TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Winterlude]

I really appreciate the clear effort you put into this submission, despite being a newly-solo fill-in. The atmosphere of this piece is just haunting. I love the bells/chimes, ghostly pads, and eastern-sounding melody instruments towards the beginning. The relaxed mood and gradual progression of the piece complement each other quite well, and the sound design is simply fantastic. I loved the moment of stillness in the middle (1:57), that offered a hint of a breakdown/bridge without fully devoting itself to a distinct section of the piece. I just thought that was a smart move in terms of pacing the rest of the piece, especially as things got more lively and melodic during the second half. The piece lives up to its title by around 2:30, which seems like it’s out of a whimsical animated feature trip to the South Pole. The gradual descension back into the warm flowiness of the intro is well-orchestrated as well. Overall, this is an amazing piece worthy of a top 4 spot and more. Congratulations on all your hard work throughout the competition this year, and I hope to see (and hear!) more from you next year. ^_^ Also, is there somewhere I can download this? This was made for my personal chill-out playlist. Thanks.

tailspun responds:

thanks for the review! 1f1n1ty and i were planning on releasing this on an EP & posting it on bandcamp for download, but that will inevitably take a long time. i can send you a wav or mp3 file because you've left so many helpful reviews, though! feel free to DM me on here or discord (if you use it, you can find me in the NGADM 2019 discord c:)

[The Temple of Kukulcan]

I like the tranquil mood at the beginning and the majestic flute melody. The piece has a great sense of atmosphere, and the tone is both warm and mysterious at the same time. I like how the texture opens up at :45 with the foreboding drums. There’s a sense of wonder that comes with the grand moment of suspense at :54, which then devolves into the frantic, ominous textures at :59. It’s as if that’s the moment the protagonist decided to steal the chalice from the temple and make a break for it as the walls cave in around him. By 1:28, you’ve done an effective job at heightening the tension behind the piece. The transition at 1:48 is pretty sudden, but it still fits the sense of drama here. I envision the protagonist nearing death, only to escape by 1:48. Only then does the larger evil become apparent. The part at 2:19 is extremely evocative, and provides a neat point of inflection for the piece imo. At 2:25, I begin to feel that you’ve built a strong element of cohesion into the instrumental hierarchy here, despite the fact that this piece seems designed for storytelling more so than structural coherence. I also appreciated how you brought that instrumental framework full-circle with the haunting flute solo at the end. Overall, this is really strong work again, CloakedSoup. Is there somewhere I can download this? :D

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

CloakedSoup responds:

Hey! Thanks for the awesome and detailed review! I had a bit more time to work on the mixing in this piece, so I'm glad it seemed to have paid off. Many of the comments you made in terms of the storytelling during each section reflected what I was actually thinking when I wrote it, so that's really cool to hear!

In terms of downloading it, I plan on releasing this as well as several other pieces from NGADM on an EP/album once I get knocked out and/or the competition ends. I want to re-work/mix some stuff on previous pieces before releasing everything together as a whole. This piece as well as the others will be available for individual download though.

Unfortunately, that may not be until sometime in November or December, because I'm actually working on another album for Atom Music Audio at the moment, so any big re-working will have to wait until I finish that!

Thanks for the fantastic review again! :D

[endK - Funkadunk]

I like the vinyl scratches at the beginning and the quirky pads at :02. The thin-sounding bass, brass, and organ synths combine to form a fun, jazzy texture that still doesn’t take itself too seriously. The rhythmic elements of the piece are really enjoyable, and I like the more laid-back bridge at 1:31. The strings there sound pretty fake, but they blend in with the cheesy, VGM tinge of the rest of the sound design. As fun as all the little melodic riffs and call-and-response format of the texture are, I would’ve liked to hear some more dynamic melodic content here. I don’t think you had much novel content in the last minute of the piece, which gives the composition a bit of a stagnant vibe towards the end. The ending itself also comes on pretty suddenly. Still, you nailed the sound design, rhythmic content, and mixing here. Keep at it, EndK! ^^

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
1.5/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
8.75/10

endKmusic responds:

Yeah, I think that both me and you see the pattern here. :D
And that iiiis - I'm not really god with the deadlines so I barelly changed any melodic content in the last minute.
This was also a thing in one or two other tracks during the contest.
Thanks TL - for this and all other review during the contest, I really appreciate your input.

