TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Go the limit (NGADM)]

I like the glitchy intro and the upbeat synth brass towards the beginning. The drums could be a bit more prominent in the mix, but I like the rhythmic content otherwise. The melodies at :44 are cute, but the counter-melody at :52 also needs a boost in the mix. Part of the problem might be an excess of reverb at times (especially with the percussion at around 1:20), but I suspect you just need stricter equalization across the board. The progression here is nice, especially when it culminates in the higher-pitched melody at 2:38 (and other places). The melodies at 3:18 serve as a nice dose of variety, and I also appreciate the variations on the main melody at 3:37. The arrangement sounds a bit formulaic here at times, and to be honest I’m torn on whether the sound design is whimsical and charming or overly cheesy. Still, I like the melodic content, atmosphere, and upbeat mood of this one a lot. Tighten up the mix a tad and make the progression feel a bit looser, and this would be a top-notch track. Keep at it, Riskster! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[Praia Apaixonada]

I love the smooth guitars and strings at the beginning. The cute melodies, relaxed atmosphere, and sound design really make this piece what it is. Aspects of the composition could’ve been a bit more dynamic and ambitious, as the solos all seem like echoes of each other after a while. The harmonies also trip over each other sometimes, especially at 1:14. Still, you get full credit for mixing, instrumentation, and atmosphere here. This piece makes me regret not getting to the beach this summer! Keep at it, FJOB. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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
9/10

[meet me outside]

I like the pensive mood at the beginning and the eerie atmospheric elements at :12. The prominent bass and lo-fi beat are nice, although the piece remains pretty minimal throughout, with a rather bland composition and repetitive harmonic content. I think it’s a great start, but I’d like to see you flesh out the structure a bit more. Hope you get a chance to finish this sometime. Keep at it, NashQP! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.5/10

NASHqp responds:

Thanks! I was extremely busy at college and was wishing an extension for the deadline so I could complete this song, but I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I might consider finishing the song.

[Exaltation (NGADM r. 2)]

I like the riser at the beginning and the 8-bit sound design. The chord progression is a bit cliche, and the drums at :25 could use more lower-mid range tones. The rest of the sound design is enjoyable, including the chopped vocals at :39 and the mid-range basses at the drop at 1:04. The rhythmic content is certainly a highlight throughout the piece, and despite the plethora of stop-start transitions, the progression is pretty smooth. I like the energetic bridge at 2:22 and the emotional quality of 2:48, too. The goofy snare at 3:25 kinda takes the edge off the otherwise punchy mix, but overall I would’ve liked to see more variety during the last minute or two of the piece, especially given the generic harmonic framework here. Still, the sound design, atmosphere, crisp mix, and catchy beats really make this a strong piece. Keep it up, DenPelm! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Guest of Honour]

I like the smooth guitar riffs at the beginning and the rich, echo-y harmonies at :13. The vocals at :25 are a bit soft in the mix, but the furtive tone and thick layering are both really nice. I love the defiant attitude at 1:08, although the drums get seriously lost in the mix there. The rhythmic content and variety in the instrumental tracks throughout is totally a highlight, here. At 2:38, a more ambitious solo or something would’ve been welcome - otherwise, I felt like the last 30 seconds was the most bland part of the composition here. Still, you nailed this, Mischa. Love the edgy vocals, sound design, progression, and atmosphere. Make the drums sound punchier, and this piece is damn near a 10/10. Rock on! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

Mischa-head responds:

Thank you very much!

[Lagrange Point (NGADM '23 R2)]

I like the adventuresome mood at the beginning. The transition at :28 is a little abrupt, with a much more romantic mood all of a sudden. There’s a great sense of build-up into 1:20, and the melodic content throughout is rather graceful. The mix at 2:07 sounds a bit strained, with the percussion and piano harmonies both getting a bit lost amidst the dense melodies. That said, I enjoyed the piano outro for its simplicity and emotional quality. Overall, the sound design and melodies are top-notch as usual, Papkee. All things considered, the first 30 seconds of the piece sound a bit out-of-place, and later in the piece an excess of reverb may be compromising the mix a bit. Still, you’ve mastered your craft at composing cinematic beauties. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
9/10

[Ryzmik - "Calima"]

I like the airy pads and apprehensive mood at the beginning. The mix is loud and punchy, although the texture sounds a bit over-saturated with reverb. I love the bongo rolls at :48 and the catchy breaks at 1:08. The mix sounds a bit bottom-heavy, and the arrangement is a tad generic here too. The ambient breakdown at 1:59 is probably my favorite part of the piece, between the rich atmosphere and creepy solo at 2:20. I would’ve liked to see you switch up the drop the second time around at 3:05. That said, you get full credit for the sound design and mood/atmosphere here, and the progression and mastering also hold up well. Keep at it, Ryzmik! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[Lordant - The Lost Tale]

I like the sense of wonder at the beginning. The vocals and bell-like atmosphere are great, and the rich string swells and melodies are absolutely beautiful. The mix is sharp and well-balanced, and you also make the most of simplicity with the majestic piano breakdown at 1:34. I thought you could’ve done a bit more to give the section between 1:46 and 2:30 a stronger sense of direction, though. This piece seems to be missing a strong “point of arrival” later on that would’ve really hit it home. Still, you get full credit for production quality, atmosphere, and instrumentation here. Another gorgeous piece, Lordant. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

Lordant responds:

Thanks for feedback, as always!

[Shortcuts]

I like the quirky riser at the beginning and the frantic, cutesy riff at :05. The mallets at :11 sound like a doorbell, which is fun. The pacing of the piece is a bit fast - it seems like the texture shifts substantially every 15 seconds or so, and sometimes the transitions could be more gradual too. I like the blissful melodies and the sound design, although at times I think the bass is too loud and the drums could come through the mix clearer (like at 1:25). Basically, the mix could use a high pass, with a boost in the upper-mid range to the melodies and more room in the middle for the drums. The rhythmic content here is really neat, but the arrangement seems a bit chaotic. The piece has a lot of stop-start transitions and is almost constantly high-energy. There’s a fair amount of variety in some of the individual riffs, but overall the piece seems to lack a strong sense of direction over time, which is concerning especially for a relatively long piece. Still, the rich texture, sound design, melodies, and cutesy mood win me over here. I think the production quality and arrangement details could use some more shoring up, but otherwise this is a catchy and fun piece, Zane. Keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.25/10

[Somewhere I'll Find You]

I like the punchy guitar riff and drums at the beginning. The saxophone at :25 was a good idea, but I think it could’ve been a bit more prominent in the mix. The rich atmosphere and electronic/rock hybrid sound design are really good here, although at times the composition didn’t feel as dynamic as it could’ve been. The transition at 1:53 with the heavy panning is cool, and I really like the solos at 2:21. The last minute and a half or so of the piece seemed like a missed opportunity to shake up the harmonic framework and/or main riffs of the piece, but I enjoyed the echo-y, mellow outro nonetheless. Overall, this is strong work, BOE! Definitely has a distinct emotional appeal. Keep it up. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
8.5/10

BeyondOurEyes responds:

Thank you for the feedback and score, glad you dig it! I probably would have pushed the sax volume up a tad if it was a more convincing / realistic VSTi, I'm looking into replacing the basic one I used here. But I'll keep this all in mind for future tracks and the next submission! \m/