The stereo crackles and moody piano riff at the beginning are really effective with the Charlie Chaplin vocals. I would’ve liked to hear a more gradual/smooth transition into :25, though - I wasn’t really expecting the electric guitar after the old-timey vibe of the first 24 seconds. The guitar solos at :50 are really neat, although I think you overuse the piano flourishes a bit. The mixing is pretty good, although at times I wanted the drums to be crisper, and the bass to be more distinct. After the great emotional appeal of the vocals at the beginning, the rest of the structure of the piece feels a tad formulaic, and the near-constant energy level and instrumental palette had me craving some structural contrast after a while. You also use the vocals well at 3:30, and I can tell you sped them up to add to the drama. That last vocal stretch felt a tad dragged-out, though - I think it lost momentum after a while. I like that the instrumental tracks fall away before the final vocal line “...to all men’s happiness.” But I also think you could’ve done a more effective job of shaping the narrative arc of the piece beyond the vocals. Cutting down on the vocals at the end might be a necessary part of that, but perhaps you could recycle them into a more atmospheric role in the body of the piece. Overall, really strong harmonic content, sound design, atmosphere, and emotional appeal here. The mixing could be a bit sharper, though, and the arrangement could’ve been more compelling. Still, it’s good to see Charlie Chaplin’s work is still admired after nearly a century. Keep at it, PaddyDavis! :)
Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
7.5/10