I'm not going to write in length here. This is a very good piece in most regards, particularly orchestration wise. The melodies, harmonies and chord progressions you use are very very good. They're catchy, upbeat and very well implemented. The instruments that play them are also very good, and of a pretty decent quality. These two aspects come together to create an overall very high quality piece
Unfortunately, this is kinda ruined by the mixing, which isn't that great. In some cases, the instruments tend to overpower each other rather than come together as a whole. EQing is pretty decent, but could also use some work.
Also, the piece tended to get a bit repetitive and boring as it progressed, which made for a pretty tedious experience towards the end.
So overall, a good piece, with some minor drawbacks which you could fix quite easily.
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Instantly amazing. This caught my ear right from the start and i was without doubt that i would love this song as well. Despite its apparent calm atmosphere, it climaxed well enough into the main section and transitioned seamlessly into the main melodies. Its a fantastic start to what would be a superb song. Good work!
- BLEND = 2/2
--- The blend and mix in your songs is always admirable. You always somehow manage to find a balance between such a wide variety of unconventianal instruments all of which are trying to gain dominance. The quality of the synths also helped a lot as they were used to their maximum potential. I love how all instruments just fit in together seamlessly, mixing together to create a big whole. Fantastic Work!
- TRANSITIONS = 2.5/3
--- Smooth doesn't do your song justice. I am always amazed at how all your songs manage to flow almost perfectly from one section, without even a single major fault or mix up. The transitions where the music seemed to climax and then anticlimax again had great effect too, because it kept me on my toes waiting for the outro, which surprised me when it came. Overall, almost perfect as well!
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1/2
--- Unfortunately somehow lacking in this song. Even if the bass that was actually present was very well used, in some sections the song seemed to lack a degree of depth in the sense of other instruments such as pads which provided a strong backbone to the music. Once again, i'd suggest the use of some sort of secondary instruments palying different melodies to the main theme as this would definetely help with increasing the overal depth of the song. Still, pretty decent overall.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Fantastic work on this one. Everytime i listen to one of your songs, something original, and it always manages to catch my ear to a stunning degree. The constant change and variety in the song is superb, as it kept me interested to the very end. I even heard it a couple more times just to be sure i hadn't missed anything. Great work!
- DRUMS = 2/2
--- As always, these drums gave the song an even higher degree of quality, and when combined with the fantastic melodies you used, they make the song almost perfect. I am always impressed with the level of variety that you use in the drum patterns, as its sometimes easier to just use a singular loop. Good work!
- MELODIES = 3.5/4
--- The superb ambient atmosphere you set up with your melodies is always impressive. The themes seem to defy gravity and make you want to float up to the skyline. As i've already mentioned, a few secondary melodies in some sections would have aided the depth of the song, but other that, i'd say the melodic structure was almost flawless. Some minor faults, nevertheless brilliant. Superb work!
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- Even better than the introduction, because it left me hanging and wishing for more. I love how you mantained the level of variety right to the very end, along with the level of depth and the sheer power of the music. A great job all round especially on all that had to do with harmony and atmosphere, because those are simply fantastic. Nice work!
SCORE = 18/20 = 9/10
(See NGADM thread for full results)
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Nice Introduction, very well done. It set the mood and rhytm for the rest of the song superbly and it also transitioned into the main section without pause, making it all the better. It also got me interested in what was going on from the first note. The instant degree of depth to the song made it all the better, with a brilliant use of instruments and pads to set it off just right. Brilliant way to set off the song.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- Simply Fantastic. The song simply resonated around the room in a glorious wave of geniusly crafted noise. The different instruments mesh together superbly and the effects on the instruments are balanced perfectly, with none of the instruments trying to overpower any of the others. Also, the quality of the the synths and samples in general was very high, and this helped to make this song better then it already was. As with most of your songs, i liked how the song is somehow colourful to hear, with a great sense of imagination and spirit. Great job in this aspect.
- TRANSITIONS = 3/3
--- Smoother then i would have deemed possible. I barely heard a single fault or mix up while i was listening. Everything just flowed together brilliantly. The fact that every instrument you introduced managed to flow into the song perfectly, and then flow out in the same manner made it obvious that the degree of quality in this aspect was as high as possible. The current and atmosphere of this song blew me over. Fantastic work!.
- BASS (DEPTH) = 2/2
--- I'd say this aspect was also fantastic. You provided the melodies with a well layered background, and a nice, if a bit faint at times, bassline with a very high quality bass helped too. The chord progression is particularly well structured, and it had lot of potential, so I wasn't surprised when you used it to its maximum potential, varying it at some instances to great effect and power. Well done. Fantastic work in this aspect too.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Brilliant is all i can say here. I enjoyed listening to the song so much that i heard it around several dozen times and never got bored. What makes a song like this one so good is probably the fact that there's so much going on at the same time, be it melodies, drums chords or anything else. There's always something new going on and the song just flowed on with everything meshing together to create a genial whole. Yet not everything was completely new, so there was always a sense of familiarity, like somehow feeling that you know the song. Great work.
