Step's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Facing the Foe]

This is an NGADM Round 2 Review

--

Oh man, the Final Fantasy vibes are strong here! I'm going to get this out of the way: the composition here is among my favourite from this whole round. You had an idea, a style, a mood, and you executed everything perfectly. The structure is rock solid, the transitions are all perfect, the instrumentation is fitting... In the composition department, this just excels. I also appreciated the more daring compositional nuances and ideas, like the various modulations, 1:29's totally unexpected Picardy third (that's echoed again at 1:56), and how you pulled off that INCREDIBLE loop with those really neat chord changes and organ fade-in. The intro is just a totally different key and tempo but you kept your cool and nailed it, which really impressed me.

I'm afraid that the production of the track is where you lost a couple of points, since its execution isn't even in the same league as the composition's. I think you've done pretty well for yourself, but a combination of somewhat poor mixing and a lack of more contrasting dynamics gives this a somewhat "held back" impression. A classic example of this is 2:33, where the music audibly rises in composition, but sonically, it remains at roughly the same level, leading to a very unsatisfying and anticlimactic aftertaste, as everything feels held back from what it could be. There's a lot of potential in this track that isn't realised.

I hope I've explained myself properly. While I was rooting for both you and Chrono (happens a lot at this stage of the NGADM haha) I do think you had the slightly better track. Excellent job, and good luck in this next round!

--

SCORE: 8.7/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Whoo!!!

Final Fantasy indeed. Definitely my main inspiration for this track, even if there are some other series which have great inspirational battle music in them as well.

The thing that is the most important to me, is that people enjoy the compositional aspect. I plan to gradually improve my mixing and production based skills, but I feel that when it comes to composition, I already have something going.
I'm glad that the style and structure is consistent this time as well. I think it helped that I was really in a flow when I made this.

I pretty much modulate automatically nowadays. I don't know why... I think I've always loved modulations of all kinds, and try to find ways to fit them in. They can also give a new feeling to every variation, as even if you hear the same track, but in a different key, it will sound different. Also, transitions somehow get so much more powerful with the right modulation!!

1:29 and 1:56 are nice catches. I felt that even though I wanted to keep the same rhythm and drive going throughout the track, it needed a few places where that structure is challenged, even if it's just for a moment. The same goes for 2:43.

That change in rhythm and tempo for the loop is really weird. I'm surprised myself that it works. The only reason I knew it would, is because for some reason it worked on the piano. I mean... It's such a weird transition o.O

And aah yes, the inevitable. The production is definitely lacking on the parts you mentioned, as well as in general. in a summary, I think what Geoplex said about the track lacking power, is the simplest way of putting it. Also, some points really fall a bit flat XD

I did the best I could for now, but I hope that in about 5 years, I might finally have an inkling of an idea of what I'm doing :p
I definitely agree that 2:33 is the best example, and the most unbalanced part of the mix. I'm impressed you heard the music rises in volume (but not sonically) though; if I didn't know, I totally wouldn't have noticed it. I fade out the percussion there, which shows just how much it adds to the frequencies it's prominent in, and how well the lack of it shows. That section definitely didn't even get close to having the effect I wanted it to have :D

Don't worry, you definitely explained yourself well. I was rooting for both Chrono and dem0 and myself as well, so I totally get that. I would probably simply lie down and die from judging, because I'd often end up rooting for both competitiors :)

Thanks a lot for the review, as well as for the high score, not to speak of organizing this whole thing!

[What Lies Beyond]

This is an NGADM Round 2 Review

--

ChronoNomad! You've recently undergone somewhat of a jazzy phase for the NGADM, considering that your last couple of NGADM tracks have leaned more towards the jazz side, and as much as I think you're hugely talented in that area, this is a (definitely welcome) reprise of the style that originally hooked me to your music. There's a certain sense of unwavering, steady flow in this piece that gives it its character. You effortlessly weave melodies from all sorts of instruments together with seamless transitions and transfer of the lead voice. It's a composition style that's not uncommon in RPGs, and like Geoplex it gives me enormous nostalgia for Runescape haha.

Now, my main problem with this is that it's extremely generic. Kidding, just wanted to get you worked up because I know you hate that word :p. I actually adore the style of this piece, even though it's nothing particularly new, since it's what gives it its likeable, RPG-esque charm. However, I absolutely think that you could've gone for a more dynamic approach here. It's a complaint I have for a lot of NGADM submissions and it's starting to make me think it's more personal bias than anything, but it's an opinion I still believe in strongly.

