TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Rite of First Flight]

I like the eastern-sounding instruments at the beginning and the cool syncopations. The filtering and panning on the stringed instrument at :16 is really neat, and I really like the glitchy flair at :56. The sound design here is so eclectic and refreshing, although there are a lot of relatively percussive sounds in the texture that could use some smoother over at some point. Perhaps some sort of drone-like ambiance would fit the character of this piece and help fill out the texture at times? Still, I really like how the other instruments fade away when the adorable melody comes in at 1:34 with the shaker. The repetition of the string line at 2:30 also gave the piece a bit of structural cohesion that is sometimes lacking in your tracks. The transition at 3:26 was a bit sudden, and I think some of the dense rhythmic patterns there get in each other’s way. Still, by around 4:03 I’m loving the mellow tone of the outro, and the nature FX in the background really helps set the scene. Wonderful work as usual, Syamori. Please let me know when the album comes out. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
9.5/10

Baumarius responds:

Thanks TL! I'll keep this stuff in mind, and I'll definitely let you know when it's out! I've come to a few new musical epiphanies and breakthroughs with the next song for the contest, regarding the personification of my instruments... I can't wait to post it lol

[Derpcat - Crystal Caves]

I like the cute, atmospheric synths at the beginning and the blissful mood. I have mixed feelings about the glitchy guitar synth at :35 - I get what you were going for with the added intensity and drive there, but some of the glitchy elements kinda interfere with the flow of the piece after a while. There’s also a rather heavy contrast in mood with the abbreviated breakdown at 1:10 that never gets fully explored imo. The bridge at 1:18 was a bit bland, as were the drum patterns throughout the piece. I really like the atmosphere at 1:53, and I think you could’ve capitalized on the emotional quality of the piece there by incorporating more gradual transitions into this piece. Overall, there’s a lot of promise here in the mood, sound design, mixing, and rhythmic content of the piece, but the structure feels a bit thrown-together and choppy right now. The piano outro is great, but I’m not sure you have me sold on this piece as a cohesive composition yet by the end. I still think 1:18 functions like a bridge (as :35 feels a lot more climactic), which leaves the last half of the piece without a major point of arrival to hit it home. Still, nice work with the production, atmosphere, and instruments. Keep at it, DerpCatOfficial. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
.5/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.25/10

DerpcatOfficial responds:

UwU thank

[Speak Easy]

I like the smooth guitars at the beginning and the groovy bass that comes in shortly thereafter. The texture and harmonies have a really quirky edge to them, and despite the loud mix and variety in the instrumental palette, the texture sounds pretty thin at times. The brass sounds entirely authentic (and probably is), but I’m often thrown off by how the piece meanders between distinct sections at a pretty fast clip. At times, the drums sound pretty distorted in the mix, which is especially noticeable with the crashes at 1:56 and onward. I also think the snare could’ve been a bit crisper. Still, it’s the abrupt transitions (like at :33, :53, etc.) that really bother me. I think you begin to make up for that by adding some cohesion with the repetition of the beginning riff at 2:18. The solo at 1:37 is really nice and dynamic, but I still wish you had broken apart the underlying rhythmic framework a little more at some point in the piece. Overall, I’m really enjoying the refreshing sound design and evocative rhythmic content, and my complaints with the mixing, texture, and otherwise are all minor. Keep at it, JamesRennaMusic! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.5/10

Jumbs responds:

Thanks man I really appreciate it, I’ll get to work then :)

[Everybody's Invited But Me - Song]

The synths and drums patterns at the beginning are catchy and cute, but the instruments themselves are pretty cheesy. The melody synth sounds really thin compared to the bass, although the mix is fairly loud and clear otherwise. The lyrics have a fun, almost comical vibe, yet the recording quality isn’t perfect and the mixing on the vocals could be smoother. The panning on the vocals is pretty heavy, and the different vocal layers could’ve blended better. There’s also a bit of distortion at 1:17, likely because of the overpowering vocals. At 1:42, I’m enjoying the catchy percussion and circus-like instrumental solos. The chord progression remains pretty cliche throughout the piece, although I liked the gradual decline in register of the piece at around 2:20. At 2:26, the distortions from the vocals become more noticeable and the quantizing isn’t perfect either. I think the vocals often fall behind the beat. Some re-recording might be in order there, especially for the purpose of better syncing up the backing vocals with the lead. Overall, I think this is a cute piece with a lot of fun ideas, but the execution on the vocal processing and mastering needs some more work. Keep at it, Jackbliss! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.75/2
Instrumentation and sound design
.25/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.25/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
5.5/10

jackbliss responds:

