TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Thistle]

I like the moody, pensive vibe at the beginning and the melancholy and dissonant harmonies. The rhythm is also rather compelling, although sometimes the progression here is a bit disorienting. Once the texture starts filling out at :48, you immediately start scaling it back and take the piece in an entirely different direction by 1:00. Your oscillation between moody and jazzy on the one hand, and blissful and orchestral on the other make it feel like part of a rich and complex narrative. The production quality is also fantastic, btw. And the more full-textured section at 3:00 helps hit the piece home. I think it’s rather ironic that you uploaded this in July, as there’s something distinctly wintery about the jazzy and ominous harmonies. The entire piece sounds like I’m watching an old man struggle to shovel his driveway on a snowy Sunday afternoon. Overall, this is a really unique piece - in terms of sound design, rhythm, and otherwise. Honestly, let me know if there’s somewhere I can download this. Keep up the good work, Cresince! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.5/10

Cresince responds:

Thank you so much for the thoughtful response! I love your wintery viewpoint on the song, it definitely has that vibe now that you point it out.

I made a private link so you or anyone can download the wav file here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-132925677/thistle/s-fgVV76fM00G?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

I'll be trying my best for this contest! Thanks again for hosting a great event. <3

[Gorgeous Fantasy]

I like the upbeat mood and airy piano riffs at the beginning. When the beat comes in at :23, it seems to really distort the melodies, though. The mix seems a bit more well-balanced during the climactic section at :45, and I appreciate the variations in the beat and the instrumental palette at 1:30. That said, the harmonic content feels pretty stagnant after a while. I think the breakdown at 1:51 was a missed opportunity to do something different in that regard, although I do like the addition of the strings at 2:15. In that same vein, some more variation on the main melody later on in the piece would’ve been welcome. Even a modulation of transposition up the octave would’ve helped keep things sounding fresh towards the end. That said, I think you nailed the atmosphere, sound design, and progression of this one, and my complaints with the mixing are minor. Adding some more memorable and dynamic melodic content, as well as variety in the composition later on, are important steps for turning this into a top-tier piece. Keep at it, CrazyKryz13! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.75/10

CrazyKryz13 responds:

Thank you for your review! I'll try and learn more to make my music better! Next year of NGUAC I'll try to remember to come back to show off ;)
Thank you.

[Restless]

I like the eerie vocals and gritty bass at the beginning. The synth riff at :25 shifted the mood a bit into a more blissful direction, and I was again thrown off by the change in the synth pattern at :40. The synths and beat are both catchy and neat, and I like the minimal breakdown at 1:15 too. That said, the structure of this piece feels a bit disjointed and directionless. There are a lot of sudden transitions, and each section seems to rehash a similar motif without contributing much to an overarching sense of direction. I like how you brought back the creepy vocals at 2:12, and before I forget I also want to compliment you on the mixing here. All of the instruments sound crisp and well-balanced in the texture.

That said, I think you could’ve done a lot more with the composition here. The rhythm of the moving notes is pretty square, and I think you missed a big opportunity to create a sense of climax and “arrival” at some point in order to tell a story. In this light, the fade-out ending seems like a reiteration of the stagnant nature of the progression here. Basically, I think you need to write your melodies with a “goal” in mind in the context of your piece. In other words, you’re using the melody to lead somewhere other than where you started - it could be a particular note later in the melody, a specific feeling, or even a different section of your piece. That thing you’re leading towards - the point of arrival - is what makes the piece worth listening to again. In a lot of pop songs, it’s the chorus or refrain. In others, it could be a particularly energetic or climactic part, where the tension in the piece comes to a head and/or gets released. That sort of section of music is what I think is missing from this piece.

Right now, the atmosphere of your piece encapsulates restlessness really well, but how does that tension get resolved? Does the protagonist stay restless forever? Or does that restlessness morph into resentment and anger at people around him? Or does he learn to appreciate what he has, despite wanting more? Somehow, I want the music to tell me this.

That said, I really like a lot of the individual ideas in the piece, from the haunting vocals to the minimal beats to the sound design. I’m really seeing the potential here, but I’m not quite sold yet. Complete the story for me next time.

Keep at it, Cookie-group! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.75/10

[The Goblin Slayer]

I like the ominous atmosphere at the beginning. The kick at :12 helps to add some sense of drive to the texture, but I’d suggest toning down the reverb on it. It’s taking up a bit too much space in the mix that way. The synths at :36 are nice, and complement the ominous mood of the piece well. I think the reverb on them is a bit too heavy too, though - with all the reverb in the texture, the piece sounds very murky and indistinct. At the very least, I’d suggest turning down the wet reverb and turning up the dry reverb to give the synths more of a concrete attack. Composition-wise, I like the piece a lot better. You have a lot of catchy and creepy synth riffs that sell the mood of the piece really well, and this track is also pretty well-structured to ebb and flow between a more energetic sound and something less urgent but still apprehensive. Your choices for synths to use are pretty good, but I think the sound design would be more enjoyable here without all the reverb overwhelming the mix. Sorry to keep going back to that, but the reverb really does detract from my enjoyment of the piece. The good news is that it’s a pretty easy fix. Generally speaking, a more effective way of filling out the texture of a piece is to add more harmonies, not more mixing effects. Still, I’m thoroughly enjoying the eerie vibe and frantic synth riffs here. Keep at it, CheesyChan! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
5.5/10

[A Chaotic Hero Enters!]

