Disco Dan

waiting for the cool part... waiting.... waiting. Ok, well at least the song started around :45. The bass drum with delay is annoying, though not as annoying as it could be if it had some bass frequencies to it. This thing seems to want to build and build, but it never gets around to climaxing. Like... like a bad handjob. Listen to stuff that has a natural build and decay. Incorporate some of those ideas. NO D

Sometimes I listen to a song and I can't think of the precise words to describe what I feel is wrong with a piece. But I think vig pretty much did all of that for me, leaving me the easy job of just saying: NO D

well MY problem with the remix is the harsh placement of the right chords in ONE key against the right melody in a DIFFERENT key. Experimenting for the sake of experimenting is ok, but it's often hard to sell unless the end result is enjoyable, and this doesn't quite do that. Forget CD ripping errors, the nearly atonal nature of the piece is what kills it for me. NO D

I wouldn't really call this disco. Maybe more of a light 80's synth funk or something. Anyway, I'm gonna just have to echo everything that's been said, 'cause it's all about right. Very empty and hollow sounding. And the lowbit instruments seem a bit outdated. NO D

I'm waiting for this synthetic sitar you referred to. I hear a dulcimer, coupled with some plucked strings, and then some sort of reed instrument. And actually, the dulcimer DOES sound quite real. Oh THAT sitar. Yeah the bends sound pretty bad in some parts. Overall this has a WHOLE lot of potential. Very cool set up, very awesome quality sounds. Just some of the details make it weak. And at least there's variety. And don't worry about the comment about drumloops. He says that to everyone. This song sounds like a good idea that didn't get quite all the attention it needed to bring it to completion. So for now: NO

I actually like the tones generated for this. Works nicely as ambient music for the most part. The distortion at 1:07 actually seems intentional and the pops and clicks seem to be part of that. Like, vinyl pops sped up almost. As for this overwhelming bass, I don't hear it yet. But maybe it comes in after 2:00. Oh yeah. Yeah it's a bit heavy. I dunno. I'm very relaxed by this particular piece, though as I'm getting towards 3:00 the bass is becoming a bit less bearable. Though that doesn't last long. There IS a glitch at 3:34 which doesn't sound intentional like the distortion. I'm actually kind of torn on this one. But it DOES simply loop again and again, with the addition of some drum work. But on the other hand, I think it functions VERY well as an ambient piece, nearly on the calibre of Steve Roach. I'm going to say: Fix the overwhelming bass frequencies and the blip at 3:34 and you've got a YES from me. But for now: NO

I'm gonna have to agree on this one. I've heard good Mustin and this doesn't sound like it. And while I respect the constant striving to use instruments in new and innovative ways, I really don't feel this combination meshes well. The piano IS very dry and while there are definite articulations in velocity, it's not much. The pitch bends ARE a bit queer, for the most part with one or two that sound natural. I don't see that this arrangement brings enough new or exciting to the table to pass it. And the part about it being boring, while a bit subjective, I feel, applies well. Sorry. NO D

I do agree that the drum and splice work are impressive, but it seems that the beats DO carry this, and a little more variation or original work would add to it. Plus the extra pads that are added at around 2:03 are not quite in the same key as the other music going on. But seriously, killer drumwork. I won't even give this a BIG no. Just a medium one. NO D

One look at their site reveals they are a performance ensemble, not one guy with his computer. D

Those... may not be samples, Prot. Sounds pretty damn real to me. There is LOTS of variation on the attack and articulation. And the bad tuning is usually an indication of real instruments. Anyway, I like it for the same reasons that Mr. Wingless likes it. And it's not note for note. It varies in sections like the one that starts around 2:15. Yeah, these are either as high-quality samples as one can get, or they're real strings. My bet's on real strings. I'm giving it a YES even WITH the bad tuning because it almost adds to the creepiness of it all. Wait, let me reiterate: YES D P.S. Those are definitely real strings, Ari. Swallow your damn pride.