[Into the Old Way]

I like the somewhat contained, furtive sound at the beginning and the generous use of sustain. The piece has a great sense of wonder about it, and 1:01 feels like a grand arrival point - a moment of discovery. I think you overuse the rolls a bit at around the 1-minute mark, but the cutesy melody that follows at 1:14 helps bring back a more humble and innocent tone to the piece. The chords at the transition at 1:54 are a bit bizarre, but I also understand that the section that follows is something of an inflection point for the piece. From 2:00 to 2:20 or so, the piece sounds very still, and 2:15 feels like an apex of nostalgia but also longing, as if the protagonist is reading a letter from a deceased loved one. The descending scale at 2:22 is a very good transition. Once the low, richer tones seep back into the piece, it’s all the more effective at captivating my attention because of the high-pitched melodic swells of the section before. I also like how the section at 2:26 has some of the same melodic motifs, with some added decoration. It’s as if the protagonist is able to carry on after the death of his mother, but keeps her memory alive by employing the lessons she taught him every day. I also like the mysterious, pensive theme that starts at around 3:23. The key change at 3:41 sounds pretty jarring, and the ending of this piece comes on pretty suddenly. Still, this piece has a deeply satisfying arrangement, a remarkable amount of cohesion, and some super fun transitions/compositional details. Strong work again, Ale! Keep it up. ^_^

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

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Nice catch with 1:01! It definitely sounds like you describe; something really sinking in. I can also see your point about 1:54. The transition comes right after a unique part of the piece, which makes it feel a bit different from the rest of the piece. That is where I feel that there is some kind of change that makes the feeling of determination stronger. But before that determination blooms fully, I bring back the intro a bit at 1:54, which might be why the change back feels sudden. I also agree with your analysis and pointers with the time marks in general; that's more of less how I intended the structure to feel. As for 3:41, I agree the key change is a bit unexpected, but that's partially why I like it. I feel that the reason it works, is because it specifically brings the piece back to the original key.

"It’s as if the protagonist is able to carry on after the death of his mother, but keeps her memory alive by employing the lessons she taught him every day."

=> As per usual, I really like hearing your story-like interpretations of music, since they're always so specific, and allow me to hear the piece again, perhaps a little bit through someone else's eyes (ears?).

I definitely took a more melodic and clearly structured approach to this track than some of my more experimental tracks. I still feel like I challenged myself quite a bit with this one. I'm very glad to see that you enjoyed it!
As always, thanks for your hard work with the reviews, good luck with the rest of the competition, and thank you for listening!

[Tempest Engine (demo)]

I like the grainy, hollow ambient sounds at the beginning and the bright piano at :26. There's a great cinematic flair to the piece, and the guitar solo at 1:05 is really refreshing. The mix is relatively quiet, but also clean and clear. I like the bridge at 2:31 - it's spacious enough to offer some structural relief while also retaining the cool sound design and rhythmic elements of the rest of the piece. The rhythm at around 3:21 is a little hard-to-follow, but the piece has a great sense of climax and resolve by 3:40 or so. Nice job with the filtering at around 3:58, and overall the piece comes together well towards the end. Solid work! I especially like the instrumentation and atmosphere on this one. ^^

MetalRenard responds:

Thanks for the comments on this track. I ended up going back through and making changes such as shortening it, I think it works better this way since originally it repeated to allow for vocals/lyrics.