I feel like instead of taking us on a journey, as your description implies, you seem to lull around one particular spot, without exploring anywhere new (save for a slight hint of danger/tension at the end). On top of that, there's no melody the listener can really attach himself to. It feels more like an exercise of "question answer" between various instruments, and while it all flows very well and I respect that stylistic decision, it unfortunately doesn't do the song's memorability any favours. This is why, like Geoplex, I think this falls more under "starter village background music" than "magnificent, unforgettable journey soundtrack".

Despite that, I still love what you've done here, and feel like this could easily grace the soundtrack of any RPG. Wonderful work, and it's a shame to see you go!

--

SCORE: 8.6/10

ChronoNomad responds:

Steppeus Maximus! What can I say? I love getting NGADM reviews from you, man. Always have, always will. It must be because I hold your talent in such high esteem. You blushing yet? Good! On we go...

As you say, I had been enjoying a more Jazz-centric sort of experience recently, but I wanted to go back to those roots that so many are familiar with. Before I continue, I just have to say that I was really hoping to get a review from you on One of Those Days! Not that I didn't get some excellent feedback already, but yeah...figured it couldn't hurt to ask. :3 I really like that this one's giving folks such awesome nostalgia trips. Makes me wish that I'd played a bit of Runescape, myself...

Generic--!? Oh, you! Got a mind like a steel trap, you have. But yes, for some reason the g-word really bugs me...even if it happens to be true. I mean, it's just such a generic comment, don'cha know! ^__~ The fact that you really enjoy this style makes it all worthwhile, and I'll probably be making music of a similar ilk for a long, long time to come. Admittedly, I could have taken a more dynamic approach, but I'm not convinced that even doing that would have secured my spot when I'm up against the ball-busting tag team of LSDem0! And interestingly enough, I agree that it's really been the case with a lot of tracks in the NGADM. Funnily enough, while I tend to see such things so clearly in other people's work, I guess I'm just too close to my own. And maybe a bit too stubborn about some things...but I worry about how many changes from outside sources just end up taking away the instrinsic me-ness of the music. If I make too many compromises, I just don't feel like I'm being true to myself. Foolish pride, no doubt--but there it is.

Well, I suppose this actually turned out to be more like the music that plays as you prepare for such a wayward journey, as opposed to something that plays during the epic wanderings of an adventurous soul. Still an homage to wanderlust, but only a taste of the beginning. I'll be keeping the idea of a main theme in my mind going forward, and I appreciate that you respect the decision, but it nonetheless didn't do any favours to the composition. Apparently trying things out at crazy times is something that I excel at! But yes, ultimately this falls under the umbrella of "Hey, let's go on an adventure" as opposed to "Wow! This adventure is totally EPIC!"

Really happy to hear that you love the track despite its shortcomings, and all the awesome RPG comments are exceedingly well-received! Thanks so much for the opportunity. I'm sorry to go, and it's been a lot of fun, but I'm damn proud of everyone going on for being so filthy stinking talented. The bastards. :D

[No Hope in the Horizon]

This is an NGADM Round 2 Review

--

I always like it in the NGADM when matchups turn out to be sensible and the tracks in the matchup synergise with each other. SoundChris made a classical organ solo and here you are with a classical piano solo, and a very well-composed one at that. I love the generally apocalyptic and tense mood of this piece, but I also like how defiant you are to the style you established, adding in unexpected twists such as the soft intro or the awesome change to a happier major key at around 1:22. It's a track that's hard to forget and has neat and well-executed ideas.

The main reason I gave you a very slightly lower score than I gave SoundChris is because, while your listening experience is better paced, I feel, it's also short-lived! Just when you introduce an awesome new section and when you've really caught the listener's attention, the track ends. This is a huge shame because this could've very easily been fleshed out more. Given your apparent aptitude at changing moods in an ostensibly haphazard but oddly smooth fashion, I think you'd have had no problem developing this track further.

I also feel like the Alberti bass accompanying the track was too loud, and not really how a pianist should be playing it. The emphasis should be on the lowest note of the broken chord, while the others should be much more dampened. Your tempo changes and dynamics give this a realistic, humanised impression, but it's tainted by that little nitpick. Also, I feel like your piano is too bright. I would've liked a sample that sounded less harsh and bright.

