TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Medley of a Shattered Mind]

Beautiful! It's very dark and reflective. Makes me think of sad memories at first, then a strange floating sensation. It's hard to describe...anyway, I loved the subtly distinct movements, and, as is with all your piano improvs, it flows really well. I really liked the chord at around 3:18 that was quite a bit more staccato than your usual style. Still, I'm going to have to call my favorite chunk 2:30 - 3:00. But, really, it's all so beautiful! :'D If one could dare to suggest an improvement to be made for this piece, it might have progressed a little too quickly at times. Still, amazing work LSD! Keep it up, my friend. Also, I have a challenge for you: can you make a piano improv that is not smooth and flowing, but rather punchy and jarring? I'd be interested to see what you do with that idea... >:D

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Aww, thanks :3

For some reason, I've always been drawn to dark stuff... It's good that it makes you think of memories, as that is kinda the point! This does indeed flow well, but this is not an improv. I might as well stop making songs if my improvs were this good XD

Oh, you noticed 3:18? Very well done my friend! It is intentional, although I accidentally overdid it a bit. Luckily, Phonometrologist saved the part with a perfect amount of reverb, so it sounds quite nice :p

I do agree that this does progress quite quickly at times, however, I'd like to point out that that is intentional! That said, some transitions definitely could be smoother... THAT SAID, I'm often a fan of rough, unexpected transitions and modulations :3

OOOH! I like that challenge. I will take it on for sure (I have in fact done more bouncy and unflowing pieces earlier, but it has been a long time since...). Thanks for the suggestion!!

Lastly, I'll try to reply to yourm PM before wednesday. Believe it or not, I've had a pretty full schedule lately o.O Hopefully, things'll call down soon again so I can focus on my projects as well...

[The Last Dance]

I love all the squeaky-sounding FX. ^^ I liked the instruments and the melodies. Pretty soulful and emotional, although I thought the quality wasn't exactly top-notch. At times it lacks some harmony parts and structural support, and at others it's pretty muddy and distorted (like 1:34). Interesting atmosphere you got going on here, though - sounds medieval at some points, old-western at others...then there's that piano thing at the end. :) Also, a little bit of 90s-style trance in there around 2:30. ;O I was going to comment that I liked how you brought it full circle in the end, and that it should've just stopped at :08, but that was before I realized that it had looped. XD Pretty good job with the looping. That said, I'm still not convinced this is your maximum potential, Ale. Seems like you need to update Cubase/add more memory to your computer, though. ;( Still, it's very unique and interesting. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your work, my friend! ^^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

I like those squeaky thingeys too :3 I use a certain kind of plug-in on normal percussion to create that effect :p
I agree that there'smuch to improve on the quality! I'll try to get better eventually, and I'm sure I will be :D

I don't know what is so muddy at 1:34, but it might be that one weird intrument in the background (I honestly don't even remember what it is or why I put it there o.O)...

Really? Old-western? That's not how I see any part, but I'm sure there's some influences from there, as I love Western music XD Trance though; that I buy ;)

"but that was before I realized that it had looped. XD Pretty good job with the looping"

=> At least it loops somewhat well then! Especially if one doesn't anticipate it :)

I definitely hope this isn't my maximum potential; in that case, I'd be a bit disappointed :/
I most definitely should update my Cubase! It'll cost much more though :(

Thanks for listening and reviewing, Andrew! :'D

[Lamm - Realm 3: Thorns]

Hey, this is cool! I love the instruments, especially the grouchy bass and the oriental-sounding synths. I love how it almost sounds like breakbeat without the beat (there are a lot of starts and stops in the syncopations, if you know what I mean). This is a catchy and pretty unique piece. It also loops really well. Nice job, MetalRenard! ^^

MetalRenard responds:

It's not actually a synth, it's a sampled instrument from Ra (EWQL), so you have good ears!
Thanks for the kind words!

[Fifty Winks]

I was going to say that you overdid the reverb a bit, but by the end I was convinced that you used just the right amount. I love the instruments, especially the spacey pads and stuff. The mood is just fantastic - relaxing, yet quirky. AW, COME ON! You could've at least thrown a crash in there at the end. ಠ_ಠ Still, this is a cool piece. I like the title a lot. You should do this 6-songs-in-a-week thing more often. ;) Keep it up, LE! ^_^

LunacyEcho responds:

=> overdid the reverb =>

I was thinking of automating the reverb for the drums, since the intro sounds really weird. But, sleep got the better of me.

=> spacey pads/mood =>

You know, I find that I write the best when I'm tired. Sleep probably overpowered me a bit in this one, but generally, the songs I write in early mornings turn out to be my favorites.

=> ಠ_ಠ =>
ಠ_ಠ
ಠ_ಠ ಠ_ಠ ಠ_ಠ ಠ_ಠ ಠ_ಠ
This emoticon is amazing.

=> 6-songs-in-a-week =>

I really would, but: a. laziness; b. break is over, and I don't think I'll have another extended period of time where I have nothing to do for a very long while. You never know, though!

Thanks for reviewing! :D

[All the Raps]

How the hell do you already have 6 submissions in 2015? 0_O Anyone, I love this piece! It has a lot of character, and is super catchy and funky and cool. That said, I think you had a couple of balance issues. For example, at :29 the organ is really drowned out by the drums. Otherwise, I love the groovy drums and the guitar. It's well-structured, yet simple, but it loops really well. Personally, I couldn't really picture someone rapping over this...sounds more like an 80s/90s coffee shop groove or something. XD Anyway, keep up the great work, LE! ;D

LunacyEcho responds:

=> 6 submissions =>

Quantity over quality, my friend. ;)

=> organ =>

I once again fall victim to bad mixing! I need more earphones.

