TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Birdland (Dubstep Remix)]

Haha, so you just had to try dubstep, huh? Dubstep is an extremely hard genre to master, and I applaud you for this effort. It's a very fun piece. I liked some of your instruments a lot, but I really didn't like others. The oscillating one at the drops was cool, but some of the brass instruments didn't fit in very well IMO, especially the one at :45. It's not really a very high-quality plug-in. Couldn't hurt to even just replace it with a synth. I like the mood in this one, though. It's cute and upbeat and bouncy, yet also very energetic. Even the drops seem blissful. Structurally, it's a sound piece, and I love all those melodies and harmonies. ;D Transitions are good too. Very interesting piece...perhaps a bit short to be totally complete. What instrument did you play in jazz band, btw? :)

LunacyEcho responds:

=> oscillating instrument =>

The reason I began writing this song was because I found out how to do that on Youtube. :D

=> brass instruments =>

I thought it might sound interesting to have a muted trumpet-esque sound in the background. Alas, even with a filter and distortion, it still sounds bad. I rest my case. No more brass. *sniffle*

=> incomplete =>

When I started, I had tons of ideas about where to go in mind, but as I worked on it, they all just sort of died. I actually started this a week or so ago; it just festered. I find that if I work on something too long, I just lose interest in it and I thought I'd better upload it now before I forgot about it forever.

=> jazz band =>

For my first year (7th grade), I was on piano. Then in 8th grade, I played vibes/marimba because they didn't know where to put me on account of the fact that I played both drums and piano. I moved to a different school in ninth grade, where I played vibes, and the next year, moved to a different school, where I played drums in the band but vibes in a combo ever since.

Thanks for the quick review!

[The Keeper]

Interesting how you make a song in one day every few days in early August, and then don't make one for 2 months, whereas I am always chipping away at something...slowly. XD I love the mood, atmosphere, and instruments again. I've noticed you have that clave in there again, just like the last two pieces of yours I've reviewed. This one has a nice energy to it, though, and that short-lived riser at 2:44 is cool as well. I don't think you even needed the volume automation at the end. Sometimes you just have to let the reverb do the work, my friend. ^_~ Otherwise, it's a great track. Nice job with the mixing and mastering. That snare sample is great - crisp and firm, but not too in-your-face. Keep it up, man! ^^

[[04] Some Chocolate Dust]

It's very spacey and cool...haunting in a way. I think that hat that comes in at :30 is a little too loud, but it's also very clear and crisp. It progresses slowly (as a lot of your tracks do), but it's very relaxing and moody. I love those synth arps, and the instruments are good. Nice job with the mixing...that's something I have to work on myself. I don't hear anything too high-pitched or harsh in there, although the bass was a little loud IMO. I love the piano that comes in later in the piece, and this is a very flow-y and well-structured piece. I challenge you to come up with more creative endings for your songs besides fade-outs. That's one of the things that really bothers me about this piece. Otherwise, though, I like it a lot. Keep up the good work, sir! ;)

[[04] Technicolor Lattice]

Dude, this is good. I love the atmospheric vibes and the sweeps. I noticed that your synths are very similar to each other across tracks. The one at :45 here sounds a lot like the main one from "Moonlit Dream." Personally, I think most of your tracks only need to be about 3 or 4 minutes long, but I acknowledge that the genre itself usually dictates a much longer song is necessary. I also love those subtle claves you have in there during the second half of the piece. It's more melodic than most of your tracks, which I appreciated. The fade-out ending was a little bit lazy, but, again, I think it goes with the genre. Keep up the good work, RoVeRDude! ;D

[Sainthood]

Hey! Sorry I haven't been keeping up with your stuff lately. School is to blame. :'( I love the relaxing atmosphere you created here, and the drums and melodies are cool. However, I think some of the instruments, especially the drums, don't come in so clearly. Do you know what side-chaining is? That might help. Also, a little more Equalizing couldn't hurt. It's well-structured and smooth-flowing. It has a rather innocent and happy vibe to it. Good job! ;)

adieuwinter responds:

Thanks for the comments! I'll look into side-chaining, no Idea what that is at the moment. School is to blame for everything ;)

[Adel's Theme (Menu)]

Why are you so awesome? This is beautiful. Those strings sound amazing, and the climactic nature of this piece is really eye-catching. It has a bit of a hushed and furtive quality, though. I would've loved to see a little more contrast. It's well-structured and very smooth-flowing, and also loops well. Good job! Looking forward to the full-length version. :)

Step responds:

I really did want to add more contrast and dynamics and I totally agree with you that this piece lacks them. However, don't forget that this is a menu theme for a menu that doesn't even have much going on apart from a few buttons and a pretty background! The developer specified that she wanted it to be very low-key, and I tried to hold back as much as I could (even though 0:32 was kind of pushing it in terms of "low-key" haha).

Anyway, perfectly valid criticism. Super glad you liked this. Thanks for dropping by, mate.

[ghosts]

Why have I not reviewed this? NUUU!!! Senior fall is just as bad as junior spring...that's why. DX Anyway, I love the climactic nature of it and the groovy synths. It has a denser texture than a lot of your pieces, especially around 1:30, but I like that about it. The (piano?) at 1:40 was a bit loud...the drums that come in shortly after the piano are cool though. I love how you transition into 2:48, but after that the rhythm can be a little disorienting at times. I LOVE that pulsing synth at 3:55 and 4:08 and other places...awesome. This is a very show-y and extroverted piece, Johnfn...I love it! I swear you will have my full support from now until the end of the competition...I just needed to settle into my schedule this year a bit. Instant fave and DL. Keep up the great work! :D

[Heavenly Waterfall]

I like the melodies a lot. It has a very bright and bouncy vibe to it. It is fast-paced as you mentioned in the description, but that gives it a sort of childish and innocent energy which I like a lot. It is a bit simplistic in a way, but that sort of adds to the innocent quality. You have an excellent sense of melody (and you made this when you were much younger than I am now!). I think it's great for a first piece. Sorry I haven't really been keeping up with your productions lately, btw. There is a light at the end of the long, LONG tunnel of high school at which (hopefully) I will have more time. XD Nice work, LSD!

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Why hello!

I'm glad you like the melodies, as they are my favorite part of this song (and the only thing that's really worth anything at all :p).
I like your use of the word "innocent", and I have to agree with it; this composition, if anything, has a pretty innocent vibe to it XD
Maybe it's because the production was so innocent too. I simply sat down and thought "hey, time to make a song", and made one :3

I might have a good sense of melody, but as you notice, at the time I had a horrile sense of rhythm and tempo :'D

Don't worry about not having kept up; I know you have a lot to do! But I'll only forgive you if you forgive me for not taking enough time to respond to your message this weekend (nor read your story, but I will do so asap [next weekend I'll get an extra day free from the army, so hopefully then])! >:)

Thanks!