TaintedLogic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[From the Dust You Whisper]

I like the murky atmosphere at the beginning, the vocals in the background, and the gritty industrial-sounding effects that fade in and out. The percussion is cool too, and I like the synth riffs at :48. The texture takes a while to come together, but the ominous mood and atmosphere help keep me engaged. I liked when the beat fell away at 1:38, and the synth arpeggios and airy vibe at 1:50 adds to the sense of intrigue and suspense here. The vocals at 2:18 are really nice, although I’m beginning to lose a sense of cohesion in the structure by this point. The guitar solo towards the end is pretty sweet, and helped give the piece a sort of harmonic dynamism that it was otherwise lacking imo. I still think you could’ve done a tad more to resolve the underlying tension of the piece here, and I’m sure you can anticipate my criticism of the hasty ending. :) Still, I have absolutely no complaints with the mixing, sound design, or atmosphere. I think you nailed the mood and flow of this piece. The piece has a good sense of shape, too, but I think you were still playing it a bit safe with elements of the harmonic content. Overall, though, solid work here, Phonometrologist! 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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.25/10

Phonometrologist responds:

Well I cannot say that I disagree with any of it. I appreciate the review as it is all reassuring. This piece still feels a bit odd to me whereas it doesn't quite finish with the same energy as the first minute and a half of the piece. But it has its own character and I've accepted the piece for what it is.
Regarding the harmonic content and "playing it safe." You're probably right. What was on my mind in creating it was making sure I showcase the sample library so it can be used as a demo. Sound design, mixing, and the percussion were the main focus, and the harmonic content wasn't anything I really tried exploring. I'd much rather write a piece that offers something deep and meaningful in terms of the harmonic and melodic content, but this often requires a lot of time interacting and listening to a piece of music to explore its secrets. The theory aspect of music is like a religious experience for me where each individual note plays an important role in finding the next one. I simply couldn't do it here as this was more of an exercise in writing to a specific deadline.

[Osaka beatdown]

I like the energy at the beginning and the generous dose of hi-hats. The airy synths at :26 are nice, but the lead riff at :40 sounds pretty harmonically different, and a lot of this piece doesn’t have much harmonic depth. The bell-like harmonies at 1:04 even make the texture sound a bit atonal. The drop at 1:30 is pretty cool, albeit pretty minimal, and I am enjoying the high production quality here. The vocal samples at 1:56 are fun, and overall I’m really liking the rhythmic content and flavor of the piece too. The transition at 2:22 could’ve been smoother. The fade-in approach into that new piano riff doesn’t really work given the differing harmonic frameworks between the two sections. My favorite part of the piece is probably 4:05, but the transition into that section could’ve been a bit smoother. Overall, you’re clearly a talented producer with a great sense of rhythm, sound design, and atmosphere creation. That said, the arrangement is pretty choppy here, and the harmonic content doesn’t always sound coherent. Still, solid work with the mixing, energy, and catchiness. Keep at it, KayozKun! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
2/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.75/1.5
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
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.25/1
Composite score
7/10

KayozKun responds:

Thank you so much ^^

[Obelisk]

I like the pensive atmosphere at the beginning and the sound design. The progression is a little slow-paced at first, but I really like it when the texture comes together more at :46, even if the transition there could’ve been a tad more gradual. The energetic section at 1:20 also works well, and I liked the modulation at 1:40. The mellow section at 2:19 was smooth, and I liked the re-introduction of the energy at 3:29. You guys really like key changes, wow. While key changes this conspicuous during a climactic section should generally be used sparingly, I like how you foreshadow them slightly before the transitional moment itself. I also like the rhythmic details towards the end (like at 4:52). Overall, my one major complaint here is probably the somewhat choppy arrangement. Still, great job with the production, sound design, mood, and melodies! Keep it up, guys. ^_^

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?)
.75/1
Composite score
9.25/10

tailspun responds:

big thanks for consistently reviewing so many peoples' tracks, helps so much to get a second opinion (-:

[Arrival of Hope]

