TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Legacy]

I like the sense of build at the beginning into :04 and the bright synth melodies thereafter. The drum samples and synths are a bit cheesy, and I think there may have been a tad too much reverb in the texture. Still, the melodic content is really enjoyable, especially at :38 and beyond. The kick drum at 1:27 is very heavy and has a bit too much treble, but the drop at 1:45 is well-balanced and continues your run of solid melodies, including some neat variations on the earlier content. The high notes at 2:33 were haunting, and overall I’m loving the victorious vibe this piece has. The cutoff at 2:52 was a bit sudden given the lengthy legato section before it, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the percussive element that first appears on the off-beats at 3:04. That breakdown section works well towards the goal of providing some structural contrast, and I like some of the sound design variations that come afterwards, even if the brass synths at 4:03 or so are a bit cheesy and inauthentic. The outro is a little lengthy, but the bare piano towards the end was a nice choice at capitalizing on the emotional quality of the rest of the piece. Overall, solid work here. I wasn’t a huge fan of all of your sound design choices, but the production quality is solid, the progression is smooth, and the atmosphere is rich and well-balanced. Honestly some of the most beautiful melodies I’ve come across thus far in the competition. Keep up the good work, Xrus! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
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

Xrus responds:

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it! The kicks I use are just my own personal preference. I just like a heavy kick. XD

[Picture Yourself]

I like the jazzy chords at :22 and the overall pensive mood. There’s a bit of dissonance between the chords and the drone at the beginning, though, and the pace of progression is very slow here. Production-wise, the mix is also very quiet, and the sound design could use more variety and flavor. If you’re going to use one instrument for 3+ minutes, I’d suggest at least doing more with varying the volume levels and using automation and other mixing effects to make the texture more interesting. The piece settles into a pretty nice groove by around the 2-minute mark, but it still could use a bit more variety and a stronger sense of ebb and flow over time. The drums at 3:25 have a bit of the opposite problem as the first half of the piece in that they have way too much reverb and completely hijack the mix. The ambient pads during this section are pretty cool, but they also get a little drowned out by the drums and piano. I’d also suggest using equalizers to get rid of the bass tones in the non-rhythm-section instruments, which should reduce the amount of distortion that comes from using a lot of reverb in the first place. The strings at 4:50 sound really dissonant with the other elements of the texture, but perhaps a bigger problem is how distorted they are in the mix. I appreciated the somewhat blissful resolution of the piece at 6:17, but I think you could’ve at least foreshadowed that sudden change in the texture in some way, maybe with a variation to the drum pattern or a slow reverse crash. Overall, the composition is a bit experimental for my tastes here, and I think the mixing and mastering could use some cleaning up. That said, the sound design and atmosphere of the piece were pretty cool, and the piano riffs were catchy once the texture filled out at around 2 minutes in. Keep at it, Windman03! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
.75/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
4/10

Windman03 responds:

Damn. Then I guess I didn't progress into the contest. Of course, I'm still glad to get an honest review. Obviously, I have to work on mastering!

[Spasmodic]

I like the majestic tone and rich atmosphere at the beginning. It contrasts nicely with the heavy mid-range bass and ominous swells (like at :25). The sound design is really well-done here, and the progression is intriguing between the rhythmic content, phrasing, and apprehensive mood. The drop at 1:00 was pretty minimal, but also full of variety in the sound design. The distorted vocals are a great touch, too. Nice job with the dynamic contrast at 1:21, and the tempo automations work well at 1:30. Pretty sure Nintendo might have something to say about you using the samples at 1:37, 2:06, and 2:31, but admittedly they work well in the piece. The sub-bass at 1:43 was a little loud, but otherwise the mixing and mastering here is really strong. The ominous synth riffs starting at 1:55 really help hit the piece home, and you kept the texture full and engaging until the very end. Nice work here overall! Keep it up, Walpang. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.25/10

Walpang responds:

Thanks for this, it means a lot! I remember last year when I entered I only got like a 6/10 so it's nice to see that I've improved for real.

[Superspeed II]

I like the exaggerated crash at the beginning and the cutesy, frantic synths thereafter. The atmosphere is nice, and I like the pulse of the beat. The reverb is a little heavy here, and I think the mix sounds a little distorted because of it. Also couldn’t hurt to get a little stricter with how you use equalizers and such. The piece doesn’t feel structurally complete, and I would’ve liked to see a little more variety in the harmonies and melodic development over time. Still, the sound design is pretty solid and I’m enjoying the mood and rhythmic content. Keep at it, Velsyan! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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
6.5/10

Velsyan responds:

I will keep in mind, although I've got better at those things!
~Velsyan
(Also I am very thankful for the review :3)

[Odyssey]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning and the sound design. The percussion at :20 is nice, but could sound a bit sharper in the mix. The strings in the background there also sound a tad indistinct. I wonder if it would help to cut back on the reverb and get stricter with the frequencies you cut out of some of the instruments with equalizers. Still, the mood here is really captivating - I especially like the atmosphere at 1:16. I was itching to hear some of the tension in this piece resolved with some more prominent melodic content, so I enjoyed the woodwind solo at 2:05, although I wish it was a little more front-and-center in the mix for full dramatic impact. I love how much the breakdown section at 2:20 features that frantic percussion. I can just picture the dudes playing it, hands flying by in a whir. The quirky solos at 2:52 were great, and they flow nicely into the horn melodies at 3:24 as well. There’s also some really cool plucking going on in the strings there. The emotional appeal of the outro was great, by the way, and the creepy details there (like the pulsing synth at 4:17 and the bass slides) were very well-done.

