TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[-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!

[Magnificent]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the gradual fade-in. The instrument you used for the arpeggios at :18 wasn't my favorite, but the piece has a great sense of climax into :33. The vocal samples add to the texture considerably, and the drop at 1:16 was really fun. I like the subtle glass clink FX at 1:40, too. After a while, it gets pretty repetitive, though, and I think the drop and post-chorus drag on for a bit too long. The breakdown at 2:17 was a good idea. I like the filtering work there. The underlying harmony changes pretty suddenly at 2:33, but I like the melody at 2:47 and the build-up to the second drop. Ending came on a tad suddenly; it could use more of a proper outro. Overall, really strong work here, Sylux. The production and sound design are great, and the mood of the track is really fun and upbeat throughout. Keep it up, and gl in the ADM! ^_^

Sylux03 responds:

Thank you so much!

[-Pink Spring- (2014)]

I like the cute synths at the beginning. Melodic content is nice here, too, and I especially like your use of percussion in this track. I also really like the more legato melody instrument in the post-chorus at :53. Mastering quality is really strong here. I guess my main complaints are that it's a tad repetitive, and maybe a bit generic arrangement-wise. I also think there are a lot of parts of the piece that don't quite have the same full texture that's characterized your pieces of late. Otherwise, the blissful mood, sound design, and cohesiveness of this piece sells it really well. Keep up the good work, WF! ^_^

Waterflame responds:

Thank you! :)

[-HDC- 'Raw' ft. Kwing & Mao prod. by Liberal Shimmering]

I like the detuned piano and the rest of the experimental texture at the beginning. Nice sense of climax into :25, too. The vocalists are really talented, but the vocals themselves sounded a bit dry. They could use some mastering effects - reverb, delay, etc. I also like the lyrics themselves. Beat is a bit minimalistic. Instrumental could use a little more filling out. At around 1:46, the vocals seem slightly off-beat for a while, but the "Billy Ray Cyrus" commentary was really clever. Fun track overall. I like the creepy mood and refrain with the "this beat is so raw" echo-y vocals. Keep it up, guys!