[Affliction]

The fade-in at the beginning was a tad bizarre, but I like the guitar riffs at :10 and the syncopations at :32, even if the rhythm is a bit hard-to-follow there. The snare sample sounds a bit thin in the mix, but also crisp and clear. The texture comes together well by around the 1-minute mark, although there are a couple of sudden transitions (at 1:14, for example) that detract from the sense of flow and shape of the piece. I wanted to hear some more dynamic melodic content earlier in the piece, too, although the mellow breakdown at 2:18 was a nice touch that added some structural relief. The solo at 3:01 really helped this piece imo, offering a point of arrival that hit the piece home towards the end. While the end came on a tad suddenly, overall the track feels conclusive and cathartic there. I think aspects of the mix sound a bit undecorated and thin, and I still do want to hear some more gradual transitions and phrasing from you. Still, you nailed the solo at the end, the rhythmic content, and the clarity of the mix here. Keep at it, JDawg00100! ^_^

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
.75/1
Emotion, atmosphere, and catchiness
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
1/1
Composite score
8.25/10

JDawg00100 responds:

Thanks for the review :)

[Interlude For The Day]

I like the relaxed vibe at the beginning and the detuned piano. The rhythm is a little hard to follow at the beginning, and the harmony isn’t much easier at first either, with a lot of jazzy chords in rapid succession. There’s more clarity in the texture when the drums come in at :25, but the mix is still pretty thin. The flow is punctured frequently by sudden transitions, which in a way helped keep the piece engaging, but I also think I lost the sense of direction of the piece after a while. I like the blissful, bouncy mood of the piano and the somewhat moody inflections that occur at times, but I think you could’ve done a lot more with the composition in some regards. The entire piece feels a bit fleeting, not just because it’s short but also because there’s rarely a sense of structural stability anywhere. You have a lot of cool transitions and ideas running across the page, but I wanted to be able to point to a moment of arrival that ties the piece together. Instead, it never really came, leaving this piece feeling unfinished, to be frank. Still, you’ve really got an engrossing mood going here, and the production and sound design are strong as usual. Keep at it, Vocaloutburst! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.5/1
Composite score
7.75/10

vocaloutburst responds:

Thanks for the review dude, it really means a lot! I think this was definitely one of my more ambitious tracks to make, especially for this contest. Up until now, I've taken a more video game/orchestral/cinematic approach to my tracks, and this jazzy lofi track is kinda out of left field but I wanted to give it a try and see what happens. I honestly think your review helps the most out of all the comments/critique I've received for this track. I focused mainly on my knowledge of jazz when I was putting this together, but I often get too snared into my own ear for the vast majority of my tracks. I want to get better at stepping away from the production process and attempt to hear the track from a different viewpoint so I can appeal more to the masses. I think with your review, it showed me what others' ears might have gravitated towards and that's usually a hard thing to figure out on my own. I don't just want to make music that I think my friends and people I admire will like, but I also want my music to reach people who I'd never dream of getting to know. Basically, what I'm saying it this, I have to come to terms with the fact that what I think sounds cool isn't always going to resonate with everyone in the same way. Again, really REALLY appreciate these reviews, it means a whole lot to me!

[endK - Gotta Go Blast!]

Catchy beats and fun sound design as usual, EndK. I like the low slap bass at :14 and the synth brass melodies at :27. The piano fill at :38 was a nice touch, too. I think you could’ve potentially done more with the drums, but my main complaint in the piece is that it just doesn’t feel structurally complete. There’s a dense texture rife with killer melodies, energy, and funky syncopations during the first 52 seconds of the piece, and then the ‘B’ theme and its variations dominate the rest of the piece, giving the overarching structure an awkward AB arrangement that doesn’t really allow you to develop and expand on some of the strong melodic themes you introduced earlier in the piece. Maybe that seems like a bit of an over-specific complaint, but I think that’s a missed opportunity at the very least. Still, the mixing is really strong, the melodies and instruments are fantastic, and it’s easily a piece that’s stuck in my head. Solid work overall, EndK! I just wanted to hear a final refrain that hit this piece home. :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
Melody, tonality, harmony, and texture
2/2
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?)
1/1
Composite score
9/10

endKmusic responds:

Your review is totally right if you're looking at this piece as a 'could-be-full-length-song'.
From that perspective it sure is, as you said, 'awkward AB arrangement'.
But as I said in the description, I tried to make trailer-like music for 2 opposite things.
There wasn't meant to be a wrap up, eventhough I could've done it (if I had more time / ideas / etc.)
As always, I'm really grateful for your detailed review!
It sure makes me wonder of how would it sound if it really was one unique full-length wrapped up idea.
Thanks TL! :)

