TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Spiderman vs greengoblin]

I like the organ stabs and percussion at the beginning, although the mix is a bit muddy. It seems you’re combining a lot of samples with very different instrumentation here, and the result is a tad disjointed. I like the lo-fi groove at :23 with the vinyl scratches. The vocal samples were a little overused, and they also had very different positions in the mix, with “my spider sense is tingling” at :44 much louder and more up-front than the others around it. The vocal samples are the only thing driving the narrative aspect of the piece forward, and most of the melodic elements of the track (like the orchestral flourish at 1:00) seem to also come from the sampled content. Overall, the beat is cool, and a lot of the sound design here is well-selected, but this piece has a long way to go in terms of harmonies and progression before it’s a well-rounded original composition in my opinion. I’d challenge you to tell a story with your music without relying so much on vocal samples - add and subtract some instruments to the backing track over time, use drums and risers to build up intensity during certain parts, or increase/decrease the pace at which the notes play to change the energy level etc. When you feel like you’ve done that, feel free to send me a PM, and I’ll give you some more feedback. Until then, thanks for coming out to the NGADM, 15grams!

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

[Show Me Your Heart]

What the hell, I need a break from judging.

I love the inspirational tone at the beginning and the swell into :06. The twittery synth line and warm, hearty strings mesh well together, and the production quality is fantastic as always with you. The cutoff of the beat and synths at :36 was a bit sudden, but I like how the modulation at :48 injects a new sense of energy into the piece. During the final section at 1:06, I wanted the strings to be a bit more prominent in the mix, as I feel like they're playing the more climactic/melodic line there. Still, the sound design and compositional details are superb here. Keep it up, Bosa! ^_^

Bosa responds:

yeah I may have popped the clutch at :36 but we were still movin lol. At 1:06 I can understand your feelings on that, I guess I was trying not to push past the ceiling too much while still not detracting from the strings.

Thank you so much for taking the time to listen and leave me a review! I love to hear what your thoughts are

[Artistic Process]

I really like the rhythmic content and sound design here. The instruments are groovy, and the beat is creative. The texture is a bit minimal at times, often because the melodic instruments are very staccato-y and thin-sounding, but you clearly have a good sense of harmony and progression. The call-and-response thing among the several different leads from :13 to :40 or so (and other places) is probably my favorite aspect of the piece. It's a really effective way of creating variety in a piece that otherwise has pretty much one simple chord progression. That said, the relaxing mood and spacey atmosphere are big pluses, and I also think the breakdown section at 2:03 was an effective way of adding some variety. Solid work, dude! Keep it up. :)

EmsDeLaRoZ responds:

Thank you very much for the feedback, i'll keep working for the better

[AIM - Bellowers of Grief]

Haunting! I love the atmosphere at the beginning and the furtive piano shortly thereafter. The strings are warm and rich-sounding, and the mood is alternately filled with wonder and tranquility. The piece is a tad slow to develop at times, but I love the subtle key change and the dark string riffs at 2:02. You're really playing up the dynamic contrast and cinematic flair of the piece by the woodwind solo at 2:30ish. Really captivating work, Everratic. The way you use the music to tell a story has grown into one of your strongest qualities as a musician. Best of luck in AIM! ^_^

Everratic responds:

Thanks for the review!

[Destined]

I like the 80s-style synths and melodic contour. The rhythm is a bit hard to follow at times - it might help if you had a rhythmic instrument playing along with the melodies early, even a kick drum or something. The harpsichord-sounding thing at the downbeats at :55 is a bit grating - couldn't hurt to scale back the attack there. The dreamy sequence starting at 1:16 is nice, and the gritty synth bass complements it well at 1:20. You clearly have a good sense of harmony and syncopation. The progression seems a tad rushed at times - there are a lot of distinct sections of the piece in a relatively short time. But the sound design is fun and the melodies are killer. You earned yourself a scout, my friend. Keep it up! ^_^

Magicnumber69420 responds:

Thank you so much! I have to agree, the part at 55 might be a bit too aggressive. However, I have noticed the issue around the lack of percussion, and that's why I experimented more, and made my second track! I think it sounds way better and more organized, just a bit short!

[Chlorofaction]

Love the relaxed mood at the beginning. The percussion starting at :39 sounds a tad dry in comparison, but once the rest of the beat comes in at around 1:10 it makes it less conspicuous. This piece is a bit slower to progress than some of your other tracks, but it definitely has the same engrossing atmosphere and well-balanced mix. I especially enjoyed the twittery solos at 2:57 and the added white noise during the breakdown section. Keep at it, LAPSE! ^_^

[Luster]

I like the tranquility and the bright tone of the synths. The rhythm is a bit square in the melodic instruments, but the beat at :38 helps add some interest to the meter. The pensive outro with the descending piano lines is a real treat - luscious and flowing, but also suspenseful. Keep it up, man! ^_^

[Virtual Human]

Oh man, this piece is awesome. Spacey, jazzy, and relaxing, but also with some great rhythmic percussion work and a mix with some sharp edges. The way the piano just floats on top of the texture like a toy boat in a hurricane. The sheer variety in the sound design is so impressive - from the mid-range E-piano towards the beginning to the squeaky synths at 1:30 to the moody rumblings of the breakdown/bridge section, and last but not least the crisp, grainy beats at around 4:00. Also, the gorgeous, pulsating pads during the last minute or so are like a siren warning me that the song is about to end. Top-notch work here, LLAAPPSSEE! ^__^

[Breathing Derelict]

I like the moody chords at the beginning and the distorted E-piano riffs starting at around :27. The heavy hats at :27 are great, and they flow really nicely into the crisp, acoustic beats throughout the rest of the piece. The lead-up to the melodies at 1:06 is just subtle enough to give the piece a real sense of release when 1:06 finally hits. The distorted breaks at 2:15 aren't quite my cup of tea - they clash a bit with the tranquil, languid vibe in the background at the same time. That said, the atmosphere, sound design, mixing, and arrangement are all really compelling here. Keep at it, LAPSE! ^_^

[Satisphylled]

Dreamy and evocative stuff here, LAPSE! I like the percussion and blissful melodies. Sounds like the mix was missing some mid-range tones at some points, but maybe that's just me. Sound design and flow are killer as always. Keep it up! ^_^

LLAAPPSSEE responds:

Always love to see the TL reviews.
<3
Appreciate the mix review. I see what you're saying though, I mostly mixed this in headphone..the joys of being a night owl in city life. I think the piece overall is just a touch bright. I blame the Luminaria's expressive twinkling inspiration. ;)