Thanks for another great detailed review TaintedLogic. It's been a great opportunity for me to produce songs for this tournament and learn from my mistakes to get the best output for future releases. Keep up the good work! :)

[Tethered to the Past]

I like the ominous tone at the beginning. Nitpicky thing: at :11, there’s this really low-pitched harmony line that sounds pretty indistinct. That might be on purpose, but it sounds to me like the notes are spaced a little too close together. I thought it was really clever when you transitioned into an oom-pah line at :17, which in turn progresses nicely into the more flowing and melodic vibe at :26. Stylistically, this is a rather eclectic piece, but you’ve really showed off your knack for storytelling and fluidity. I loved the frantic pitter-patter at 1:00 too. One transition that may have been a tad sudden for me is at 1:09 when the piece gets a little darker in tone again, but the ritardando into 1:28 was an effective way of foreshadowing the injection of energy thereafter. My favorite part of the piece is probably 2:08, which just sounds really cute. I also like how it gradually meanders its way to a lower register before launching into another more flowy section. The doodling at 2:50 is pretty impressive, but also wasn’t a particularly climactic way of concluding the piece imo. I would’ve liked to hear something with a fuller texture that united some of the disparate themes of the piece a little more. Still, the somewhat comical ending seemed fitting in its own right. Like I said, you really told a story with this one. I can envision the protagonist fighting with himself over whether and to what extent to let go of his past. There’s the stagnant, cyclical-but-enthralling parts of him that need curing, yet also the volatile, uncertain-but-optimistic prospects that the future holds. Anyway, fun piece, LSD! Keep it up. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thank you for the review, and sorry for the delayed response! I was teaching for four weeks as part of a university course, so I've been really tired whenever I've been at home :'D

Now that that's over, I hope I'll have some more time for music again!
As for your nitpicky thing, I don't hear what you mean there, as I'm just playing octaves. But maybe you were talking about 0:13, where the left hand might be a bit understated. I'm playing power chords there, but they might be somewhat quiet :)

The oom-pah thing is really fun to play! Believe it or not, I hadn't really developed that technique until now, so I'm glad it's in my arsenal.

Personally, I disagree about 1:09, as I feel like it's a natural place for the song to return to the intro. But it might've been unexpected, which just makes it all the better in my opinion!

2:08 is a callback to 0:31, and I agree that it's stylistically quite nice. Probably one of the most traditional parts of an arrangement I think I've ever composed.

I can see what you mean with 2:50. Seems like a lot of people also liked it though, so I guess it could be one of those flares that speaks to some people, yet not to others.
The way I see it, the climax of the piece is pretty much at 2:20, and the rest is just a fleshed out outro. I do however, feel like the outro draws the piece together, as 3:04 is pretty much the same as the intro and the middle section of the piece :3

"I can envision the protagonist fighting with himself over whether and to what extent to let go of his past. There’s the stagnant, cyclical-but-enthralling parts of him that need curing, yet also the volatile, uncertain-but-optimistic prospects that the future holds"

=> Wow, that's actually pretty close to what I imagine the piece being about, myself. I'm glad you caught on to that!

Thanks again for the thorough review, as well as for all your hard work!

[Crystal Winter]

I like the light and graceful tone at the beginning and the rich atmosphere. The piece has a great emotional appeal and a nice spaciousness in the mix. The vocals are brilliant, if a little breathy for my tastes at times. The lyrics themselves are beautiful, and the rich texture really falls together by around 1:34. I really like the extended piano solo before the short, final vocal phrase. The piece has a nice and uplifting vibe overall, and the production quality is fantastic. Keep up the great work, guys! ^_^

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thanks for the review!
I am really amazed by how quickly Jordi was able to come up with and record the vocals for the track. He also added some more reverb on the piano, I think, which gave way for this amazing atmosphere. Personally, I love the breathiness, as I feel like it fits the wintery feel really well. It's interesting that you liked the piano interlude, whereas SplatterDash thought there could've been vocals there. I guess that goes to show how different taste can be, even regarding dynamics :)
It's also interesting that you find the piece mostly uplifting, and JessieYun feels some sad undertones. I really appreciate hearing everyone's thoughts; it's almost like conducting small-scale research, haha :'D
Keep up the great work, you too!

