TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Lilith (Vocals)]

I like the vocal samples and the catchy, energetic intro. The intro does drag on for a bit long, though - 48 seconds, in my estimation. Maybe it would feel less slow to progress if you had introduced the different instruments gradually, or even skipped right to the first verse at :25. I like the melancholy vocals, crisp drums, and groovy guitar riffs, though. The lyrics themselves are also really good. The mix could’ve been a bit more loud and distinct here - I especially think the lead guitar could use a boost, although it’s easy to overuse compression on electric guitars IMO.

The instrumental content in this piece gets a tad repetitive, too. There’s a near-constant energy level throughout the piece, which is not always conducive to maximizing listener engagement. At some point, an atmospheric breakdown or frantic solo would’ve been more than welcome. The only time the harmonic framework shifts is at 3:26, and even then it has about the same intensity as the vocal section before it. I also might have liked to see more variation in the vocal refrain the second time around.

Overall, I really like the sound design, rhythmic content, vocal work, and thematic content of the piece. The composition could use a bit more variety, though, and the mixing could be a bit tighter. Still, you’ve captured a great 90s “coffee shop rock” sort of vibe with this one. Keep at it, Paddy Davis! ^_^

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
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
7.75/10

[Fluorescent Lights - Okathan & ItsMiguel09 (Synthwave)]

I like the dreamy synth pads at the beginning. There’s a lot of reverb in the texture by around :20, which adds a nice sense of atmosphere. Just be careful that it’s not affecting the quality of the mix too much - if you can have some of the harmonies pop through clearer, it might be worth it to dial back the reverb a tad. The pitch-automated synth at :54 was pretty neat, and I like the crisp drums and arpeggios during the section from :54 to 1:44. The breakdown at 1:44, while short-lived, was a good way of creating variety in the texture. The variations on the lead and harmonies during the second half of the piece are very subtle, and I would’ve liked to see a stronger sense of development over the course of the piece. I also think the arrangement is a tad formulaic here, especially during the first half of the piece, with regular changes to the texture every 8 or 16 bars or so, but not a lot of ebb and flow within those 16 bars. You also have some pretty generic structuring elements and chord progression. Still, the spacey sound design, solid production quality, and rich texture make this piece really memorable, and the rhythmic content and atmosphere are nice too. Keep at it, guys! ^_^

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8/10

[Instability]

I like the creepy atmosphere at the beginning and the airy piano lines. The riff at :14 has a couple of nice, dissonant chords, too. The transition at :23 is a bit sudden, but the glitches at :30 are pretty cool, and the mix holds up well despite the busy texture. The frantic synth pattern at :48 was nice, and later the breakdown at 1:20 provided a bit of respite from the high-octane breaks on either side of it. There was a good sense of build into 1:54, although I wished you had varied the melody there a bit compared to the first time it appears. While the mix is impressively clear considering how much is going on, I would’ve liked the drums to “pop” a tad more during some parts, and 1:54 is one of them. Overall, though, this is a really catchy and intense piece with some neat sound design, strong mixing, and a good sense of atmosphere to boot. Keep at it, Nixonic! ^_^

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

Nixonic responds:

*Skull*

[Mind Breakout]

I like the cute synth at the beginning. The frantic opening line is a little corny, and I think the airy pad at :11 is a bit too loud in the mix relative to the rest of the harmonies. I like the crisp beats at :22, and the variation in the harmonies at :57 offered a nice break in the repetition. Throughout the piece, the beat is a bit too loud relative to the harmonies, and at some point I would’ve liked to hear some more melodic content. The stop-start beat at 1:44 is a bit bizarre, although I like the glitchy breaks at 1:01. Most of the synths here are pretty cheesy and generic, but the drums sound good. In terms of production, I think the mix could’ve left a lot more space for the harmonic instruments, especially while the beat was playing. The composition is a bit bland after a while, and could use some more depth and variety in the harmonic framework. The piece also ends pretty suddenly. Overall, you clearly have a good sense of rhythm and progression, but aspects of the sound design, mixing, and compositional details could use some polishing up and fleshing out. Keep at it, NikoN1nja! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
5.5/10

NikoN1nja responds:

Thanks for review, I'll definitely try to improve all my weak points in the future :)

[Fall-Up]

I like the catchy synth riffs at the beginning and the minimal drums at :15. The harmonies at :30 also help fill out the texture nicely. I really like the injection of energy at 1:01, although the drums get a bit lost in the mix there. I’d suggest adding a compressor to them. The piece could also use some other mixing effects, just to create a stronger sense of atmosphere and more variety over the course of the piece. I’d suggest doing more with reverb and equalizers in particular. The sound design of the piece is fun, perhaps with the exception of the brass at 2:02, which sounds pretty inauthentic. The arrangement here sounds pretty formulaic - the texture shifts every 8 measures or so, but within those 8 measures, there’s not much of a sense of ebb and flow. You can use tools like filtering and automation to help address that - YouTube should have plenty of tutorials on how to do so in your software program if you don’t already know how. Still, this piece is catchy and cute, and has some neat synths and a good sense of rhythm and progression. Keep at it, NGE! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7/10

NewGameExplorers responds:

Thanks for the feedback! I'll try to use what you suggested.