I like the emotional quality of the string drone and the pensive piano octave-based riff at the beginning. The sharp percussion at :18 is nice, and the gradual fade-in of the string riffs at :15 is a valuable addition to the texture too. The more melodic content at :42 works well, although the progression of the piece feels a tad drawn-out sometimes. I liked the climactic section at 1:07, although after a while I think you start to overuse the stop-start transitions here. You could probably get more emotional appeal out of these moments of arrival (like 1:07 and 2:11) with some more gradual transitions. Still, I like the short breakdown in between the climactic sections and the added vocal layering (subtle though it was) at 2:11. The strongest elements of this piece are probably the sound design and production quality. I also really like how you used the percussion here. Keep at it, AceMantra! :)

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
1.25/1.5
Originality and uniqueness
.75/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
9/10

AceMantra responds:

Thanks for your detailed review! I bet you have the review process down to a science now. XD

I see you've noticed some of my composing habits. I'm a bit of a sucker for long intros and progressions. As for the stop-start transitions I would have to agree with you.

While composing habits aren't necessarily bad, they can sometimes limit the growth of a musician. So thank you for pointing those out, and be prepared for something new next time. :)

[Versus]

Hey man! Sorry for the slow response. I was doing some judging for a contest, so I had to prioritize that.

I like the vocal samples at the beginning and the kinda eerie ambiance. I don't speak French, so before I realized it was describing a boxing match I almost thought of a gladiator-like battle to the death. XD The beat at :11 has a groovy vibe with some quirky, fun sound design. The mix is loud and pretty clear, but the texture sounds a bit thin for long stretches of the piece. Sometimes, the vocals aren't as prominent in the mix as I'd like them to be. Perhaps you could try a bit more compression there. Also, the brass samples sound pretty fake. The mood changes pretty suddenly at the breakdown at 2:24, and that section doesn't have a strong sense of direction. I'm beginning to really like the mellow vibe the piece has later on, but I think you could've integrated a bit better with the gritty, busier beats from earlier. Still, there's some cool instrumentation, rhythmic content, and an engaging variety of moods here. Keep at it, Galicross! ^_^

GALICROSS responds:

thank you so much!! Your opinion is important for my next music.

I'm going to work on my mix and I'm going to put the text in English for the next reviews.

Good week

[CONSUME]

Belatedly fulfilling a review request. I like the quirky sound design at the beginning and the sense of build into :30. The murky texture at the drop is pretty cool, although the texture still feels pretty minimal. I like the rhythmic content and flavor of the piece, although the chord progression is a bit simplistic, and the harmonies lack depth for long stretches of the piece. The melodic flair at 1:35 is nice, but the riff there also doesn't feel very dynamic. The mixing here is rather good, although I would've liked to hear more higher-range frequencies in the texture at times. The glitchy content at around 2:30 is nice, but I also think the last half of the piece lacked a distinct climactic section to really hit the piece home. It almost sounds copy-pasted from the first half, and there isn't much of a proper outro either. Overall, nice job with the mixing, sound design, and progression here. There could be a bit more harmonic variety and textural fill here, but things stay engaging between the fun rhythmic content and quirky melodies. Keep at it, Larrynachos! ^_^

larrynachos responds:

I feel like the bulk of my time on this track was spent on sound design and EQ, so structure and flow suffer as per my usual lol. I'm content with this review

[Coarse Sand]

I like the ominous mood at the beginning. The gritty synths near the beginning are a bit cheesy, especially the bass, but I like the punchy drums and sense of build into :51. The production quality is really sharp, and the chopped vocals and grimy mid-range bass at around 1:40 hits the spot. The melodies during the breakdown at 2:13 were nice, and you did a nice job of transitioning back into the more energetic section at 2:53. The drum samples are a bit generic, but I like the middle eastern vibe of the harmonic content. You hit the piece home nicely with the dense rhythmic texture at around the 4-minute mark. The piece is dragged out a bit towards the end, and also cuts off a little suddenly without much of a proper outro. There were times when I thought you could've had more higher-register frequencies in the mix, but otherwise the texture sounds rich, full, and well-balanced. Nice work overall, Spadezer! This is a fun, catchy piece with some solid melodies and strong mixing. Good luck in the finals! ^^

Spadezer responds:

I'm always pleased to get a TaintedLogic review :)

Dang, even after spending some cheap money on cymatics percussion they still sound cheap lol. I'm curious where you think it could have had more higher frequency stuff. I also wonder if some of the lack of that is me somewhat unconsciously leaving space for the melodies too. I'm a little sad you thought it dragged out a bit, and I think I can see where you're talking about that. I've found lately I enjoy somewhat longer songs to groove along with the good moments more, so I think some of that is reflected here.

