Neon-Bard's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[[IV]Mokosz]

This is a NGADM Round 2 Review.

-----

Good:
- Fantastic sound design.
- Great composition.
- Nice blend of instruments (electronic/orchestral/ethnic)!
- Good mix, super production value overall.

Wow. This is such a great piece! I really enjoyed listening to this one, Iglica. There is a beautiful blend of the electronic and the orchestral here...and then you threw in those ethnic/world elements. I was completely sold on the piece within the first 30 seconds. Your sound design work is awe-inspiring, and I'll be outright in saying that I am heavily inspired to write something now because of this track. Honestly, I could go on and on about why this piece is great. It is so understated, yet it has this humongous appeal because of that characteristic. Fantastic.

What to consider:
- The conclusion was a little disappointing.
- There's some room for dynamic improvement.

Honestly, my biggest gripe is that the song ended too soon (at least it seemed so) and that its conclusion was a little underwhelming. However, considering that the rest of the song has a 'subtle' sound to it, this didn't bother me a whole lot, and so I essentially let it slide haha!

What an exceptional track; one of my favourites throughout this year's NGADM.

Score: 9.5/10

[No Hope in the Horizon]

This is a NGADM Round 2 Review.

-----

Good:
- Very pretty, bright piece.
- Excellent mood and atmosphere.
- Memorable.

Definitely a memorable piece due to the moody, yet ultimately bright keys that are played in a very fluid-like fashion. The overall atmosphere and mood are well developed, and I think this is due to the
nature pace that you set, and of the dynamics that you've incorporated in order to bring this track to life!

What to consider:
- A little too short.
- I feel as if this piece could have been a tad slower.

Okay, it's already been said, but this is just way too short based on the ideas that you've implemented here. I can only imagine where you would have gone with this, which is a shame because I think there are further chapters to this story to tell. Now, this is a REAL nitpick, and I say that because it's just my opinion on how the track could have sounded better, but I think that if the tempo was just a little slower, this entire track would have far more emotional impact. With a piano piece like this, emotional depth is really quite important! Anyway, not a huge issue and it's definitely a taste thing. :)

Wonderful track, I'd love to hear more in this style. Keep it up!

Score: 8.6/10

[~Echo~ Understated (Instrumental WIP)]

This is a NGADM Round 2 Review.

-----

Good:
- The atmosphere is incredible.
- Nice, laid-back beat.
- Awesome sound texture.

Very nice, relaxing beat that you've WIP'd up. Yep, this is definitely a work-in-progress, there's no doubt about it. I won't focus on that a whole lot though. What you have created is a nice, short, and extremely laid-back track that has a ton of atmosphere. That short vocal sample added a lot of texture in the first 10 seconds alone, and I think you probably could have implemented more samples. I loved the soft piano that you added (something else I would have liked to hear more of). The stuttered kick was a really nice touch, too!

What to consider:
- 'Tis too short!
- Lacking progression.
- Conclusion is lacking, it just stops out of nowhere.
- The melodies, while good, are missing that...je ne sais quoi...

While this is a nice track, it is far too short. The ideas that you begin with could have easily been fleshed out and developed beyond where they currently stand. On top of that, the track just kind of...ends. It breaks the immersion. Honestly, those two things are my biggest gripes with this track. A small detail that I can't quite put my finger on, is that the melodies are lacking something. I'm not exactly sure what, but I can say that I agree with johnfn when he says that they aren't evocative enough. Yeah, perhaps that is it!

A nice track, though I would have liked to hear more! :)

Score: 8.5/10

[Modern Day Mafia]

This is a NGADM Round 2 Review.

-----

Good:
- Interesting blend of instruments!
- Nice interplay between the guitar and flute.

You've created a very unique feel to this track by combining instruments that generally aren't combined stylistically. The sax definitely gives the song its overarching mood (and is related back to the title), which is pretty neat. The way you incorporate the guitar and the flute is interesting, too. They often play off of each other!