Sounds are nice. The original had a chord progression though. This one doesn't. It sounds neutered, musically. Sonically, it's fine. And while I applaud your challenge, that being to include all of the little ocarina tunes in one song (The professionally orchestrated version is incredibly pathetic, so don't feel too bad), it's more of a gimmick and some didn't seem as smoothly inserted as others. Anyway, back to the lack of chord progression. This doesn't have it. The bass essentially stays the same as a pedal tone the whole time. That bothers me enough to give this a NO. D

it has a similar feel to "Surfing with the Alien," but with both parts in different keys. It's been said already. NO D

So random. I dunno. The drum work isn't entirely loop-based, though a good deal of it is. But as was said before, the filtering and chopping makes it less obvious, not to mention the music part of it, which hides most of the drum repetition, in my mind. It has enough of the source material and enough original work to warrant a YES in my book. Not to mention it's enjoyable to listen to. And the mastering on the drum work is miles above the zelda submission from the same artist. Sorry Binnie... D

www.winamp.com

Interesting stuff. Actually, the main reason I downloaded this is 'cause I used to play that game. And I never got ANYwhere with it. I could never figure out what I was supposed to shoot or where I was supposed to go. While the remix doesn't really bring back floods of those memories, listening to the original certainly does. I'm not sure why I kept trying to play that game as long as I did. Man, those were the days... Anyway, yeah this mix is weird. A lot of dissonance, but I don't feel totally uncomfortable with this dissonance, though at times it seems unintentional. Hard for me to tell considering the bizarre source material we're dealing with. I like a lot of the ideas. I like the lead synth (features @ 3:09) in that fast, staccato role. Actually, all the synth work sounds good, and very complex. The drums I'm not a 'UGE fan of, mainly because they seem so subdued and not driving enough, but then that's because I keep wanting this song to be a style that it's not. More my fault than that of the author's. Ah well, overall cool stuff. D

It is from DKC 64. I'd have to hear the original again, but if I recall this is fairly close to it. That game was so... weird. Anyway, I'll wait til I hear the original. D

I'm torn on this one for now. ... oh wait. It just got cooler. I actually like the beat. It manages to organize the seeming random sounds from that level's music. And it's highly original while maintiaining enough of the original to know exactly what it's a remix of. And the monster ambient reverb is awesome. YES D

yeah there's a hint or two of the melody there, but not much. Reminds me of a Timberwolf mix. Also the mix seems VERY crowded sonically. So basically, I'm saying NO D

It's still only three parts plus drums. It's basically the original with new instruments, and it's not so stunning enough with those new instruments as to pass it on "yeah it's basically the same note-wise, but what an incredible choice of instrumentation," so... yes NOT D

Ok here's the problem with remixing any songs of such original high calibre. It becomes hard to improve upon them. This doesn't seem like an improvement, and it doesn't seem like a new take on it. It seems like an imitation with some medley action going on, but with the exception of some interesting acoustic audio percussion, it doesn't bring much to the table. Add to that a lot of audio clipping and it doesn't sound like a winner to me. I know this is already locked, but if it weren't, I'd lay down a big fat: NO D

Someone else pointed this out not too long ago, actually, about the "on tour" midi on vgmusic.com. Now I knew that I hadn't copied my rendition from anyone else, so I had to see this other version. I downloaded the file, checked the submit date and the create date as listed. It's about a year later than my original midi. I'd be upset except that they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. D

I'm just totally overwhelmed by the amount of reverb used in this song. It totally drowns out any sense of melody in some areas. Nice production other than that though. High quality samples, but it DOES leave the listener wanting more. It reminds me a little of the music from GTA3 where there wasn't a whole lot memorable to it. Even the melody here is relatively stagnant as far as its melodic range. Not sure what else to say. It's not god-awful or anything, it just doesn't seem to have the longevous calibre we're looking for. NO D

I hate to be the one to break this lovely stalemate trend, but I suppose someone had to be number 7 here. I'm gonna say: YES And here's why: Don't always look for variation in the notes. The quality is high, yes. The percussion is great, yes. The variation on the music is not so great, yes (no?). But the variation on the percussion IS good. And, consideiring what we have from the original, I wouldn't expect THAT much more variation. I personally find both to be annoying because I don't much care for the tune, BUT, that aside, I think he did ok with what he was given here. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Sorry for all the yesses. I'll try to be more crotchety next batch. D

I think Ari and I listen to two different Danny Elfmans, but I could be wrong. The only thing about this song that annoys me is the drums. The excessive use of bass drum drives me nucking futs. Cool sound though. I really like his wizardry mix though... ah well. I'm gonna have to give this one a no because of the grating percussion. so... NO D

I like this one a lot. It DOES sound a bit dry and empty, though it reminds me a little of "Popcorn." Personally, I don't mind the ending, and while I don't really want to make a habit of handing out yesses like pamphlets at a college fair, I'm gonna have to say that the quirky appeal makes up for the other shortcomings. I personally like the choice of synths as well. YES D