- DRUMS = 1/2
--- I think this is the only section of the song that i have anything substantial to complain about. What bothered me was that the drums werent as varied and original as the rest of the melodies and such, besides being a bit too underpowered for my tastes. I'd suggest using some varieties of the drum pattern every now and then, instead of just adding extra samples as the song progressed. Also, they weren't as high quality as the other instruments, which bugged me a little. Still, other than that, the kick is decently well used and the hi hats and other cymbals and such are toned quite well. Not bad at all.
- MELODIES 4/4
--- Probably what i liked most about the song. The melodies are superbly flowing and have a nice sense of variety to them. The 8-bit like instruments you used had a particularly high quality and were used to great effect. I liked how all the different melodies and patterns that you used just seemed to create something new every time. The detail on the alternate melodies was superb, and this made for an even better listening experience. Great work!
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- Very well layed out and structured. The nice partial fade out was used to great effect and the fact that it looped almost perfectly back into the intro made it all the better, as i almost didn't notice the song finishing. I love how you manage to leave me wanting some more every time i hear one of your songs. Brilliant work!
SCORE = 19/20 = 9.5/10
(See NGADM thread for full results)
Look to the Horizon, by varrin7
Type: Song
Genre: Classical
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- A magnificent build up into the main theme, i can say that this got my attention instantly, and at the same time it stirred up a large conflict of
emotions within me. I felt that the sad feeling portrayed by the song relates perfectly with everything ive gone through. And i also love how it always
mantained a slight degree of hope to its music. Utterly superb.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- A real highlight of the song, the way the instruments seemed to blend together so well just made the listening experience so much better. I love how
theres a lot going on at any point of the song, with alternating instruments and melodies, and how they just mingled together to form such a great whole. The
use of strings was a particular help to this aspect, because the way they shifted and changed help to make some sections a sheer joy to hear. Great work!
- TRANSITIONS = 3/3
--- Pretty well done, they mantained the flow of the song almost perfectly, and i feel that that's important in any classical song of this style, so the fact
that you did it this well makes it a great addition to your score. The current of the song was pretty constant, and the nice use of climaxes and short
anticlimaxes gave the song a nice ebb and flow. Nice work!
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1.5/2
--- Not bad, but it could've been better. Most sections of the song were pretty well layered, with some nice secondary melodies and chords to give the song a
sort of 3D feel which was quite enjoyable, however some other sections werent quite as good and could have used several more layers to their respective
melodies. Other than that, i liked the original chord progressions and how the instruments were pretty well humanized. Decent work.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Pretty original, despite the fact that its very similar to some of your other songs, but there's nothing wrong with that as every artist needs his own
unique style. I liked the variety of different melodies that you used, and the cool voices in the background gave the song a fantastic atmospheric sound.
Overall, i'd say that you did great on this aspect too. Well done!
- DRUMS = 1/2
--- As usual, drums aren't exactly your strong point. Sure these had a good punch and directly put the message through, but they weren't used as well as they
might have been. Especially in parts were there was a constant use of drums, the use of some variety in terms of secondary drums would have been better, and
i wasnt a particular fan of how they started and finished without a real transition. Still, not horrible, just not great either.
- MELODIES = 4/4
--- Now while drums might not be your strong point, melodies certainly are. I love the sheer emotion you manage to pack into each note. the tension, the
sadness, the desperation; purely superb. I also admire the fact that they sound as if they've actually been played by a real orchestra, which is always a
sign of good humanizing, and thats a sign of work being put into a piece of music. So overall, id say that the melodies on this are brillian. Fantastic work.
- OUTRO = 0.5/2
--- Probably the only thing that really really bugged me was the fact that this song didn't actually have an outro. It just ended abruptly and without any
sort of indication as to why it ended. Now this would've been acceptable in a loop, but seeing as the intro of this doesn't link well with the outro, it
makes the lack of any sort of anticlimax a real let down.
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Instant wow factor. You definetely got off to a good start, because this instantly caught my ear. I could almost instantly tell that i was going to love
this song, and i was right. The sheer brilliance of the introduction, and how it climaxed into a fantastic middle part, might be only the start, but what a
start it is. Great job!
- BLEND = 2/2
--- As good as your previous songs, if not better, the blend of instruments in your songs is always something to admire. I love how all instruments just fit
in together superbly, mixing, intertwining and morphing from one thing to another. The fact that you somehow manage to find a balance between so many cool
instruments is also great, and the quality of the synths helped a lot. Great job on this one too!
- TRANSITIONS = 2.5/3
--- Just smooth would probably be an understatement in this case. I loved how the song just flowed together from one section to another without so much as a
stutter or a break in the current. The transitions where the music seemed to pause had great effect too, because I for one, just couldn't believe that the
song had stopped, and was insanely relieved when it continued with something even better. Overall, almost perfect as well!
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1/2
--- Probably the only thing that was somewhat lacking in this song. I'm not saying that there wasn't any bass at all, on the contrary, the bass was used to
perfection, but in some sections the song seemed to lack a degree of depth. I'd suggest the use of some secondary instruments or melodies and maybe some
ambient pads to aid the whole deep feel thing. Still, good job nonetheless.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Definetely full marks for this one. It seems like everytime i listen to one of your songs, its something new, and yet it still mantains a degree of
familiarity with your previous submissions. The sheer variety and constant change in the song itself is also to be admired, as it kept me interested to the
very end, such that i had to listen to it a few more times so as to absorb everything. Great work!
