TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Expanse]

I like the cute, dreamy instruments and the militaristic percussion. The rhythm at the transition at :20 was a bit bizarre. It was hard to tell where the downbeat fell until about :25. The strings are really nice, although I think the kick has a bit too much sub-bass for a piece like this. The melodic content is beautiful, and the injection of emotion at the 2-minute mark was a nice touch. This piece actually reminds me a lot of some of Waterflame’s older tracks, back when he used to do more orchestral-sounding stuff. That said, I think the continuous energy of the piece warrants some structural relief at some point, either via an atmospheric bridge or more minimal breakdown or something. You still give the piece a nice sense of climax towards the end with the last major phrase at 3:36, although I’m not sure it sounded quite conclusive enough for me. Still, great work with the sound design, mixing, melodies, and flow of this piece. Keep up the good work, Hyenaedon! ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

[Junkie]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the blissful vibe of the initial melody. The pause at :14 was a bit awkward; I would’ve at least let the reverb bridge the gap there. That said, I’m enjoying the melodic content at :15, even if the drum samples are pretty generic. The drop is pretty cool, and I really like the melodic content at 1:15. I can hear the drums struggling to cut through the mix, though. Some stricter equalization and compression might be in order. It might even be more of a volume issue than a mastering issue, really. The atmospheric part at 1:48 is really nice, and I like how you left a lot of room for contrast with the second drop. The variations at the second drop were nice, and I found the rhythmic content consistently engaging. The piano outro was a nice touch, too. Overall, nice work with the production, drops, melodic content, and atmosphere. I have some minor issues with the progression, mixing, and originality (especially of the arrangement), but this piece is solid work in my book. Keep at it, Plygon! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

Plygon responds:

Thanks so much for the detailed review! I really appreciate the feedback!

[Unity]

I like the uplifting piano riff at the beginning, although the piano notes sound a little indistinct. The synths are cute, if a tad generic, and there’s a good sense of climax into :38. The rhythmic content at :38 is fun, although the chord progression is pretty cliche and I thought you could’ve used a stronger transition into :57. I would’ve liked to see you vary the harmonic content a little more at some point, although I enjoyed the gradual transition into the last refrain. The piece might’ve needed a little extra intensity or extended stretch of dynamic melodic content to really hit it home, but overall it still sounds pretty conclusive by the end. I also thought the mix was a little quiet, and the kick doesn’t always come through so well on the low end. Overall, nice work with the melodies, textural depth, atmosphere, and rhythmic content. My main problem here is how cliche the instrumentation, chord progression, and arrangement of the piece is. Keep at it, ClockbeatAdelony87! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.75/10

[Finger Paint]

I like the sassy strings at the beginning and the emotional quality to the harmonies by around :15. The texture is well-balanced, and the choir at :35 is a valuable addition to the texture as well. I like the beat at :56 and the cute synths and sub-bass. The drum samples sound pretty unique, too. Great sound design here overall. I would’ve appreciated some more melodic content at the climactic points of this piece, though, and I thought the transition at 1:43 was a little sudden. Overall, the structure works really well here, although I would’ve liked to see a little more harmonic variety towards the end to really drive this piece home. Still, the mixing and mastering, sound design, atmosphere, and drum beats are really cool here! Keep it up, CANDYdisturber! ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

CANDYdisturber responds:

Very thorough review; thank you for the critiques!

[Silvera - Behold Anubis]

I like the reverberant percussion at the beginning and the eastern-sounding instruments that come in shortly thereafter. The drums are a little generic, but the piece has a nice underlying tension and a great sense of climax into :57. The drop is pretty good, if a little minimal, and it also drags on for a bit too long imo. I would’ve liked to see some more variation in the harmonic content during the second verse, but the vocals add a nice flavorful touch. The rhythmic content at the second drop was novel, although the drop still sounds a little dry and bare to me. The production quality here is good, although at times the texture needed some more fill. My favorite part of the piece is probably the vocals. They sound so clean and well-acted that I thought they were samples at first. Overall, nice job with the mixing and mastering, sound design, rhythmic components, and thematic elements. The harmonic content could’ve been a bit more fleshed-out, though. Keep at it, JAXXN! :)

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

[My Old Game]

