TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Dragon Slayer]

I like the spacey pads at the beginning. The progression is a tad slow, but I like the bright mood and reverb. The transition at :38 could’ve been a bit more gradual, but I appreciate the thick texture and victorious-sounding melodies there. The part at :58 was great for some structure variety, although (again) I would’ve liked to hear a less abrupt transition. At 1:38, I think the harmonic progression makes that transition a bit jarring. My ear was expecting you to resolve a half-step up like at 1:18, but instead you stayed on that F# for the downbeat. I could go on to critique other transitions, but I won’t. One thing I really like about the piece is that the production is super clean. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture, but it serves to fill out the texture during moments of minimalism. When the texture is thicker at the refrains, the drums are crisp and the instruments are well-balanced. The solo at 2:36 is when the piece really starts coming together in my mind, having finally broken away from the A-B-A-B cycle set up in the first half of the piece. The tempo change at 3:18 actually comes off rather well. The change in the rhythmic emphasis between the drums and melodies actually made it sound like a meter change too. I like how you brought the piece back full-circle towards the end with the main melody and rich vocal pads, but I think the tempo change at 3:58 could’ve been executed a tad more smoothly. The re-imagining of the theme at 4:40 was fun, and doesn’t really detract from the piece as a whole. Overall, excellent work with the melodic content, mixing and mastering, and overarching structural qualities. You might want to think more carefully about the transitions, harmonic progression at times, and textural fill. Overall, though, my complaints are minimal here. Keep up the good work, 350teric! ^_^

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

350teric responds:

Thank you man! You're on point with the review on all parts. In contrast to my composition from the knock-out round (where all of the comments were like - "great stuff but I was expecting that"), I tried to be a bit more surprising with structure of the song and the sudden rhythm changes and ruff transitions, but one can never make people happy. The main thing is I had tons of fun with this song in particular (with that "epic" metal stuff) and the contest as well! :)

[The People's Daring Ones]

Sound design is creative. The progression is a tad slow at times, and by the 1-minute mark or so I was itching for some more moving notes. I like the rhythmic eccentricities, although personally the mix is a little wide for my tastes. There's a great sense of climax, and a pretty well-balanced texture given the lack of melodic content. Production is strong otherwise, and the loop is clean. I guess it doesn't really satisfy my compositional needs, but it sounds great for an edgy movie soundtrack or experimental concept album. Solid work, I0ta!

zybor responds:

Thank you for dropping by, TL :)

Have a good weekend!

[Five Finger Discount]

Nice job with the quirky instruments at the beginning. The texture sounds a tad muddy, and I think the kick could be a bit stronger. That said, the ominous mood here is really nice. Progression is a bit slow, but it's definitely the kind of piece that just washes over you anyway. I'd love to see the harmonies fleshed out a little more, maybe with some more mid-range frequencies to give it a little more fill. Rhythmic content here is pretty pleasing - I like the riff that comes in at 1:36. There could definitely be some more melodic content, though. Overall fun track! Keep at it, YHTFLKC. ^^

P.S.: Where did you get those synths? They sound like half Moog, half acid or something.

YHTFLKC responds:

I think i did this track at the end of last year lol idk if im gonna work on it anymore i usually don't come back to them but as far as the synths go i just opened the old file back up and two of them (the bass i think) are modular synths i set up with caustic's simple modular thing. it works ok but yea they usually sound kinda muddy but i think thats cause im still learning how to set up modular to sound halfway decent. also cause im not sure which synths youre asking about the rest of them in there are subsynth and theres something i did with a bongo drumkit and a wah wah pedal i think. And as always thanks for the review yooooo! also stay tuned for more tracks cause i have another 2 or 3 i havent been able to post because my computer has been gone but its back now so i can post whenever

[-Klutzy Hero- (2014)]

Cute piece! I like the funky breaks and the instrumentation. The brass hits at :20 are especially fun. The chord progression and pick-ups (like at :42) are a little cliché, but I think it's the mood that really hits this piece home. I also wish I heard a bit more of the drums (especially the kick) during the busier sections. I think I recall a couple of those samples that you've used before, too. Otherwise, it's a smooth piece with some great melodies. I especially like the percussion at the very end - wraps up the piece nicely. Keep at it, Waterflame!

[Beluga Whale Tale]

I like the energy at the beginning. Sweeps were a bit bland, though. Could use more effects to spice them up. I like the cutesy synths and progression. There's a tad bit of atonality in the texture around :40, and the reverb at :57 is a bit excessive. The mix, while loud and clear, is also severely punctured by the drums imo. My favorite element of the piece is probably the mood. It's dark, foreboding, and also implies a narrative form. Sounds like the boss battle at the final level of a nautical-themed video game. At around the 3-minute mark, some of the elements of the drum pattern are panned strongly to one side or another, which makes them sound a bit harsh in my ears. Another thing I really like about this piece is the arrangement - structure, transitions, dynamic contrast, and phrasing are all done really well here. The ending was a bit bizarre given the pause at 4:40 and the subsequent riser that's filtered to nothing, but I'd imagine this looping in an in-game scenario regardless. Cool piece, Spadezer! Keep up the good work. ^_^

Spadezer responds:

Thanks TL

Interesting observations. I could see how some of the panning might not be the best decisions. It was one of the later additions to the mix so I didn't get as much "ear time" with that and some of the louder percussion changes. Most of the mixing was done with headphones initially and then worked between that and my speakers right at the end. I could be more creative with sweeps but that requires work, lol. But still is a good point.

