TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Universal Pulse]

I like the dreamy synth riffs at the beginning, and the eerie harmonies that come in shortly thereafter. The progression is a bit slow-paced, but by the time the crisp drums and guitars come in at :43, I’m starting to feel the groove more. The reverb on the drums is a bit heavy for my tastes, and the snare sample sounds a tad thin and high-pitched too. The chord progression and arrangement of the piece are a bit generic. I really like the way the piece slowly builds up to 1:25, although the synth melody there was a tad cheesy and generic-sounding. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the pulsating pads at 2:00 - they were a little disorienting at first, and also have too much reverb IMO. I like how you stripped away the beat at 2:25, and then immediately offered some contrast in the energy level with the killer guitar solo at 2:40. You transitioned well back into the refrain at 3:16, although I might’ve liked to hear a little more variety on some of those main riffs and melodies the second time around. Still, the piece comes together well by the end, and the mix holds up well despite the busy texture there. Overall, despite my complaints with the instrumentation and compositional details, you’ve clearly displayed your strong production, melody-writing, and progression skills here. Keep at it, Barbier! ^_^

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
.25/1
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

BarbierDoesMusic responds:

Hey, thanks for the feedback! Yeah, at this point I was still getting the hang of using my virtual instruments, also the lack of time due to my personal challenge of posting a song per week to train more my music making skills. Still, I'm really glad you liked it (specially the guitar solo, it also was my fav part to make :D).

Welp, it sucks that I didn't get to the competition this year, but will shoot for the next, as well as the NGUAC to see what happens. Thanks for the opportunity and for checking out!! ^^

[Fistula]

I like the crisp guitar riff at the beginning and the dissonant harmonies. The drums at :13 are mixed very strangely, with not a lot of room for the kick or snare, but a relatively prominent hat/crash. The echo-y, sighing riff at :25 is pretty nice, and blends in well with the rest of the texture. The arrangement of the piece feels a tad formulaic, with different instruments regularly added and subtracted, but little in the way of variety in the harmonic framework or otherwise. I would’ve liked to see you flesh out the structure a bit more, and create a bit more ebb and flow in the composition within a given phrase/section. Otherwise, this piece has a lot of enjoyable individual elements, from the rhythmic syncopations to the echo-y guitar melodies. Keep at it, BALDORF! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
1/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
6.25/10

[Avixel - Nexus]

I like the emotional appeal of the piano at the beginning. The smooth, muted bass and acoustic drum kit work well too, and the subtle wah-wah guitar riff is a nice addition to the texture. Other than that, the composition is a bit underwhelming here. The piece has a very repetitive and general harmonic framework, and despite the neat sound design, the way the frequencies are balanced in the mix doesn’t really show off the instruments very well. For example, the piano chords at :19 are a lot louder than the funky guitar riff, and I think it should be the other way around based on which one is more dynamic and interesting. Some more dynamic melodies or solos also would’ve been welcome at some point - jazz is known for giving each of its harmonic instruments a big chance to shine. Overall, I hope you’ll keep working on this piece. It has a lot of potential, but I want to see a bit more risk-taking with the composition and a more well-rounded production first. Keep at it, Avixel! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
6/10

[Velum]

I like the smooth synth guitar riff at the beginning and the dreamy arpeggios that come in shortly thereafter. There’s a LOT of reverb in the texture for my tastes, but as far as I can tell it doesn’t distort the mix too much. The breathy, chopped vocals at :52 are nice, and the rhythmic content in the bass during the drop is another big plus. Later on in the drop, I think you overdid it with the short, staccato-y notes (like at 1:32), which disrupted the flow of the piece a bit in my opinion. I’m enjoying the breakdown section and the gradual build-up back into 2:33, although I think you could’ve done more to create variety in the second drop relative to the first one. I’ll also say that, despite the neat sound design and crisp and clear mix, the arrangement of the piece is a tad generic, and I would’ve liked to hear some more melodic content at some point. Still, you nailed the production quality, atmosphere, and progression of this one. Keep at it, Auphinity! ^_^

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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8/10

[Krazi Thingz]

There are a lot of catchy beats and fun synth riffs here. I’m not a huge fan of some of your instruments, though - the clap at :11 is pretty generic-sounding and unpolished, for example. I like the frantic bass line and shimmering pads, but some of the other instruments in here sound very harsh and grating, like the one at 1:17.

A bigger problem is some of the abrupt transitions, like at :22 and 1:06. The main riff (1:28) gets a tad repetitive after a while, but it also doesn’t seem very interconnected with some of the other riffs, like the shimmering pads at 2:01. The result is that the arrangement of the piece feels very disjointed, and is mostly held together by the meandering bass line and popcorn snare. I’m going to challenge you to make a piece where, at moments of transition, you keep at least one or two of the harmonic instruments (i.e., not drums or bass) playing the same pattern on both sides of the transition. That should make your transitions smoother, or otherwise force you to make transitions more gradual and less jarring.

