TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Terminal Velocity (demo)]

I like the bright-sounding guitars and underlying cinematic vibe this has. Almost sounds like an anime soundtrack. The element of suspense is nice, and there also lots of cool riffs like at :42. Sometimes I think the synths and guitars are fighting against each other a little too much, though, especially since they're both pretty staccato-y and frantic. I'm really liking the added intensity by around 2:20, especially since that section had a more melodic flair. I'm looking forward to hearing the vocals! Seems like it's a piece worthy of some storytelling to go along with it. :) Keep it up, MetalRenard! ^^

[Time In a Bottle (Cover, Jim Croce)]

Lovely to see you posting again, Ceevro! I like the smooth, soulful guitar at the beginning. The vocals are good, but sometimes they were a little weak in the mix relative to the guitars. The piece has a really nice flow, and I like how before every vocal entrance there's a slight anticipatory pause. The slightly darker, pensive vibe after the last verse is a nice touch too. The composition is fairly simple, and part of me wishes you tried to add more onto it vis-a-vis the original, but regardless you guys are clearly talented guitarists. Hope to see more of you around the Grounds soon! ^^

Ceevro responds:

Dude, if you had any idea how tricky this is to perform as a duet...I'm amazed at how well my brother did at this...his guitar skillz are amazing, but he does it for himself...no interest in performing or recording at all. Sometimes I wish I could be like him. He just gives zero fucks about the outside world. I was honoured that he recorded this, entirely because he knew I wanted to. I doubt he's ever even pulled the page to see how it sounded. There's something inspirational in that.

[Moonflower, II: Close]

A fittingly emotive and relaxing conclusion to this wonderful and diverse EP! It has a great sense of ebb and flow about it, especially with the tempo and contour of the melody line. Very human-sounding music here. That's what I like to hear. :)

[Sunday]

I really like the tranquil mood at the beginning. The cutoff at :08 really threw me off, and you definitely took the piece in a different direction starting at :10. I like the smooth, jazzy undercurrent of the piece and the sound design. The bouncy piano, quirky pads, and groovy bass are especially good choices. The breakdown at 1:58 is also a nice melodic interlude. During some of the busier sections of the piece, I couldn't help but feel like you could've done a little more with the drums, but the melodic variations towards the end help keep me engaged, and besides the first 10 seconds the flow and phrasing of the piece is really smooth and pleasant. Strong work overall, Miyo! ^^

[In My Garden (feat. annapantsu & feebeechanchibi)]

Wow, Rose's voice sounds really cute. :3 You really told a story with this one, Miyo. Sounds like something right out of a broadway musical. I'm really engrossed by the quality of the vocals and how well the instrumental palette complements them. Rose and Eden are the perfect names, too. ^^ The emotional appeal of 4:30 is great, and the extended melodic section ("la la la's") at the end was a great way of hitting the piece home. It's pretty cheesy at times, but the little snippet of dialogue at the end made me laugh. This is wonderful work. Remind me to book a train ticket to New York so I can see your broadway hit in a few years or so, Miyo. ^_^

[Moonflower, I: Bloom]

I like the sense of wonder and majesty at the beginning. The reverb is really heavy, but that adds to the mystery and divinity of the piece. The delicate stringed instruments in the background at :45 sound amazing. I also like the slightly darker tone of the piece by 1:15 or so. The piece certainly comes full-circle by the end, but it still sounds a tad ambivalent, as if the flower shed its petals as quickly as they had once opened. Either way, haunting work here, Miyo. ^^

Miyolophone responds:

i'm really glad your takeaway was "haunting." a lot of people have told me that this one sounds peaceful or happy but i personally think it's quite sad & full of longing

thank you for the many perceptive reviews. they are all very kind and accurate and i appreciate them

[Hammock]

I really like the jazzy textures at the beginning and the malleable tempo. After :40 or so, it's got a great sense of flow and tranquility to it - sounds like background music in a fancy restaurant. There isn't a ton of variety in the texture for a lot of the piece, but I appreciate the brief injection of energy at around the 3-minute mark and the spaciousness in the mix shortly thereafter. Really interesting decision to make what is probably the most transient-sounding part of the piece (i.e., 3:20-ish) into a refrain here. At 4:50, it sounds like a dog just jumped into the hammock with me in a fit of excitement before running off to chase a squirrel. I really like the playful banter at 5:30. I'm not sure the ending sounded very conclusive, but I'm beginning to think that's kinda the point with this album. Beautiful work again, Miyo! ^_^

[철쭉 (Royal Azalea)]

I like the instrumental palette and the energy. The percussion is really crisp and the string melodies are gorgeous. I think my favorite part is the breakdown section at 1:26 - feels like someone pushed the reset button on the flurry of action in the garden. You also channel the energy really well with that frantic violin line at around the 2-minute mark. The ending sounded a tad inconclusive, but I guess that's why it's the 2nd track on the album. :) Keep up the good work, Miyo! ^_^

[Waltz for Flute and Piano]

I like the melodic content and instrumental palette. The majesty of the flute contrasts nicely with the heavier oom-pah-pah pattern in the piano. The composition is overall pretty simplistic, but the ornamentations on the melodies later on help keep things interesting. Thanks for sharing this, even if the time and passion you have to devote to composition has waned recently. Hope to hear more from you soon! ^_^

[I Want What I Can't Have]

Spooky effects at the beginning. Definitely gives me alien invasion vibes. I think the rhythm could've been a bit more well-grounded at times, and I would've preferred a smoother transition at :44. The melodic content at :47 is nice, although the synth at 1:00 was a bit harsh imo. The mix is loud and crisp, although I think the balance favors the synths a little too heavily over the drums. The transition at around the 2-minute mark was a little drawn out for my tastes, but I'm enjoying the ambient flair by 2:20 and the mysterious mood. Perhaps that section could've been a bit more dynamic, but thematically it's probably fitting that the piece gradually fades into a murky, distorted haze. The ping-pong effects at around 5:40 were really cool, and the sound design is probably my favorite part of the piece overall. Keep it up, Larrynachos! ^_^