[Lost Joy]

I like the waltzy vibe at the beginning (although I suppose any piano piece in ¾ sounds waltzy to me). The melodies sound both melancholic and cutesy, but by :18 the texture has much more of a structurally flat quality that emphasizes the melancholic part. The chords themselves are a colorful variety of major and minor, which makes me think that this piece is fundamentally about joy or memories of joy, even if that joy is presently lost. I also like the heavy low chords at :28. They really add a sense of urgency to profoundness to an otherwise mellow section of the piece. The clashing notes at :31 work well for me, too. I’m really enjoying the dichotomous character of the piece, even if I wish the angry, inward parts and the light, graceful surface were integrated a bit more fluidly at times. I also think the chord at :39 was played just a tad too loudly, even if that’s a miniscule detail. You did a really good of guiding the listener’s expectations with the gradual ritardando there and then the rich chords at :50. The violin entrance at 1:02 was rather unexpected, although it certainly fits the somber, evocative mood of the piece. I think the violin would’ve been more effective if the solo was longer there. Everything about this piece seems so short-lived and fleeting. Maybe that’s the point given the subject of the thematic content, but I wanted you to explore the ruefulness inherent in the violin solo a bit more. Still, the content that’s here is still really enjoyable. The composition might need some more fleshing out, but the emotional piano and violin riffs and fun jazzy filler content do a lot for me in a mere 95 seconds. Keep it up, Everratic! ^^ Also, if you ever need someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to message me.

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
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
8.75/10

Everratic responds:

I'm having trouble understanding your criticism. Let's talk about it another time.

Thank you for the review and support!

[My Meandering Mind]

I like the tasteful ascending roll at the beginning and the bouncy feel of the texture. The rhythm is a little hard-to-follow at times, with some very sudden changes in emphasis starting at :11. I like the more contained sound at :36 and how you quickly open it up with the bluesy bass line at :45, and the cadence at 1:05 cements the blues theme for me. The pause at 1:07 was a bit long, although it also did a good job of predicting the more downtempo section that followed. I like the gradual increase in energy level until 1:32, and the frantic doodling there sounded rather impressive. I like the wonky, refreshing vibe at 2:13, but by 2:43 I’m starting to feel that the piece resets itself a bit too much to really come together how I want it to. The final phrase at 2:58 is nice regardless, and I think the slight ritardando and jack-knife descending scale there really sell the conclusion. Overall, you took a lot of risks with this piece, many of which paid off wonderfully, but some of the more dramatic transitory moments are still going to take some getting used to for me. Still, I applaud your exploring a new genre, and given the piano’s rich tone and good balance of frequencies it’s hard to complain about the sound design or mixing either. Nice work, Ale! Keep it up. ^_^

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
1/1.5
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
9.25/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

I must apologise for the very late reply! I've been fairly busy in my own life, and much of the free time I've had I've tried to dedicate towards composing and the like. Now that the NGADM is nearing its end, I find I have a little bit more time to dedicate to other things too, which is nice. So I am trying to get back to people I haven't been very good at responding to in a timely manner. Here we go!

As you noted in your review, jazz isn't a genre I typically compose in, although I've dabbled with it here and there. For this piece, I just wanted to see what I could do if I tried to make a full-length piano composition with a jazzy style in mind. In this specific instance, it ended up becoming a little jazzical. It was fun to play! When composing, I spent faaar to much time making and learning the part at 1:32. I had to practice for hours on just that short part, because of the speed and complex finger placement. Not the smartest decision for a competition like this, but I'm glad it worked out in the end, and I'm happy with the sound. I suppose I ended up making my final piece even more difficult to play, though, looking back at this :p

I understand that parts of the structure and progression can be a little bit wonky, since I was quite experimental with this piece. I am glad that you enjoyed it anyway, and thank you for the high score!
I hope you're doing well :)