Otherwise, the production quality is pretty good, and the composition could stand to be a tad less repetitive. My main concern is the transitions/arrangement. Other than that, this piece is catchy and has a fun, quirky mood that helps keep me engaged. Keep at it, Athos! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
6/10

[Calamity]

I like the strings at the beginning and the crisp drums and slow-paced guitar riffs that come in shortly thereafter. The smooth, dreamy riff at 1:05 is great, and I love the melodic content at 1:20 as well. The production quality here is very strong, with a loud, clear mix and well-balanced frequencies. Some of your transitions are a tad abrupt, notably the one leading into the breakdown at 1:44 and again at 3:44. That said, I like the strings during the breakdown, which adds a nice cinematic flair to the piece. The injection of energy at 2:40 was a welcome change, and the choir was a nice addition to the texture as well. I might’ve even held out the choir’s notes a bit longer, just to solidify the intensity. You once again took the piece in a different direction at 3:44 with the brass - I’m beginning to think the arrangement of this piece is a tad disjointed, and a big part of that is the sudden transitions I mentioned earlier. That said, you nailed the sound design, melodies, and mixing here. It’s a catchy and energetic piece that commands a lot of attention with its flair for the dramatic. Keep at it, Aterr! ^_^

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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
8.75/10

[madness if it was an upbeat video game bossfight?]

I like the catchy synth riffs at the beginning. The attack on the lead synths sounds a tad too strong, especially on the downbeats. The mix is pretty clean, although a lot of the harmonies, including the bass line, are very quiet. The piece is also pretty repetitive after a while, but I liked when you stripped away the beat at :52 and let the harmonies shine a bit more. The solo at 1:17 was a good idea, but the rhythm of it is a little hard to follow at times. The final refrain at 1:44 helps tie the piece together nicely, although sometimes during that last minute or so you have the individual synth riffs tripping over each other a bit. One of the main riffs at 2:05 comes to mind - its re-entry there felt a bit forced. I’ll also say that some of the higher-pitched synths sounded a bit harsh in the mix. I’d suggest taking off a bit of treble in the EQ for some of them. The drums are a bit thin at times, especially during the busier sections, and could use some more reverb. The glitchy effect during the last few seconds of the piece is really cool, though. Overall, I like the blissful mood, energy, and melodies, although the sound design wasn’t my favorite and the mix is too top-heavy and could use some cleaning up around the edges. Still, this is a very catchy and memorable piece. Keep at it, Aszon! ^_^

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
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7/10

[I Get It]

I like the heavy, echo-y percussion at the beginning and the way it fades out right as the vocals come in. The vocals are really smooth and expressive, but they also feel a tad bare - a little more reverb early on might’ve been welcome. That said, the emotional quality of that part is appealing, and when the heavier guitars that come in at :31 I really like the direction the piece is taking.

I was a little confused, however, when you switched up the texture again at :46. It seems like that part is supposed to be the refrain of the piece, but it’s also a big step back in terms of intensity. I also think that instead of using the echo effects at :46 and 1:01, you’d be better off holding out the note longer, as the echoes add an element of artificiality that seems to go against the raw and bare-bones approach to the vocal mixing up to that point.

The post-chorus at 1:16 seemed to be a tad uninspired, with a single chord taking up most of the mix. The echo-y, strummed chord at 1:31 and the more frantic, fingered guitar line at 1:46 also constitute a shake-up from the previous instrumental tracks. I’m starting to think you need to consolidate some of your ideas here and focus more on the cohesion of the track over creating variety.

I really like the extended solo at 2:32, although the drums get a little buried in the mix there. The third refrain at 3:08 has the pedal note and, later, the return of the fingered riff, which I think the first and second refrains might’ve also benefited from. You did a good job creating variety later in the piece here, especially with the more passionate vocal lines during the refrain, but I think that came at the expense of having a fairly disjointed structure earlier on.

Overall, there’s a lot to like with the compositional elements and sound design here. I think you tried to do a bit too much with the arrangement of the piece, but otherwise you’re approaching a professional quality with the production, vocals, and guitar recordings. Keep it up, Art! ^_^

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

[Shiver Your Timbers]

I like the nature sound effects at the beginning and the energetic string riff that comes in shortly thereafter. The 8-bit drums and the melody that I can only describe as “pirate-y” are both thoroughly enjoyable. I love the grouchy bass at :38 in the lead-up to :51. The mix is a tad over-compressed for my tastes, but it’s also crisp, clean, and well-balanced. The sound design here is especially nice, though, and the melodic content is a close second in terms of my favorite aspects of the piece. I also commend you for the bold step of taking the piece in a very different direction starting at 2:50. All of a sudden, it sounds like Pegleg Larry met the love of his life on his most recent conquest, and decided to quit his high seas thievery for good. The orchestral solo at the end was also really nice, although I think you overdid the ornamentations on the trumpet at 3:40. Overall, you clearly went all-in on the composition here, and boy did it pay off! This piece is oozing with character, and the clean mix and colorful sound design back it up really well too. Fantastic work, Arram! ^_^

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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.5/10

[It is what it is]

I like the catchy 80s-style synths at the beginning. The vocal samples fit it well, and the growly bass riff at :17 is a great addition to the texture. The arrangement of the piece feels a tad formulaic, with a fairly abrupt transition followed by either adding or subtracting one or two instruments at a time. More gradual fade-ins or melodic transitions would be welcome, in addition to automations, filtering, etc. You also overused the “it is what it is” vocal line after a while. That said, I think you nailed the dynamic contrast between the refrain and the extended bridge at 1:18. The bass riff at 2:00 is especially catchy, and I think the transition at 2:39 was more creative than some of your earlier ones. The slap bass at 3:10 was a fun surprise, and the final refrain of the piece has a nice, victorious-sounding vibe. You hit the piece home nicely at the very end with a fresh perspective on the piece’s sound design and rhythmic content. Overall, I think the mixing, sound design, and melodies here are really strong. Some of the arrangement details could use some work, but most of my complaints here are relatively minor. Keep it up, Arponax! ^_^

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?)
.5/1
Composite score
8.25/10