TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM - Twin Cities Under Blue Sky]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning and the frantic techno beat at :43. The mix is really loud and clean, although perhaps a bit over-compressed. The piece is a little slow to progress, but the rhythmic content and sound design are both enjoyable. The drawn-out transition into 2:44 was cool, and I like the change of pace for the more melodic section at 3:30ish. The section at 4:30 was pretty drawn out, but the transition back into 4:55 with the repeating riff in a descending pattern was clever. I like the combination of the heavy beat and the rich atmosphere during the last minute. Overall, really solid work, man! Spacey track, yet catchy. ^^

CryNN responds:

Thankyouuuu

[AIM - Atlantean Arbitrium]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning. The guitars at :45 really help channel the intensity, although the piece is a bit slow to progress. The production quality is really solid - I love the crisp drums that start becoming prominent at around 1:45. The melodies at 2:20 really helped relieve the sense of apprehension in the first couple of minutes of the piece. That solo in the middle is so dynamic and well-executed. I like how the harmonies are momentarily tripping over each other at 4:40 - really adds to the sense of uncertainty in the texture. The piece really has a nice "slow burn," where it really grows on me after I get adjusted to the pace. Probably my favorite AIM piece I've listened to so far. Congrats on a baller track, Banana-head! ^^

Banana-head responds:

Thanks a lot man! The lead melodies were all improvised though haha, i had no main melody in mind when making this.

[AIM 2021- wadle chill]

I like the quirky synths at the beginning. The low string-like instrument and percussion sound a bit clunky together, but it grows on me as the piece goes on. I think my biggest problem with it is that it doesn't really change much over time - in terms of energy, harmonic pattern, or otherwise. The structure is really easy to figure out after listening to it just once (it's the same minute-long section played three times in a row), which is a telltale sign in my book that it could be more dynamic. Still, the sound design and cutesy mood of the piece are nice, and I like the syncopations and harmonies too. Keep at it, man! ^^

knah responds:

hey man thanks for the criticism :) i will be making a remastered version soon.

[searching for clues]

I like the rich strings and church bells at the beginning. The effect of the short phrases on the flow is effective at first, but it felt a bit choppy after a while, especially with the back-and-forth between the energetic/dramatic mini-phrases (:34, :51) and the more mellow and ominous ones. Still, the orchestral samples are really high-quality, and I like the brighter tone of some of the chords starting at around the 2-minute mark. Everything sounds really well-balanced and clean in the mix, too. You've been scouted, my friend. Welcome to Newgrounds! ^^

LudwigComposer responds:

Thank you for your thoughts and scout! The song is meant to be easy to rearrange to suit film, that is why there are gaps.

[Blackout Remix]

Certainly different style than what I'm used to hearing from you. I like the string pads, clap syncopations at around :43, and flashy synths. You might overuse the transitions with the tom-toms a bit, but I'm enjoying the flow and the minimalistic sections with the bare vocals. The piece feels like it could use a bit more variety towards the end, but perhaps the original didn't have much more vocal content to work with. A prominent solo or bridge wouldn't been a welcome change. Still, happy to see an upload from you. Happy New Year! ^^

dude2312 responds:

Hahah I genuinely felt like I was at the NGUAC2021! Great review, TaintedLogic. You know appreciate your criticism a lot.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my little piece.

[Chasing Parallels]

I like the eerie chimes at the beginning, and the breathy vocals contribute to the ominous tone of the piece overall. I like the echo effects at around :35 too, but I feel like the vocals at :42 were a bit dry by comparison. The lyrics have a strong narrative inclination, and the composition itself is also full of variety. The motif of "parallel lines" is really clever, too. Occasionally, the big pitch jumps in the melodies are a bit jarring, notably at :20 ("yard"). The mix sounds really good to my ears, and the dense and jazzy texture later on in the piece is just engrossing. The glitchy solo at 2:51 is awesome, and the vocal layering at around 2:30 is great too. The piece comes together really well as a cohesive thematic whole, even while the composition itself is full of surprises. Brilliant piece, Kor-Rune. Please upload more in 2021! Also, if you ever put this on an album, please PM me - I'd love to snag a DL. ^^

Kor-Rune responds:

Thank you so much for the shout and feedback !! I will absolutely let you know, there's several tracks im putting together for such a thing :')

[Modus Operandi]

Congrats on having the last NG song of 2020. I like the pensive mood at the beginning and the spacey beat at :25. The piece is a little slow to progress, but the lead at :45 was showing some promise before the piece sinks back into minimalism at 1:15. I like the mysterious mood at 1:18 - not my favorite sample, but it fits the piece. The bass line in this middle section is a big plus - really keeps the piece grounded. The lead riff at 2:20 is probably the most memorable part of the piece for me, and you tie it together well at the end. The composition could've been a bit bolder here, but you've certainly done enough to earn a scout. Looking forward to hearing more synthwave beauties like this from you in the future. Happy New Year! ^^

XORVUX responds:

Your review puts my intentions into words very well, and your feedback is noted. I am heavily drawn to atmospheric soundscapes, so I'm relieved to hear that part turned out well. I'm still learning how to build structure and impact, but I eagerly continue to learn that skill. Frankly, I'm surprised (and honored) to be approved this quickly. So thank you very very much for scouting me! ...also a little nervous, since I hope my other tracks fair well against this first impression. Nevertheless, a first review like this is oh-so relieving. Glad to hear your kind words, glad to finally contribute to NG!

[Sentimentality]

I like the groovy percussion at the beginning and the quirky pads at :14. The sound design in this piece is awesome, and you nailed the sound design too. The melodies at :46 are nice, even if the refrain sounds a bit choppy overall with all the stop-start phrasing. The guitar at 1:19 was a fun surprise. It sounds a tad out-of-tune, but in a way that contributes to the quirky vibe of the track overall. Some of the chord progressions are a little cliche, but I like the variations on the refrain the second time around at 2:40. The blissful mood and instrumentation really have me sold on this one. Keep it up, Walpang! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.75/10

Walpang responds:

Woahh I finally got approval from TaintedLogic :0