TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[A Noisy Sundae]

During the first split second, there was this distorted, frantic, and almost arrhythmic bass that I thought was a bit out-of-place. After that, though, the lighter tone it had until around :27 was super cool. While this obviously isn't a structurally complete piece, I can appreciate the darker direction you started to take it in towards the end. The loop isn't perfect again (or maybe it's my computer?) but the end of the loop at least partially justifies that distorted bass riff I was talking about at the beginning. I also think the track would've been more engaging if the drums were stronger. After all, that's theoretically half of what makes it a drum and bass track, no? However, I am glad you're exploring different genres a bit. Looking forward to reviewing (most of) the rest of your new-ish tracks later this week! ;)

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Once again, this isn't an original of mine, as it's part of the NGDIC2 :p
And unfortunately, my sound design and mix on this one is rushed too. The percussion should definitely be louder, and I'd switch some intruments out. But I couldn't thouch the melodies or structure.

As for the loop, I don't even recall if this is perfect or not, as Newgrounds (at least on my system) has started messing loops up for me, by placing a short cut/silence before a restart. I'll need to check on another computer before I'll know if the fault lies with Newgrounds, or with my system.

I'll look forward to your reviews! I'll review your track eventually too (whatever that means), but first, I owe johnfn some reviews, as well as a long and super delayed response. I really have too many projects and left over stuff that I'm slacking behind on, to even be able to properly keep up with it XD
Next year, I think I'll stay a lot calmer than this year, but we'll see. Thanks again dude!

[Ambiotica]

Well, this review is long overdue. I love the dark themes and sound palette. I wish it was a little more dynamic, but at the same time it would be very fitting for a videogame. It doesn't make a great loop, but I'm sure with some slight adjustments that could be easily fixed. I love how it's really hard to get any sense of meter from this track, which just adds to the creepiness. Keep up the good work and/or do more with this sometime! :D

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Oh my, so it begins... And I haven't even gotten around to reviewing Blueshift and Vulpini yet :p
You'll stress me out :I

To being with, this isn't an original track of mine, but more of a remix, so I definitely won't make more of it XD But I think we can all rest assured I'll make some more ambient stuff in the future, heh.
I think I put the intruments here in approx an hour. The rules stated we're not allowed to change that much, so I couldn't really make it more dynamic either. I am aware about the clipping too :p
This track is in 11/4, so it's definitely hard to grip it, as was it for me. Thanks!

[Waiting]

Hmm...it's a little hard for me to follow the rhythm at the beginning, but it helps when the beat comes in at :19. I love the mood and instruments, though. That drop at :31 is awesome! <3 It's extremely blissful and catchy - the perfect combo in my book. The piano part at around the 2-minute mark adds a nice change-of-texture. The mixing and mastering is superb as always, btw, and this track in particular is quite reverbalicious. The slide-y treble-range synths at 3:16 are awesome, and I like how you transposed them up an octave at 3:31 to channel the energy. You conveyed the feels well indeed, Lockyn. You're quickly climbing the ladder on my all-time most insta-faved artist list. Keep up the great work! ^^

Lockyn responds:

I'm very happy you enjoyed that slide lead synth, I loved playing around with that one :) Cheers mate! I'm glad you think so highly of me, please expect lots more to come! Thanks for reviewing TL <3

[Sunset Breeze]

Very bass-y and catchy. I like the sort of stop-start texture here. It progresses a little slowly, yet at the same time creates a lot of room for contrast. The melody at about the 1-minute mark was quite blissful and uplifting. I can also tell that this has been mastered really loudly. It does get a bit repetitive by the end, but I will also compliment you on avoiding your compulsion to make tracks as long as 7 minutes! :) The tasteful vocal samples you threw in there at 2:11 added a lot to the piece. I admire your sense of harmony and progression. In a way, it has a simplistic quality, but all-in-all that fit the blissful, relaxing mood of the piece rather well. The ending was a little disappointing. It kinda just ends. It would've been worth your while to wind it down a bit with some sort of 15-second riff. Perhaps a volume automation would've helped. It's not that you needed anything new, but it bothers me that the intro, re-intro, and coda are essentially all the same. Anyway, keep up the good work! I hope to drop some reviews on several of your other recent tracks by Thanksgiving. ^^

Lockyn responds:

Hey TL, nice to see you again. I'm happy you enjoyed the track this much. I know the ending was a bit of a cop-out, but I also intended the door close to be the end, and the train taking off kind of a end to the happy sunset feel. I'm glad you enjoyed regardless. :) Cheers mate!

