TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[~Fore~ On Your Own]

I like the crisp hats and spacey synths. The dissonant texture at around :45 was really neat, and I like how it gradually builds into the more cathartic "arrival" moment at 1:22. The production quality is super high as always with you, and I like the more spacious feel of the texture by 2:10. There's a real victorious feel to the quirky synths by 2:40, and overall the piece comes together really well by the end. It also feels incomplete in a way, though, especially with the fade-out at the very end. Is that on purpose? Regardless, solid work here, Aliaspharow! Looking forward to hearing the rest of the EP. ^^

[Tempest Engine (demo)]

I like the grainy, hollow ambient sounds at the beginning and the bright piano at :26. There's a great cinematic flair to the piece, and the guitar solo at 1:05 is really refreshing. The mix is relatively quiet, but also clean and clear. I like the bridge at 2:31 - it's spacious enough to offer some structural relief while also retaining the cool sound design and rhythmic elements of the rest of the piece. The rhythm at around 3:21 is a little hard-to-follow, but the piece has a great sense of climax and resolve by 3:40 or so. Nice job with the filtering at around 3:58, and overall the piece comes together well towards the end. Solid work! I especially like the instrumentation and atmosphere on this one. ^^

MetalRenard responds:

Thanks for the comments on this track. I ended up going back through and making changes such as shortening it, I think it works better this way since originally it repeated to allow for vocals/lyrics.

[Boss Life (Mashup Remix)]

I like the distorted pads at the beginning and the airy, emotional quality of the synth that comes in at :11. The piece is a little slow to progress, but I like the sense of energy by around :40 and the drop at :56. Really smooth sound design once again, and the mix is tight despite the rich atmosphere here. I also really like the melodic content at 1:20 and the sub-bass at 1:35. The searing rhythmic riff at 2:03 sounds a little overly harsh in the mix, and doesn't do much to enhance the otherwise soothing, blissful vibe of the piece. By 2:57, the piece gets back in touch with that vibe, although I think the use of the "switch" vocal samples gets a bit repetitive and cheesy after a while. The piece drags on a bit too long towards the end, with the rhythmic riffs not really moving the piece forward in a meaningful way and the melodies blending together until the very end (~5:10, when it felt more climactic). I liked the outro with the quirky synths and return of the vocal samples. Overall, this is a fun piece with a strong production quality and catchy melodies that might just need you to consolidate some of your ideas a bit more. Still, solid work, Akaruhime! Feel free to hmu again when you release your next track. ^^

[Chocolate and Skittles (Remake)]

Catchy beat. I especially like the rhythmic details at :14 and the breaks at :25. The build-up at :23 was a bit short-lived, and could use some more fill in the texture to make it feel more climactic. The mixing is probably the strongest element of the piece. The composition could use a tad more variety besides the stop-start transitions later in the track. The piece has a smooth flow, but little sense of structuring. It couldn't hurt to up the ante towards the end with some additional layering or variation in the chords/rhythmic content. Overall, the sound design and mood of this piece are really refreshing and quirky. I think the composition could use a tad more effort here, though. Keep at it, Akaruhime! ^^

[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