- DRUMS = 2/2
--- Another great aspect of the song, these drums gave the song an even higher degree of quality, and when coupled to the insane melodies (see below) they
make the song all but perfect. The amount of variety in the drums is as high as the rest of the song, if not higher, and it definetely was one of the things
that made the song worthwhile to listen to. Good work!
- MELODIES = 3.5/4
--- One of the better highlights of the song, the melodies in this song are really catchy and relaxing. They sort of enter your soul (how dramatic) and make
you want to curl up and dream. In some sections, a few secondary melodies would have helped to make the song better, but these were few and far apart. Other
than that, i can't see anything else thats wrong with the melodies. Some minor faults, but overally brilliant. nice work!
Chiptune in my Pants, by dj-Nate
Type: Song
Genre: Miscellaneous
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Action packed and fun at the same time, this introduction got me interested right away, particularly with the interesting mix of orchestral and dubstep
along with a few sprinkles of chiptunes. I like how the song started off all tensiony and orchestral and then suddenly morphed into something completely
different. As an intro id say this is great, good work.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- As always, the blend in this song is as good as the other round's submissions. The mixture of orchestral, dubstep and chiptunes is your strong point
here, as the three genres somehow managed to co exist in such a great whole. All the instruments just fitted together, and that nice roaring bass only served
to make it better. The song just seemed to flow through the melodies right through to the end. Great work.
- TRANSITIONS = 2/3
--- These were one of your weaker points, although they were still pretty decent. I didn't like how in some cases the song just skipped from orchestral to
dubstep and vice versa, particularly in the start, after the orchestral introduction. Other than that, the transitions from dubstep to chiptunes were almost
flawless, as they kept the flow of the music going, unlike the sudden orhcestral breaks which somehow seeemed to disrupt what was otherwise a great song.
Still, nice work, even if this aspect could use a bit more work.
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1.5/2
--- Overall, the song had plenty of layers of depth. The orchestral sections could've done with a bit more bass, maybe in the form of some deep strings, as
wel as possible some harmonizing secondary melodies. The dubstep sections were much better, with a ferocious bass that just roared through my speakers. The
great balancing of volumes was also stupendous, with just enough volume to punch the message through, but not too much to make it annoying. Overall, this
aspect was pretty decent. Good work.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Whatever you can say about this song, you definetely can't say that it's not original. There was a lot of constant variety in both melodies and drums,
and the mix of multiple genres helped to keep me interestd. In both sections, the great mixture of different melodies responding each other served to create
a great effect, while the short chiptune bits were a really great addition to the song. Brilliant work on this behalf.
- DRUMS = 2/2
--- One of the highlights of the song, the punchy kick on these was sheer brilliance. Coupled with the insane rhytm and the awesome glitchy beat, these drums
on their own almost made me want to get up and dance. Also, the fact that they were constantly changing, shifting into something new, made it all the better.
Even the drums in the orchestral bits were superb, even if they werent as good as the dubstep sections. Overall, great work on this aspect too.
- MELODIES = 2.5/4
--- Not bad, but they could've been better. Starting from the orchestral parts, the staccato strings were good on their own, but they could have used more of
a backbone in the form of a secondary melody or bass melody. The dubstep parts were much better, with much more of a deep feel to them. The chiptunes were
short and sweet, with a decent enough melody to let them continue the flow of the song. Overall, not bad, but could've been better.
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- Even better than the introduction, because it left me hanging and wishing for more. I love how you mantained the level of variety right to the very end,
along with the level of depth and the sheer power of the music. A great job all round. Nice work!
Above the Clouds, by Bjra
Type: Song
Genre: Video Game
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Great in every way. This intro got me interested in the song from the start, and the fact that it transitioned into the main section seamlessly makes it
all the better. The introduction sets the mood and rhytm for the rest of the song, and this one succeeded in doing this superbly. I'd say this is an almost
perfect start to the song.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- Also very very good. The instruments just fit together to form a big whole, which just burst through my speakers in a mix of epic, humourous and genius.
The levels of volume on the instruments are balanced perfectly, with none of the instruments trying to overcome the others through volume. Also, the quality
of the the instruments and samples you used is very high, and this helped to make this song all the better. I particularly loved how you managed to use each
instrument to its full potential, and in such a varied and colourful way. Great job in this aspect.
- TRANSITIONS = 2.5/3
--- Smooth as Ice is all i can say here. Everything just flowed together so well, moving from one section to another without so much as a stutter. You
introduced instruments, took out instruments, changed melodies, varied the drum rhytm and did everything there is to do to make a song great almost
perfectly. The sheer current of this song took my breath away as it flowed past. Brilliant.
- BASS (DEPTH) = 2/2
--- I'd say this was one of the best Video Game songs ive heard in terms of this aspect. You provided the melodies with a really well structured backdrop,
and a nice punchy bassline helped too. The chord progression is very original as well, and you used it to its maximum potential, varying it at some instances
to great effect. Well done. The drums only served to give this music another layer, and to make it even more 3-Dimensional, as it reverbrated through both
speakers. Fantastic work in this aspect too.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Brilliant on all accounts. This song kept me interested for its whole length, and for a couple of loops after that. The factor that makes it this good is
probably the fact that there's so much going on in harmony, with everything molding together to create a masterpiece. You provided enough variety to keep me
interested, but also provided a sense of repetition to give it some familiarity, so that not everything was completely new. Nice work.
