Neon-Bard's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[FD - Moontears]

NGADM Round 2 Review

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As per usual, you continue to place me in a state of awe ForgottenDawn. You have the uncanny ability to produce the most unbelievably mystical, atmospheric, and imaginative tracks. I must admit that the title of the track was the first thing to open my imagination. After hearing some subtleties, I decided to turn up my volume a little. I can tell you that I was quite amazed by the different elements of detail you have sprinkled throughout this track. In fact, it was a little disturbing. These little details seem to transcend the idea of fundamental perception and they appeal to something of a primal nature. The 'cinematic' portion of the song was beautiful. I keep getting so many different images of despair and of mystery and mostly of the unknown...the theme could be interpreted in so many ways it seems. The mixing was superb.

While I enjoyed the message, themes, and atmospheric qualities of the track (wholeheartedly, might I add) I wish there was more to the 'instrumental' section of the song. The strings brought about raw emotion, and they do so quite easily, but I just feel as if there wasn't enough. I understand what your aim was, but just a little more detailing with the instruments would have been wonderful.

The track, in its entirety, is so solemn and full of atmosphere that is makes you realize that music is not all about pure melody and composition. Sometimes it is the message and emotion that matter most. Well done, my friend. :)

Score: 8.75/10

ForgottenDawn responds:

Thank you for your kind words. I really have nothing else to add to what you said, other than the fact I try to explore different realms of sound every time, as my imagination can't be confined to just one particular view or emotion. Thanks again. :)

[GM - Dragon Of The South]

NGADM Round 2 Review

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Interesting title! To me, the introduction screams Iron Maiden. Anyway, this is a fantastic piece and I think it is a solid representation of what instrumental metal music is all about. Your skill with a guitar is excellent, I am certainly envious of your ability to play with such prowess. There is so much variation going on in this piece that it is astounding, not one section of the track sounds like the other. I really like how you have incorporated the strings into the latter half of the song, they fit incredibly well. Going back to the guitar, it sounds amazingly clear and every note rings with absolute precision and pitch.

Unfortunately, the mixing could use some work. I loved the addition of the strings, but they held very little power or presence in the song. The same could be said for the bass, too. However, the guitar and percussion seemed to enjoy a comfortable balance in terms of mixing. The conclusion was kind of anticlimactic. I was awaiting a tremendous conclusion, but was greeted with a mellowed trailing of the guitar and strings. Based on the rest of the song, it was like day and night. Other than these nuances, I could find little to nitpick over haha!

Love the song, would love to hear more stuff like this. I am looking forward to your next track! :)

Score: 8.5/10

InYourDreams responds:

Hey Thanks! I'm glad you like it and I hope not to disappoint you later ^_^.
Yeah, I also think my mixing needs some practice as well... My main mixing monitors are some 100 bucks Samson with 2.5' speakers and 1' tweeter. That makes them really crapy for mixing bass... And with the deadlines, it's dificult to find the time to hear my mix in other speakers for comparison before the judging face starts.
But I try my best and I'll get in time :)... at least I hope so

[Evolution]

NGADM Round 2 Review

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I love the mellow vibes that this track gives off! The introduction is quite interesting and to be honest, there were times when I thought I was actually listening to an early rendition of a Metallica song. The 'mellow' levels go off the charts after 3:47 and the addition of the strings was a nice touch. Great job with the mixing by the way, everything is clean and clear and nothing sounds muddled.

The biggest flaw in this track was not about the mixing, progression, or anything of that nature but instead its generic sound. Don't get me wrong, the track was great and I did enjoy listening to the song, but it does have a generic sound; I feel like I have heard it before. There is some repetition due to the choice of similar chords, but nothing too drastic. The transitions, as others have mentioned, lack substance. It is during these transitions that you could have taken time to pull out some more fantastic harmonic work or even added additional strings.

Overall, I enjoyed listening to this track...but I think there is potential for more here, you certainly have the skill. Keep working at it man! :)

Score: 8/10

Metallica1136 responds:

Thanks! Yeah, for this song, I wanted to try something more mellow. Glad you noticed the strings in that one part. I'm really happy to hear from a judge that the mixing is perfect. :) This song probably does have some of my cleanest mixing ever. Yeah, I do agree though, this might not be the most original piece of music. I'm thinking about making another song with a similiar style, but with better transitions, more harmony, and more use of strings. But, I'm really really happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for your review man!