Not originally intended to be video game music since there was literally now guidance to what I wanted the song to be about, so I find it funny that you think that. I've been told my music generally sounds like video game music anyway so it's not the first time I've heard that either lol. Glad you enjoyed it

[Life Goes On]

I like the reserved, majestic mood at the beginning. The emotional appeal of the melody at :27 is great. The progression of the piece is also really lovely. Structurally, it's a bit of a simple piece, but the simplicity also highlights the beauty of the harmonic content. I like how the pace picks up a bit towards the end, although in a way I wanted it to come full-circle back to the spacious, emotional content like at the beginning. It's also mixed a bit quietly, but perhaps that fits the mood well. Overall, I'm glad you were able to push through your writer's block and make this piece. It came out well. Good luck in the ADM. ^_^

[Darkness and Light]

I like the pensive mood at the beginning. Jordi's vocals at :21 are great, although I feel as though there could've been a stronger transition there than the stop-start effort at :20. The lyrics themselves are also pretty powerful. The rhyme scheme seemed a bit forced at first, though, so I like when you started to take liberties with it at the "one day" stanza. Nice melodic content through the 2-minute mark or so, and then the theme at 2:20 is really fun. The production quality is really strong here. I liked the arpeggiated transition into 3:27, drawn out though it was. I love how the vocals have a really low register towards the end. Makes them seem foreboding, even while the content of the lyrics seem encouraging/motivational. Cool piece, guys! Good luck in the ADM. ^_^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thanks for reviewing!

I personally like the transition at 0:20. I think one shouldn't be afraid to have a short break in the music, or even silence, when going into a new section. Similar transitions are also used throughout the piece (such as at 1:00), as it's part of the composition's continuity.

I also tend to like when songs have something that binds the rhythm, such as through rhymes (or "near" rhymes). Especially in this piece, the melody is pretty straightforward in the verses, so another element that adds to the rhythm makes the verses a bit more interesting. I spent a long time contemplating where I should use the rhymes, and how I could convey the message of the piece through the lyrics.

Since the rhythm is simple in the first half of the piece, I felt like 2:20 was necessary in order to give the piece some variety and power. I'm glad you liked that part, along with the "one day" segment.

The production was surprisingly difficult for this piece. I'm happy with the result, but I'm not as good at cleaning up and mixing Jordi's voice as he himself is :D
It's nice to hear that you think I did a decent job with it!

I actually can't sing this piece myself, since my voice doesn't go low enough to be able to sing the part at the end. I'm really impressed with Jordi's performance, and I wanted to show off his singing in a lower register, since it still retains its emotional tone. He's such a versatile singer o.O

Thank you for the review, and for the good wishes! Good luck with judging and running the NGUAC! It's exciting to follow the progression!

[Look At Me]

I like the guitar riffs at the beginning. The drums sound nice and crisp, but still don't come through the mix as strongly as I would've liked. The vocals are really nice, and the lyrics are well-written. Production quality is sharp, and the arrangement song is smooth (if a little generic). I really like the dark brass riff at 2:40. The defiant tone of the bridge was great, but I think the vocals could've been foregrounded in the mix there a bit more clearly. The subsequent solo was really easy to get into, and I really like the reverse vocals at the transition at 3:53. The vocal layering during the last chorus was great, and overall the piece comes together really well. Captivating and passionate from start to finish. Keep up the great work, guys, and good luck in the ADM! ^_^

[SOL]

Really different from some of your other stuff! I like the dramatic swells at the beginning and the passionate guitar riffs at :14. Nice job with the vocals, too. I also like the lyrics themselves. Nice job with the glitchy ornaments too. Production quality is super high. My only complaint with the mix is that the drums are way too quiet. I just wanted that snare to have so much more bite than it did. The riffs at 3:05 (the guitar and then the dark synths) are really cool. I think you wrap up the piece well with that final refrain. It would've been nice if you had a refrain that was a little more distinct from the verses, though. Right now, the short vocal phrases and instrumentation are both very similar between the verses and chorus. I think it would help to have some more powerful vocals that are held out longer. Overall, though, I'm quite impressed with this piece. Dark electronica and synth guitars are a good combo. :) Keep up the good work, ConnorGrail!

ConnorGrail responds:

Thanks so much as usual for the great detailed review. I am experimenting a LOT with this aggressive style so I will be taking your feedback with me going forward ☺

[endK - Arena 51]

Woah...this is really different from some of your other stuff. I think the tranquil pads at the very beginning were a bit misleading given the raw, ominous vibe of the rest of this piece. I like the dark mood and the instrumentation, though. The lead is the most recognizable element of your style here. Also, there was a lot of minimalism in this piece. Perhaps the harmonies could be a bit fuller and more fleshed-out. The riff at 2:00 was one of my favorites of the piece. Really catchy piece overall. Lots of twists and turns, too - I didn't see the breakdown at 2:27 coming at all! Nice work, EndK. Keep it up. ;)

endKmusic responds:

Yeah, I can't stand in one area too long, I guess...
You mean the effect at the beggining?
I saw it as a 'turn on the console' kinda effect, just so people know it's video game themed straight at the start.
Thanks for the lead compliments!
About harmony - yeah, you're right, I wanted to keep it simple overall, did some harmony thingies mainly at 0:40-0:53, but nothing much after that.
Sounded good in the first place and I chose not to overcomplicate and go with it (eventhough I'm sure if there were some well-written harmonies in each part, it would clearly sound better).
Thanks for the comments and the review TL!
Means a lot.
Cheers!