TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[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! ^_^

[sp0M0ky]

Hahaha...nice job with the cheesy organ and riser towards the beginning. Has a great, full texture and vaguely classic rock feel. The lyrics are a little cheesy, but certainly fit the bill thematically. I personally didn't like how broken up the delivery of the lyrics was within phrases. There were also a lot of sudden changes in energy and dynamics, which made for a wonky overarching structure. It's a fun piece, but I think a bit more effort could've gone into the arrangement and transitions. Still, excellent job with the mixing, sound design, and vocal quality as always. Hope to hear more from you in 2019, Garlagan! ^_^

[-Dim-]

I like the quirky instruments and white noise. Really helps set the scene. The beat is a little simplistic, but the bell-like synths have a really interesting rhythmic element that helps give the piece more character. By 1:30, the progression starts to come together, and the more hard-hitting snare rolls by 2:15 help channel the energy going into the re-intro/breakdown/coda at 2:30. The very end even had a more melodic vibe. I really like this track. It sounds very different than a lot of your recent work in character, yet something about the instrumentation and drum work is still quintessentially you. Good to be all caught up with your recent tracks, Waterflame! Looking forward to hearing some more soon. :)

Waterflame responds:

Thank you! Glad it still shines through. I am getting more comfortable with making these kinds of beats at last.

[-Groovy Tower-]

I like the distorted vocal samples at the beginning and the catchy bass riffs. Later, the frantic melodies and quirky secondary harmonies really make this piece a fun adventure. I especially like the apparently Middle Eastern-inspired riff at :58. The choir in the background at around the 2-minute mark was a nice surprise. Seems like you were still itching to use that sample after finishing "Running from Demons." ^_^ The sub-themes of the piece all come together really nicely by the end. This piece has a really strong sense of direction and cohesion overall, which I really appreciate. The ending was a tad sudden, but that's honestly my only major complaint. Another baller track. Keep it up, WF!

Waterflame responds:

Thank you! :D Yeah those choirs are nice, Its 8dio samples so quality is great, but I actually destroyed the quality in this one to make it fit the track more and not poke out so much. It just seemed right at that part. No idea why, but I went with it!