[Surfer Ghouls 'n Ghosts]

Ahh, I see you also have a Halloween track to showcase. >:) I thought the whole "ghostly surfer" theme was extremely clever. The franticly picked guitar really adds a lot of tension to the piece. The organ is creepy, yet also cute in a way. It's definitely fitting for a videogame IMO. Time to haunt as many animated people as possible! ^^ As a stand-alone piece, though, it lacks a bit of variety. And even if there is a significant amount of variety, it's hard to tell because you don't really change the texture a lot throughout the piece. I also thought the drums were a little weak. I think it would've sounded more powerful and intimidating if you compressed them and then added more reverb. Overall, though, it's a cool piece! If I or anyone I know ever make a ghostly surfer-themed videogame, I'll let you know. Keep it up, man. ;)

LexRodent responds:

Thanks for the nice feedback, I'll add "extra power" to drums asap, and if I can think on some other change to add extra variety I'll do so too.

[Facing the Foe]

Hmm...yeah, allow me to put in my *long* ***overdue*** ******input*****. Heh.

I love the sound design, the huge conglomeration of moods, the progression, the...well, the everything. It is a bit fast-paced at times, but at the same time, it could be made to fit a video game extremely well. The mixing here is also freaking excellent. You've demonstrated rapid improvement on that front, LSD! :O

I love all the string solos, though. Sometimes, they're a little hard-to-follow, but at the same time I'll commend you for tying all these diverse elements together so nicely. Still, 2:33 was a bit of a rushed solo, and 2:45 was almost comical IMO. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. This piece clearly has a lot of character and charm.

OH SHIT, no! The ending...the e- WHY! *struggles to hold back tears*

OH, WAIT. It loops. Never mind. My stupid MacBook can't accommodate the loop feature very well. I'm sure it loops well, too. I'll confirm that fact when I have access to a PC again...

Anyway, overall this is a freaking awesome piece. I suppose I'd like to see you slow down the pace a bit more at some point during the competition, but for now this is going to get you far! Best of luck, guys. ;D

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Not as overdue as my response to your message you sent ages ago XD
But I promise, I have actually been busy! Apart from the three animes I watched. But that was research for the next ngadm track, I promise! I hurt myself really badly living through extremely dark animes, so that I could write an amazing track. It kinda worked, I guess. We'll see in 2 days :D
That is also why my response to this review is late; that, and a lot of school work... But I aced the fist test at least, so that's good, right? But we're nearly finished with the next track now! So I'll totally respond eventually, even if I have to write a blog post too... I also haven't reviewed your track yet, as I might take out... My revenge, on it. I'm not sure yet though. We'll see! I suck at time management these days XD

It's great to hear that you love the sound design, as I put a lot of work into it. As for structure and progression, and composing in general, most of it was made on my piano, which explains why it's a pretty complicated piece :p
I'm glad to hear that the mixing has improved. I know there's still a lot to do, but it's fine as long as I am getting better.

Yeah. I think this piece is easier to listen to if you hear it once or twice at first. I wouldn't call 2:33 a solo, but I get what you mean. It differs a lot from the rest of the track. As for 2:45, I'm not sure why it's comical, but I don't mind, as this is meant to be a lively piece anyway :D

Hehhe, yeah. No worries. I am not johnfn XD
The loops is pretty good, but not infallible.

Thanks a lot for the positive review! I'm the most glad to hear that you think my orchestral mixing is improving :)
Oh, and for the next track, I guess we'll slow down the pace, in one way at least, hehhe XD

[~{ || MEGA || }~]

I love the sound design in this one. It has a cool cinematic vibe, as you touched upon in the tags. I love the sense of apprehension. It would fit a movie or game trailer very well indeed. The best thing about this piece is definitely the instrumentation, though. I'm really glad you got your hands on those horns. Together with the strings, hard-hitting percussion, and somewhat harsh sound effects (e.x., :10), they work really well to create the mood I think you were going for. If I had to complain about one thing, it would probably be the ending. I think you could've wrapped up the themes here a little more conclusively, unless you intended on looping it, of course. Still, very nice work overall, and congrats on the 11,000+ plays and 700+ downloads! ;D

larrynachos responds:

Jesus, I'm almost at 800 downloads? Holy shit!

Thanks for the review, dude! I'm glad I finally managed to get more than 4 stars from you lol.