- DRUMS = 1.5/2
--- Probably the only aspect that i have something slight to complain about, and even then these are good beyond imagination. The only thing that bothered me
slightly was that the drums werent as varied as the rest of the song, aka the melodies and such. Maybe you could have employed some varieties of the drum
pattern every now and then, instead of just progressively adding instruments. Still, other than that, the kick is delicously punchy and the hi hats are toned
just right. Good work.
- MELODIES 4/4
--- This is probably the best thing about the song. The melodies are just superb, varied and nicely flowing. The instruments you used to play them were also
great and had a very high quality, as i've mentioned before. I liked how all the different melodies just seemed to flow together and create something so
great. The secondary melodies were every bit as good and detailed as the primary ones, which always makes for a fantastic song. Brilliant!
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- As great as the introduction, if not better. How you finished the song just left me begging for some more. I liked how the song anticlimaxed several
times before the actual outro, leaving you unsure when the song was to finish, and giving the actual thing a slight feeling of surprise to it. So overall, great job on this too.
REVIEW:
Epic beyond normal proportions. Music like this sets a fire in my soul and an ache in my heart (how dramatic). From start to finish this song is beyond great, beyond amazing. The variety, the blend, the skill with which you put the song together. It's simply fantastic. The drums are pure genius, giving just the right touch to let the music punch through to your core, while the string melody follows through with a majestic theme that simply left me begging for more. The voices too sparked a nice effect to the music, giving it a high sense of tension and hope blended together to provide epicness. The melodies were great, as were the climaxes, the transitions and the different themes. I particularly liked the use of the scratching strings which gave the music a high sense of expectation. I can honestly see this being played in a movie, it would fit in perfectly. Great job!
REVIEW:
Perfect is an understatement. I can't believe how well you managed to mix in the two completely different genres to produce something this great. The balance between classical and dubstep never gets overthrown, and i can say that it worked perfectly. The introduction instantly set it off with a glorious sense of expectation with that nice use of the piano. When the wobbly bass came in, i was almost thrown over at the sheer power of drum and bass blending together like that. The transitions were smooth as heck, and never blocked up the flow of the music. The effects were also well used, particularly the panning, as it served to give the music a three dimensional feel. The outro served a double cause, as it closed off the piece decently and also looped fairly well with the start. Overall, great job on all accounts. Nice work!
REVIEW:
Not your best. Compared to some of the crap we hear on Newgrounds these days, this is still a piece of genius, but when compared to your previous tracks, this falls sadly short. Don't get me wrong, its still got the makings of a superb track, it just lacks that final touch of detail and finesse that your other tracks had. Still, the glitch effects that you're so good at didn't diminish in any way, and the sick bass was almost perfect in its use, if a bit faint in some instances. The drums are great for starters, but they got a tad repetitive as the song progressed as did the main melody, which also got a bit overpowered by the rest of the instruments in some cases. All in all, i think that the lack of variety in drums and melodies is what bugged me most about this song, because the production, the execution and the quality are all almost perfect. Overall, some faults, but good job nonetheless.
Echo
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All 218 audio Reviews
Rated 3.5 / 5 stars September 20, 2012
NGADM Review:
I'm not going to write in length here. This is a very good piece in most regards, particularly orchestration wise. The melodies, harmonies and chord progressions you use are very very good. They're catchy, upbeat and very well implemented. The instruments that play them are also very good, and of a pretty decent quality. These two aspects come together to create an overall very high quality piece
Unfortunately, this is kinda ruined by the mixing, which isn't that great. In some cases, the instruments tend to overpower each other rather than come together as a whole. EQing is pretty decent, but could also use some work.
Also, the piece tended to get a bit repetitive and boring as it progressed, which made for a pretty tedious experience towards the end.
So overall, a good piece, with some minor drawbacks which you could fix quite easily.
--
SCORE:
7.3/10
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars January 4, 2011
NGADM Final Results
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Instantly amazing. This caught my ear right from the start and i was without doubt that i would love this song as well. Despite its apparent calm atmosphere, it climaxed well enough into the main section and transitioned seamlessly into the main melodies. Its a fantastic start to what would be a superb song. Good work!
- BLEND = 2/2
--- The blend and mix in your songs is always admirable. You always somehow manage to find a balance between such a wide variety of unconventianal instruments all of which are trying to gain dominance. The quality of the synths also helped a lot as they were used to their maximum potential. I love how all instruments just fit in together seamlessly, mixing together to create a big whole. Fantastic Work!
- TRANSITIONS = 2.5/3
--- Smooth doesn't do your song justice. I am always amazed at how all your songs manage to flow almost perfectly from one section, without even a single major fault or mix up. The transitions where the music seemed to climax and then anticlimax again had great effect too, because it kept me on my toes waiting for the outro, which surprised me when it came. Overall, almost perfect as well!