I like the refreshing guitars at the beginning and the melodic lines. The electronic instruments at :30 were a bit of a surprise, but they fit into the texture well. The production quality is great here, btw. The additional layer of harmonies at 1:15 is a nice touch in the midst of a good amount of repetition. I like the breakdown at 1:30, which gave the piece some structural contrast that made the final refrain feel even more climactic. The melodies at 1:51 are great, and I love the rhythmic content at around 2:10. The ending came on a little suddenly, but overall the piece has a smooth flow too. This is a really feel-good sort of track. Nice work, Depard! ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

[The Sanctuary (NGADM Entry)]

I like the hard-hitting ambiance at the beginning and the synth arpeggios in the background. There’s a nice sense of climax into :38, although the reverb in the texture is pretty excessive. The drop was nice, and the atonal chords at the end enhanced the quirky vibe of the piece. The snare has a lot of higher-end frequencies, especially during the more atmospheric parts, but overall the mix sounds clean and crisp. There are a couple of sudden mood shifts in this piece, like 1:58, that came across as a bit jarring to me, but overall I like how you use atonality and other “shock value” elements of the piece to enhance the thematic content. I would’ve liked to hear another climactic section towards the end to really hit this piece home, but even without that it’s a very engaging and creative piece. I love the pitch-bending on the bell-like pads at the end too. Overall, strong work with the production, mood, atmosphere, and sound design! Keep up the good work, KayozKun! ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

KayozKun responds:

Wow, thank you so much for reviewing my track! i really appreciate the constructive criticism and i will keep in mind what you said! :-)

[Titan]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning, although there’s a lot of reverb in the texture and I think the pads sound a little generic. The drums at :31 are a little weak, and some of the piano notes sound a tad indistinct. I think the mixing could use a bit of cleaning up here, starting with removal of the excess reverb and some tighter equalization. The melodies at :59 are nice, if a tad repetitive, and I’m enjoying the full, rich texture. The chord progression is a tad cliche, and I think the refrain lasts for a little too long. I liked the new harmonic riff you introduced during the bridge at 2:14, although overall there’s not much harmonic variety in this piece, including in the last refrain. I also thought you could’ve done more with the drums in this piece - especially during the busier sections, it’s a pretty generic kick-snare-kick-snare. The extra mid-range bass at 3:27 was a nice touch, and the atmospheric outro was pretty enjoyable as well. Overall, nice work with the atmosphere, harmonies, rhythmic content, and progression. Aspects of the mixing, originality, variety, and compositional details might need some work, though. Keep at it, HactasticBeast! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
6.75/10

Benji-G responds:

4 years ago now eh, time flies haha.

Thanks for the feedback!
/ HactasticBeast aka Benji-G 😂

[[NGADM and NGUAC 2019] ẄL - Distorted Dreams]

I like the airy piano at the beginning. The frantic melodic content is a little hard to follow, and then the mood shift at :28 is a little sudden. I like the mysterious vibe of the strings by around the 1-minute mark, and how it gradually morphs into more of a sense of wonder. The drop at 1:54 is pretty hard-hitting, and the reverb on the clap is a bit excessive. The sound design is pretty enjoyable, although I would’ve liked to see you come up with a more gradual transition that foreshadows some of these abrupt mood changes. I like the drum pattern at 3:16, although the second drop at 3:46 overused the distorted bass sounds a bit. I think they would’ve worked better if they didn’t come in so regularly, as they didn’t vibe too well with the square rhythm. It also would’ve been nice if you had more of a proper outro to the piece. Still, overall the production quality in this piece is solid and you clearly have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and sound design. Keep at it, WaterLemonMusic! :)

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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[Glitch Gal]

I like the fun synths and crisp drums. The chord progression is a little generic, and the piece is slow to progress. The production quality is solid, although I think the composition could use more variety and dynamic melodic content, especially in the first half of the piece. By around 1:45, it becomes clear that the cute melodies are a mainstay of the piece, and I think the track is better for it. The composition comes together much more in the second half, although aspects of the harmonic progression, sound design, and arrangement still lack originality. I also would’ve liked to see more structural contrast in this piece, with a more distinct breakdown where the bass line gives way to more atmospheric or alternative content. That would help give the structure of the piece a little more shape. The strongest part of this piece is probably the production, although the atmosphere, rhythmic content, and flow are also enjoyable. Keep at it, ZtpRapheephat! :)

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
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.25/10

ZtpRapheephat responds:

Thanks for your feedback :3