I like the blissful mood at the beginning and the rhythmic elements in the background. The cutesy melodies and pads blend well together. I might’ve added some drums to give the piece a stronger sense of drive, and I also think the balance of the instruments could use some readjusting at times. For example, the pads and the melody on the accordion-sounding instrument at :53 are both pretty quiet relative to the main melody. The instrumental palette is a bit cheesy at times, but fits the mood of the piece well. I’m getting serious retro video game vibes from this. The more minimal section at 1:27 was also a welcome change in the texture, and you transition back into the main melody effectively at 2:33. I might’ve liked to see a little more variety in the texture later on in the piece - even a modulation or transposition up the octave would’ve helped breathe some new life into this piece later on. That said, the tempo automation at the end was a good choice. Overall, I really like the upbeat mood, sound design, and harmonic depth here. A little more variety in the composition couldn’t hurt, though, and the mixing could be a tad sharper. Still, you’ve got me in the mood to go back and play all my favorite flash games I obsessed over as a kid. :D Keep at it, ChaoticBou!

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

[Daffodils]

I like the blissful mood at the beginning and the quirky synths. The drums don’t quite pop in the mix enough for my tastes, but the wonky atmosphere and occasionally jazzy harmonies help keep me engaged. The piece doesn’t really progress too much beyond the initial energy level and instrumental palette, but you’re clearly really good at constructing a compelling ambiance. I think this would make a great loop for a videogame. As a stand-alone piece, I might’ve liked to see a little more ebb-and-flow in the composition, but maybe that’s being too picky. Overall, this is an enjoyable track with a fun mood and neat sound design. Keep at it, CassArtzz! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[new day]

I like the dreamy texture at the beginning. The vocals were a pleasant surprise - well-mixed and appropriate for the tone of the piece. I like the hip-hop-inspired drums at :40 and the groovy rhythmic elements at :56. At times, the lyrics and synths alike sounded a bit cheesy, but the execution on the vocals is impressive. I’m also impressed with the mastering quality here - all the instruments are well-balanced, clear, and loud in the mix. I like how you process the backing vocals at 2:11 to function as pads. The mellow breakdown at 2:50 was good for some structural variety, and the solo at 3:25 really helps hit the piece home. The transition into 3:25 was fun in and of itself, and you’ve really showed off your melody-writing skills here. Honestly, it’s rare to find a newer musician on Newgrounds who’s a great vocalist, talented producer, and compositional guru all in one. I think you’re going to go far in this competition, Cade. Keep up the good work! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

cad-mium responds:

thank you so much for the kind words! I appreciate it

[Wind Call]

This piece has a really creative meter. At times, I was struggling to follow the rhythm, but as more instruments come into the texture, the rhythmic patterns complement each other really well. The sound design is really interesting, too. A couple of the synths sound a bit cheesy and unpolished, notably the synth at the very beginning and the one that comes in at :39. That said, the atmosphere is pretty nice, and you have a good sense of harmony and progression. I would’ve liked to see you find more advanced methods of creating variety in the piece, like changes in volume levels, filtering, automation, etc., rather than just adding and subtracting instruments over time. The instruments blend well together, and the energy level changes fairly regularly, but overall the piece is lacking the kind of “point of arrival” or climax that I expect of a full-length stand-alone track. Overall, there are some really cool ideas here, with a solid production quality and some fun, quirky rhythmic elements, but the composition could’ve been a bit more fleshed out. Keep at it, C-Lehman! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
5.5/10

Caustic responds:

Thank you for this awesome feedback!

[An Amazing Adventure]

I like the cutesy synths and strong beat at the beginning. The chord progression is a bit generic, and the flow of the piece gets a little broken up by the abrupt transition at :36. I enjoyed the build-up into 1:00, and adding the extra beat or two before the rest of the instruments kicked in was a creative idea. I would’ve liked to hear some variation on the main riff later in the piece, but a bigger problem is probably the generic sound design and harmonic framework of the piece. There are a lot of cliche sounds in electronic music, and it’s hard to come up with good rules-of-thumb for avoiding them. But I think a good place to start is working on crafting more dynamic melodies.

Right now, most of the melodic content in this piece repeats every 4 measures or so. I think it would give the track more of a narrative appeal if you tried switching it up more. The next time you write a melody, try to make sure it has a “goal” in the context of your piece. In other words, that you’re leading somewhere other than where you started - it could be a particular note later in the melody, a specific feeling, or even a different section of your piece. This use of “dynamic melodies” is really hard to execute, but it’s also why the music of, say, @Johnfn (https://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/622648) sounds so amazing. The melody still repeats certain patterns, but it also evolves over time, sometimes a lot.

Anyway, your piece is cute, catchy, and upbeat. You clearly have a good sense of harmony and rhythm. An important next step for you is making your sound stand out from that of other electronic artists, and melodies that grow and change over time can help you do that. Keep at it, BurningMagma! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.25/10

[Ji4H3 - Chasing the dream (Original Mix)[Free download]]

I like the upbeat synth melody at the beginning and the cutesy instruments. The chord progression and a couple of the sound design choices (like the lead at :49) are a bit generic, but the mixing and mastering is pretty good. At some points, the bass sounds a bit too loud relative to the melody, like at 1:17. The melodies at the bridge at 1:55 are strong, though, and overall the texture sounds full and well-balanced throughout. A little more variation on the main melody later in the piece would’ve been welcome, but the modulation at 3:01 helps add some degree of variety. I think my main problem here is the lack of originality with the sound design, arrangement, and harmonic framework. You clearly have a good sense of harmony, progression, and rhythm, but an important next step for you is making your sound stand out from that of other dance/EDM artists. Still, this is a catchy and enjoyable piece! Keep at it, bow1255. :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10