Otherwise, I'm really glad you enjoyed it! :)

[Uncharted Fog]

I like the spacey atmosphere at the beginning and the cute synth riffs. The bass at :23 is a little heavy, and I think the texture is missing some more legato elements (pads would be nice), but the melodies at :58 are really cute. I really like the somewhat melancholic feel of the piece at around 1:27 and the emotional quality of the synths there. At around the 2-minute mark, the harmonies trip over each other a bit, likely because of the delay effects. I think the part at 1:27 is rather minimalistic for such an extended section of the piece, and then the transition at 2:33 is a bit sudden. I think a lot of the last ⅔ or so of the piece is really languid and mellow, and might need a climactic section to give the piece a stronger sense of resolve. I really like the atmosphere and sound design here, and I think the mix is mostly well-balanced and clean, but the composition left a bit more to be desired here, especially in terms of harmonic depth and flow. Either way, I’d encourage you to keep working on this piece. It has a really nice emotional appeal in that it feels both cutesy and sad at the same time. Keep at it, Zechnition! :)

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
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
8.25/10

Zechnition responds:

Thank you for the detailed review! Very helpful suggestions! Hopefully I'l have some time to make a few changes.

[tempted by waves]

I like the cute riffs at the beginning. The instruments don’t sound very authentic, but I like the creative use of percussion and the warm, uplifting vibe. The transition at :32 is a bit sudden, and elements of the arrangement and rhythmic content seem a bit haphazard at times. I also think you could’ve done more to focus on the structuring here. It has a lot of distinct sections, but a very choppy arrangement and fast pace of progression. I’d suggest you try incorporating more gradual transitions that are driven by the harmonies. Also, don’t be afraid to add more repetition to keep your listener grounded. Right now, the piece doesn’t really sound structurally complete, but I still really like the mood, percussion, harmonies, and atmosphere. Keep at it, Wilidacious! :)

Mixing, mastering, and balance
1.75/2
Structure, transitions, phrasing, and variety
.5/1.5
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
1/1
Overall (how do the elements above interact?)
.75/1
Composite score
7.5/10

trevor8 responds:

Thanks!

[The Incredible Adventure]

I like the crisp strings at the beginning and the sense of anticipation in the texture. The horn melodies at :24 are great, and the quality of the samples here is rather good. The production quality is also rather strong, and I like how the song resets itself a bit at 1:01. I think this piece doesn’t have a lot of structural cohesion in the traditional sense, but you also do an excellent job of creating enough repetition between the low brass stabs and the return to the string riff at the beginning (in one of its many iterations) throughout the piece. The intensity of the choir at 2:58 is wonderful, and I’m amazed at how well the mix holds up at some of these busier sections. The extended section of relative calm at 3:30 was also a good idea, and I love the violin arpeggios at 3:45. Occasionally, I think there was a transition that could’ve been a tad smoother, like at 4:11. That said, I remain impressed with how flowing this piece is for such a musically diverse achievement. I also liked the male choir at the 5-minute mark and how their part gradually morphs from a cultic chant to a triumphant bleat. You did a wonderful job of winding the piece down at the end, too. Overall, this piece is every bit as incredible as the adventure, and I’ll look forward to seeing what you come up with in the Final Round! Keep up the good work, 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:

Thanks very much for the time you have efforted to create such a detailed and invidual feedback to everyone! You did very well in letting me know about the positive points and what still needs a bit of improvement. To be honest, I don't exactly know what I will come up with for the finals, I just have a rough concept in mind and I'm curious myself whether I can take my plans into action.