TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[A Fighter's Song]

I like the edgy guitar riff at the beginning - that glissando on the high note is especially nice. The vocals are soulful and powerful, but also a bit dry in the mix - some more reverb and other effects might help give them a bit more presence and help with the blending on the different vocal layers. I was a little thrown off that the vocals seem to be so much more up-front in the texture during some of the verses than they are at the chorus (compare :55 and 1:33, for example). The drums could also use more presence in the mix at times. The lyrics themselves are really good - love the dark and cryptic feel of the piece in general. The passion in the vocals at 1:33 was especially nice, though. Love the conversational tone they have too. The short-lived breakdown/hook combo at 2:07 was another highlight - that struck me as a really creative way of speeding up the pacing on an otherwise pretty traditional arrangement. The solo at 3:01 is awesome, as is the spacey riff at 3:36. Overall, there’s a lot to like here, Mischa. All of my complaints are minor, but as always you’re doing some major shredding on this track, with some heartfelt vocals and a nice progression to boot. It’s been a pleasure having you in the NGUAC this year! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

Mischa-head responds:

Thanks for the feedback! And thanks for hosting the audio contests! I've had so much fun participating, definitely keen for next time!

[Listen]

I like the tranquil mood at the beginning and the rich atmosphere. The dense percussion pattern is a nice touch too. Really lovely harmonies, and strong production quality here. I think the composition could’ve been fleshed out a bit more, though - I wanted to hear some more dynamic melodic content and some more “twists and turns” in the structure. Still, you nailed the sound design, atmosphere, and mood here. This is a really soothing piece, and I hope you’ll consider making a full-length version sometime! Also, thanks for coming out to the NGUAC this year, Kassich - it’s been a pleasure having you. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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?)
.5/1
Composite score
8/10

Kassich responds:

Thank you for the review, and thank you for hosting/organizing the NGUAC. I love this competition, it gives me an opportunity to just write music for fun and listen to other fellow composers!

[Shiza]

I like the crisp drums and furtive atmosphere at the beginning. The plucked, staccato-y guitar riff at :09 is haunting, as are the vocals. The lyrics themselves really help play up the apprehensive mood. The pacing of the piece is a bit slow, and I also think the transition into the refrain at 1:25 was a bit abrupt. The mixing is also good, although at times I wanted the drums to be a bit punchier. I really like the heavy contrast between the verses and refrains here, but I also would’ve liked to see more variety in the instrumental tracks during the verses to help keep me engaged. The melancholy solo at 3:52 is really nice, although I also would’ve liked to see a section towards the end of the piece that releases some of the pent-up tension here a little more. Overall, though, this is an evocative, moody, and well-produced track with some excellent guitar work. It’s been a pleasure having you in the competition this year, Introverse! ^_^

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
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
8.5/10

Introverse responds:

Thank you. It was fun to be in this competition. See you next year!

[Drawing the Curtain (NGUAC FINAL ENTRY)]

I like the emotional appeal of the piano at the beginning. There’s a bit of a stereo blip at the very beginning - not sure if that’s a recording issue, or what? The first 20 seconds feel a bit furtive and understated, but you really open things up at :28, which is rather effective. The piece is slow to progress and a tad minimal, but I really like the sound design and melodies. You also have a couple of abrupt transitions in here - the entry of the guitar at 1:17 in particular caught me off guard. The mix is also very quiet, and overall I think you could do more with dynamic contrast to fully capitalize on the emotional appeal of this piece. After a while, the main melody gets a tad repetitive - adding some variations on it later in the piece might help keep the listener engaged. I like the outro a lot, though - it’s both dreamy and sad at the same time. Really beautiful piece overall, GlowBoy. You’ve done your Nonna a great honor by making it.

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?)
1/1
Composite score
8.5/10

GlowBoyMusic responds:

Thank you so mich for your review, and for having me in this years NGUAC! I am so proud of everyone who participated, and I cannot wait for next year.

As for the slight audio glitch at the beginning…I have no idea what this is either! It happened upon upload OR during MP3 conversion, since it is not present in the main project file :o maybe someone with a knack in music tech can explain here?

Oversll, thank you for this incredible opportunity, and for giving us all the chance to show our potential!

Mad love, Glow.

[Around The World]

I like the mysterious tone towards the beginning. The way the reverb cuts out suddenly after the big swell at :03 threw me off a bit, but I like the strings at :30 and the flute melodies shortly thereafter. The texture is a bit minimal towards the beginning, but the piece really falls together nicely by :52. The mix is pretty clear, but very quiet. Love the 7/4 time signature too - the pattern of rhythmic emphasis gives the piece a very organic and flowing feel, almost like a river. The tranquil breakdown at 1:39 is lovely, and I enjoyed the gradual swell in energy through about 2:02. I might’ve liked to hear more of the percussion in the mix at times during this middle section, but otherwise the sound design is great. The part at 2:22 is really nice, too. Is that a lute? Or a mandolin? Sounds like an acoustic guitar and a banjo had a baby. Anyway, the final melodic section hits the piece home nicely, and overall I really like the evocative tone and well-varied instrumentation in this piece. Thanks so much for coming out to the NGUAC this year, GDRH1988! Been a pleasure having you. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

GDRyuHayabusa1988 responds:

Thank you for your reviews! Glad to see that I'm still continue becoming better at music :)

[shopping at the mall]

Love the prominent bass and jazzy flair of this one. The drums are a bit flat, and could use some more compression or something to make them “pop” in the mix more. Otherwise, the production quality is fine, and the groovy synth melodies and slidey bass riffs seriously get my foot tapping. Overall, you’re right that the mixing isn’t perfect, but it’s hard to go overboard with synth melodies in my book. :D Thanks for coming out to the NGUAC this year, Crysstal712! Been a pleasure having you.