Anyway, this is super solid composition and I enjoyed listening to it! While I'd say this track and SoundChris' are both compositionally strong, on the basis that his had more melodic content I gave him 0.1 more than you got. Hope my review helped, and thanks for participating.

--

SCORE: 8.3/10

NyxTheShield responds:

Thanks for the feedback and i am glad you enjoyed it, i really, really, and i mean, REALLY wanted to develop this further but i just couldn't (I faced an extremely sudden and harsh end of semester that left me with ZERO free time, i composed this in basically 2 hours with my Notebook's speakers while studying for an Assembly test hahaha) i will finish it though!! This weeked i will try tot ackle it and give it a proper ending.

Also, i didn't know what the hell was an Alberti bass, now i know it XD I am no pianist so some of this things kinda skip me, i try to sequence them in the most humanized way i can, i always supposed that the lowest note should be the "stronger" in that kind of arpegy, i will pay attention to it.

I like bright pianos </3 I think you would have enjoyed the sample without my equalization in fact! (It's EZKeys Grand Piano equalized with an M kind of shape, with enhanced bass and high frequencies)

Again, thanks for the review c:

[Zen]

This is an NGADM Round 2 Review

--

Damn, man. I think this has to be my favourite track from you. You certainly have me in awe right now. Those solos are no less than superhuman, especially starting at around 1:40. The melodies are also fantastic and memorable. I very much appreciated those subtle things like 1:26's solo starting similar to your main melody but then delving into new territory. Ultimately, what gave you an edge over your opponent (and over a lot of other contestants this round) was that this possesses a lot of wow factor. The guitar playing is just so damn good and there are wonderfully climactic tension releases like 3:40 that altogether make this track insanely impressive.

I have two main complaints. First is a small mixing issue. The drums get kinda drowned out during the more busy sections. Other than that, this is a phenomenal mix with a lot of clarity and some really neat use of reverb. The other complaint is that ending. You're doing a disservice to the huge and impressive nature of your track by ending it on a low note like that. Similar to what I said to bassfiddlejones, I would've certainly gone for a more bombastic ending.

I have nothing but nitpicks for this killer track. You've impressed the hell out of me. One of my favourites of the whole contest thus far for sure. Wonderful work!

--

SCORE: 9.7/10

PirateCrab responds:

12 years of guitar playing is paying off then ha!

Yep, drum mix was fixed with my most recent 'Past, Meet Present' mix (You might have to clear cache as it's reuploaded as of today) but everything's much more powerful now so thanks for pointing that out.

I'll have another look at the ending. Haven't got a clue how to end it other than that though!

Thanks for all the compliments and criticism! :)

[Son of Beach (NGADM '15)]

This is an NGADM Round 2 Review

--

To nobody's surprise, you've churned out another beast of a metal track. The one thing I want to get out of the way first is how well-executed I think this song is. Your guitar playing is spot on, the transitions are smooth as butter, and there's an excellent sense of rhythm in the riffs. You also take certain riffs and melodies and repeat them more than once, which is always a good idea as it gives the track a more cohesive, satisfying listening experience, rather than just a "shopping list of riffs", as I like to call it.

Your production, for the most part, is stellar. I especially liked how you mixed the guitars. I think there was a slight dip in mixing quality in the drums department, though. They're still suitably powerful without being too overpowering, but as someone below me said they feel rather detached from the rest of the track, mix-wise. I actually think the snare's the most guilty of this. That snare drum sounds a bit too much in the forefront compared to the rest of the instruments, and it leads to some snare-heavy sections being particularly tiring to the ear, such as the intro and 1:25.

In terms of arrangement, I think this has a solid structure and each part leads naturally to the next. However, I can't deny that the track started to get a bit disinteresting and monotonous at points. The break at 2:44 was a welcomed change, but I feel like the rest of the track wasn't melodically strong enough or texturally varied enough to fully keep the listener's attention.

That said, this is a super solid metal track. Thanks for taking part in another NGADM!

--

SCORE: 9.1/10

JDawg00100 responds:

Thanks for the review, it was a lot of fun!