What to consider:
- Too many ideas at play = clutter.
- The mix needs some TLC.
- The part at 2:18 seems out of place.
- The conclusion is a little lacking.

I think the biggest issue with this track is that you tried to incorporate too many ideas! There are notes flying all over the place, and while there is a general sense of musical direction happening here, it isn't quite as comprehensive as it could be (pertaining to overall composition). I think it would be better to focus on fewer instruments, or at least use each instrument sparingly so they each have some time to shine (as opposed to having them all play at once).

This brings me to my next point: the mix sounds quite cluttered at times. The drums are drowned out by the other instruments, the guitar seems very dry, as does the flute. I think that a touch of reverb on the instruments (the sax and flute in particular) would really help them along. Furthermore, the track could use more dynamics! By adjusting the velocity of your notes, you can create a greater sense of realism. Also, by playing with instrument levels, you can determine which instrument should take a bow, and which should play in the spotlight for a time. Those are just some examples.

Finally, the conclusion sounds as if it is from a different track altogether. It doesn't sound bad by any means, but it just makes for an odd ending when compared to the rest of the track, you know?

It was really nice to hear something different amidst the other genres, and I think with some polish and work on song structure, this track would really be on its way. Keep at it, frootza! :)

Score: 7/10

frootza responds:

Thats trumpet, muted lol. Yeah I do get wild with melodic counterpoint. It's a live arrangement so that's just how we play it now meh haha. As I mentioned to Step my mixing is very embarrassing nowadays I wish I could brush up on my skills there a bit.

But as far as the arrangement itself goes just remember that everythings links into each other rhythmically and melodically. It is probably a challenge for a lot of folks to focus on what is going on, but also understandanle for most people to prefer a simplified approach. Thanks for the review Neon! 9 years gigging and counting I don't plan on stoppin'

[Unsung Hero]

This is a NGADM Round 2 Review.

-----

Good:
- Perfect blend of orchestral and rock!
- Wonderful melodies, excellent composition overall.
- Chromatic percussion & piano! +++
- Excellent guitar playing!
- Strings were implemented well.
- Good mix.

First off, awesome tip of the hat to Samwise! Love it. Anyway, what can I say? This track is epic, it's just plain awesome. The melodic work is spot-on. Everything blends wonderfully. Like Stunkel, I thought this was going to be something straight out of some RPG title or another (it definitely would be suited to that)! For each transition, I was eager to see where the song would take me next. The key word here is eager. When a piece of music draws you in and interests you in a real way, that's a sure sign of a well-structured, well-written track. By the way, I loved the part at 2:32...gosh, it's so great!

What to consider:
- Some transitions could be smoother.
- A good mix overall, though some things fall short (portions of the drums, the chromatic percussion, strings, etc.)

Some of those transitions are a little jarring, 1:23 comes to mind! It seems everyone had something to say about them, so I won't blab on about it. As I've stated, the mix is great, but there were times when certain instruments were washed away by the guitar, or even the strings. At 2:32, I feel as if the piano should take precedence over the strings. That's just my opinion, though! :)

A job well done, and then some. Can't wait to see what's next, you guys!

Score: 9/10

bassfiddlejones responds:

Samwise never gets the spotlight! haha, thanks for the review man, we put some hard work into this. I agree with your critiques, our hope is that we get better as this goes on. The part at 2:32 is my favorite as well :D Thanks again for the review!

[Dark n' Damp]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

-----

Good:
- What an introduction! So warm and calming.
- Great use of both the acoustic and electric guitars.
- Loved the outdoors sounds and effects.
- Nice composition, nice atmosphere.

This, in my opinion, is your best track. I love tracks that have a solid atmosphere. This track definitely has that quality about it, an immersive feeling, if you will. The instruments work tremendously together; the bass and drums reflect the mood, the guitar soothes the ears, and everything just flows. On top of that, you have implemented the sounds of a calm night. Nicely done! At 2:46, I was pleasantly surprised by those whistling sounds -- they really help keep things going in terms of the mood and story. To be honest, I preferred the first half of the track. However, the grittier, metal stuff, sounds clean and is well implemented!

