TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[(NGUAC KO Round) The Misadventures of a Hardcore Punk Guy Into Math Rock]

I like the punchy guitars and the crisp drums at the beginning. The frantic lead riff at :24 is great, and that in turn contrasts nicely with the rhythmic section at :43. The progression is really smooth, and there’s a lot of variety in the texture. I also like when you briefly slow down the pacing intermittently starting at 1:33. The breakdown at 1:58 was good for some structural contrast, and by 2:10 the rich atmosphere is really engrossing. The transition into the hard-hitting content at 2:24 could’ve been a tad smoother, and by the 3-minute mark you’ve definitely re-attained the energetic euphoria of earlier. Overall, this piece is awesome. Really refreshing sound design, tons of variety, solid mixing, and dynamic and memorable melodies. By all means, keep it up, FourTHat3! Let me know if there’s somewhere I can download this. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.75/10

[I Wll Remember]

I like the breathy vocals at the beginning. Sometimes, the articulation on them is a little odd, like at :10. The mix is very clogged with reverb, and the piano doesn’t always come through very clearly. The rhythmic content and synth leads are good, and I like the mellow atmosphere to the piece too. The texture is a bit thin for most of the piece, though, and you could also use some bolder melodies and more variety in the instrumental tracks at some point. The additional layer of synth harmonies at the second drop at 2:11 was a nice touch, though. Overall, this piece is relaxing, upbeat, and has some pretty cool sound design. The composition was a tad underwhelming, though, and the mix could be a bit tighter. Still, I also think you did a good job with the progression - very smooth arrangement here. Keep at it, Farmobus! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10

[Dimensions]

Well, I’m a Newgrounds assassin, and I will spare you…FOR NOW.

I love the echo-y vocals and powerful piano chords at the beginning. The chord progression is a bit generic, but the drop at :22 is super catchy and the rest of the sound design is also really cool. The balance of the mix seems a bit off, though - namely, the drums are a bit flat at times, and the bass is a tad too loud. The transition into :24 is also pretty abrupt, and in general the pacing of the piece is a little too fast. You transition from energetic to mellow to glitchy breaks to piano ballad really quickly. Especially in such a short piece, it might help the listener stay oriented if you spaced out the different sections a bit more. I certainly wanted the part at :45 to be at least twice as long, and I’m also envisioning more gradual transitions at 1:53 and other places. The compositional details here are really nice, though, including the vocals at 1:41 and the rhythmic content throughout. This is a really distinctive piece with some refreshing sound design, Enysmo. Keep it up! ^_^

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
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
9/10

[BASCUTI - STAR DANCER]

I like the crisp beats and ghostly synths at the beginning. The drums could use a bit of a boost in the mix, although I’m enjoying the build-up into :40 and the rhythmic content. Part of the problem might be an excess of reverb as well. I like the hybrid electro-rock sound design and energy throughout. The composition could use a tad more variety at times - there are long stretches where there’s a 2-measure lead pattern that repeats over and over again without much else changing around it. Later on I also think you could smooth over some transitions, especially 2:41. Still, the sub-bass at 2:14 is great, and I also really enjoy the spacey outro with the catchy synth patterns at 3:48. Despite the repetitive composition and somewhat overcrowded mix, this is a thoroughly catchy piece with some neat sound design and a frantic, upbeat energy to it. Keep at it, DWAAAN! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.25/10

[Lost Memories]

I like the gritty texture at the beginning, although it sounds a bit grating in the upper register at times. The guitar riff that fades in at around :20 is nice, and really helps take the edge off the harsh atmosphere. The drums at :42 could use a boost in the mix - maybe less wet reverb and more compression. The composition is pretty slow to progress - some vocals or more dynamic melodies could help give this piece a stronger sense of narrative. I like the strummed chords at the breakdown at 1:43 and the heavier chords at 2:11. The harmonies could still use some more depth and variety here, but the texture still sounds full and rich with the atmosphere and well-balanced harmonies. The section at 2:40 serves as a nice, distinct climax to hit the piece home, but the mix also feels a bit strained there - the drums and bass definitely don’t have enough room to operate between the atmospheric textures and harmonies. Still, the mellow outro serves you well, and overall the sound design of this piece is really cool. Two things I would prioritize to take this piece to the next level are: 1) clean up the mix a tad with some stricter equalization and a little less reverb, and 2) do more to add variety to the composition, whether it’s a killer solo midway through or some more creative rhythmic content (or both!). Still, this is an evocative track - sounds like an introspective ballad minus the wistful vocals. Keep at it, debashir! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10

[Divide]

