TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Shanlix - Fallen [House] (for NGUAC 2020)]

I like the cute synths and atmosphere at the beginning. There’s a good sense of climax into :30 and again into :45. The melodies at :45 are nice, even if the chord progression is a bit cliche. Some of the melody synths are a bit cheesy, and I would’ve liked the clap to pop a bit more in the mix during the refrain. The breakdown at 1:15 was good for some structural variety, but in general the second half of the piece could use some more variation, especially regarding the harmonic framework and main melodies. It also would’ve been nice to have more of a proper outro here, especially since the piece was already pretty short as it was. Overall, one of my biggest problems with the piece might be how generic it is, from the chord progression to the arrangement to the transitions. Despite my complaints about the lack of variety and compositional details, the mixing and melodies are highlights here. It’s a catchy piece with a blissful mood. Keep at it, Shanlix! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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

[Runa - Lemonium]

I like the quirky synths at the beginning and the gradual fade-in. The mixing is really solid, and the rhythmic content is great. The chopped vocals that become really exposed at :30 are really cool, and I’m enjoying the build-up into :52. The drop is pretty minimal, but also catchy and feels saturated with the compression and reverb. The more mellow, atmospheric bridge at 1:45 is a nice point of structural contrast, and I love the crisp hi-hats in the upper register there. Some of the elements of the arrangement here are a little cliche, though. I also might’ve liked to see you vary the drop a little more the second time around. Overall, I think the production quality is probably the strongest element of the piece, even if the compression is rather heavy at times. The composition has some catchy riffs, but the melodic side could be a bit more compelling, especially after the intro. Still, the sound design and atmosphere really won me over here. Keep at it, Runanova! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8/10

[the end of pluto (shot in 4k with a .50 cal) - a travesty we're sure]

I like the sharp percussion and gritty bass at the beginning, and the dynamic bass line at :16 combined with the airy, ominous pads is really nice. The synth that enters at :48 sounds a little indistinct imo, and probably could do with a dial-back on the reverb. I like the melodies from 1:23 on, and it was a nice touch that the piece came full-circle at 2:27. Seems like this would even make a nice loop. That said, I think the composition could’ve been a bit more dynamic at times - after :16, the energy level and core harmonic framework rarely changes. Most of the variety in this piece comes from adding or subtracting instruments over time, whereas I think it would’ve helped channel the emotion more if you had some more phrasing, automation, and/or volume changes. Still, the piece comes together well by the end. The mixing is solid, and the progression and melodies are enjoyable here. Keep at it, Rat9352! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[Way to the Freedom]

I like the echo-y vocals and relaxed guitars at the beginning. The clap sample is a bit cheesy, and the vocal editing isn’t perfect, but I like the lyrics (thanks for the translation!). The vocals sit well in the mix, but could also blend better given all the layering. Reverb could do a bit of that work, but in some cases you might consider re-recording, especially in places where the backing vocals seem to have a slightly different inflection as the lead. There are also moments when the calibration is a little off, like at 2:53. I like the mellow, spacey breakdown at 2:15, and structurally the piece works pretty well. I was also a fan of the melodic “yah-yah” flourish at 3:35 and other places. The production quality is also solid overall. I think my main complaint here is that the vocal editing is a bit rough around the edges, but the instrumental tracks could also use some more variety at times. Still, solid work with the mixing, atmosphere, and progression. Keep at it, Ragkul! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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
7/10

[Tango Elysium]

I like the emotional quality at the beginning and the deliberate pacing of the progression. There’s a great sense of build into :44, and the jazzy harmonies during the following climactic (e.x., 1:02) really help add some flavor to the piece. I’m also a fan of the bright tone of the piece by around 2:10, and the return of the prominent melodies at 2:53 really helps hit the piece home. The ending felt a tad rushed vis-a-vis the extended flourishes at the end of some earlier phrases, but overall the progression here is really lovely, with a lot of fun twists and turns that contribute a lot to the narrative feel of the piece. While often minimal, the texture stays engaging with all the lovely phrasing and harmonic details. Strong work here, Pandaguru! Keep it up. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
9.25/10

[Serenade for the Stars]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning. The progression is a little slow-paced, but the harmonies at :35 have a great emotional quality. The transition at 1:45 could’ve been foreshadowed a tad better imo, but I like the quirky percussion at 1:49. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture, but the mix holds up pretty well. The piece could use a stronger sense of direction after a while, though. The harmonic pattern gets pretty repetitive, and I think some more phrasing and dynamic contrast in the middle of the piece would help heighten the emotional stakes here. That said, I really like how you returned to the furtive, minimal texture at 4:06, even if the transition there was also a little sudden. Overall, the lack of variety in the compositional elements is probably my main concern here. You nailed the atmosphere and mood, and the progression would be perfect with just a little smoothing over at some choice spots (1:45, 4:06). Also, I’m really sorry to hear about your struggles recently. If you ever need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to send me a PM. I’m really glad you’ve found a good outlet for your feelings in music. Keep at it, PackMan3!

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7/10

[Final Goodbye]

I like the atmosphere and the pensive guitar arpeggios at the beginning. It would’ve been nice to humanize the guitar a little more, though - otherwise it feels very square. I think you could’ve maximized the emotional quality of the piece a little more with some more dynamic contrast, subtle tempo changes, etc., especially since the texture is pretty similar throughout. That said, the sound design, mixing, and mood are really good here. I also like the progression - it flows very smoothly. It’s just that the piece needs a bit more structuring and shape to really sell the wistfulness inherent in the instrumentation and title. I think it would help if there were some more advanced methods of creating variety besides just adding and subtracting instruments over time - again, volume changes, phrasing, etc. Still, you won me over here with the sound design and production. Keep at it, Naval76! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[NaNo - Virtual Time]

I like the blissful melodies at the beginning, and the portamentos (slidey things at :01, :07, etc.) are really fun. The piece kinda throws the listener right into the middle of the action, without much of a proper intro, but the entire piece is very fast-paced, so it seems fitting. The vocals are fun, and the drop at :38, while very minimal, has some engaging rhythmic content that keeps things moving along. The airy vocals at the 1-minute mark were a nice touch, and I really like how dynamic the middle section is. The mix here is loud and crisp, but the heavy compression is a bit much sometimes, with some moments sounding really distorted in my headphones (notably 1:02). Structurally speaking, it’s a bit generic, and the ending threw me off a bit, but overall the flow is smooth, and I like what you did with the build-ups and bridge in the middle. Really enjoyable piece overall, with some cool rhythmic content and refreshing sound design. Keep at it, NaNoOficcial! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10