What to consider:
- Vocals sit in the mix a little oddly.
- The vocals were a great addition, but they also seemed out of place.
- The snare is a tad dry, especially during the beginning.

My biggest gripe were the vocals, and the more I listen the more they grow on me. There's just something about it that I feel doesn't quite fit with the mood and atmosphere with the song. It seems that they are sitting in an odd space in the mix. It would have been cool if they were dipped in a little more reverb and bounced around the stereo image to accentuate the idea of being in (or just entering) a cave. Also, the drums at times seemed a little dry. Nothing too serious, but it often break the immersion.

Really wicked job, keep at it! :D

Score: 8.6/10

[Zen]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

-----

Good:
- Awesome guitar playing.
- Excellent melodic content.
- Great mix!
- Made me move!

I feel like it has become a cop-out to say that your guitar playing is fantastic...but hey, it IS! You are right in saying that this is some of your best playing to date. The melodies here are all-in, relentless, and darn catchy, too! The mix is great, though I will point out (just like everyone else it seems) something about the drums below. I can't seem to find the words to describe how energetic this track is. Just an awesome job!

What to consider:
- No real break of relief at all.
- The drums and bass seem 'deadened' during the solos.

I felt as if after listening to the track for almost 5 minutes, there should have been some from of a break, some silence, something to give the ears a short rest, even just for a moment. Some time to pause and take it in would have been awesome and would have worked wonders! Otherwise, a pretty small nitpick on my part, but it seemed that during your solos, the drums became drowned out. The same could be said about the bass (prior to your edit). Not a huge issue, all the same.

Keep on rockin', dude! :)

Score: 8.9/10

[Son of Beach (NGADM '15)]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

-----

Good:
- Holy moly, that guitar work is wild!
- Super energetic introduction.
- Great transitions.
- 1:00, 1:58 and 2:41 -- LOVED these parts!

Silky smooth guitar playing as always, JDawg. I love the energy that this track has! As mentioned above, I loved the transitions and I LOVED those riffs at 1:00 and 1:58. Furthermore, the break (which was much needed by 2:41) was excellent.

What to consider:
- Drums stand out in the mix
- Not enough rests; more breaks, please!
- Repetitious...

As pointed out by others, the drums stick out quite a bit! As with your Round 1 track, there could have been a more effective use of reliefs in order to break the song up and give the ears of the listener a rest. 2:41 sounds perfect where it sits, and another break in the earlier part of the track would have been great! Again, the track is a little repetitive. I won't drag on about that though!

Great track, I must say that I really enjoyed listening to it. Well done!

Score: 8.8/10

[Codename: Michael J Fox (NGADM '15)]

This is a NGADM Round 1 Review.

-----

Good:
- Love the guitar/synth blending.
- Great riffs, good structuring overall.
- Excellent use of the break/relief!
- Great for everyday listening OR for use in any form of media.

Oh yeah! This blending of the guitar and synth really appeals to my ears! You implement both skillfully, and the riffs and scaling are put to good use here. The break (2:25) was placed perfectly, and honestly, I would have loved to hear a relief in the first half of the track, too. On top of all of this, I think this is a track that would be suited to pretty anything (games, film, TV, casual listening). It is pretty rare for a piece of music in this style to have that characteristic.

What to consider:
- A little repetitious.
- Some mixing issues here and there.
- Conclusion was cut just a few seconds too short.

Yep, the track is a little repetitive. It isn't repetitive to the point where I became bored while listening, but the same riff is utilized with minimal differences just one too many times. There are some mixing quirks that can be heard around the song, but nothing that really stood out a whole lot. The drums could have used some more 'punch' and the there are few times where I felt like the bass didn't hold much power in the track. The conclusion was sounding great, everything was coming together and winding down...and then it stops just short of where it FELT like it should have.

Excellent stuff, keep it up!

Score: 7.9/10