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1/2
--- Unfortunately somehow lacking in this song. Even if the bass that was actually present was very well used, in some sections the song seemed to lack a degree of depth in the sense of other instruments such as pads which provided a strong backbone to the music. Once again, i'd suggest the use of some sort of secondary instruments palying different melodies to the main theme as this would definetely help with increasing the overal depth of the song. Still, pretty decent overall.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Fantastic work on this one. Everytime i listen to one of your songs, something original, and it always manages to catch my ear to a stunning degree. The constant change and variety in the song is superb, as it kept me interested to the very end. I even heard it a couple more times just to be sure i hadn't missed anything. Great work!
- DRUMS = 2/2
--- As always, these drums gave the song an even higher degree of quality, and when combined with the fantastic melodies you used, they make the song almost perfect. I am always impressed with the level of variety that you use in the drum patterns, as its sometimes easier to just use a singular loop. Good work!
- MELODIES = 3.5/4
--- The superb ambient atmosphere you set up with your melodies is always impressive. The themes seem to defy gravity and make you want to float up to the skyline. As i've already mentioned, a few secondary melodies in some sections would have aided the depth of the song, but other that, i'd say the melodic structure was almost flawless. Some minor faults, nevertheless brilliant. Superb work!
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- Even better than the introduction, because it left me hanging and wishing for more. I love how you mantained the level of variety right to the very end, along with the level of depth and the sheer power of the music. A great job all round especially on all that had to do with harmony and atmosphere, because those are simply fantastic. Nice work!
SCORE = 18/20 = 9/10
(See NGADM thread for full results)
Echo
I already know that :3 Still, thanks Darklight17!
Rated 5 / 5 stars January 4, 2011
NGADM Final Results
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Nice Introduction, very well done. It set the mood and rhytm for the rest of the song superbly and it also transitioned into the main section without pause, making it all the better. It also got me interested in what was going on from the first note. The instant degree of depth to the song made it all the better, with a brilliant use of instruments and pads to set it off just right. Brilliant way to set off the song.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- Simply Fantastic. The song simply resonated around the room in a glorious wave of geniusly crafted noise. The different instruments mesh together superbly and the effects on the instruments are balanced perfectly, with none of the instruments trying to overpower any of the others. Also, the quality of the the synths and samples in general was very high, and this helped to make this song better then it already was. As with most of your songs, i liked how the song is somehow colourful to hear, with a great sense of imagination and spirit. Great job in this aspect.
- TRANSITIONS = 3/3
--- Smoother then i would have deemed possible. I barely heard a single fault or mix up while i was listening. Everything just flowed together brilliantly. The fact that every instrument you introduced managed to flow into the song perfectly, and then flow out in the same manner made it obvious that the degree of quality in this aspect was as high as possible. The current and atmosphere of this song blew me over. Fantastic work!.
- BASS (DEPTH) = 2/2
--- I'd say this aspect was also fantastic. You provided the melodies with a well layered background, and a nice, if a bit faint at times, bassline with a very high quality bass helped too. The chord progression is particularly well structured, and it had lot of potential, so I wasn't surprised when you used it to its maximum potential, varying it at some instances to great effect and power. Well done. Fantastic work in this aspect too.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Brilliant is all i can say here. I enjoyed listening to the song so much that i heard it around several dozen times and never got bored. What makes a song like this one so good is probably the fact that there's so much going on at the same time, be it melodies, drums chords or anything else. There's always something new going on and the song just flowed on with everything meshing together to create a genial whole. Yet not everything was completely new, so there was always a sense of familiarity, like somehow feeling that you know the song. Great work.
- DRUMS = 1/2
--- I think this is the only section of the song that i have anything substantial to complain about. What bothered me was that the drums werent as varied and original as the rest of the melodies and such, besides being a bit too underpowered for my tastes. I'd suggest using some varieties of the drum pattern every now and then, instead of just adding extra samples as the song progressed. Also, they weren't as high quality as the other instruments, which bugged me a little. Still, other than that, the kick is decently well used and the hi hats and other cymbals and such are toned quite well. Not bad at all.
- MELODIES 4/4
--- Probably what i liked most about the song. The melodies are superbly flowing and have a nice sense of variety to them. The 8-bit like instruments you used had a particularly high quality and were used to great effect. I liked how all the different melodies and patterns that you used just seemed to create something new every time. The detail on the alternate melodies was superb, and this made for an even better listening experience. Great work!
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- Very well layed out and structured. The nice partial fade out was used to great effect and the fact that it looped almost perfectly back into the intro made it all the better, as i almost didn't notice the song finishing. I love how you manage to leave me wanting some more every time i hear one of your songs. Brilliant work!
SCORE = 19/20 = 9.5/10
(See NGADM thread for full results)
Echo
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars December 13, 2010
NGADM Round 4
Look to the Horizon, by varrin7
Type: Song
Genre: Classical
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- A magnificent build up into the main theme, i can say that this got my attention instantly, and at the same time it stirred up a large conflict of
emotions within me. I felt that the sad feeling portrayed by the song relates perfectly with everything ive gone through. And i also love how it always
mantained a slight degree of hope to its music. Utterly superb.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- A real highlight of the song, the way the instruments seemed to blend together so well just made the listening experience so much better. I love how
theres a lot going on at any point of the song, with alternating instruments and melodies, and how they just mingled together to form such a great whole. The
use of strings was a particular help to this aspect, because the way they shifted and changed help to make some sections a sheer joy to hear. Great work!