=> couldn't picture someone rapping =>

Really? I sort of based it off of Run-DMC era rap beats, mainly 'It's Tricky'. I guess it sounds nothing like modern rap beats, though! Coffee shop groove? Interesting...

Thanks for the review! I know you've been really busy lately.

[Winterscape]

Ale, I haven't reviewed one of your pieces in a year! :O Seriously, though, arpeggio nightmare?! No, this is beautiful! I love the tranquility and the progression. The emotion is fantastic, and as always it's very flow-y and majestic. I love how you create contrast with the more punchy sound at 1:59. Sufficiently varied, well-structured, and smooth-flowing, I don't hesitate to call this my favorite piece of 2015 from you so far! ;) Ahh...there go my beginning-of-the-year jokes again. Anyway, keep up the great work, my friend! Looking forward to the orchestral version you make of this in 2025, btw. Remember - you promised! XD

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

I've been waiting this entire year from one of your reviews! Finally I got one; I was almost getting worried XD

The arpeggio nightmare part was solely intended as an inside joke between me and LunacyEcho (there are in fact a ton of arpeggios of differing kinds in this track). It really pleases me to see you consider this piece to be beautiful, as it's a very cherished composition of mine. This is a piece I'm really emotionally invested in while playing, if I'm not always.

1:56 - 2:20 is quite possibly my favorite section of music I've ever created. It seems simple, but I feel as though the melody, chords and arrangement of that part hold a lot of power in it.

This is among my three favorite pieces from 2013, actually. Two of which are yet to be uploaded! The thing is, they are so difficult to play without mistakes that I've been too lazy to make proper recordings. I'm intindending on changing that soon though (I'll probably cheat a bit by editing the few mistakes that'll appear in the MIDI files)!

Thanks!
I've promised nothing!!! But I will make one, eventually. Unless I die or something D:
Now see what you made me think of :'(

Anyhow... Can't wait to see what you'll upload this year (when you get a bit of free time, especially) :D

[To the Stars]

I love the mood at the beginning - mysterious, perhaps even apprehensive at first, and then the strings add a new element of impending beauty, like I'm seeing a sweeping view of the English countryside from the perspective of a helicopter. Of course, you combine the chiptune and orchestral elements amazingly well, and I especially like the synth at 2:08. It has a lot of variety, but is perhaps a little too fast-paced at times. Still, it almost seems fitting for a Disney movie at others: 2:45 had both the cuteness and charm of a children's film. It sounds as if robots are interacting with creatures of the forest, and it's clear from the score when either party is doing the talking. ;) Ingenious use of the Super Mario Galaxy tracks in here, btw. I quite enjoy your innovative styles of music, Step. Another 5-star track. I almost feel guilty for not giving you more suggestions for how to improve this - but, in reality, it's simply top-quality content! :D Keep up the fantastic work, my friend. ^_^

Step responds:

Andrew, man, your reviews are just... gsggferfae. Thank you very much!

I feel really happy reading this review since a lot of the stuff you described about the track is what I was trying to aim for in terms of mood/atmosphere myself. For instance, I indeed wanted the beginning to have a bit of mystery and tension to it, as if you're trying to find your footing in a zero-gravity area (that was the original idea at least haha). When the cello comes in, I tried to make it sound beautiful and warm, but at the same time still kinda trippy and light-headed.

2:08's synth is also my favourite. That's a pulse-wave-based synth with 25% width, reverb/delay and some vibrato. It's really the vibrato that sells it - vibrato sounds great on chiptune leads, I've come to conclude. I think I get what you mean about it being too fast-paced. I guess I was kinda worried to have longer notes on it since in the end it's still a pretty raw synth and I didn't want it to get too annoying. That metaphor with the robots and creatures interacting with each other is awesome by the way haha. I can't not think about it now when listening to the track.

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[In a Dream]

I love the combination of instruments and the climactic nature of it. The vocals (which were beautiful, btw) added a lot to the theme. The lyrics in and of themselves are also quite good. I absolutely love the drama and the energy. It's engaging and fast-paced, yet also fantastically beautiful. Excellent job with dynamic contrast, structural development, and the like. Not much more to add - I got a little distracted by the vocals, tbh. XD I think I know what the intro song is going to be for the next James Bond movie! Instant favorite and download. Amazing work, Step! ;D

Step responds:

Yeah, the vocals are lovely. I can't thank Stina enough - she nailed her vocal performance, and she has a real powerhouse of a voice which worked perfectly for the climactic nature of the track, which you also noticed.

I have a soft spot for James Bond music so I had tons of fun doing the sections like 0:35, 1:17, 2:40 and 3:35.

Really glad you liked it; thanks for all the support!

[Lifted (Original Mix)]

I love the atmosphere and the climactic nature of it. It progresses a little slowly in the beginning, but I love the part at 1:12. Your mixing and mastering is top-notch, of course. Sounds pretty different from your other stuff, too. I think you might've needed a smoother transition into 2:24, though. It's a pretty chill piece overall, even if it does have a strong beat, so I think it's important that it be smooth-flowing. I love the subtle snap-sounding drums like at 4:40 and other places, though. Perhaps it does get a little repetitive after a while. I'm not sure it needed to be 6 minutes long, to be honest. Still, I thought the ending was a little less sudden than in your other tracks, which is good. Couldn't hurt to let the reverb do the work even more there, too. Overall, I like it a lot! Keep up the great work, Lockyn. ;D

Lockyn responds:

Been so long since I've been here! School is crushing my schedule as usual so I've been tied up. Hope you're doing well, and glad you enjoyed the piece despite its repetitiveness :3 Cheers!