TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Mortis Imperium]

I like the pensive mood at the beginning and the tasteful instrumentation. The flute melodies at the beginning are beautiful, and the texture has a rich atmosphere that feed the emotional appeal wonderfully. The warm strings at 1:32 deepen that emotional quality, although I wish the flute came through the mix a bit more strongly over the strings at 1:41. The final climax at 2:42 is beautiful. There could be a little more distinction among the notes in the texture there, but the percussion is still mixed well, and the likely culprit is merely an excess of reverb or relatively loose equalization. I also like the tranquil outro at 3:41, brief though it was. Overall, the composition of this piece is top-notch, and most of my complaints are in the balance of frequencies/mixing. Keep up the great work, Papkee! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[Folding Screen Monkeys]

I like the frantic string riff at the beginning and the atmospheric details. There’s a good sense of build into :30, but the texture sounds a bit indistinct. I think you could use a high-pass to add some clarity at the low end of the frequency spectrum here. The string melodies at :58 sound nice, but they get a bit buried underneath the harmonies. I like the foreboding mood of the piece, but the balance is a bit off here. The frantic strings and percussion overshadow the rest of the mix. That said, I really like the transition at 1:42, even if it’s a bit sudden. You tie it together well enough with the use of the frantic riffs of either side that it maintains a sense of flow. The piece also comes together well towards the end with the busy texture at 1:56. I still would’ve liked to hear some more variety in the harmonic framework and foregrounding of the melodic elements of the piece, though. The composition comes across as pretty experimental here, although that’s more due to the way the texture is layered than the structure or sound design. I also really like the woodwind mini-solo at 2:26. It was a good mysterious way of wrapping up the boss battle, as if the enemy is going to retreat, but is not quite defeated. Overall, you took some dubious risks with the composition here, but I like the sound design, mood, and flavor of the piece. At the end of the day, it’s mostly the bizarre balance of frequencies that bothers me here. Otherwise, solid work, Mrcoolisimo! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8/10

[Lost in Thought]

I like the smooth guitars at the beginning. The lead sounds a bit harsh in my ears at times, as the attack on it is a bit too strong. I like the pensive mood and flow of the piece. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture, and at some point I would’ve liked to hear some stronger melodic content. That trend starts to reverse itself around 2:02, where the melodies really come through to the foreground more. The bass-heavy breakdown at 2:37 is also nice, if a tad minimal and stagnant. The pads at 3:31 are a valuable addition to the texture, and I like the familiarity of the instrumental hierarchy at 3:38. I think you could’ve gone for a bigger climax and more variety towards the end in order to hit the piece home. Overall, you nailed the mood, harmonies, and sound design. I think the composition could’ve involved a bit more risk-taking, and I also think the end comes on a bit suddenly. Still, this piece has a great sense of atmosphere and flow, and the title captures that vibe perfectly. Keep at it, thebitterroost! :)

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[JUGGERNAUT]

I really like the ominous atmosphere at the beginning and the gritty edge to the texture. The piece is a little slow to develop at first, and I found it a bit disorienting when the atmosphere completely fades away at around :32. The distorted guitars are nice, but the texture at :48 sounds rather indistinct and bass-heavy. The sound design is enjoyable, but the texture could be more well-balanced to include more treble-range instruments. That said, the mix holds up pretty well in spite of the bottom-heavy frequency balance. The transition back to the murky atmosphere at 2:39 is rather sudden, though, and in general I think you could’ve done a lot more with this piece harmonically. The distorted synth at 3:12 sounds really nice. It sounds forlorn and yet also relaxed in a state of complete acceptance. You also do a good job of integrating the atmospheric flair with the guitars at 3:42. I think that section is still pretty repetitive, and lacks a lot of dynamic melodic content. I also think the piece has a lot of reverb and some relatively weak drums that could use sharpening in the mix. Overall, my favorite elements of the piece are the sound design and atmosphere. I think the composition and, to a lesser extent, mixing, could use some more polish, though. Either way, this is a fun, catchy, and unique piece. Keep at it, SourJovis! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
7.75/10

SourJovis responds:

Thank you for the review. I made some changes since the first upload based on your suggestions. I didn't change as much as I thought I would, because I wanted to stick to the minimalist style I had in mind, so I don't know if you like it better this way. See "Edit September-21st-2019" for more details about what I've changed.

[endK - Midnight Chariots]

The thematic content with the glitchiness at the beginning was a fun idea, but I think you overdid the stereo crackling a bit. The rhythmic content here is certainly catchy, and the sound design is top-notch as usual. There’s a lot of space in the mix until around :50, when the piece gains a more flowing style. I think you could’ve done a tad more with the drums at some point here, and after a while the piece does get a bit repetitive. Perhaps my biggest complaint is that there are several extended sections of relative minimalism in the piece, especially harmonically. That said, I appreciated the harmonic variety you offered at 1:56, and the piece comes together well with the solos at 2:22. The catchy synth brass stabs are nice, and the horse samples help cement the thematic content. Overall, solid work! All of my complaints are minor. Keep at it, EndK. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

endKmusic responds:

Totally agree with you on the drum argument during the chorus - but I was low on time.
The same thought was in my head also!
It sounded good enough so I decided to focus on other things.

The same goes for the 'minimalistic parts' as you said.
I had the call - response pattern and thought it's gonna be good enough, and it did sound ok.
I guess the next song will have the right amount of harmony to compensate.

