TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[XenoXenon - Time To Reflect]

I like the loud mix and cutesy synths. The kick has a tad too much treble for my tastes, but I like the drum samples otherwise. The vocals were a nice touch, and I like how you brought them back again towards the end. The quirky arpeggios at the breakdown at 1:14 are especially nice, and overall the flow and sound design of this piece are some of the strongest elements of it. This is more melodic than the last piece I reviewed, although I think the drum patterns could've been a tad more creative. Overall solid work again! I'm especially impressed with the mixing and atmosphere in the pieces I've reviewed today. :)

XenoXenon responds:

Thx !

[XenoXenon - Years Ago]

I like the airy texture and emotional appeal of the beginning. The rhythm of the chords feels a bit square and regular; I can tell it's not really being played live. Using more tempo automations and subtle dynamic/note length shifts will help "humanize" it a bit more. I like when there's a bit more energy in the texture at around :40, but I think you could've done a little more with that refrain before returning to the dreamy atmosphere at 1:00. There was a nice subtle sense of build into 1:50, but I think you could've done more with the refrain again, especially since it was the last one. This piece needs a little more melodic content to drive it home and complete the story arc you set up here. Still, nice work with the sound design, atmosphere, and phrasing with this one. The composition just needs a tad more depth imo. Keep it up! ^^

XenoXenon responds:

Thanks for the feedback :)

[Let's Go Bowling]

Fun piece! I like the cutesy synths and the cheesy bowling alley sound effects. Sounds like something out of an '80s movie montage. Rhythmic details and mixing are solid too. Just wish it was a bit longer/more varied. Happy 2020, Jacob! ^^

Jacob responds:

Thank you! The vibe seems to have translated well. I agree that it could use more variation, and I may add it later on - if the feeling strikes.
I appreciate the review, man!
And a happy new decade to you, too. I look forward to hearing the fruits our growth and change. :)

[-Encounter-]

I like the ominous church bells at the beginning and the 2008-ish techno synths thereafter. The texture is a bit minimal and perhaps missing some atmosphere for a while, but things start coming together more by around the 1-minute mark. Those cutesy melodies at :58 help give the piece a stronger sense of direction, and I love that growly mid-range bass synth at 1:15, especially combined with the vocal samples. The bridge at 2:15 or so was a little bland, but the melodic content at 2:40 was nice. I also like the thin, pizzicato-y synth at 3:25. I might've liked to hear a little more melodic development later in the piece as, at the end of the day, the arrangement is pretty straightforward. That said, I think the sound design and rhythmic details really make this piece what it is. Enjoyable track, PredatorMusic! Happy New Year. :)

Preds responds:

Thanks for the review! You are always welcome here, your constructive criticism is amazing!

[MrKoolTrix & Verplex - Fuzzy Land]

Hahaha. I like the vocals at the beginning and the cutesy synths immediately thereafter. It's a little slow to progress for the first minute, and sometimes I think there's a bit too much reverb in the texture, but everything comes together for the drop at 1:05. The post-chorus melody is really nice, too. I think the drums could've been a little stronger during the more climactic sections of the piece, but I certainly like the atmospheric bridge with the funky rhythmic variations at the 2-minute mark. The compression is a bit too heavy there, though - the pads are clearly getting distorted. You incorporated the vocal samples well into the second drop, and the piece comes together nicely by the end with the extended melodic section and evocative piano outro. Great work, guys! I look forward to hearing more fruitful collabs from you in the future. ^^

MrKoolTrix responds:

Thanks for the in-depth feedback! ^_^

[Geoplex - Cloudscape]

I like the atmosphere at the beginning and the chord progression. Has a nice sense of build over the course of the first minute or so, and the blissful melodies at :51 really cement the upbeat mood and sense of wonder that the piece has. Nice use of flangers during the post-chorus. That section at 1:42 really added some energy to an otherwise very relaxed piece up to that point. The melodic variations at 2:50 really helped hit the piece home, too. The arrangement is a little generic, and perhaps the sound design could've been a little more inventive, but overall it certainly does a great job at capturing a laid-back mood. The mixing and melodies are excellent as usual, too. Keep up the good work, Geoplex! Congrats on the 10,000 subs. ^^

Geoplex responds:

Thank you! As always I appreciate your in-depth feedback :D

[Miss Flora]

I like the funky sound design and jazzy rhythmic details. Has a nice sense of atmosphere and flow, too. The mixing is a bit quiet, but I like the mini-breakdown at :25 and the subsequent injection of energy at :40. The rich chords at 1:07 help keep things engaging, and the melodic content later on helps wrap things up nicely. The modulation at 2:18 was an interesting idea for the coda, but you could've done a bit more with that section before it looped imo. Still, strong work here, Noisy! Really fun and danceable track. ^^

Noisysundae responds:

"I actually think I overused the mini-breakdown now that I listen to it again. About the last section, I got burnt out and decided to go with the "I'm done" type of ending. No regrets. :P

And the loudness...my current approach is to have the loudest section at -16 LUFS (that means the overall average will always be lower than -16). One of the reasons was that I also make piano solo pieces, and they'd be much louder than this menu if I just use the whole thing as the reference point." — The Manager

[Staying with You]

I like the evocative riff in the upper register at the beginning. Almost reminds me of a piano representation of an alarm clock - a somewhat repetitive ringing sound distorted by a state of being half-asleep. I like the simple descending progression at :05, which contrasts nicely with the more rapid ascending melodic patterns at :20. The rhythm feels a bit square until :45, and I like the lighter fare at around :59. I also appreciate the harmonic liberties you took at 1:10. The jazzy minimal section at 1:40 is fun, and you’ve really started to capture the emotional appeal behind the theme of the piece at the 2-minute mark. There’s a great moment of arrival and release at 2:15, which feels reminiscent of the beginning of the piece in a way. That moment of arrival is short-lived, however, and honestly I sometimes wish the pacing of the piece was a bit slower. The piece really starts coming together at 3:10, with a rich range of frequencies and a powerful and victorious tone. I thought some of the progressions and foregrounded content were a bit cheesy in the last minute or so, especially the frantic descending line at 4:16. The ending also feels a tad too drawn out imo. That said, some of that content also helps add some cohesion to the piece, which is hard to detect at other times in the melody lines. There are certainly some rough transitions in here, but I’ll commend you for the rather effective harmonic framework and pleasant melodic riffs. You’ve created a lot of variation around the bass lines and motifs, which gives the piece a strong narrative flavor. What else can I say, Ale? I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to and reviewing your work throughout this competition, and I absolutely look forward to hearing more of it in the near future. Congratulations on your effort and good luck with your future projects. ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.5/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

WHAH, even more lost reviews!

This one is so old I shan't say too much, but thanks for your consistency, and all the great work you're doing for the music community on NG! It wouldn't be the same without you :O

[Boots Cost Money]

Wow! Haven't heard from you in a long time. I like the western-sounding beat and the soulful guitars. Some of the percussion sounds a bit cheesy and dry sometimes, but overall the rhythmic elements of the piece are satisfying. The lyrics are creative and fun, although the mic quality on the vocals could've been better. Sometimes it sounds like you're trying to cram too many syllables into the beat pattern too, like at "take a million steps" (~:37). Overall, fun idea and catchy beats here! Keep at it, Mistarogerz. ^^

mistarogerz responds:

Thanks for the honest review!