TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sabrepulse Horizons Remix]

Okay, totally missed this one because AP exams. DX Anyway, now that that's over, this is awesome! :D I love the intro, and it's somehow dreamy and energetic at the same time. One thing I think you should work on is making your transitions less sudden, like at :47. I love the somewhat clashing chords at 1:45. The drop at 2:28 is just freaking awesome, though. I have to say, though, I think you've used that riser (or at least the same instrument) that builds up to 2:28 before. ಠ_ಠ Still, I love the quirky synths that pop back in around 3:37, and how you incessantly switch up the mood of the piece. The structuring and progression of this piece is amazing, and I don't even mind that it's almost 7 minutes long (which is not something I say too often, trust me)! :D Good use of repetition later on in the piece, too, and that drop just releases a wave of euphoria! :O Those cute little arpeggios at 6:25 were a simple, yet perhaps fitting, way to end the piece. Overall, awesome job! How could I possibly resist downloading this if it's free? :D Hope college is going well for you, and I'm looking forward to hearing more of your stuff this summer! ^_^

Lockyn responds:

Thank you so much for the detailed review TL! I'm glad you enjoyed it and that you downloaded it :D Thank you thank you, and good luck with college yourself!

[A Smashing WIP]

I like the synths and drums. That bass riff at the beginning was cool. If you're going to use that vocal sample at :13, though, please don't use it again 15 seconds later in the actual piece. I understand that this is just a WIP, though. I think the drums at :16 sound really good, though. Just make sure that the hi-hat doesn't get distorted by the other instruments too much. The first thing I would do is make sure the bass's upper range is brought down A LOT on the EQ. I understand that when it's EQ'd this way it produces a fuller sound, but when you add more instruments it will just make everything sound more fuzzy and distorted. Sorry, I'm critiquing this way too much for a 45-second-long WIP. Keep it up, TeraVex! ;D

[Winterscape - MusicBoxx]

Haha, I like the distorted beginning and the slow, dreamy tempo it has. It almost sounds like it's from a flashback to one's childhood - a lost memory somehow reignited by a fleeting moment in old age. I see a little girl holding the music box for the first time in wonder, and watching the ballerina in the middle spin in an incessant dance, and then the old woman tearing up as she realizes it's still in her attic somewhere, long since broken, but not forgotten. Sorry, I got carried away there. I think you already know that the mixing/recording quality wasn't great, but other than that, it's a beautiful melody played on a beautiful instrument. :')

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Yeah, I got the tempo pretty much like I wanted, even though I'd have liked it to be even more stable. But it's not easy to crank it at a steady pace!

I think that solo music boxes always give a great atmospheric feel, be it horror, sadness, or like you said, just a memory. And whoah! That's quite the vivid picture you shared there! A pretty nice, and short story.

As for the mixing and recording, this was more of a quick test run :3

Thanks for leaving this review! You're almost at the present... But boy, do I have a surprise for you and the others tomorrow >:D

[-Stalker-]

I like the bass and beat. Those gritty synths really add a lot of character to the piece. It's been too long since you've done really hard-hitting techno like this, Waterflame. That creepy pad at 1:24 (and other places) reasserts the ominous, yet arousing, mood as well. :) I like how even sections that don't have a lot going on - like from 1:50 to 2:30 - still sound really fully textured and reverberated. My favorite part is probably 2:47 - love the frantic distorted synth work here. Some of your more blissful melody riffs even started to bleed in around 3:10! :D It's a cool piece, but a little longer than it needed to be IMO. What really keeps my attention throughout, though, is the instrumentation. Really enjoyable piece overall. Keep up the great work, Waterflame! ^^

[Insting]

Yeah! I love the melody and instruments. The filters you put on the melody really give it this cycle of life and death, if you know what I mean. Still, that cycle makes the piece really interesting, even if it's really short. It loops well, and I like that sweep you have at the beginning. The mixing is pretty good, and overall I think this piece has a lot of potential. You should do more with this! You could have an epic electro banger here. ;D Keep at it, man! ^^

fayyn responds:

thanks mate! I have many unfinished projects like this one, I just never feel like finishing them because im happy with what they are now :)

[groovin while breaking laws]

I love the rapid, flowy arpeggios at the beginning. The bass is roaring (which probably means it's too loud)! Otherwise, really catchy stuff. Classic Johnfn-style track, melodramatic crashes and all. ;) This is well-structured, smooth-flowing, and overall a really fun track. I thought you did a good job of making it coherent, yet with enough variety to keep my attention. It loops really well, and I loved how the synth roll starts at 2:45 and finishes at :02! ^_^ Your tracks seem simple on the surface, yet have this really complex and full-sounding texture to them that's just delicious! I love it! Keep up the inspiring work, Johnfn. ;D

johnfn responds:

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO LOUD BASS THEDOOR. Unless it makes the drums quieter, then it's probably too loud, I GUESS.

