TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Gods]

I like the pensive bell-like synth at the beginning and the ominous bass accompanying it. The sound design is really quirky and evocative here, and over the course of the first minute or so, you do a great job of building up the tension. The rhythmic syncopations at 1:20 are really nice, and despite the minimalism you’re keeping me engaged well with the variety in the instruments and smooth flow of the track. The part at 1:57 is a bit over-compressed for my tastes, and also feels a tad stale after a while, but I like the addition of the acid synths at 2:36. The filtering at the transition at 3:15 was really cool, although it still felt a tad jarring to go back to the eerie, downtempo ambient content so suddenly there. The dissonant choir part at 4:08 is easily my favorite section of the piece - sounds like heaven and hell are slowly merging into one before my eyes. You also do a good job of integrating the eerie ambiance and gritty rhythmic content of the first drop at 4:45. The creepy, shimmering synth at the outro was a nice way of hitting the piece home, too. Overall, I really like the sound design and production work on this piece. The composition wasn’t my favorite, especially with some of the bare-bones textures and somewhat disjointed arrangement, but you’ve clearly displayed a wide variety of talents in terms of rhythm, progression, and harmony here. Keep at it, Djjaner! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[AIM - Clouds]

I like the airy guitar arpeggios at the beginning and the thin-sounding snare at :22. The sub-bass and chords at :45 are nice additions to the texture, although it seems like the excess of reverb in the texture is distorting the mix a bit. It’s very hard to make out the guitar riff after a while, although the drums are still breaking through, which is important. The evocative high-register piano riffs starting at 1:52 are really nice, and I also welcome the breakdown at 2:15 as a dose of variety. The harmonic framework of this song is very repetitive, though, and I also think the arrangement feels a tad formulaic at times - every 4-8 bars, a new instrument comes in, but there’s little sense of ebb and flow within individual phrases. In terms of things that keep the piece sounding fresh during the second half, there’s the strings at 3:20 (although they’re also getting a bit distorted by the mix too), and little else. Overall, the sound design is probably the strongest element of the piece in my opinion - it’s very dreamy and soothing. Clearly, you have a good sense of harmony, rhythm, and progression too. It’s just the mixing and arrangement of the piece that need some work. Otherwise, this is a solid effort with some catchy beats and whimsical piano riffs. Keep at it, Diossel! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7/10

[Society of the Future]

I like the chords at the beginning. The drums could stand to be a bit louder and more up-front in the mix, but otherwise I’m not going to nitpick the mixing. The vocals seem rather uninspired - the tone of them lacks a sense of passion, and often they’re flat and off-beat. In fact, at 1:01, I can tell you’re intentionally holding out some of the notes towards the end of the phrase so that you can get back on the beat. It’s probably better to re-record the vocals entirely then come up with Band-Aid solutions like that. That said, the lyrics themselves are pretty good - you’ve got a decent rhyme scheme and meter laid out, and the subject matter is relatable.

The instrumental track is a bit bland and repetitive. At some point, it would’ve been nice to break up the verse/post-chorus structure of the song with a solo or bridge. That said, I like how the piece ends abruptly, especially after the lines “take my hand, and you will see,” which foreshadow that there’s more to come.

Overall, I’d encourage you to work more on the vocal editing, timing, and inflection, and also flesh out the structural elements of your piece more. When you feel like you’ve done so, feel free to send me a PM, and I’ll give you some more feedback. Until then, keep at it, Diamondman! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.75/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
4/10

[Detious - Shaded]

I like the eerie chords at the beginning and the crisp beats shortly thereafter. The vocal samples work well, although the acid synth at :22 sounds a tad unpolished. The drop at :47 is catchy, if minimal, and overall I’m enjoying the combination of electronic and hip hop influences here. At some point, I would’ve liked to hear some more harmonic content - you’re missing a lot of frequencies in the mid- and upper range of the spectrum here, and while the rhythmic content and eerie atmosphere are neat, they’re not enough to adequately keep me engaged here. But despite the minimalism and lack of variety, the production is really clean, and you nailed the sound design, mood, and rhythmic elements. Keep at it, Detious! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.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?)
.5/1
Composite score
6.5/10

DetiousMusic responds:

Always appreciate your reviews, Tainted! Ahhh, I won't lie. I decided to go with my most recent track instead of my best. Should've went all out, haha!