- TRANSITIONS = 3/3
--- Pretty well done, they mantained the flow of the song almost perfectly, and i feel that that's important in any classical song of this style, so the fact
that you did it this well makes it a great addition to your score. The current of the song was pretty constant, and the nice use of climaxes and short
anticlimaxes gave the song a nice ebb and flow. Nice work!
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1.5/2
--- Not bad, but it could've been better. Most sections of the song were pretty well layered, with some nice secondary melodies and chords to give the song a
sort of 3D feel which was quite enjoyable, however some other sections werent quite as good and could have used several more layers to their respective
melodies. Other than that, i liked the original chord progressions and how the instruments were pretty well humanized. Decent work.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Pretty original, despite the fact that its very similar to some of your other songs, but there's nothing wrong with that as every artist needs his own
unique style. I liked the variety of different melodies that you used, and the cool voices in the background gave the song a fantastic atmospheric sound.
Overall, i'd say that you did great on this aspect too. Well done!
- DRUMS = 1/2
--- As usual, drums aren't exactly your strong point. Sure these had a good punch and directly put the message through, but they weren't used as well as they
might have been. Especially in parts were there was a constant use of drums, the use of some variety in terms of secondary drums would have been better, and
i wasnt a particular fan of how they started and finished without a real transition. Still, not horrible, just not great either.
- MELODIES = 4/4
--- Now while drums might not be your strong point, melodies certainly are. I love the sheer emotion you manage to pack into each note. the tension, the
sadness, the desperation; purely superb. I also admire the fact that they sound as if they've actually been played by a real orchestra, which is always a
sign of good humanizing, and thats a sign of work being put into a piece of music. So overall, id say that the melodies on this are brillian. Fantastic work.
- OUTRO = 0.5/2
--- Probably the only thing that really really bugged me was the fact that this song didn't actually have an outro. It just ended abruptly and without any
sort of indication as to why it ended. Now this would've been acceptable in a loop, but seeing as the intro of this doesn't link well with the outro, it
makes the lack of any sort of anticlimax a real let down.
SCORE
-------
Intro = 2/2
Outro = 0.5/2
Blend = 2/2
Transitions = 3/3
Bass = 1.5/2
Originality = 3/3
Drums = 1/2
Melodies = 4/4
====================
Score = 17/20 = 8.5/10
====================
Note: Hopefully you'll find these reviews a bit more helpful than the previous ones. Enjoy ;D
Darklight
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars December 13, 2010
NGADM Round 4
Impact, by SBB
Type: Song
Genre: Miscellaneous
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Instant wow factor. You definetely got off to a good start, because this instantly caught my ear. I could almost instantly tell that i was going to love
this song, and i was right. The sheer brilliance of the introduction, and how it climaxed into a fantastic middle part, might be only the start, but what a
start it is. Great job!
- BLEND = 2/2
--- As good as your previous songs, if not better, the blend of instruments in your songs is always something to admire. I love how all instruments just fit
in together superbly, mixing, intertwining and morphing from one thing to another. The fact that you somehow manage to find a balance between so many cool
instruments is also great, and the quality of the synths helped a lot. Great job on this one too!
- TRANSITIONS = 2.5/3
--- Just smooth would probably be an understatement in this case. I loved how the song just flowed together from one section to another without so much as a
stutter or a break in the current. The transitions where the music seemed to pause had great effect too, because I for one, just couldn't believe that the
song had stopped, and was insanely relieved when it continued with something even better. Overall, almost perfect as well!
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1/2
--- Probably the only thing that was somewhat lacking in this song. I'm not saying that there wasn't any bass at all, on the contrary, the bass was used to
perfection, but in some sections the song seemed to lack a degree of depth. I'd suggest the use of some secondary instruments or melodies and maybe some
ambient pads to aid the whole deep feel thing. Still, good job nonetheless.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Definetely full marks for this one. It seems like everytime i listen to one of your songs, its something new, and yet it still mantains a degree of
familiarity with your previous submissions. The sheer variety and constant change in the song itself is also to be admired, as it kept me interested to the
very end, such that i had to listen to it a few more times so as to absorb everything. Great work!
- DRUMS = 2/2
--- Another great aspect of the song, these drums gave the song an even higher degree of quality, and when coupled to the insane melodies (see below) they
make the song all but perfect. The amount of variety in the drums is as high as the rest of the song, if not higher, and it definetely was one of the things
that made the song worthwhile to listen to. Good work!
- MELODIES = 3.5/4
--- One of the better highlights of the song, the melodies in this song are really catchy and relaxing. They sort of enter your soul (how dramatic) and make
you want to curl up and dream. In some sections, a few secondary melodies would have helped to make the song better, but these were few and far apart. Other
than that, i can't see anything else thats wrong with the melodies. Some minor faults, but overally brilliant. nice work!
