TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Onward Refresh]

Ooo...very different from a lot of your other tracks. Glad to see you're branching out a bit. I like the ambiance and the sense of climax into :40. Pretty melodies, although I think some of the melody instruments didn't sound quite as soulful as the rest of the texture. If you were going for maximum impact here emotion-wise, maybe that would involve some different sound design choices. Also feels like you overused the build-ups after a while. Still, the melodies themselves are really nice, and I like the arpeggiated synths that come in in the background at 2:45 (and other places). I think 3:15 was probably my favorite part - now THAT'S a maximum-impact synth right there. Fitting that you saved the best for last. ;) Keep it up, MKT!

MrKoolTrix responds:

Thanks for the constructive review, TL! :)

[Toony Joys]

I like the cheesy orchestral theme and the "oom-pah" bass. The progression is nice - especially the build-up to :41 - and the refrain thereafter has some refreshing rhythmic aspects. I like the subtle vocal samples earlier in the piece and the cute melody at 1:15. Nice job of adding some variety with the cool breaks at 2:36. Mastering is strong as usual. The vocals at the end (4:00 or so) were also a nice touch as a relaxing coda. Fun piece overall! It gets a tad repetitive and predictable, but in a way that fits the character of it. Keep up the good work, MrKoolTrix!

MrKoolTrix responds:

Thanks for the review. :D

[Psybot - the dome]

Ah, must've missed this one! Catchy breaks at the beginning. The texture is really spacious, and I like the ominous mood. Has a vaguely industrial vibe, with a subtle hip-hop influence. Amazing how your style has evolved so much over the years. I understand this isn't really a full-length track, but I would've liked to hear some more melody content. I really hope you finish this someday! Keep at it, Psybot. ^_^

Psybot responds:

Yeah this was a period where i was trying to finance my music WITH my music. But it really is a hardworking business and I don't have the knowledge, experience or time to focus on promoting myself.
So I'm just keeping it simple by making as many songs as I can :)
This might never become a fullenght track, we'll see :)
Thanks for taking your time:D

/Psybot\

[Psybot - Heaven cries 2018 (vocals mix)]

I like the tranquil mood at the beginning. Vocals sound really nice - charged with emotion, if a little overdone at times. The progression is pretty slow-paced, and the mood change at 1:07 was pretty out-of-the-blue. I like the build-up into 1:24 and the subsequent instrumental section. I think the strongest aspect of the piece is probably the mix. Sounds really clear and strong throughout. I also like how the vocals come back during the breakdown. You should make vocal tracks more often! Keep up the good work, Psybot. ^^

Psybot responds:

Thanks alot man! I appreciate that you compliment my singing. I feel like I should have given it some more time and attempts to make it as perfect as I could. I just get so eager to release the song. XD
I will make more vocal tracks and I feel more confident about it now.
Thanks for the review! :D

/Psybot\

[Cigarette (remastered)]

I like the relaxed vibe at the beginning. Has a really organic tone and a generally smooth flow. You seem to stumble over some of the more rhythmically dense riffs sometimes, like at :22. The vocals were pretty good, but could've been mixed in a bit better. I'd suggest some compression and reverb if that was an option in whatever DAW you're using. From what I can discern, the lyrics are pretty cool. The piece is a bit long and rambling after a while. I think it would've helped if there was a little more variety in the energy level throughout the piece, although the more frantic riff at 3:20 was a start. Overall fun piece. Keep at it, TheTechnoBabble!

[endK - In the Hall of the Pumpkin King]

Congrats on the win, EndK! I like the gritty bass and the twittering string-like instruments laid over the top of the mix at the beginning. The brass synths also help add a lot of character to the piece. I liked the breakdown at the 1-minute mark too. This isn't as energetic or full-textured as some of your other recent tracks, but it still sounds really suspenseful and apprehensive (as Halloween pieces should!). The chord progression was a little cliche, and the refrain at 1:55 (and other places) seemed rooted in the chord progression a bit too heavily. Otherwise, I think the rich atmosphere, cool sound design, and thematic content really helped sell this piece. The subtle vocal samples (evil laughter, I believe) were a nice touch, and helped keep the texture interesting despite a good deal of repetition. The outro sounded a tad incomplete, but I envision it looping in a videogame or something. Keep up the good work, EndK! Fun track. ^_^

endKmusic responds:

Didn't want to mess around that much with rhythm and 'random' fx as I do in other songs - wanted to focus on melody, structure and flow.
Agree with you on chord progression, but at the same time it was intentional. Wanted to keep it simple at the verse and chorus - both have different progressions but the root is emphasized, as you said.
Also that bridge part around 1 min mark provides some rest from that 'safe root feel'.
Thanks for the review, as always! <3
Will keep those things in mind for sure. :)

[Origin]

I like the dreamy atmosphere at the beginning and the soothing chord progression. Sounds somewhat wistful, yet also cinematic and later energetic. The build-up throughout the first minute or so does a great job of channeling the emotion. The production is really tight yet again; I almost wanted more drums at times, but those rich pads are so scrumptious that I'm glad they're so prominent in the mix. I think the ending came on a little suddenly, and I also think you could've done more with the composition of the piece. Overall, though, the atmosphere and mood of the piece are just mesmerizing, and you've really outdone yourself with the sound design. Keep up the good work, FarOut!

[Från ett frö]

Cute piece! Sounds like a lullaby. I think you may have overused the grace notes/rolled chords a tad for my tastes close to the beginning, but the progression of the piece is really soothing thereafter. I also like the way the piece is structured. The transition at 1:14 was enjoyable, and there's a nice ebb and flow of energy throughout. The piece has a sufficient amount of variety without being too loose in its arrangement. Overall really strong work, Ale! May I ask what the title means? ^^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

The title means "From a Seed", and it's about having achieved much since one was born, but still having so much more ahead, in life. The title could have alternate connotations in English though, and it's was made for an event at a Swedish university, so it's only apt that the title is in Swedish too :)

Thank you for the review!
I'm glad you liked the listen :3

[On My Own (feat. Karra)]

I like the warm pads at the beginning and the atmosphere. The vocals are great, and I'm really enjoying the sense of climax into 1:06. The post-chorus had a really victorious vibe about it, which I appreciated. The production quality is really strong as always. My favorite thing about the piece is probably how uplifting and empowering it sounds. The emotional appeal of the piano at the end was really nice too. If I had to complain about one thing, it'd probably be the rather traditional arrangement of the piece. That said, it wasn't overly repetitive either. Just very much feels like a pop song with the way it's structured. Otherwise, really strong work again. There aren't too many artists on NG that use original vocals, so you've certainly found a solid niche to explore. Keep up the good work, FarOut!