TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Priscilla's Tale]

I'm always jealous of people who can mix and master vocals this well. Turns out that Barrett's Privateers cover was just the tip of the iceberg, huh? Seriously, though, this piece is beautiful. It has a great narrative appeal, and the instrumentation suits the vocals perfectly. If I had to complain about something, it might be that the way the vocals are articulated/delivered at the beginning is a bit bizarre and hard-to-follow at times. The piece has a really appealing increase in emotion over the course of its length, with a thick texture and smooth flow throughout. The lyrics, while somewhat repetitive, are also intriguing and whimsical enough to keep me entertained. I think this song would fit really nicely in a musical inspired by medieval Europe or something. :D Cheers, Step!

[The Inn by the Glacier]

I like the tranquil and upbeat mood at the beginning. The percussion is really nice, and sets the atmosphere well, especially the tambourine. The woodwind mini-solos at around 1:20 are great, and once the piece blossoms into life at 1:35, the adventuresome vibe comes through, and you've phrased the piece's gradual build-up perfectly. The mellow outro with the strings and flute solo was lovely. I'm entranced. Keep it up, Step! ^_^

[Timmy's Very Bad School Day OST - 02 - Burn Notice]

Super catchy piece with fun melodies and crisp drums. Without playing the game, I'm guessing this was used for the title screen? Also, even with NG's super bad looping tool, I can tell this makes a great loop. Top-notch production quality and atmosphere too. Keep at it, LE! Happy 2022! ^_^

[Time Machine Adventure]

I like how the bass and funky synth at the beginning outline the progression before the pads and drums come in. I'm hearing some classic glitchiness at :48, and the groovy melodies at 1:08 really hit the spot. The drums weren't quite as prominent in the mix as I wanted them to be in some places, though. That said, I really like how you've alternated between the energetic and mellow sections of the piece. The solo at 2:25 makes the pacing of the entire middle section work super well, and overall I'd say your attention to sound design here has totally paid off. Hope to hear more from you in 2022, and sorry I was so slow to drop a review here - grad school and such. ^_^

[Emphatic Trilogy - 01 Emphatic Outcry]

Wow. Lot of emphasis from you these days. :) I like the upbeat mood and grouchy bass. The riff at :55 is really catchy, and the production quality is strong, as usual with you. The sound design is also a highlight - a lot of quirky synths and some cool risers to boot. The middle section has this great nostalgic vibe about it somehow, and it flows nicely into the re-intro at 2:40 or so. There's a decent amount of variety later on, and the syncopations by around 4:15 really help break up the texture and hit the piece home. Featuring the bass really prominently in the outro was another good choice - it's probably my favorite instrument in here. Keep at it, MegaSphere! Happy 2022! ^^

[JUMPTAEFVCK]

I can't believe I missed this! I like the pulsing synth bass and the squeaky textures in the background. Some of the risers are a bit cheesy, but nonetheless I'm enjoying the sense of build into 1:02. The drop is pretty minimal, but very catchy. I like the vocal samples you include intermittently, including the "jump"s at 1:38 or so. Harmonically, the piece could use a tad more variety, but it certainly pushes all the right buttons in terms of danceability, rhythmic content, flow, and - as always with you - production quality. I'm enjoying the renewed prominence of the squeaky riff towards the end too. Keep at it, Midi! ^_^

[Escape From the Grave]

Intriguing title. I love the dark organ chords at the beginning and the frantic riffs at :19. The percussion here is really nice and dynamic, and the heavy use of the ride cymbal gives it a somewhat jazzy feel. At times, I felt like the balance in the texture was a bit off - there's a big emphasis on the frantic harmonic elements, whereas for example, I think elements like the brass solo at :57 should probably take precedence, even though it's short-lived. The organ chords toward the middle make for a cool bridge, although perhaps that section could've been integrated a bit more cleanly with the final orchestral section at 2:04. That said, I really like the additional mallets and string harmonies during the final minute. The piece never quite relieves the sense of tension it creates throughout, but otherwise it's a great example of how you're so good at creating these cinematic masterpieces. Cheers, Ale! ^_^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Hey! Nice to hear from you. I hope you're doing well :)

This is not my favourite of my own compositions, since indeed there are quite a few things that could be improved in it. I still like the general idea, but I just didn't have enough time to spend on it to really make it shine. I'm glad that you still found some enjoyment in it, and thank you for taking the time to leave such a solid review!

[The Newgrounds Composer]

I like the furtive beginning and the gradually more energetic and upbeat feel by around the 1-minute mark. The string at 1:30 or so are a nice touch, and the brass at 1:50 really helps thicken up the texture. Something about the timing of the harmonies/syncopations at 2:22 doesn't quite line up. Maybe it's that the string samples aren't quite reaching their peak volume on the down beat? The piano line at 3:11 was a welcome return to a more mellow vibe, but the transition there was also a tad abrupt. You really tripped me out with the couple short encores at the end, haha. Feels like they're the seeds of two entirely different pieces, but I especially liked the dreamy guitar at the very end. :) Keep at it, LSD! ^_^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thanks for leaving another review!

You're right about 2:22. It's always difficult to balance orchestral instruments around the piano, even if I would've recorded with a metronome, as the playing is quite dynamic. I feel like the mix could also use some improvement in a few areas. Other than that, I'm quite happy with the arrangement. The ending is indeed a bit unorthodox, but it makes sense in the context of the inspiration for the music! I recommend watching the animation, as the piece is partially based on that ^ ^

[Hopea]

I like the dreamy intro and the evocative sound design. The harsh elements of the texture at :38 are a nice touch, and I like how the progression starts to take on a darker tone until the piano comes in at :51. While the piece is a bit slow-paced at times, the sound design remains interesting, especially with the vocals at 1:30. The brass solo at 1:40 is great, but I think it would've been more impactful if there were some more substantive harmonies built around it. The percussion in this piece is great, though, especially later on when complementing the brass and woodwind melodies. I also like the cliffhanger ending. I think it fits a piece this whimsical and mysterious rather well. Great job, Ale, and happy 2022! ^_^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Happy 2022!

I agree that the piece is a bit slow-paced, but I think that's in the nature of a composition like this, also combined with the artwork. I still wanted to find a way to let it progress, which is why I completely change the genre/instruments at the halfway point. I was trying not to let it move too far away in energy, however. I'm thinking that maybe this song should've actually been made into a loop, but I also like the ending as it is :/

Thanks for listening to some of my later stuff! I've been composing lots for projects, but I haven't yet been able to release any of it online. At some point, though, it should appear :)

[Chippin' Dancin' Desert! (Pixel Day 2021)]

Always down for some bouncy chiptune action. The static in the beat sounds a little overdone to my ears, but the cute melodies and prominent bass line have me sold. Super catchy and refreshing track, and once again I can tell the loop is flawless (even though NG's player usually makes it sound rough). Cheers, TV! ^^