Well whatever. I'm still glad you liked it :P

[Mrs. Robinson (Singalong)]

I love the natural, old-fashioned country vibe here. Given the title, I'm not sure if this is a cover or what, but I loved the lyrics and general mood/themes. It's mellow and flowy, yet very engaging and fun. Almost seems like an audio recording of one of those people who come in and entertain during kids' birthdays by singing silly, feel-good songs. :) Not sure what else to add...it may be a tad dry, but to solve that "issue" would be to take away from the natural campfire-like atmosphere of it. Also, Step, the mix is so clear that it's like I'm right there at the campfire playing shakers along to the beat! XD Nice work everyone. Keep up the good work. ;D

Step responds:

You are making it your mission to review all my recent uploads haha. Always love your reviews.

Super glad you liked this. It is indeed a cover. The dryness might be an issue... I'm not very good at calculating reverb on real-life instruments. I did add some reverb but I never really liked the wishy-washy sound that reverb gave to vocals. We'll be submitting a Summer of 69 cover very very soon - maybe I fixed the reverb in that one. That said, I'm super relieved you think the mix is clear!

Thanks again for the review. c:

[Quirky Stroll]

Definitely quirky...and videogame-y! I like the cute synths and melodies. In fact, the melody at :16 probably almost had too much reverb given the genre. However, structurally speaking, it doesn't change that much until :47. Especially since this is such a short piece, I think the drums and bass should've come in much earlier. Still, I admire your sense of harmony here, and, admittedly, when the drums and bass DID come in, it sounded pretty cool. ;) Nice job with the melody at 1:18, too, but I thought that instrument was a bit too loud and/or in-your-face. Maybe you should've EQ'd out some of the high-toned end of the Equalizer? Idk...it's hard to pinpoint exactly what I didn't like about the synth. Maybe it was the instrument itself, in fact. Overall, though, I love the moods and rhythms and melodies here. Loops flawlessly. Well done, LunacyEcho! ^^

LunacyEcho responds:

=> melody at :16 =>

If any melody were to be complained about for having too much reverb, I would've thought it'd be the one at 1:02! I can see what you mean, though. In hindsight, I should've picked a better synth - the muted-ness gets old after a while.

=> structurally short =>

But if the drums come in earlier, the piece would be even shorter! Although to be honest, I'm surprised it cracked 2:00 in the way it did. Yeah, the drums should've come earlier, but I really liked where I was going with the solo!

=> 1:18 =>

You know, that's the same synth as 0:16. It really is getting old, isn't it? :P

=> loops flawlessly =>

Interestingly, different softwares have different looping mechanisms, so a song that loops flawlessly on Newgrounds might not do so on iTunes or some other website. There are two solutions: only write ambient music, or upload to as few websites as possible. :D

Thanks for the review! And thanks so much for spending such a long time reviewing everything after your exams! Have fun in college!

[Lost & Forgotten]

Hey Camoshark! Haven't been on your page in a while. I love the jazzy melodies, and the clashing chords around :20 that gradually start taking over the piano. I thought the melody at :36 sounded a bit harsh and high-pitched. Maybe you could EQ out some of the higher tones there? Still, I love the progression, and how often times there are isolated riffs which cut through the mix, like at 1:30. I liked what you did with the transition at 2:03, but I would've lengthened the pause to increase the drama. Still, I like how it seems cute and sad at the same time between 2:05 and 2:40. :D I have the same problem with 2:44 that I had with some of the instrument earlier: they sound harsh and jarring, for reasons beyond the clashing chords (I always love clashing chords). I can't quite pinpoint if it's too loud or if the instruments themselves are too high-pitched. Even so, I loved how the ending was simultaneously conclusive AND looped well. It looped so well, in fact, that I didn't even notice the first time! XD Great work, and I hope I'll be hearing more from you soon, Sam. ;D