[The Watch ft. Ethereal Winds]

I like the haunting, Middle Eastern vibe at the beginning. The warm strings and vocals are both great. I'd love to get a transcript/translation of the lyrics. This piece has a great atmosphere and progression. The mix is a little quiet, but I love how the piece ebbs and flows in intensity over time. The vocal content often seems repetitive, but the instrumental tracks have a pleasant shape to them throughout. Strong work here, guys! Looking forward to more fruitful collabs in the future. ^^

McGorilla42 responds:

Thanks, Tainted! I'm glad you enjoyed it and we will upload more.

[Melodic Convergence]

I like the nature FX at the beginning and the string drone. There’s a great, anticipatory vibe to the piece at the beginning, and the diversity and complexity of the sound design is phenomenal. The piece takes a little while to develop, and comes across as a patchwork of solos and phrases, like I am running through a great castle full of different themed rooms. This makes the arrangement feel a bit choppy, but at the same time tells a great story. The production quality is excellent here, and I’m especially impressed with the vocal sections (like at around 3:15). Can you make the vocal plug-ins say words that you write in? I love the intricacy of the percussion at around 4:45 and the entire celtic jam section. You also did a fairly good job of integrating the various cultures you explore here towards the end. Like I said, my main problem here is the lack of cohesion in the structuring, but otherwise you knocked it out of the park with this one - mixing, melodies, rhythmic content, sound design, etc. Congratulations on your hard work throughout this competition, VociferousMusic! ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
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
9.75/10

VociferousMusic responds:

Excuse me for the long delay. I would like to answer your question.
No, I am unable to create words. The plugin contains several phrases and words I can choose from and eventually build it (Phrase builder). I also can choose and modify the pitch without the voice sounding less natural, as you can hear.

[Omens of the Deep]

I like the gritty, industrial sound design at the beginning and the ominous mood. The texture is really punchy and engaging, yet also not over-compressed or too harsh. I think the piece is a little slow to progress, and I think the glitchy content at 1:01 could’ve used a bit off the top end of the frequency range in the equalizer. I also think this piece is missing higher-end frequencies for long stretches at a time, which is a bit of a missed opportunity after a while. I like the rhythmic content and atmosphere a lot, and the progression does keep things engaging for the most part, but at some point I would’ve liked to hear some stronger melodic content. Even the solo at the bridge at 2:05 isn’t really that prominent in the mix. The piece does get more melodic as it goes on, and the drop at 2:56 just sounds like insects are falling from the sky and clawing at my head (which is a good thing, as it complements the foreboding mood of the rest of the piece). The ending could’ve been a bit more creative, but overall I like the structure of this piece. There’s a lot of variety in here, yet after a couple of listens I can tell that the arrangement is actually pretty traditional, which is a fun dichotomy to have. Overall, solid work, Spadezer! You’re always welcome back on the NGUAC judging squad, but I do enjoy listening to your tracks. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1.25/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
1.5/2
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

Spadezer responds:

Very appreciated!

It's interesting, I've never noticed the lack of highs. I'll have to look through it again and see what's up. I'm glad you clarified your insects from the sky analogy lol.

Thanks again!

[Broken Souls Re-Master]

Alright! You’re getting a fresh review on this after the re-master. :) I like the cute piano riff at the beginning. The rimshot at :07 hits a bit too hard imo, especially with the reverb. I think you may have overcorrected a bit for the quiet vocals last time, because now they’re a bit too loud for me. Percussive elements of the mix should almost always come out over the melodic notes, and the bass also sounds a bit too loud here. The louder vocals do help the listener make out the lyrics a bit better, but the blending issues at :50 are still present, and part of the problem may be that the intonation isn’t always perfect. The instrumental track also sounds a bit distorted and over-compressed at times. I do like the structuring in the piece, including the spacey breakdown at 2:18, but I also feel like the mixing effects at 2:32 were a bit overdone. I’m sorry, man. I know you’ve done a lot more work on this since I last reviewed it, but I’m starting to think that the vocal recording might need some more work to get this piece where it needs to be. Still, I like the dark tone of the lyrics and the complementary atmosphere in the instrumental tracks. It’s been a pleasure to listen to your tracks over the course of this competition, and best of luck with your future tracks (and also college!). ^_^

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
7/10

Quebi responds:

Oh wow, thank you for giving this one a review too! Yeah, I definitely have a lot to learn about vocal processing, it's something I haven't had to do a ton of for sure. The best thing would be to re-record and fix a lot of the problems with the breaths, but that will likely never be possible unfortunately.