TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[shattered. [NGADM 2023]]

I like the blissful mood at the beginning. The synth arpeggios at :07 are a bit cheesy, but the waltzy meter and chiptune lead at :28 certainly have their charms. The mix seems to be missing some low-mid-range tones for a lot of the piece, but otherwise the production quality is solid. I love the melodies, and the sound design grows on me over the course of the piece as well. The string solo at 1:05 was a pleasant surprise, although it struggles to stay on top of the mix once the synth guitar comes in at 1:23. The arrangement of the piece feels a tad choppy at times, with a lot of fairly sudden transitions. The final refrain at 2:16 in particular could’ve benefited from a more gradual lead-up. Aspects of the harmonic framework and arrangement here are also a bit generic. Overall, I really like the rich harmonies, frantic melodies, atmosphere, and rhythmic content here. The mixing and sound design are a bit of a mixed bag for me, and my only major complaint is probably with the choppy transitions and lack of phrasing. Still, this is a catchy and upbeat piece with some killer melodies and cutesy instrumentation. Keep at it, MetaHumanBoi! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[Sourire d'espoir]

OMG, I’ve never been to France, but this…this piece is exactly what France is like, I just know it. Really evocative sound design, and a nice relaxed mood aided by the sweet percussion groove and accordion melodies. The revolving cadre of solos here is great, although occasionally during the busier sections (like 1:15ish), the percussion gets a tad buried in the mix. My only major complaint here is that the energy level is pretty much constant throughout, which is not entirely conducive to maintaining listener engagement. That said, the melodic content, progression, instrumentation, and atmosphere of this piece are simply top-notch. You just straight-up nailed it. Happy belated birthday, and by all means, keep it up! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
9.5/10

[Sunsets on My Mind]

I like the E-pianos at the beginning and the nature sound effects. The jazzy chords and woodwinds at :28 are really sweet, although the pacing of the piece is a tad slow, and the drums could’ve used a more prominent space in the mix at times. The sax solo at 1:05 is especially nice - it’s just sitting in a range there where it blends super well with the E-piano. The transition at 1:37 was a bit unexpected - almost sounds like a different movement in a symphony. The synth at 2:08 blends into the texture quite well too, and then the quirky harmonies at 2:24 really help it stand out (in a good way!). After that, the energy level of the piece kinda peters out, but the sound design and atmosphere of this piece are top-notch all the way through. Other than the mixing of the drums and the slightly disjointed arrangement between the two “movements,” my complaints here are slim to none. Keep it up, Cresince! ^_^

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

Cresince responds:

Thank you so much for your detailed reviews, as always.

I definitely need to figure out my drums; I've gotten more feedback about those than anything else, and I really want to get them right. You bring up a good point about the movements too; they could have had a more legible transition. I wanted to capture the feeling of the sun just disappearing over the horizon, hence the two parts: sunset and dusk/night.

As a composer always looking to improve, I am always grateful for yours and the other judges insights!

[CHEAPSKATE - Disco By Myself (NGADM]

I like the chill, airy synths at the beginning and the sharper, occasionally atonal variations at :16. The transition into :31 was neat, and the punchy beats and rhythmic effects there sound really cool. The harmonic content could use more variety at some point, but the atmospheric breakdown at 1:02 was a nice point of structural contrast. I wasn’t a huge fan of the “check” section at 1:17 - it was very minimal and dragged-out, although it did facilitate a smooth transition into the second drop at 1:34. Overall, there’s a lot of creative rhythmic content here, which is probably my favorite element of the piece. The texture sounds rich and well-balanced, and the piece navigates the line between “danceable” and “atmospheric” quite well. Really evocative piece, CHPSK8! Best of luck at college. :)

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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Mallet (NGADM 2023)]

I like the quaint atmosphere at the beginning. The strings at :22 or so are beautiful, and I like how the texture gradually fills in more and more between :32 and 1:34. The piece is very slow to progress, and could use some more variety after a while. The sound design, mood, and production quality are all really strong. The quirky beat at 1:35 is a nice bridge into the atmospheric breakdown at 2:06. The vocal samples in the background there are cool too. The transition into 2:53 could’ve been a tad smoother IMO - the bass and low-mid-range pads were rather unexpected. I also think the drums could use a boost in the mix there, although they come through a lot clearer during the outro at 3:25. Overall, there are a lot of cool ideas in here that I’d like to see be interconnected a bit more. The atmosphere is engrossing, but the harmonic content also seems a bit bland at times, and the arrangement is a tad disjointed in places. Still, for me, this is one of those pieces that I like the more times I listen to it. Keep at it, ALGOfficial! ^_^

