Review Summary: It's a flawless representation of every single joyous moment in the game, no matter how small.
Video game music is a performer that’s taken many faces. We can name off countless musical themes from the games we grew up with, from the iconic
Super Mario Brothers theme to the looming symphonies of
Final Fantasy IV to the quirky humor of
Portal. But with all of this in mind, it seems almost criminal to not mention Grant Kirkhope. A long-time composer and Rare alumni, Grant Kirkhope and his work have become synonymous with the games they’re involved with (a good deal, considering the games’ quality). One of his most legendary compositions was the soundtrack to the platformer gem
Banjo-Kazooie. A blend of charm, creativity, and musical proficiency, the soundtrack to
Banjo-Kazooie was a landmark achievement, earning widespread recognition from fans and critics alike. The achievement earned a digital release from Kirkhope in 2013, but the release’s quality was hindered by its brevity. Not every track was included in the album, leaving the legendary music to be reserved to what was essentially a “greatest hits” release. But now, Kirkhope is busting down the doors with
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink!, the purest representation of the soundtrack ever released and a landmark achievement in musical and symphonic construction as a whole.
Banjo-Kazooie’s music has become the stuff of legend. It’s some of the most iconic tunes to ever grace a video game, all pioneered by Kirkhope’s unrivaled skill at using different instruments to provide different moods. Give the man a banjo sound and he can make two, three, or even four different arrangements with it, each one a completely unique vision. The
Banjo-Kazooie soundtrack is the pinnacle of Kirkhope’s versatility. You can compare the dripping low horns of “Clanker’s Cavern” to the sludgy slides of “Rusty Bucket Bay”; similar levels with similar instruments, but still completely iconic and unique from each other. All the classics of
Banjo-Kazooie return: the upbeat flutes of “Mumbo’s Mountain”, the twinkling bells of “Freezeezy Peak”, it’s all here and it’s all amazing. Kirkhope’s legacy of catchy, but cognitively creative music is never without merit:
Banjo-Kazooie is his golden moment.
But despite the unparalleled quality of the first
Banjo-Kazooie soundtrack release, Kirkhope’s talent wasn’t presented as a complete package. The reason that
this album is perfect is that it contains every track, every clip, every bit of energy and charm of the game. 164 tracks compose
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink!; everything that the original release was missing is included here. For example, the “Mumbo’s Mountain” theme in the original release was simple, with its dancing flutes and rhythmic sound effects. This release features every song in the level: that’s seven different themes and they’re all amazing. The tribal stomps of “Mumbo’s Mountain – Mumbo’s Hut Area” might have the same melody, but it’s a completely different animal than the main theme. Add in all twelve renditions of “Gruntilda’s Lair” and you have one packed release. You don’t just experience a single sound representing a level in
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink!; you get to hear every wonderful bit of it.
This diversity is all the more enjoyable with levels like Mad Monster Mansion, which sports ten different themes. The “Inside the Mansion” theme is an eerily metronomic pluck of violins, with staccato xylophones providing the beat. Even the filthy “Inside the Toilet” theme turns a haunted mansion theme into a sludgy sewer sound, custom-fit with snorting brass and gassy sound effects. Kirkhope’s strongest element, his versatility, is fully realized on
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink! His creativity couldn’t have been in its true form at a mere 17 tracks on the first release. With a massive canvas, Kirkhope doesn’t hold back. With
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink!, Kirkhope can let every single aspect of his charming composition come alive and the end results are outright flawless.
To top things off beyond the in-game themes,
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink! includes individual sound bites like the fanfare of collecting a Jiggy or Jinjo, themes from every cutscene, and best of all, beta tracks that never made the final cut. These extra tracks are wonderful, perfectly echoing the game’s many moods, but providing fresh approaches that gamers might not have experienced in game. The spiraling strings of “Advent” are great, but the energetic percussion of “Mumbo’s Raindance” is a true gem in Kirkhope’s discography, a track that sounds new, but undeniably apropos for the franchise.
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink! is the full realization of the series as an imaginative joyride and Kirkhope himself as a musical mastermind. 164 tracks and every single one bringing a whimsical cheer to the table, regardless of mood or tempo. By showing off so much content and representing every bit of their respective scenes or levels, the music on
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink! is comprehensive to the point of default companionship with its source. A single level becomes several worlds. A minor moment becomes a new act. It’s this level of layering and diversity that made the game such a gem. Kirkhope channels that imagination to its core, not once cutting a corner or skipping a beat. He didn’t leave a single stone unturned.
Banjo-Kazooie: Everything and the Kitchen Sink! is the defining moment for Grant Kirkhope, a cavalcade of talent and creativity without a single wall to restrict it. It’s one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever made, and in this form, it’s a peerless endeavor from one of the finest composers to ever grace the medium.