[Unsung Hero]

This is an NGADM Round 2 Review

--

I usually write NGADM reviews in the order of the official pairings, but just this once I feel like making an exception because this was one of the standout tracks of the round and I have some stuff I've been itching to say about it. So, here we go!

The composition is tremendously good. Like, I am in awe here, listening to how effortlessly you command your melodies. This has some of the best composition I've heard in this competition so far - straightforward and catchy enough to appeal to casual listening, but with tons of juicy, more complex content such as the time signature changes and modulations. Your use of motif ties everything together beautifully, making for a truly epic listening experience.

Now for the issues I have with the track! First off, I have some mixing qualms. I think this is a really wonderful and full mix, but at the same time, I was bummed to hear parts where the different parts of the song just get drowned out, like 1:25 and towards the end. I also absolutely agree that the drums should be louder, particularly the snare and cymbals. I could feel a nice punch from the kick but I was hoping for more power in the other drum hits. Another small thing I feel like I should mention is that there's this resonant, shrill tone that plays at 1:34's section and I can't for the live of me figure out what it is, but it's driving my ear crazy haha.

Lastly, in the transitions department, while you had some really fantastic transitions like 0:21, you also had ones that you didn't quite sell me on. 2:07's transition could have been much better executed, I feel. The dissonance is rather off-putting, and rather than giving the intended effect of "hey, we're introducing the main melody again, so here's a cool buildup", it feels more like "I want to get back to the main melody again but I'm not really sure how", lol. I'd have chosen a different set of chords to pull off that transition. On a final note, the ending felt a bit underwhelming, given the huge and exciting demeanour of the track. I would have personally gone for something more bombastic.

I've spent more time complaining about the bad stuff than praising the good stuff, but I feel like criticism is more helpful to you than blind praise haha. I need to emphasise that this is a REALLY good track, and it got my second highest score of the round. Can't stress that enough. Brilliant job you two. I deeply look forward to what you'll cook up next.

--

SCORE: 9.6/10

bassfiddlejones responds:

Step! I'm glad you liked the track, we're working hard to keep up with this schedule D: I'm honored to make the top of your review list, and we will definitely use your critiques in the next round. THERE WILL BE DRUMS (maybe).... (Ok there will definitely be drums). And I think that the only thing at 1:34 is the guitar and a solo horn, I'm not sure what you are hearing.

As I mentioned in my reply to johnfn, we skimped a bit in the transitions department, which we will not do in this upcoming round. Already working hard, hope to kill it!

[Tenebrarius]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

--

You two are a real dream team. This is a prime example of good teamwork and collaboration. More often than not, collabs can come out disjointed or, perhaps, it might be obvious that the track was made by two people with different ideas, but in this case there's a very clear direction and a certain amount of cohesiveness that I have to commend you on. I love the general mood and atmosphere of the track, the badass intro and outro with the music box, and the overall production quality. This is excellent stuff.

In the composition department, I have a similar complaint to what stunkel said. I feel like the melodic content isn't nearly as creative or well-executed as the other aspects of the track, such as instrumentation and mood. While I got a kick out of listening to the action-packed, intense nature of the track, when it was over it left me with almost nothing to remember it by. This is precisely the kind of track which I think can benefit greatly from more significant usage of motif . On two smaller notes, I also agree that the drums, especially the bass drums/taikos could be louder, and I think the transition at 3:24 is slightly abrupt (might want to increase the length of the tail of that choir note, and perhaps fade it out a little. Could smoothen it up!).

Anyhow, congrats on getting one of the highest scores this round. It is absolutely well-deserved. And sorry for the late review!

--

SCORE:
9.2/10

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

No worries for being late! We already had two judge reviews, but it's almost an even greater pleasure to receive one you didn't expect :D

Working as a team has definitely been great for the both of us. Dem0lecule and I happen to be good at rather different things, so when we bring our ideas together, they tend to not clash with each other too much, but rather melt together into a whole instead (I like to imagine it as two colored pieces of glass, which when put on top of each other, simply create a new color :3).

That said, working in a team can definitely be difficult too. We were both very busy for the round after this, so we didn't have time to discuss much, and as I already had a pretty well worked out idea, it was difficult to leave enough room for dem0lecule and his ideas, which is why I unfortunately ended up going solo (for better or for worse) in that particular round. That, and the fact that dem0lecule especially was having an insane lack of time due to his job those two weeks :)
In the future when we collab (if all goes well, in the coming round), I think it's better if one of us doesn't plan too much ahead, which will allow us both to enter with all of our ideas together once again.