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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Famous ft Hania (NGADM R1) Mastered]

I like the airy synths and echo-y vocals at the beginning. The frantic acid synth bass and crisp drums really help drive the piece forward, and the mix holds up well despite the plethora of reverb in the texture. The atmosphere of the piece is probably my favorite aspect of the piece, but the frantic vocals at 1:15 certainly gives this track a great sense of energy too. The composition could’ve been a bit more dynamic at times - the lyrics get pretty repetitive, and at some point some more dynamic melodies or another major switch-up in the texture would’ve been welcome. Still, this is a really catchy and well-produced track. Love the old-school techno sound design too. Keep it up, Trackers! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

[Let It Out (ft. Mai)]

I like the cutesy vocals and grainy synth bass at the beginning. The piano could use a bit of a boost in the mix at the beginning, though. The orchestral pre-chorus at :40 with the tremolo on the flute is a nice touch too. Overall, the mix is nice and punchy here, and the strings have a great, bouncy quality to them that complements the vocals quite well. I enjoyed when the strings could really shine at 1:20. Later on in the piece, the vocals get a tad repetitive. A second verse or at least some more variation on the refrain would’ve been welcome, but to that end I enjoyed the creative drum work at the post-chorus and outro at 2:50. Overall, this is a really upbeat, catchy, and full-textured track with some strong sound design. Keep at it, NASHqp! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[Hunger]

I like the ghostly synths at the beginning. The texture has a lot of reverb in it, potentially compromising the production quality at times. I love the bouncy piano riff at :27 and the lead melody at :44. This piece has a lot of stop-start transitions, giving it somewhat choppy transitions, and at times the lead synth really overwhelms the harmonies in the mix. For example, the piano melody at 1:40 is completely buried when the lead comes back in. I also think your hi-hats could use a bit of a boost in the treble range just a tad - I wanted them to stand out more. That said, the composition here is fantastic, with fun, dynamic melodies, and rich, full textures throughout. I’m envisioning a bunch of 1,000-year-old spirits trying (and failing) to haunt a bunch of wily teenagers who stumbled across a haunted cemetery. Keep it up, JinZ! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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

[ColBreakz - Summer Days]

I like the phasing effects and synths at the beginning. The chord progression and arrangement are pretty generic, but the production quality is loud and punchy, if a tad over-compressed at times. The drop at :57 is a bit minimal and bland, but I like the guitar synth at 1:30 and the airy melodies at 1:43. The pattern of emphasis at 2:14 is a bit bizarre, especially with that one perc that’s taking up a lot of space in the upper-mid range of the mix. Overall, this is a very well-produced track that has a pretty cliche composition, and could use some more fleshing out harmonically in places. Despite my best efforts, it got stuck in my head. :D Keep at it, ColBreakz!

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.5/10

[Krea - Crystal [NGADM 2023]]

I like the rich pads at the beginning, although there’s a lot of reverb in the texture, especially at the very beginning, that distorts the mix a bit. The glitchy piano line at :25 is nice, but the transitions at :25 and :37 were very abrupt. The blissful melodies at 1:05 are great, and they in turn transition well into the bassy section at 1:18, but overall the pacing of this piece is VERY fast, and feels constantly in-your-face and high-energy. At some point, I would’ve liked to hear a bit of a break from the frantic and chaotic synth patterns, whether via a breakdown or atmospheric bridge or something. The part with the chopped vocals at 1:43 is even a little TOO chaotic to be danceable and catchy. Overall, there are a lot of good ideas in here, but I’d like to see you consolidate the texture a bit, focus more on the mixing details, and slow down the pacing a tad (not necessarily the tempo, just the pace at which different elements of the texture change - every 8 bars vs. 4, etc.). Still, I can tell you poured your soul into this track for the last 3 weeks, and the fun sound design, dynamic melodies, rich textures, and catchy rhythmic elements clearly reflect that. Keep at it, Kreagato! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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
7.75/10