I like the bouncy piano chords and the quirky atmosphere around them. The vocals at :15 sound a tad over-processed - the reverb and delay effects are a bit overwhelming. The build-up into :45 is good, but the drop at :46 is a bit minimal and introduces a lot of new instruments at a rapid clip. The catchy rhythmic content is certainly a plus, and the mix at the drop sounds loud, clean, and well-balanced. I still think you could do a better job of integrating the spacey vocal sections and the drops - they don’t quite sound like part of the same narrative to me yet. I also would’ve liked to hear more variation on the main riffs of the piece the second time around, including more of a proper outro. The arrangement of this track is a bit generic, although the sound design overall is pretty neat. The production quality holds up well too. It’s mostly the compositional details that I think could use some more effort here - gradual transitions, fuller textures, more variety, etc. Still, I enjoyed the atmospheric and rhythmic elements and the build-ups. Keep at it, D4W1LL! ^_^

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
6.75/10

D4W1LL13 responds:

duly noted! excuse the late reply, thanks for the contest!

[jazzy sunday]

I like the smooth pads at the beginning and the lo-fi production. The minimal snaps at :13 make for a good, mellow way of keeping the beat, and I really like the strong rhythmic content and bass at :24. I would’ve liked to hear the leads be a bit more prominent in the mix at :47 - the melody synths there seem to take a back seat to the bass and E-piano until 1:33 or so. The texture is also fairly minimal and bottom-heavy for much of the piece, and could use some more upper-mid-range frequencies to balance it out. Felt like the piece was just getting started when it ended, though (which is both a compliment and a criticism, I guess). Overall, a bolder composition where the melodies don’t just blend in with the backing harmonies would really help take this piece to the next level. But I still really enjoyed the atmosphere, sound design, and beats. Keep at it, Crysstal! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.25/10

Crysstal712 responds:

thank you! c:

[Cobblestone Cliffs & Errant Appetites]

I love the crisp string riffs and rhythmic content at the beginning. The tremolo effect at :07 sounds really neat, and the airy piano at :16 helps smooth out the texture nicely. The transition at :46 was a bit abrupt, but the rich chords there are great, and I also like the piano bridge at 1:25. The middle section of the piece sounds a bit minimal, but I like when the dark, murkier string lines come in at 2:05 and add more of an air of mystery to the piece. The track also comes full-circle well with the waltzy riff at 2:34. At times, the composition of this piece could’ve been a bit bolder, but the sound design, progression, and production quality are all strong regardless. Very relaxing and evocative piece, Cresince. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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
8.5/10

Cresince responds:

I am glad you enjoyed it! I'll be trying my best for the final round

[New Prey]

I like the foreboding mood at the beginning. The synths are a bit cheesy, though - that main pad at the beginning sounds like a preset from Nexus or Autogun. The vocals at :32 sound pretty good, but they also could’ve been more compelling if you had put more intensity behind them, as opposed to the furtive, whispered tone you have now. The mix is also pretty good, but the reverb is clogging up the texture throughout, and the drums could use a bit of a boost at times. I’d also suggest finding ways of creating variety within the vocal verses, which otherwise seem rather long and repetitive. Singing the first section of each of them down the octave could help, or adding additional layering later on. Otherwise, I like the eerie atmosphere and progression of this one, as well as the spoken word vocals during the bridge at 2:50. Finding ways of playing up the industrial aspect of the piece would really help take it to the next level IMO - more powerful vocals, more distortion and less reverb, pushing that synth guitar at 3:21 to the front of the mix, etc. I really like the dark themes in the lyrics and the creepy synth harmonies - you just need to bring out that apprehensive quality more in the rest of the sound design. Keep at it, Cotnp! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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?)
1/1
Composite score
7.25/10

cotnp responds:

Thanks for the feedback! We'll see if I can do any better next year :)

[~ DISABLEDspace vol. 1 ~ // 04 EVERYTHING IS ROSY //]

I like the spacey pads and chirping birds at the beginning. The mix is a bit quiet, but otherwise clean and well-balanced. The crisp beat at :26 is really nice, and the piano melodies at :45 have a really sweet and upbeat tone to them. Long stretches of the piece are a bit minimal, and at times the mix feels like it’s missing some mid-range frequencies. The composition could be a tad bolder in general, with a pretty repetitive harmonic framework and similar instrumental hierarchy throughout the piece. You also start overusing the reverse crash during transitory moments after a while. Still, the mood, sound design, and atmosphere of the piece are really cool, and the production quality is rather strong as well. Very relaxing and blissful-sounding track, BottomKek! Keep it up. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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