Obviously, the composition and sound design here are both excellent. My main concern is the mixing - right now, it’s pretty loud and well-balanced, but not always clean enough to highlight all of the fun nuances of this track. Again, I’d get very choosy about how much reverb you use and what instruments you use it on. Try experimenting more with automating the amount of reverb on a given instrument over time. You could also make more generous use of filters and panning in this piece to really keep instruments that have the same frequency ranges isolated in the mix. Still, overall you knocked this one out of the park. Really fun solos, compositional details, sound design, atmosphere, and mood. Keep it up, UndervaniaMusic! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.5/1.5
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

uvimusic responds:

Yo! This is absolutely surreal having the 'Anthony Fantano' of Newgrounds not only give my track a review, but give my track a great review! Seriously, whenever I look at someone else that got a good review from you, I have always wondered if one day I would be able to get to their level of skill to be able to secure a similar review. I'm more than happy that I managed to please you and I'll shoot for better next round. Have a great day! (And yes I have taken your suggestions, thanks a ton for them :)

[Mystery Night In The City]

I like the rhythmic content at the beginning and the cutesy sound design. The bass line kinda reminds me of Oye Como Va. The melodic content is nice, but sometimes there’s a little dissonance in the texture between the bass line, the pads with the chromatic descending pattern, and melodies. This piece could also use more structural variety, as it has the same harmonic framework, instrumental hierarchy, and to a large extent energy level for the entire piece. I also thought the ending could’ve been a little more creative than a fade-out. Still, the sound design, mood, mixing, and melodies are strong here. The piece could just use a little more structuring, in addition to some clarity in the harmonic framework. Overall, it’s a groovy piece with a fun, mysterious mood. Keep at it, TimeTravelleR54! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.75/10

TimeTravelleR54 responds:

Very thanks for the honestly feedback. I will consider all of this for the near future :)

[Asteroid]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning. The piano is a little dry and generic, and I’m also not a huge fan of the clap at :16. There’s a good sense of climax into :30, although the mix sounds a bit strained there. I like the build-up into 1:15. There’s a bit of dissonance in the texture at 1:15 in the low-mid range, but I’m having trouble determining exactly which instrument it is. Bit of a bizarre choice to pan the open hat at 2:00 to the right - usually drums should be front-and-center in the mix, except as a transitional or momentary thing. I’m really enjoying the melodies at around 3:00, though. There’s a little more dissonance in the texture at 3:35 between the main melodies and the pads in the background. I might’ve liked to see more variation on the main melody towards the end, and also a proper outro, but overall this piece comes together well compositionally. My main concern remains the mixing - try getting stricter with how you use equalizers, filtering, and the like. Instead of panning the drums, try using stereo widening on the pads. It might also help to cut back on the reverb in places and filter out more of the lower-pitched tones in the pads and melodies. That said, the compositional elements of the piece are really strong, and I like the blissful mood and rich atmosphere of this one. Keep at it, TheTMusic! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.5/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
7.25/10

TheTmusic responds:

Thank you for your feedback, I will try to keep it in mind while working on new songs

[Police State, Signed CDC]

I like the tranquil atmosphere at the beginning. The texture sounds a tad indistinct, though, and I wonder if it would help if the bass and the lead had more space between them (in terms of pitch, that is). Still, I like the moody vocals at :35 and the burst of intensity at 1:05. It sounds like the crashes there are getting either cut off or distorted somehow, however. The vocals at 1:38 are really well-done, and the return of the moody vocal riff at 2:15 alongside the distorted guitar is a really nice touch. I really like the melodies at 2:45 and the “aftershocks” at 3:15 after the rest of the instrumentals divert to a solemn plucking. The outro was especially captivating, and it also fits the thematic content well - literally sounds like defeat. Overall, I think the production is a tad rough around the edges, but you won me over with the soulful vocals and powerful guitar melodies. Full credit for sound design, structure/transitions, and emotional/atmosphere. Keep it up, TRF! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.25/2
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
8.75/10

TheRealFool responds:

Thank you for the detailed review! I certainly would've done some things about the mix differently, but the file's corrupted so this'll do for now. Glad to hear you appreciated the composition and performances!

[Enchanted (2020 Version)]

I like the blissful mood and the sound design at the beginning. The sudden drop in volume levels in the strings at :27 was a nice touch. I was a little thrown off, however, when the piano and strings tag-teamed it at :41. I guess I found it jarring that the piano didn’t also continue on as part of the texture. Still, that’s a pretty small detail. I like the cutesy instrument at :46 and the burst of energy at :55. The piece comes together well by the end. I wasn’t a huge fan of the thin, inauthentic-sounding snare at 1:09 - it just didn’t vibe well with the character of the piece. Overall, I really like the composition here, from the melodies to the progression to the rhythmic elements, and the production quality is good too. Most of my complaints here are nit-picks. Keep it up, TahtuhChips! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
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

ArramEggleston responds:

I completely agree with the piano and the snare. Thanks for the review! :)

[Tony Igy & Vicetone - Astronomia (kallashi! Remix)]

I like the calming mood at the beginning and the sound design. The drums at :23 are really creative, even while the chord progression is pretty cliche. The texture sounds a tad distorted at :40 in the bass range - it might be that the spacing of the chords on those low pads could be wider to give the texture a richer, more open feel. The harmonic content is a little repetitive later in the piece, and the section at 1:33 has the same problem as :40. That said, the production quality is strong here, and the saxophone at 1:56 was a nice touch. Overall, this piece might need a bit more harmonic variety and structuring, but the sound design, atmosphere, and mixing are all strong. Keep at it, Sunglasses909! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.25/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.25/10

Sunglasses909 responds:

Thank you so much! =D