SCORE
-------
Intro = 2/2
Outro = 2/2
Blend = 2/2
Transitions = 2.5/3
Bass = 1/2
Originality = 3/3
Drums = 2/2
Melodies = 3.5/4
====================
Score = 18/20 = 9/10
====================
Note: Hopefully you'll find these reviews a bit more helpful than the previous ones. Enjoy ;D
Darklight
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars December 13, 2010
NGADM Round 4
Chiptune in my Pants, by dj-Nate
Type: Song
Genre: Miscellaneous
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Action packed and fun at the same time, this introduction got me interested right away, particularly with the interesting mix of orchestral and dubstep
along with a few sprinkles of chiptunes. I like how the song started off all tensiony and orchestral and then suddenly morphed into something completely
different. As an intro id say this is great, good work.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- As always, the blend in this song is as good as the other round's submissions. The mixture of orchestral, dubstep and chiptunes is your strong point
here, as the three genres somehow managed to co exist in such a great whole. All the instruments just fitted together, and that nice roaring bass only served
to make it better. The song just seemed to flow through the melodies right through to the end. Great work.
- TRANSITIONS = 2/3
--- These were one of your weaker points, although they were still pretty decent. I didn't like how in some cases the song just skipped from orchestral to
dubstep and vice versa, particularly in the start, after the orchestral introduction. Other than that, the transitions from dubstep to chiptunes were almost
flawless, as they kept the flow of the music going, unlike the sudden orhcestral breaks which somehow seeemed to disrupt what was otherwise a great song.
Still, nice work, even if this aspect could use a bit more work.
- BASS (DEPTH) = 1.5/2
--- Overall, the song had plenty of layers of depth. The orchestral sections could've done with a bit more bass, maybe in the form of some deep strings, as
wel as possible some harmonizing secondary melodies. The dubstep sections were much better, with a ferocious bass that just roared through my speakers. The
great balancing of volumes was also stupendous, with just enough volume to punch the message through, but not too much to make it annoying. Overall, this
aspect was pretty decent. Good work.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Whatever you can say about this song, you definetely can't say that it's not original. There was a lot of constant variety in both melodies and drums,
and the mix of multiple genres helped to keep me interestd. In both sections, the great mixture of different melodies responding each other served to create
a great effect, while the short chiptune bits were a really great addition to the song. Brilliant work on this behalf.
- DRUMS = 2/2
--- One of the highlights of the song, the punchy kick on these was sheer brilliance. Coupled with the insane rhytm and the awesome glitchy beat, these drums
on their own almost made me want to get up and dance. Also, the fact that they were constantly changing, shifting into something new, made it all the better.
Even the drums in the orchestral bits were superb, even if they werent as good as the dubstep sections. Overall, great work on this aspect too.
- MELODIES = 2.5/4
--- Not bad, but they could've been better. Starting from the orchestral parts, the staccato strings were good on their own, but they could have used more of
a backbone in the form of a secondary melody or bass melody. The dubstep parts were much better, with much more of a deep feel to them. The chiptunes were
short and sweet, with a decent enough melody to let them continue the flow of the song. Overall, not bad, but could've been better.
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- Even better than the introduction, because it left me hanging and wishing for more. I love how you mantained the level of variety right to the very end,
along with the level of depth and the sheer power of the music. A great job all round. Nice work!
SCORE
-------
Intro = 2/2
Outro = 2/2
Blend = 2/2
Transitions = 2/3
Bass = 1.5/2
Originality = 3/3
Drums = 2/2
Melodies = 2.5/4
====================
Score = 17/20 = 8.5/10
====================
Note: Hopefully you'll find these reviews a bit more helpful than the previous ones. Enjoy ;D
Darklight
Rated 5 / 5 stars December 13, 2010
NGADM Round 4
Above the Clouds, by Bjra
Type: Song
Genre: Video Game
REVIEW
-------
- INTRO = 2/2
--- Great in every way. This intro got me interested in the song from the start, and the fact that it transitioned into the main section seamlessly makes it
all the better. The introduction sets the mood and rhytm for the rest of the song, and this one succeeded in doing this superbly. I'd say this is an almost
perfect start to the song.
- BLEND = 2/2
--- Also very very good. The instruments just fit together to form a big whole, which just burst through my speakers in a mix of epic, humourous and genius.
The levels of volume on the instruments are balanced perfectly, with none of the instruments trying to overcome the others through volume. Also, the quality
of the the instruments and samples you used is very high, and this helped to make this song all the better. I particularly loved how you managed to use each
instrument to its full potential, and in such a varied and colourful way. Great job in this aspect.
- TRANSITIONS = 2.5/3
--- Smooth as Ice is all i can say here. Everything just flowed together so well, moving from one section to another without so much as a stutter. You
introduced instruments, took out instruments, changed melodies, varied the drum rhytm and did everything there is to do to make a song great almost
perfectly. The sheer current of this song took my breath away as it flowed past. Brilliant.
- BASS (DEPTH) = 2/2
--- I'd say this was one of the best Video Game songs ive heard in terms of this aspect. You provided the melodies with a really well structured backdrop,
and a nice punchy bassline helped too. The chord progression is very original as well, and you used it to its maximum potential, varying it at some instances
to great effect. Well done. The drums only served to give this music another layer, and to make it even more 3-Dimensional, as it reverbrated through both
speakers. Fantastic work in this aspect too.
