TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[-Feelin' Better-]

I like the catchy riffs right off the bat. Really quirky synths, and the busy percussion and high-pitched vocal samples fit in really well. There's a great call-and-response sort of vibe to the melody at around 1:30, and the energy and flow really help keep me engaged. The flute solo during the breakdown at 2:25 works really well too, and the descending brass line at 2:40 makes for a really effective transition back into the energetic section. The vocals at 3:40 are nice, and the anticipatory undertones in the texture at 4:30 flow really nicely into the final refrain at 4:40. I might've lied earlier - THIS is my favorite track of yours of 2020. Glad you're feeling better, WF! ^^

[-Supra Zone-]

I like the murky bass at the beginning. The vocal samples that come in at around :30 get a tad repetitive, but the texture is pretty rich and full to keep things moving. I also like the pads at 1:30. The rhythmic elements at around the 3-minute mark are especially nice, and the drum fills and guitars later on help keep things interesting. Still, I think it would've helped this piece to have some more atmospheric and/or melodic elements at some point, just to switch up the soundscape a bit. Bringing back the vocal samples at 4:35 was a good decision, though, and the mysterious vibes at the end are really nice. Keep at it, WF!

[-Hidden Path- (Rapid Route mix)]

I remember the original! I like the vocal sample additions and the more prominent VGM style of this one. The bass also seems more up-front than the original, and the tempo faster. The blissful synth melodies are nice, as are the rhythmic elements, especially during the middle couple of minutes. It's good to see you featured the riff at 1:30 in this one too - I remember that from the original. The ambient outro is a great touch, especially with the rhythmic variations. Strong work here, WF! ^^

[-Skelter-]

I like the old school breakbeat vibes here. Parts of it remind me of "Daybreaker," with the jazzy flair and prominent vocal samples. There's a ton of variety here, but the flow is really smooth. I love the vocal sample at :35 - really takes some of the tension out of the busy beat. Same thing with the mini-breakdown at 1:20ish. The jazzy chord at the end seemed like a fitting conclusion - quirky, yet not out-of-place. Probably my favorite track of yours of 2020. Keep it up, WF! ^^

[-Train to Nowhere-]

I love your experimental tracks. The ominous beats fit in really well with the old-school movie samples. The piece is a bit minimalistic, but I'm enjoying the pulsing effect that the texture has at around 1:15 and the variations in the beat towards the end. Overall, it could've used a stronger sense of direction, but it's still really evocative and catchy. Perfect for a rainy Saturday. :)

[-Megalopolis-]

Really cute piece! I like the upbeat melodies and synth guitars at :25. The authentic-sounding drums are a nice touch, and the rhythmic elements and sound design are top-notch as usual with you. The jazzy breakdown at 1:35 is really refreshing, and the string melodies at 1:45 give a softer edge to the piece. It's really full of variety and fun riffs - I could envision this as a loop in a video game. Keep it up, WF! ^^

[searching for clues]

I like the rich strings and church bells at the beginning. The effect of the short phrases on the flow is effective at first, but it felt a bit choppy after a while, especially with the back-and-forth between the energetic/dramatic mini-phrases (:34, :51) and the more mellow and ominous ones. Still, the orchestral samples are really high-quality, and I like the brighter tone of some of the chords starting at around the 2-minute mark. Everything sounds really well-balanced and clean in the mix, too. You've been scouted, my friend. Welcome to Newgrounds! ^^

LudwigComposer responds:

Thank you for your thoughts and scout! The song is meant to be easy to rearrange to suit film, that is why there are gaps.

[Blackout Remix]

Certainly different style than what I'm used to hearing from you. I like the string pads, clap syncopations at around :43, and flashy synths. You might overuse the transitions with the tom-toms a bit, but I'm enjoying the flow and the minimalistic sections with the bare vocals. The piece feels like it could use a bit more variety towards the end, but perhaps the original didn't have much more vocal content to work with. A prominent solo or bridge wouldn't been a welcome change. Still, happy to see an upload from you. Happy New Year! ^^

dude2312 responds:

Hahah I genuinely felt like I was at the NGUAC2021! Great review, TaintedLogic. You know appreciate your criticism a lot.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my little piece.

[Chasing Parallels]

I like the eerie chimes at the beginning, and the breathy vocals contribute to the ominous tone of the piece overall. I like the echo effects at around :35 too, but I feel like the vocals at :42 were a bit dry by comparison. The lyrics have a strong narrative inclination, and the composition itself is also full of variety. The motif of "parallel lines" is really clever, too. Occasionally, the big pitch jumps in the melodies are a bit jarring, notably at :20 ("yard"). The mix sounds really good to my ears, and the dense and jazzy texture later on in the piece is just engrossing. The glitchy solo at 2:51 is awesome, and the vocal layering at around 2:30 is great too. The piece comes together really well as a cohesive thematic whole, even while the composition itself is full of surprises. Brilliant piece, Kor-Rune. Please upload more in 2021! Also, if you ever put this on an album, please PM me - I'd love to snag a DL. ^^

Kor-Rune responds:

Thank you so much for the shout and feedback !! I will absolutely let you know, there's several tracks im putting together for such a thing :')