TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Rhode Island]

Super fun track! The whispered lyrics at the beginning are a little hard to make out, but otherwise I have absolutely no complaints. Your vocal range is great, combining a rich baritone with a strong falsetto. Do you take voice lessons? I love all the vocal layering and call-and-response effects ("that's right!", etc.). The instrumental is smooth, too. Reminds me of the soundtrack of an 80s sitcom. Great comedic value too - I burst out laughing at "their mascot is a scrotum." Just of curiosity, have you ever been to Rhode Island? XD Admittedly, I'm a little disappointed that you didn't take up the opportunity to write a song about my home state of Massachusetts, but seriously: fantastic track here, LE! ^_^

LunacyEcho responds:

Thanks for the review as usual! Haven't been taking vocal lessons haha, but definitely have been trying to get better at singing recently (this song pretty much hits both the upper and lower limits of my range too)

And heyy Ylvis already did the Massachusetts one! It's a riot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvUMV1N7eGM

[Underbound]

Hi Ale and Jordi! Been a while. This is a super cute piece. Overall, I like the unconventional sound design, but a couple of the choices sounded a tad unpolished, especially the cloudy pads at 1:26. The piece definitely comes across as a collage of ideas, but upon watching the animation it does come together a bit more as a cohesive whole. I think my favorite riff is the somber one at 1:48, although I like how the initial riff returns at 2:34 to bring the story full-circle. Nice work, guys!

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

I'm on the hunt this night!
I think this may be the last one to have slipped through the net :O
Thanks for your thoughts! ^____^

[AIM - Timeless Adventure]

I like the uplifting Celtic-sounding tune at the beginning and the bass drum at around :20. The percussion throughout are quite good, in fact, and they're mixed really well too. The melodies get a tad repetitive, but I really liked the thicker pads you added at 1:30. Super cute piece, and it fits the bright, well-defined art really well. Strong work here, Everratic! ^_^

Everratic responds:

I'm glad you think the percussion is mixed well because that was very difficult! It's nice that people think it fits the art work well :D

As for the repetition, I do agree with you, but I guess I don't see it as being that bad since there's a healthy amount of variation in other areas. That's a fair point though.

Thanks for the review!

[More Love]

I like the progression at the beginning, but the synths themselves are a little dry and could use some delay/reverb effects. The vocals are a nice touch, but I had trouble making out the lyrics after around :45. The piano sample sounds a little generic and undecorated, but the strings at around the 2-minute mark add to the texture well. I think my favorite element of the piece is the mixing. The texture is really well-balanced, full-sounding, and clear. The arrangement is a little cliche, but I like the little burst of energy at 3:15. The ending comes on a little suddenly. I think a more emotional outro would fit this piece well. Overall solid work, though. Looking forward to hearing more new tracks from you, TRA! :)

[The Road Less Traveled]

Really interesting meter here. I think it's in 6/8, but the beat threw me off a bit for a while. I like the bright tone and the continuity of the underlying rhythm - just like footsteps. At the same time, I would've liked to hear a little more structural contrast over the course of the piece. The bridge at 1:48 is the closest thing you get to adding more space to the mix for an extended period of time. Otherwise, there isn't a lot that stands out from the overall texture. I like the harmonic content and the transitions, but the composition could use a little more shape and fleshing out. Overall nice work, Chrono! ^_^

ChronoNomad responds:

Hey there, TaintedLogic! Thanks for dropping by, my friend.

Merely manifesting an idea that was clinging to my mind's eye (though I guess that goes without saying), and I thought that it had a really interesting sense of tension that was simultaneously rather chill. Also getting back to my piano roots a bit since I've been doing a lot of very different things recently, and those beautiful ivories have been calling out to me for a while now. How can I ignore such a plea? xD

I really appreciate the review, man! This was a more fun and casual romp, but it was originally going to be a much shorter - and ultimately more repetitive - loop. Suffice to say, I'm glad that I took the time to expand upon it somewhat before bringing it back around. There's quite a bit of change, especially in the lower register, but much of it is subtle and requires a few listens to really pick them out.

Despite the simplicity of the musical ideas, I still quite enjoy the motif. I can just sit and listen to this for an extended period of time without getting bored, and it brings me a sense of peace for some reason. If other folks enjoy the ride, hey—that's a bonus! It's just nice to have a place to share the music. ^__^

[Wormhole Express]

I like the funky synths and bass. The progression is a little wonky - I'm not quite sure there was ever a big arrival point where the piece came together for me. The ending also cut off a bit suddenly. I like the moody breakdown at around 1:45 and the vocal samples, though. You get full credit for sound design and mixing. Everything sounds really loud, clear, and full-textured throughout. I guess my main complaint is that the piece could've been a little more cohesive, but overall you've really showed off a diversity of compositional skills here. Keep up the good work, Ethansight!

[-Cove-]

I love the airy sound quality and the smooth pads. The progression is a tad slow, but the laid-back and atmosphere and mood really sell this piece. Later on, the mellow guitar solo and chord progression totally hit me in the feels. The track does get a bit repetitive, but I'm a sucker for these chill-out tracks. You sold the emotional appeal really well by stripping away the beat at the end, and the radio effects/static was a nice thematic touch. Overall great work! I would buy an album full of tracks like this from you. ^_^

Waterflame responds:

Thanks! That's great to hear :) Appreciate the feedback.

[-Viscid-]

I like the atmosphere. Similar percussion to "Dim," but the bass is heavier and the thematic content is a lot different between the police sirens and clavinet and organs. I really like the harmony, but I wish it developed a little faster at times. It has a bit of a linear progression, without too many surprises or structural changes...which is not necessarily bad for a rather short piece, but I could still see you doing a lot more with this. My favorite parts of it are the rhythm and instrumentation, which contribute the most to the funkiness for sure. Keep up the good work, WF!

Waterflame responds:

Thanks! :) Yeah, true about the progression and potential.. i felt like I was building a theme before a possible 2nd act, but this track took me long enough, it would be another 2 weeks. I felt like it was forcing it beyond the end point. The way I see it I would rather finish and try similar later than to over-produce on one piece.

[Fear Not This Night]

Beautiful melodies at the beginning. I love how the instrumental swells into :40 and then dramatically dies before the vocals enter. It's such an effective way of building anticipation after the intro. The vocalist did an amazing job. The thematic content is giving me Lord of the Rings vibes, yet the quality of the vocals makes me feel like this could be in a Broadway musical. The shape and arrangement of the piece are probably my favorite elements of it. There's such a wonderful sense of storytelling to the energy and directionality of this track. The climax at 3:40 feels like heaven, and the dream-like bells at the end leave a lingering sense of hope, matching the theme of the lyrics. The mix is flawless as usual. The orchestral instruments are lovely - I particularly liked the strings and piano towards the beginning and the horns at the climax. It makes my day every time to see a new track from you guys. Sorry I didn't get around to reviewing this earlier. I'd love to see more of you guys around the Grounds in 2019. Well wishes from across the Atlantic! ^_^