Thanks for constructive review TL, will focus more on those things for sure. :)

[High Key]

I like the dramatic hit at the beginning, although the gritty synth bass at :03 could’ve had more depth and polish. There’s a great sense of climax into :25, and I’m really enjoying the rhythmic content and the loud, tight mix here. The mood change at :52 is pretty sudden - much brighter in tone there. I also appreciate the more melodic flair of the piece by around 1:17. The rhythmic details at 1:42 are awesome, and the entire section serves as a really engaging bridge. I think you start to overuse the vocal samples by around the 2-minute mark, but there’s a really refreshing sense of catharsis in the texture by around 2:20, which morphs into a very different direction by 2:47. The way the tone of the piece evolves over time is extremely interesting. It’s abrupt both times, but it seems to involve a dark and foreboding mood with an extended break of bliss in the middle. Reminds me of a cycle of addiction, almost. Despite the somewhat choppy arrangement and gritty, bass-heavy sound design, this is a very evocative piece, MegaSphere. Strong work overall! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[-A Tale of One Legend-]

I like the stereo crackling at the beginning and the cute, minimal melody on the harp. Some of the instruments at the beginning might’ve sounded a tad undecorated, but that changes around quickly after :43. I think the kick drum is a bit heavy for a piece like this, and I would’ve liked to hear some more variety in the harmonies and main melodic line after a while. The part at 1:12 was very minimal, and the drums sound a tad over-compressed. The jazzy stagger in the piano line at 1:35 was a nice touch, although I would’ve liked to see you do something more dynamic with the flute line at 1:41 if you were going to keep the texture that minimal for a solid 30 seconds. I like the string line at 2:10, but the piano part by 2:40 was a little bland. Overall, I appreciate you stepping outside of your comfort zone here, but I think you could’ve done a lot more with the composition, especially towards the end of this piece. Some more gradual transitions and more emphasis on melodic development over the rhythmic components might’ve helped capture the ups and downs of the story you aimed to portray. Still, this is a valiant effort with some refreshing sound design and a solid melodies. Keep at it, PredatorMusic! ^^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
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
7.75/10

[Rite of First Flight]

I like the eastern-sounding instruments at the beginning and the cool syncopations. The filtering and panning on the stringed instrument at :16 is really neat, and I really like the glitchy flair at :56. The sound design here is so eclectic and refreshing, although there are a lot of relatively percussive sounds in the texture that could use some smoother over at some point. Perhaps some sort of drone-like ambiance would fit the character of this piece and help fill out the texture at times? Still, I really like how the other instruments fade away when the adorable melody comes in at 1:34 with the shaker. The repetition of the string line at 2:30 also gave the piece a bit of structural cohesion that is sometimes lacking in your tracks. The transition at 3:26 was a bit sudden, and I think some of the dense rhythmic patterns there get in each other’s way. Still, by around 4:03 I’m loving the mellow tone of the outro, and the nature FX in the background really helps set the scene. Wonderful work as usual, Syamori. Please let me know when the album comes out. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
9.5/10

Baumarius responds:

Thanks TL! I'll keep this stuff in mind, and I'll definitely let you know when it's out! I've come to a few new musical epiphanies and breakthroughs with the next song for the contest, regarding the personification of my instruments... I can't wait to post it lol

[Snapski - Moonlifter]

I like the airy synths and energy at the beginning. The harmonic content is a little slow to develop, and at times I thought the bass was a little loud (especially at around :52), but I’m enjoying the clean production quality and atmosphere. The first minute and change of the piece sounds very transitional, and I kept waiting for some stronger melodic content or a distinct moment of arrival. The part at 1:54 definitely had potential to become just that, but the foregrounded content there didn’t seem very novel. This piece gets very repetitive after awhile. The vocals at 2:56 were a refreshing addition to the texture, but the piece is still sparse for melodic content and harmonic variety. I think you could’ve done a lot more with the composition of the piece in terms of storytelling and structural contrast. I also think that both the intro and the end of the piece could’ve been smoother, as opposed to throwing the listener into the middle of the action and cutting off suddenly, respectively. Still, I really like the sound design, mixing, and flow of the piece. I just think you never quite hit this piece home where all the elements came together. Still solid work! Keep at it, Snapski. :)

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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[Derpcat - Crystal Caves]

I like the cute, atmospheric synths at the beginning and the blissful mood. I have mixed feelings about the glitchy guitar synth at :35 - I get what you were going for with the added intensity and drive there, but some of the glitchy elements kinda interfere with the flow of the piece after a while. There’s also a rather heavy contrast in mood with the abbreviated breakdown at 1:10 that never gets fully explored imo. The bridge at 1:18 was a bit bland, as were the drum patterns throughout the piece. I really like the atmosphere at 1:53, and I think you could’ve capitalized on the emotional quality of the piece there by incorporating more gradual transitions into this piece. Overall, there’s a lot of promise here in the mood, sound design, mixing, and rhythmic content of the piece, but the structure feels a bit thrown-together and choppy right now. The piano outro is great, but I’m not sure you have me sold on this piece as a cohesive composition yet by the end. I still think 1:18 functions like a bridge (as :35 feels a lot more climactic), which leaves the last half of the piece without a major point of arrival to hit it home. Still, nice work with the production, atmosphere, and instruments. Keep at it, DerpCatOfficial. ^_^

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.25/10

DerpcatOfficial responds:

UwU thank