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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

Crysstal712 responds:

thank you for the opportunity, i'll be here next year!

[Superior Magnetic]

I like the rich strings at the beginning and the robotic-sounding atmosphere. The synth bass at :22 is a nice touch, and the rhythmic content of this piece is especially creative. The guitar at :47 was a pleasant surprise. There’s a plethora of reverb in the texture, and the drums get rather lost in the mix for most of the piece. The softer tone of the strings at 1:30 comes on a bit suddenly, but the ensuing 30 seconds or so served as a nice breakdown to contrast with the heavy bass and dense texture beforehand. Love the synth melodies at 2:02 as well. The distortion at 2:12 sounds a bit harsh in the mix, but the atmosphere around it helps soften the blow. Overall, you’ve put together another ambient beauty, Cresince. Congratulations, and thanks for coming out to the NGUAC again this year! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.5/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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
9.25/10

Cresince responds:

It's always a blast to compose for these competitions. I always learn so much from the wonderful judges, and I hope I can keep improving! Thank you for hosting such wonderful events!

[Une nuit proche des étoiles]

I like the dreamy atmosphere at the beginning, between the wind chimes, airy piano, and otherworldly synths. Not sure I liked the suddenly thinner texture at :53 - I think you could’ve filled out the atmosphere a bit more, especially given the rather slow pace of the piece. The emotional appeal of the sound design and composition is still really nice, and I also like the heavier bass at 2:15 and the sense of build-up into 2:40. The vocals at 2:47 were a nice idea, but I’m not sure I like the tone of the samples too much. Is this supposed to be a children’s choir? It just could’ve sounded…richer. Still, the outro is really majestic, and overall you absolutely nailed the cinematic appeal of the piece. Nice job with the production quality and sound design as well. Thanks for coming out to the NGUAC again this year, BAOWZ! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

BAOWZ-Tobass responds:

Hey it scored quite well! Thanks! I had the same feeling about the choir and i think the problem comes from the legato : there is none and LABS don't have this option sadly. What i first had in mind was a solo soprano singer, but it wasn't free ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯. But hey i'm 12th! Almost 13th! Luck is on my side for next year!

[Jules O - Who Will Protect (The Mox)]

Sweet track, Jules! Love the edgy guitars and Lizzie Borden lyrical theme. The vocals are powerful and sit really nicely in the mix, but also seem a tad off-key at times, like at :28. I also thought the drums could've been more punchy in some places. I think my favorite part of the piece is the "if you care at all" bridge at 2:06 - much more conversational and defeatist tone. I also enjoyed the spoken-word "PSA" vocals and the eerie compositional details (like the distorted guitar riff at the very end). Really nice work overall! It's getting me in a Halloween mood 6 weeks early. :D

dude2312 responds:

Hey TaintedLogic! Thank you so much for the review, this is pretty cool. I need to get more active on here for sure. Been a while since I posted something.

[Because We Miss You]

Alex, I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I’ve heard from both you and Everratic that she was a rather special person. You’ve indeed done her a great honor by writing this beautiful piece.

—

I really like the heartfelt piano riff at the beginning and how the “body” of the sound gradually gets lower in pitch and stronger in conviction until 1:20. The bridge at 1:20 sounds a bit heavy but also strangely celebratory, a sharp contrast to the graceful and thin-sounding lines of earlier. The subtle ritardando into the shimmering line at 2:27 is haunting, although the very end doesn’t feel quite as conclusive as it could’ve been. You’ve packed a ton of emotion into this piece, though - it’s incredibly well-phrased and well-paced. Not to be cheesy, but your piece has all of the narrative appeal of life itself - the blissful glow of childhood, the difficult but fulfilling work of adulthood, and the dignified contentment of retirement. Fantastic work, Alex. I feel truly inspired to extend more kindness and patience to the older people in my life now.

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thank you. She was very special indeed, so I tried to make this song special, for her. It actually has a sister (husband?) -piece I wrote a couple of years ago when my grandpa passed. That one is "Villavslutning". I didn't mention anything in the description, since I didn't feel like it at the time. But I like to see them both as belonging together.

There is actually a reason that the end isn't necessarily very conclusive! Before the very end, the section points back to the beginning of the piece; like you said, almost going from childhood to retirement. There's a hint that there is not long left, and then, it suddenly ends, on an ambiguous tone. That's often how it is and feels, I suppose! It's sad, but it's not all bad either. She was old, and definitely had her fair share of pains. I think in a way, it was also nice to be able to let go.

Thank you again!