Then again, as you mentioned, doing things his way requires an extra amount of effort to achieve enough consistency. But compared to our last collab, this is way better in that regard, so I'd like to imagine we're well on our way to figuring out how to do this :D
I definitely agree with all three judges on this point, so we'll do our best to improve it in our next track, whenever we get to make it ;)

Same goes for the percussion, of course XD
As for 3:24, I actually thought about that before publishing the track, and I'm of the same opinion as you are. It was even more abrupt earlier, but I had dem0 re-render it twice already, with more reverb on the effect and a longer choir, and I found that the final result was good enough, so to say, even though I still feel it could be a bit more smooth (rendering this track had to be done in 5 separate takes, I think he said, and I didn't want to put him through it again when we were basically finished).

Thanks a lot for the review, Step! We're stoked to hear that you enjoyed most aspects of the track, and we'll try our best to improve on the other aspects in the future :D

We were super surprised to learn that we had the 2nd highest score of the round, as there were so many great tracks overall, but it allowed us to become very motivated for sure, and we still are!

[Majestic They Are]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

--

I feel like such an ass for having you matched up with such hard-hitters again for this contest, especially after hearing this stellar piece of music. There's a real sense of emotion and progression behind your melodies, to the point that once we finally hit the end, it feels like I was sucked into a world and went on a journey, not unlike the feeling you get after watching a good movie. That definitely racks you a lot of points in my books, because orchestral is such a good storytelling genre, and you definitely nailed it in that respect.

I'm afraid that while I truly enjoyed the first half of your piece, the second half of the piece just... didn't do it for me. I mean, it was still great compositionally, but the drums are sorely lacking. I had high expectations for the drums since for pretty much the entire duration of the first half, you had this really fitting and intricate cymbal beat, but once the climax hit, the drums just devolved into a cheesy, MIDI-sounding, dry pop kit that didn't add nearly as much power as they should have.

I think the idea for the track is all there. The first half was gripping and well-composed, and the whole idea of building a huge amount of tension and then releasing it works really well for this style, but you could've executed it better, I feel, and the first step towards that better execution is having a more powerful and influential percussive section. Either way, thanks for the beautiful piece of music!

--

SCORE: 8.9/10

papkee responds:

You can certainly tell which parts I spent plenty of time on and which parts were rather...rushed.

Being wrapped up in the mixing, arranging, and EQing of everything else, the drums just blended into the background to me and I never really gave them enough attention. That's probably one of the reasons why my score was lower.

Every time I listen to it now I hear nothing but how out of place those drums sound and it bugs me to no end.

Either way, what's done is done. I'm not in NGADM for the end prize, I'm in it for the competition and the good music.

Cheers!

[Arcadia]

This is an NGADM Round 1 Review

--

I don't usually comment specifically on intros but I'll make an exception for this. DAMN that intro is one of my favourites of the round. You really nailed the atmosphere there. Another thing I was definitely impressed with was the amount of experimentation in this track. There are all sorts of sounds, from deep pads to dance drums to chill synths to saxophones. This is a truly unforgettable listening experience, packaged with a truckload of neat ideas and sounds. Somehow, despite the general haphazardness of your instrument choices, they still synergise well with each other to create this super interesting musical concoction that's unlike anything I've ever heard before.

My main issue with this is the apparent lack of structure. You've got a really experimental set of instruments and an unconventional melodic style, so I feel like you should've put in more effort bringing it all together. What started off as a really neat intro eventually just devolved into a series of riffs from different synths with varying rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment. There weren't really any repeating motifs and the transitions weren't anything special, which made the track ultimately sound loosely/carelessly tied-together. I feel like while you showed a ton of creativity with all these cool ideas and instrument choices, you didn't convince me enough that this whole setup can work to creative one cohesive song, if that makes sense.

Having said that, I can't help but give you a solid score because of the truly unique listening experience you've offered. Great work, and thank you for taking part!

--

SCORE: 8.2/10

adieuwinter responds:

Hey Step! I'll take into consideration the issues with structure when I'm revising this (already have been doing so for a week or so now). Thanks for the kind words and for judging the contest!