[Chocnoon - Hydraulics (CCLXXVIII)]

I like the upbeat synth riff at the beginning. The drum samples and some of the synths are a bit cheesy, but a bigger problem is the mixing. The drums are very hard to hear once the harmonies at :24 come in. Notice how the drums sound a lot quieter at around :30 than they did at :10 or so? That’s a sign that the texture is getting distorted because you have multiple instruments playing at the same frequency range. You can fix it by adding a compressor to the drums, and then using an equalizer to filter out the bass tones (less than 200 Hertz or so) in the harmonic instruments. I’m sure you can look up “how to use a compressor in Jummbox” or “how to use an equalizer in Jummbox” to help you navigate the technicalities of your DAW. You also might already be familiar with these mixing tools - you should use them way more often, is the point. You can also try dialing back the reverb, which might be making the texture sound even muddier.

Production quality aside, I like the energy and rhythmic content here. The harmonies, while hard to discern in the muddy mix, fit nicely together, and you also have some cool transitions in here, like at 1:15. While the harmonic content is very repetitive here, the key change at 1:26 and the shifting instrumental palette help keep things interesting. Still, at some point I would’ve liked to hear an extended breakdown or bridge section where you strip away the beat and give the piece a stronger narrative appeal. Right now, it’s high-energy pretty much all the time, which isn’t very conducive to keeping the listener engaged.

Still, I like the shimmering synth at the outro (2:41), and overall the atmosphere, melodies, and progression of the piece are enjoyable. Keep at it, Derailment! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
5.75/10

MWMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM responds:

Well, the presets (and the DAW) aren't really the best. But I have to admit it, my mixing is not the best. But well... I wonder what's that .25/1 in uniqueness.

[Awake]

I like the neat riser at the beginning and the tranquil E-piano and guitar shortly thereafter. The transition between the electronic and acoustic-sounding parts is really smooth, and you channel the energy really well with the drums and effects. The echo-y drop at 1:25 is really catchy, if a bit minimal, and overall I’m really impressed with the variety in the sound design. The mix is a tad over-compressed for my tastes, but otherwise clean and clear throughout. The tranquil breakdown at 2:17 is good for some variety, and I love how you double down on it at 2:42 right when it seemed like you were going to launch into another big build-up. I really like how you decided to shake up the drop the second time around at 3:34, although the writing there doesn’t feel quite as well-varied and dynamic as the first drop. The piano outro was another good idea, though. Despite my nitpicks, this piece is seriously good - great mixing and mastering, killer sound design, plenty of variety, and some super catchy drops. Keep it up, DenPelm! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

[ROTTERDAM]

I like the smooth pads at the beginning and the sense of build into :23. The percussion at :23 is a tad dry, thin, and high-pitched, though. The mix is a tad over-compressed for my tastes, but I like the blissful melodies at :43. The gritty post-chorus at 1:05 may have dragged on for a bit long, but I like the filtering work at 1:24 or so and the mellow re-intro thereafter. The slight variations on the second refrain at 2:12 are good for some variety, and I also appreciated the key change at 2:31.