[Ling Kano's Fighting Show]

SourJovis:

NGADM Round 2 Review

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I think you have perfectly captured the atmosphere of a fighting show/game, especially that of an older series. That 90's anime-esque feeling that this track gives off is superb. The introduction is solid and I love the subtle and light choir queues that just float about, they really add an additional layer to the track as a whole. I loved that transition around 1:20, this portion of the track has such a mysterious air about it; I love it! The mixing for this track is well done for the most part.

I will reiterate several things that Skye and Step have mentioned. The bass: while the bass-line itself is impressive, the bass practically sits in the background of the song and so the listener cannot clearly make out the notes due to the volume and overall mixing of the instrument. The guitar: the lead guitar riff is catchy but repetitive, by adding some extra notes here and there or altering the note progression, the riff would become far less cumbersome. The general sound quality of the instruments does not really bother me because I believe that you were aiming for that more 'retro' sound, yes?

I have one lingering question though...what was that distorted sound that can be heard at the last few seconds of the song? It almost sounds like a voice in my left ear...is this an effect or an attribute to the show? I am just curious.

Great track and an interesting concept for a song. I'll have to check out “Ling Kano's Fighting Show”. :)

Score: 8/10

SourJovis responds:

Didn't expect to get another review from the judges. Thanks. I've already uploaded a newer version of this song where I made some adaptations of things people commented on. Mainly the things Step and Skye mentioned. It's called L Kano's Fighting Show S2. I will change some of the guitar notes there to make it more varied. Good idea. The part at the ending is a voice singing. It's a hidden message.

[~Echo~ Surreal (NGADM'13]

NGADM Round 1 review.

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Fantastic stuff going on right here. What an introduction! You hit all the right notes with the piano, and the sub comes in at just the right moment to blend in. In fact, all of the sounds end up blending together in a dreamlike way. In fact, that's the best way to describe this song: dreamlike. It really comes as no surprise either with a title like “Surreal”. I love how you keep building the song, as it keeps the listener attentive and willing to hear more. The way you build the chip percussion is just awesome. After 3:13 the song really breaks out, though everything prior was just as enjoyable to listen to. You made a wise choice in 'closing by return' with the piano and the snappy synth, it worked wonderfully! The overall production quality was great.

While I loved the introduction, the piano is drenched in reverb. I have heard a number of trance songs that use this technique for creating an atmosphere, and while it works, it is quite generic. Too much of an atmosphere can result in emptiness, something this song seems to suffer from at times (such as after 1:50 as Step has stated). This song gradually changes and it never becomes stagnant, but it is overly repetitious (though catchy).

Great track, great production quality, and ultimately catchy. Everything you could ask for in a trance song. Well done! :)

Score: 8.25/10

[Journey to the Edge]

NGADM Round 1 review.

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Marvelous track! Each section has its own feel to it, and each is represented by a unique atmosphere that tells a tale of adventure. The first section of the song builds wonderfully, and the choirs add that nice touch of heroism and magnificence. The second section is graceful and charming and sounds like something out of a Final Fantasy game (awesome). The third and final section is daunting and makes the listener wonder what lies beyond the more distressing sound of this particular movement. I must say that I honestly can't get over the fact that you arranged and mixed this piece with laptop speakers. Laptop speakers. You definitely were able to make the best out of a bad situation, and I really respect that!

The sound quality and 'dryness' of the instruments is one of the things that holds this piece back. However, I understand that you were in a bind and had to work with what you could conjure up! I think we all have been there, am I right? While the sound quality and mixing could have been better, the biggest issue with this piece is that there are three different sections. I did enjoy each section separately, but when they are all combined together into one song it makes for a slightly confusing listening experience (at least in some ways). I can see what you were aiming for, but the short break between the first and second section creates a disconnection concerning the movement of the piece. I started to get into the heroic section/theme only to be transported into a world of mystery and intrigue, without any real transition, you know? Regardless, the sections all match - both thematically and musically (especially when you consider the title).

