TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Plümmet]

I really like the articulations at the beginning (i.e., how the note lengths alternate every 2 notes between legato and staccato). Between that riff and the pulsing pads the atmosphere just sounds beautiful. I wanted the drums at :44 to be a bit stronger in the mix, but perhaps it fits the character of the piece better if they’re a little on the soft side. The piece is a little slow to develop at first, but by 1:12 there’s a very different pattern of emphasis in the rhythmic framework that comes across as a bit jarring. I also think you tried to do a little too much with the melodies after around 1:20, as it was difficult to follow the harmonies there. The chill section at 1:40 leaves me even more confused about where this piece is going, but the re-introduction of the riff at 1:55 helped clarify things a bit. The pause at 2:50 threw me off the mark again, but 2:51 was the point of arrival and structural stability that I was looking for in the first ⅔ of the piece. It’s still pretty short-lived, and I think this piece does end up feeling pretty incoherent after a while, between the overwhelming number of distinct sections and a somewhat choppy arrangement at times (I think the sudden transitions at 1:12 and 3:19 are big culprits for me in that regard). Still, the melodies, atmosphere, and sound design in this piece are so beautiful that I want to like this piece a lot more than I probably do. I think you guys might need to consolidate your ideas a little more next time, though, because after a couple of listens I’m still a little lost with this one. Hope that makes sense. Overall, though, there’s a lot to like here, not least of which are the moody piano plinks and scrumptious wave-like pads. Keep at it, guys! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Affliction]

The fade-in at the beginning was a tad bizarre, but I like the guitar riffs at :10 and the syncopations at :32, even if the rhythm is a bit hard-to-follow there. The snare sample sounds a bit thin in the mix, but also crisp and clear. The texture comes together well by around the 1-minute mark, although there are a couple of sudden transitions (at 1:14, for example) that detract from the sense of flow and shape of the piece. I wanted to hear some more dynamic melodic content earlier in the piece, too, although the mellow breakdown at 2:18 was a nice touch that added some structural relief. The solo at 3:01 really helped this piece imo, offering a point of arrival that hit the piece home towards the end. While the end came on a tad suddenly, overall the track feels conclusive and cathartic there. I think aspects of the mix sound a bit undecorated and thin, and I still do want to hear some more gradual transitions and phrasing from you. Still, you nailed the solo at the end, the rhythmic content, and the clarity of the mix here. Keep at it, JDawg00100! ^_^

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

JDawg00100 responds:

Thanks for the review :)

[Life Goes On]

I like the bouncy vibe at the beginning, and I applaud your use of real instruments to aid the down-to-earth cabaret feel of the piece. I’m consistently jealous of your ability to mix vocals this well, and the comedic elements of the lyrics make the appeal of the vocals that much greater. There’s something vaguely cheesy and/or cliche about the arrangement of the piece in some regards, and I think there’s room for a little more variety in the content of the instrumental tracks. I think this piece is short enough that it could use a solo or harmonic shift in the middle just to spice things up; the structure of the vocal phrases gets pretty repetitive after a while, and part of me feels like it’s a bit too narrative-driven for its own good. That said, you clearly put a lot of creative energy into the lyrics and thematic content, and it pays off. This piece sounds like a conglomerate of a richly detail-oriented creative process, and it was refreshing to hear several vocalists in a piece in the NGADM. Keep up the good work, LE! ^^

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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Interlude For The Day]

I like the relaxed vibe at the beginning and the detuned piano. The rhythm is a little hard to follow at the beginning, and the harmony isn’t much easier at first either, with a lot of jazzy chords in rapid succession. There’s more clarity in the texture when the drums come in at :25, but the mix is still pretty thin. The flow is punctured frequently by sudden transitions, which in a way helped keep the piece engaging, but I also think I lost the sense of direction of the piece after a while. I like the blissful, bouncy mood of the piano and the somewhat moody inflections that occur at times, but I think you could’ve done a lot more with the composition in some regards. The entire piece feels a bit fleeting, not just because it’s short but also because there’s rarely a sense of structural stability anywhere. You have a lot of cool transitions and ideas running across the page, but I wanted to be able to point to a moment of arrival that ties the piece together. Instead, it never really came, leaving this piece feeling unfinished, to be frank. Still, you’ve really got an engrossing mood going here, and the production and sound design are strong as usual. Keep at it, Vocaloutburst! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.75/10

vocaloutburst responds:

Thanks for the review dude, it really means a lot! I think this was definitely one of my more ambitious tracks to make, especially for this contest. Up until now, I've taken a more video game/orchestral/cinematic approach to my tracks, and this jazzy lofi track is kinda out of left field but I wanted to give it a try and see what happens. I honestly think your review helps the most out of all the comments/critique I've received for this track. I focused mainly on my knowledge of jazz when I was putting this together, but I often get too snared into my own ear for the vast majority of my tracks. I want to get better at stepping away from the production process and attempt to hear the track from a different viewpoint so I can appeal more to the masses. I think with your review, it showed me what others' ears might have gravitated towards and that's usually a hard thing to figure out on my own. I don't just want to make music that I think my friends and people I admire will like, but I also want my music to reach people who I'd never dream of getting to know. Basically, what I'm saying it this, I have to come to terms with the fact that what I think sounds cool isn't always going to resonate with everyone in the same way. Again, really REALLY appreciate these reviews, it means a whole lot to me!

