

[Woffester]

Beastly. Download it.

[Dragonlord]

more More MORE MORE :D pleeeeeease?

[Bluntobject]

Good lord. This is the kind of remix that makes me love this site.

Everything about it, the mix of instruments, the variation of the orginal theme, the dynamics, and the ideas put forth in the solos are all done in grand fasion. I love the jazz flute in the begining, as well as DJP's opening variation on the main theme at 00:56. The way this is written I could acctually see a big band playing this.

My only negative comment is in the first solo from 2:08 to about 2:17. I can hear the use of a jazz scale in this short little clip, and the way it is used just sounds too simple for my tastes, as if DPJ didn't really know how to go about a jazz solo except for what was contained in the jazz scale, and that maybe he had hit a few wrong notes. This is of course totally false, as the rest of the solo, and the piano solo that follows are top quality. It's only a 9 second blemish in the whole mix, but when something is this good, one must dig deep to find faults.

Again, great mix, and one of my favs from the site.

[EmptyMy]

My only negative comment is in the first solo from 2:08 to about 2:17. I can hear the use of a jazz scale in this short little clip, and the way it is used just sounds too simple for my tastes, as if DPJ didn't really know how to go about a jazz solo except for what was contained in the jazz scale, and that maybe he had hit a few wrong notes. This is of course totally false, as the rest of the solo, and the piano solo that follows are top quality. It's only a 9 second blemish in the whole mix, but when something is this good, one must dig deep to find faults.

Heheh.. I love that solo. I'm not too familiar with jazz scales, though (I wish I was). I think it adds a certain "jungley" touch to the song. Like something heard in King Louie's palace. :)

[Ignis]

Nice upbeat jazzy sound! Haa-ta-ta! Yeah! Nice beat! w00+ DJP!

[Vinren]

This is an excellent remix from start to finish, beginning with the pumping bass beat that is reminiscent of an actual cello/bassist playing, and the trippy, lead semi-spacy pianoy sound, whatever it is...works perfectly. The whole ensemble just comes together like clockwork. Truly a perfect piece...and I LOVE that badass guitar solo!!! Oh yeah, gotta dig that jazzy bebop beat. 8)

[A-RoN]

Good stuff, Pretz. I'm a little dissappointed because I really wanted to do a remix on the Jungle Japes theme. Oh well, heck with it. It's a great song. Since it's late in my area of time, I'll just say one thing. If you like old Fats Waller tunes from 1930s that's super old but with lots and lots of instrument variation, download this!

[PassivePretentiousness]

oh zut alors this is good. It's jazzy, it's fun, it uses techno effects without sounding forced and moronic. This baby has it all. My only quibbel (which I admit is probably bigger than it would be for most people) is that it strays (HA PUN :roll: ) so much from a song I truly enjoy. 7/8

[AnotherOneBitesTheDust]

I liked it when I first heard it, but its true power didn't get unleashed until I started to make steps in DWI for it. At some point I just kept on playing it...over and over again. Everything's good sounding up until 1:13 when it turns into TOTALLY AWESOME and then becomes one of my favorites from djp at 1:49 and keeps this way until 2:44 when the brass swells and I'm exploding eight times over.

The part at 1:49 I think is a variation of the original melody but I don't really remember the original fully. Variated or not, I have caught myself whistling that part randomly in the day with extreme enjoyment.

As I said earlier, making the steps made me like the song. It must have been the movement of my fingers on the arrow keys that made me think I was emulating djp jamming on the keyboard. It's a really good song to move to, but not necessarily with your whole body. I suggest tapping YOUR fingers to the rhythm and each time the attack of the notes occur!

[Ultimo Hedgehog]

Yeah! Jazzy swingin' stuff from one DJP! This just screams Nightclub, or something like that. Pipes, Drums, Bass instruments, and a whole mix of stuff, including the trumpets all the way through! Gotta love this, cuz even my mom was dancing to this! Score another for DJP!

[DJ Pili]

Hey!When I listen to it, I feel like dancing as those girls in the movie "Chicago". Who can imagine it's a remix from a v-game soundtrack?

[Aninymouse]

The sheer mix of instruments here is commendable, but this piece is alltogether swingin! The DKC1 Jungle Theme is an epic theme indeed... it goes on and on, and just when you think you've heard it before, it seems to evolve... This piece would have to be about four more minutes longer to really get that, but nonetheless, it's a swining time in the jungle for all!

8/10

[Aamp]

How the hell do you make it sound so funken real!? This sounds like a live studio session, only better! 8)

[debeerguy007]

Mr. Lloyd, you have a style in remixing that has yet to be matched or even emulated for that matter. A style which has sorta encouraged me to save up for a MOTIF7ES for myself. :D

I personally have never played a single Donkey Kong Country game, but after listening to 'Stray Donkey Strut', it doesn’t really matter if I did or not... because this remix is so frickin’ cool. All the instruments go together really well. I especially enjoy the use of piano under the brass swells, giving it, as you said, that “old time pomp feel”. That’s the way to use a low piano, in my opinion. Very Elfman-like, and very jazzy. It makes me smile when I listen to it. Definitely one that I’ll keep in my collection, right alongside “ Diddy Evolution.”and such.
Very nice work going on here. Thumbs up! oh... god no! I just made an Ebert & Roeper reference. I have to bang my head really hard on my desk now.

"thud" :oops:

[jordex]

Great remix!

I love the first minute and a half or so, I love when djp uses his "wah wah" sounding instruments, his sorta bubbly-ish instrument. I love it and I love his jazzy sorta ways, the kinda music you listen to when playing pool. I don't know what it's called but do you know what I mean? Yeah and I love how he changes the melody around to these jumpy, jazzish, improvised tunes!

The flute goes along so well in this song!

[tyler_lucero]

I've been downloading a lot of djp-specific stuff lately, and I believe I can safely conclude one thing: Somebody likes "wah" effects... Nice work, djp -- as always. It's going on my brand new iPod! Yay! :D

[Txai]

Good work, Djpretzel.
It is the music of the first phase. Very interesting the melody, full of these "wenswens". The piano enters evident in the 01:13 of music, and unhappyly it finishes in the 01:31.

[Bummerdude]

Agent 000 Donkey, we meet again... :nicework:

That´s my opinion where this funky tune would fit perfectly, mmyess.
Great remix pretzeldude, some nice funky brasses and a cool spy synth, along with a sub-tropical feel, I like it. It was time for the mönkey to leave his jungle anyway.
And what more do we have, ah, a lovely piano at the end with the whole package to finish it off smooth, agent donkey style.

Until we meet again...

[42]

eh, its not bad.
very experimental and an original and interesting take on a good theme.
I don't particularly care for it, but still an A for effort.

[OA]

Pretty funky stuff, and a very recognizable take on the source. Not sure interpretative to my ears beyond some minor counterpoint bits and some sound upgrades, but enjoyable enough. DJP's done better, but this track holds up decently at least. :-)

[Crulex]

Maybe it's just me, but the beginning build is pretty sweet. It just sounds like something big is coming, and it does. This is funkier than Funky Kong....and that pretty funky. The piano was a pretty nice little breakdown before the grand whooping section. Loud and proud, this ReMix is.

[SubNormal J3]

djp's last two mixes definitely raised the bar, and, remarkably, so does this one. Not only is the production incredibly clean and refined, but there is so much going on musically that fits both the genre and the source very well. It's nice to hear some more classic djp improv as well.