The composition as a whole is worth listening to, and with a few adjustments here and there, I'm sure this piece could be something extraordinary! Perhaps when EWQL starts behaving, you could do a quick rendition of this piece? I would love to hear it! :)

Score: 8/10

WingoWinston responds:

Thanks! Listening to the piece a few times I do here the dryness, and I definitely heard it when I submitted the piece too. With some extraneous work I probably could have made the Garritan VST sound a little more full but with EWQL it would have been much easier. The Laptop Speakers... they are at least stereo now compared to my last one which had a mono speaker (a 2011 laptop with a damned mono speaker!).

I think my next step will be to buy a really nice pair of headphones and get my EWQL back. Then I'll consider making this song with possibly better transitions along with better sounds. Also a new roommate has moved in with a 1000W surround sound. That will also some in handy.

Cheers,

Winston

[Follow that car!]

NGADM Round 1 review.

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Catchy, catchy, catchy. I was tapping my foot throughout the entire song. It was incredibly easy to visualize something along with this piece. Personally, I had an old-fashioned black and white cops n' robbers scene running in my head: a hard-headed detective chasing after a diamond robber, or something crazy like that! I love the stylish, jazzy qualities this song has, most of which are brought out by that smooth saxophone and those perfectly balanced drums (which were mixed excellently by the way). These particular instruments bring out such great suspense and action, especially when accompanied with those mysterious string periods (1:19 – 1:40).

I was not overly fond of the guitar...It just didn't sit well with me. Not the actual guitar notes, mind you, but just in the sound quality. It really broke the immersion of this 'high-speed chase' scene that I had running through my head while listening to this track. All in all though, the guitar was still a great addition to the song due to its edginess. The conclusion was solid, and I loved how you carefully wrapped everything up with those strings... However, it felt like something was lacking. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I do think that a quick piano or sax melody would have worked perfectly.

This was so much fun to listen to! It was one of the few songs that happened to capture my imagination. Keep it up! :)

Score: 8.25/10

acmeDyne responds:

I used almost all my mixing time on the drums (my submission last year had crappy drums on it and I was determined to do better this time). The distorted guitar track was really meant to be just a placeholder until I did the horns. My plan was to redo it with more of a "James Bond/ surf" style sound, but with the deadline looming (after a shameful amount of procrastination) I had to leave it.
Thank you very much for the nice review!

[[NGADM]Variable]

NGADM Round 1 review.

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Whoa! Now this is an interesting piece, let me tell you. Everything sounds so whimsically delightful and free-spirited, I love it! This song makes me happy and it really reminds me of an old, classic RPG credits track (that's awesome)! The way you introduce the song with the soft strings and classy bass is charming. Then when you bring in that flute, the charming feeling becomes enchanting. When you come in with the brass and keep building everything up, it really makes listening to this track an enjoyable experience. The saxophone solos are tight and they fit incredibly well with the backing instruments and rhythm. My absolute favourite part of the song is at 1:34. Man, everything just works so well here! The lighthearted and uplifting portion at 1:49 is outstanding. I would have loved to hear more of this in the track!

The amount of detail in this track is impressive, though if there is one thing that I think needs some work, it would have to be the mixing. There are certain instruments, such as the drum kit and saxophone, which can sound rather drab at times. With a touch of reverb, these instruments would develop more realistically as the song goes on. As others have mentioned, the instruments could be of a better quality. Ultimately though, you can only work with what you have. Last but not least, while you had a plethora of variety, I think there was too much of an emphasis on brass in this piece.

It is evident that you put a lot of work into this piece, and for that I really respect both you and this piece. Well done! :)

Score: 8/10

Nimble responds:

In the composition part of this piece, i did try to give each section their own time to shine. maybe it's because i'm a brass player though :P

The mixing i completely understand, as i'm still learning how to mix, I don't always end up with what sounds good across many set-ups, mostly only my own. I need to obtain a better set-up(I have the monitors for it, just need the cables) and start putting more time into the mixing part of every track. Thanks for reviewing, I like the fact that you liked the variety :)