[Eternal Shores]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning and the airy quality of the synths. Before the beat comes in at :49, the rhythm can be a bit hard-to-follow here, but I think that’s mostly because the string samples have this built-in delay that’s meant to sound authentic. That said, I really like the drums and atmosphere at :49. That section is pretty repetitive, however, despite the added harmonies you introduce at 1:38. I think there’s room for a lot more melodic development in this piece, and it still sounds like your approach to the arrangement and composition of the track is a bit formulaic. There also isn’t a strong sense of overarching direction to the piece, which leaves the composition feeling a bit bland by the end. The mixing is probably the strongest element of the piece, although I also like your sound design as usual. Overall, nice work with the production, instrumentation, and atmosphere. I think the composition needs a bit more risk-taking at this stage of the competition, though. Keep at it, Blackhole12! ^^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

[New Life]

I like the light, soothing tone at the beginning. The rhythm is a little square, but the melodic content and sound design are beautiful. The mix is a tad quiet, but I like how the texture fills out a bit with the addition of the bass tones at around :43. I like the re-intro at :58, although the string notes at around 1:07 could’ve sounded more distinct. The percussion at 1:12 and the climax into 1:20 sounded nice, and the percussion remains crisp and clear in the mix for the remainder of the piece. I also like the subtle use of synthetic sounds during this section. I suppose I would’ve liked to hear you foreshadow the transition at 1:48. The brass harmonies at 2:16 sound pretty inauthentic, and the choir at 2:27 sounds a bit over-saturated in the mix. That said, the melodies here really help hit the piece home, and the emotional appeal of the final piano solo during the last 30 seconds is great. I think this piece has a bit of a choppy arrangement and some minor mixing issues, but overall I enjoyed the composition a lot. Keep at it, CloakedSoup! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9/10

[Clutch Time]

I like the cutesy pads at the beginning. The vocals sound a little over-processed, which detracts a bit from the sugary pop vibe of the harmonies and arrangement. Some of the vocal lines could use some re-recording too. The word “mine” doesn’t really come through very well at :28, for example. The lyrics themselves are a bit cheesy, but I like the post-chorus at :39 and the stop-start transition at :59. I would’ve liked the drums to be a bit sharper in the mix, but otherwise the balance is pretty good. I like the syncopations during the middle section, but sometimes you try to squeeze a couple too many syllables into the rhythmic framework there, like with “while I stare” at 1:08. Perhaps part of it is the way you articulate the vocals in that particular recording. I’m enjoying the second post-chorus as well and, despite the somewhat cliche elements of the arrangement, the piece comes together well towards the end. Parts of the piece could use some cleaning up, especially the mixing and vocal editing, but otherwise I like the blissful, forward-looking mood and the cutesy sound design and melodies here. Keep at it, Ectisity! ^^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
8/10

[endK - Gotta Go Blast!]

Catchy beats and fun sound design as usual, EndK. I like the low slap bass at :14 and the synth brass melodies at :27. The piano fill at :38 was a nice touch, too. I think you could’ve potentially done more with the drums, but my main complaint in the piece is that it just doesn’t feel structurally complete. There’s a dense texture rife with killer melodies, energy, and funky syncopations during the first 52 seconds of the piece, and then the ‘B’ theme and its variations dominate the rest of the piece, giving the overarching structure an awkward AB arrangement that doesn’t really allow you to develop and expand on some of the strong melodic themes you introduced earlier in the piece. Maybe that seems like a bit of an over-specific complaint, but I think that’s a missed opportunity at the very least. Still, the mixing is really strong, the melodies and instruments are fantastic, and it’s easily a piece that’s stuck in my head. Solid work overall, EndK! I just wanted to hear a final refrain that hit this piece home. :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
9/10

endKmusic responds:

Your review is totally right if you're looking at this piece as a 'could-be-full-length-song'.
From that perspective it sure is, as you said, 'awkward AB arrangement'.
But as I said in the description, I tried to make trailer-like music for 2 opposite things.
There wasn't meant to be a wrap up, eventhough I could've done it (if I had more time / ideas / etc.)
As always, I'm really grateful for your detailed review!
It sure makes me wonder of how would it sound if it really was one unique full-length wrapped up idea.
Thanks TL! :)

[Fractured (NGADM Ver.)]

I like the pensive mood at the beginning and the warm, rich, emotional quality of the piano and pads. The piece is a tad slow to develop, and I think the sweep at :35 sounds a tad undecorated. There was a good sense of climax into :44. I like the bass slide there too, and there’s a sense of profoundness in the drive and tone of the piece. The texture comes together well by 1:28, although the drums might’ve been a tad over-compressed. I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodic content, but I applaud your return to the somber piano solo towards the end. The one-climax model rarely works as well as it does here in my opinion, and I admire the sound design, production, and atmosphere of this piece as well. Strong work, MegaSphere! You really told a story with this one. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Lair of the Shapeshifter Phoenix]

I like the eerie vocals at the beginning and the sharp string sounds. The nature sound effects and pulsing synths are both really cool textural elements, although the piece remains pretty minimal for a while. I was looking for something bassy to enrich the atmosphere, and I think I found it in that low percussion at 1:18. The progression of the piece is a bit slow to develop, and I don’t get a strong sense of direction here for a lot of the piece. The solo at 1:41 is beautiful, and I love the more hard-hitting electronic elements of the texture at 2:03. The sound design and mixing here are top-notch as usual for you. I’m not really sure what function the pause at 2:36 serves in a broader compositional context, and after a while I think this piece doesn’t really do a great job of channeling its emotional aspects. The last section with the police sirens was very creative in terms of instrumentation, but it also sounded like the energy died out a bit. I was looking for some more dynamic content to hit the piece home. Instead, the composition fell a little flat towards the end, and I wasn’t sure that the four low percussion hits starting at 4:01 added much of value. Overall, I really admire your sense of harmony and sound design, but I think there could’ve been some more risk-taking in the composition here. Keep at it, Syamori! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10