- ORIGINALITY = 3/3
--- Brilliant on all accounts. This song kept me interested for its whole length, and for a couple of loops after that. The factor that makes it this good is
probably the fact that there's so much going on in harmony, with everything molding together to create a masterpiece. You provided enough variety to keep me
interested, but also provided a sense of repetition to give it some familiarity, so that not everything was completely new. Nice work.
- DRUMS = 1.5/2
--- Probably the only aspect that i have something slight to complain about, and even then these are good beyond imagination. The only thing that bothered me
slightly was that the drums werent as varied as the rest of the song, aka the melodies and such. Maybe you could have employed some varieties of the drum
pattern every now and then, instead of just progressively adding instruments. Still, other than that, the kick is delicously punchy and the hi hats are toned
just right. Good work.
- MELODIES 4/4
--- This is probably the best thing about the song. The melodies are just superb, varied and nicely flowing. The instruments you used to play them were also
great and had a very high quality, as i've mentioned before. I liked how all the different melodies just seemed to flow together and create something so
great. The secondary melodies were every bit as good and detailed as the primary ones, which always makes for a fantastic song. Brilliant!
- OUTRO = 2/2
--- As great as the introduction, if not better. How you finished the song just left me begging for some more. I liked how the song anticlimaxed several
times before the actual outro, leaving you unsure when the song was to finish, and giving the actual thing a slight feeling of surprise to it. So overall, great job on this too.
SCORE
-------
Intro = 2/2
Outro = 2/2
Blend = 2/2
Transitions = 2.5/3
Bass = 2/2
Originality = 3/3
Drums = 1.5/2
Melodies = 4/4
====================
Score = 19/20 = 9.5/10
====================
Note: Hopefully you'll find these reviews a bit more helpful than the previous ones. Enjoy ;D
Darklight
Rated 5 / 5 stars November 23, 2010
NGADM Round 3
REVIEW:
Epic beyond normal proportions. Music like this sets a fire in my soul and an ache in my heart (how dramatic). From start to finish this song is beyond great, beyond amazing. The variety, the blend, the skill with which you put the song together. It's simply fantastic. The drums are pure genius, giving just the right touch to let the music punch through to your core, while the string melody follows through with a majestic theme that simply left me begging for more. The voices too sparked a nice effect to the music, giving it a high sense of tension and hope blended together to provide epicness. The melodies were great, as were the climaxes, the transitions and the different themes. I particularly liked the use of the scratching strings which gave the music a high sense of expectation. I can honestly see this being played in a movie, it would fit in perfectly. Great job!
SCORE:
Intro = 2/2
Outro = 2/2
Blend = 2/2
Transitions = 3/3
Bass = 2/2
Originality = 2.5/3
Drums = 1.5/2
Melodies = 4/4
--------------------
Score = 19/20 = 9.5/10
--------------------
Note: You guys know why i'm doing this...
Darklight
Rated 5 / 5 stars November 23, 2010
NGADM Round 3
REVIEW:
Perfect is an understatement. I can't believe how well you managed to mix in the two completely different genres to produce something this great. The balance between classical and dubstep never gets overthrown, and i can say that it worked perfectly. The introduction instantly set it off with a glorious sense of expectation with that nice use of the piano. When the wobbly bass came in, i was almost thrown over at the sheer power of drum and bass blending together like that. The transitions were smooth as heck, and never blocked up the flow of the music. The effects were also well used, particularly the panning, as it served to give the music a three dimensional feel. The outro served a double cause, as it closed off the piece decently and also looped fairly well with the start. Overall, great job on all accounts. Nice work!
SCORE:
Intro = 2/2
Outro = 2/2
Blend = 2/2
Transitions = 3/3
Bass = 2/2
Originality = 2.5/3
Drums = 2/2
Melodies = 3.5/4
--------------------
Score = 19/20 = 9.5/10
--------------------
Note: You guys know why i'm doing this...
Darklight
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars November 23, 2010
NGADM Round 3
REVIEW:
Not your best. Compared to some of the crap we hear on Newgrounds these days, this is still a piece of genius, but when compared to your previous tracks, this falls sadly short. Don't get me wrong, its still got the makings of a superb track, it just lacks that final touch of detail and finesse that your other tracks had. Still, the glitch effects that you're so good at didn't diminish in any way, and the sick bass was almost perfect in its use, if a bit faint in some instances. The drums are great for starters, but they got a tad repetitive as the song progressed as did the main melody, which also got a bit overpowered by the rest of the instruments in some cases. All in all, i think that the lack of variety in drums and melodies is what bugged me most about this song, because the production, the execution and the quality are all almost perfect. Overall, some faults, but good job nonetheless.
SCORE:
Intro = 1.5/2
Outro = 1.5/2
Blend = 2/2
Transitions = 3/3
Bass = 2/2
Originality = 2/3
Drums = 1.5/2
Melodies = 3.5/4
--------------------
Score = 17/20 = 8.5/10
--------------------
Note: You guys know why i'm doing this...
Darklight