[NeonFD - Illuminated Void]

I like the dreamy atmosphere at the beginning and the sense of build-up through the first 30 seconds or so. The drum samples at :21 aren’t my favorite - especially the snare, which sounded a bit flat and inauthentic. There’s also a ton of reverb in the texture in general, which is potentially compromising the quality of the mix, especially during the refrain at :44. The lead synth doesn’t quite pop in the mix enough there. That said, the melody itself is really nice, and I also enjoyed the cutesy synths at the breakdown at 1:36. I would’ve liked to see you vary the refrain melody a bit more the second time around (at 2:18) compared to the first one, just to give the piece a stronger sense of melodic development, although the post-chorus at 2:40 did feel refreshing in that regard. Overall, you’ve made a catchy, if a bit generic, track with memorable melodies and a strong atmospheric component. The mix could use a bit of tightening, but otherwise this is a fun and memorable piece. Keep at it, NeonFD! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10

[NDXL - The Jungle]

I like the nature sound effects and heavy percussion at the beginning. The rising synth bass at :08 is a nice touch, and I like the sense of build into 1:01. The drop has some catchy breaks, and the synth riff at 1:32 is really groovy. The drop does drag on for a bit long, and it also seems to go right into another build-up and drop cycle after that. At some point breaking up the texture a bit with a melodic bridge or atmospheric breakdown would’ve been nice. Eventually, that point comes at 3:03, and the melodies there are pretty sweet, but up until then the arrangement of the piece still lacked variety. Sometimes, when the entirety of your piece is this high-energy, it’s hard to keep the listener engaged. I also think you overused the “make way…” vocals towards the end. I also would’ve liked to see you make the drop at 4:13 a bit more distinct compared to the first one, just for some variety. Overall, the sound design, production quality, and rhythmic content here are all really strong, as are the melodic elements and atmosphere. A little more variety and some faster pacing in the composition at times would be welcome, and aspects of the arrangement and instrumentation are a bit generic here, but otherwise you nailed this track. Keep at it, NDXL! ^_^

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

NDXLOfficial responds:

Insanely flattered man, thank you SO so much <3

[NASHqp & DiggyDog - Colorful VIP]

The distorted, happy-go-lucky vocal samples at the beginning are pretty neat. Have a strange, dystopian vibe about them. The watery melodies at :46 are sweet-sounding, but also a tad indistinct and mysterious. I really like the way the texture gradually swells into an upbeat and energetic track by 1:58 or so. Some drums might’ve helped add more of a sense of drive to the piece, and honestly this piece doesn’t quite sound structurally complete to me yet. The vocal part at 1:57 serves as a good “point of arrival” on the one hand, but on the other the texture still feels like it’s missing some rhythm section components and syncopations. Still, you’ve clearly demonstrated your skills at crafting a compelling progression here. The mix could’ve been a tad sharper, especially during the final vocal section, but otherwise it’s pretty well-balanced and clean. The sound design is probably my favorite element of the piece, together with the emotional quality of the dynamic contrast and gradual build-up you’ve crafted here. Flesh out the structure a bit more, and this could be a top-tier track. Keep at it, NASHqp! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
8/10

[vertigo⅄sea]

I like the ominous, minimal atmosphere at the beginning and the pensive piano riff at :20. The piece is a little slow to progress, but you keep it somewhat interesting with the occasional jazzy chord Iike at :55) and the rhythmic content. I love the atmosphere and the sound design, but I still would’ve liked to see a more dynamic composition here. The added synth line at around 1:25 helps, and the change of meter at 2:00 was done smoothly. The descension into atmospheric haze during the last minute or so was gorgeous too. Overall, you helped make up for the minimalism and repetition early on with some really creative and majestic atmospheric content both in the very beginning and the end. The production quality is solid, too, despite the plethora of reverb in the texture during the atmospheric sections. Really unique piece here, Nascene. Keep up the good work! ^_^

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.25/10