In general, the arrangement, sound design, and chord progression are all a bit generic here, but I do enjoy the glitchy sound effects during transitional moments in this piece. The production quality is also strong, and you’ve clearly displayed your good sense of harmony and rhythm as well. Some of the melodies could’ve been a tad more dynamic, but they were also certainly catchy and memorable. Solid effort overall, Denks! Keep it up. ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.75/10

[Concentrate]

I like the frantic acid synth riff at the beginning and the robotic-sounding vocals. The atmosphere is rich and eerie, although you quickly overuse the vocals. I like the drop at :44, especially the rhythmic content and the call-and-response between the higher-pitched and bass synths. The breakdown at 1:29 was good for a bit of variety, but it was also very short-lived and didn’t quite scratch my itch for some more harmonic depth in the piece. At some point, I would’ve liked to see you lean more heavily on atmospheric or melodic content to fill the texture, rather than the gritty, minimal synths. I do like how the piece comes full-circle towards the end, though, with that apprehensive acid riff. Overall, the production quality and rhythmic content here are really good, and I also enjoy the sound design and progression. That said, the composition is a tad underwhelming in terms of harmony and texture, and could also use a richer atmosphere at times. Still, you’ve made a catchy track with neat instrumentals and a distinct, ominous mood here, Demonicity. Keep at it! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7/10

[A Light From Beyond Tomorrow]

I like the synth guitar melody at the beginning. The shimmering synth at :10 is a little disorienting, and the pacing of the piece is very fast, with a lot of total shake-ups to the instrumental hierarchy in a short time. The production quality is great, though, with crisp drums and well-balanced harmonies throughout. Also, I really like the guitar solo at 1:28.

The piece seems to be structured as a series of melodic solos that alternate between a number of different synths. At some point I might’ve liked to hear a bridge or breakdown that breaks up that paradigm a tad, just for variety. Otherwise, the different melody lines kind of blend together while also not really contributing to an overarching sense of narrative. You also overuse the same couple of cadences at the end of each melodic phrase, giving the piece a sense of being pretty repetitive despite having a bunch of different melody lines in it.

Otherwise, the sound design is enjoyable, and you clearly have a good sense of harmony and rhythm. I think the very end of the piece could’ve been a bit more creative than a fade-out, but I understand that this piece would probably loop in-game. Regardless, breaking up the arrangement of the piece and focusing on structural cohesion in your tracks is a good next step for you. Keep at it, Deemo-R! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
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

Deemo-R responds:

Sorry to ping this like a year later, but for some reason I thought I had responded to this at some point! I'm actually surprised that you think the production was good, it's always been a point I feel like I've lacked on - perhaps not the general idea of "balance", but more that it leans too much into tucking everything into an even pocket of gray mush (nothing really jumps out in an ear-catching "ooh, what's that?" sort of way). Part of that I think comes from the way I've arranged things, which tends to veer into potentially oversaturating a track with too many elements that serve similar purposes. What's interesting is that I think you're pointing out the same idea, but from the perspective that it makes the overall cohesion less effective in a structural way. Which, by the way, I agree with, despite how embarrassing it is to feel like my control of form (one of the most documented aspects of music) is extremely lacking.

And yes, the arrangement part you mention is a big thought of mine - a teacher one described it as a necessity to consider the "density" of a piece. If it feels like a flat line, eventually a listener will tune it out. There's a lack of intrigue, and in my case it usually feels like it needs breathing room. I get a bit over-excited when writing energetic music, tending to focus too hard on the microscopic aspects of each line or bar, instead of a broader "see the forest, not the trees" approach.

Anyway, I know it's a bit weird to respond THIS late after the fact, but I just wanted to make sure it's clear that I always appreciate a critical look and spend a lot of time considering the things that peers offer about the craft. Thanks!

[Rise As Always]

I like the emotional appeal of the piano at the beginning, and the drums give the piece a good sense of energy and drive that it otherwise wouldn’t have had. That said, the texture is pretty minimal throughout here, and I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodies, or at least a stronger sense of ebb and flow to the intensity level over time. This piece has a lot of potential, though, and I hope you’ll keep working on it. You’ve already nailed the sound design, mixing, and progression. The composition just needs to be more fleshed out in terms of harmonic depth and melodic content. Keep at it, Dax! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1/2
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?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.5/10