LucidShadowDreamer's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Big King Boss Music]

For being your first attempt at something like this, it actually sounds really good!
The percussion is really cool, and really shows that there is some action going on, as it's so active throughout the piece :)
The melody is really interesting. It sounds like some kind of trumpet is playing most of it (brass intruments, in the very least). The melody sounds mostly Arabic (deserts, etc), though the combination with the drums makes it so that this could fit in a jungle theme as well. The melody repeats quite a bit for such a short track though (especially the one in the middle, at 6 times, though the tail of the melody is different every second repeat), even if there's a couple of changes here and there, but it's good enough to take some listens.
The transitions work really well, and don't sound forced in the least. The change in percussion for the different parts work too. As for the intruments, it's good that you added a few extra layers at points, to bring them out, like the one that plays in the higher frequencies that enters at 0:28. There's the more bassy one at 0:48 as well.
Even the mixing sounds fine. This is much better than what I did for my first tracks :D
As this track starts and ends with the same percussion, it would've been really great if the track was edited in such a way that it could loop smoothly, especially as it could really fit as game music!

Either way, for a first ever track, this is pretty amazing. If you manage to submit a few more tracks of similar quality, I or someone else will scout you to the audio portal for sure! ;)
Even if the usual code is at least 4 tracks, I'd say that this is good enough that one more upload of the same quality is enough for at least me to scout you, as you're already a known uploader in other portals :)

Marcomatic responds:

Thanks for the constructive feedback LucidShadowDreamer! I'll definitely take those considerations on board. I'm going to work on adding more dynamic to the music :)
Cheers man! I'm really motivated now! :)

[Bom Bom]

I like that BOM BOM BASS, I like that bom bom... :p
Really cool, actually :)

YakovlevArt responds:

Haha, nice! Glad you like it.

[C.U.R.E. (Concentrated Unmaking Robotic Entity)]

That visualizer is pretty rad, I've got to admit!
It's a shame that this track is a bit late, but who knows? Some time schedules on Newgrounds aren't that strict, and as the winners are not yet announced, you may be able to participate :D
Because this track is awesumm!

The beginning is actually the least good part in the song, imo, and let me tell you. The beginning is still pretty good! It evolves into so much more though. It's almost starting to sound a bit like the style of ParagonX9, so you can hear from that alone that it's brilliant. In my opinion, better than the track I submitted. Your mixing is on such another level than mine!

I love the effects you did at places like 0:48 etc. XD

Splendid job with this track!
Me likey a lot :3

Noisysundae responds:

Ahhh, I feel that the intro is a bit lame too but I left it because it will be worse than this if I change. XD
And the robot day, I didn't expect the first places. Having my sundae in the list is enough.
Everyone has different pros and cons. (You said that) I have better mixing. You have better composition and are able to make an improv while I can't since I'm simply just a computer user with a DAW (FL), not an actual musician. (Wait. Why this conversation is being sadder? I didn't mean to make it be like that. :/ ) ParagonX9? Yes, that one will be super legendary if he is still making his until now. :( (Or he got a new title?)

P.S. All hail the time manipulation VSTs for those stuttering effects! (Mine is Grossbeat in FL.)

[Revelries]

It would seem as if the experimentation brought forth some great results. The intro is very effectful, and uses tasty chords and rhythms. I love the minimalistic feel in this track. I mean, sure. There are some things going on. But it never feels as if the track gets heavy. And occasionally, one can really enjoy listening to such a light and happy track :)
I also like that the intruments keep changing. Occasionally there's brass, occasionally there's bass, hehhe...
There's always the synth which helps with the beat though (even if it too changes sound a few times), which is a nice touch.

Nice transition at 2:35!

I can hear that the ending is also experimental, which is my only complaint. I think that you ought to have used a short note as the last one, so that one could really get the full effect or the abrupt ending. At this point, the chords and the structure don't really foreshadow the ending. In some cases, this can have an interesting effect. But in this one, I feel it didn't quite work out. The long note just feels queer to me :/
Not only that, but the sample doesn't sound as good when it holds the note down :P
I'm going to let this slip startwise though, as the rest of the track is so good :3

Keep on experimenting; it worked wonderfully in this case!

adieuwinter responds:

Thanks for the kind words, LSD! I'm glad to hear your impressions, they pretty much mirror what my goals were for this piece. This version was rushed (most of what you hear was done in the past couple hours) for NGAUC, so before I release this elsewhere I'll revise it until I'm more satisfied. I'm not entirely confident in how I ended this song either, so I'll definitely be returning to fix that up. The review is much appreciated :)

[Death of a Prodigy]

This track really is very beatuiful. I am very honored to have been part of this track by way of inspiration. You are a talented musician and composer, especially for your age. Not saying that this wouldn't be considered good if you were older, but that since you're already this great at only 17, surely you'll grow up to become extremely good at composing.
This is already way beyond my level (at least in orchestral music), especially when it comes to dynamics and mixing.

You have a brilliant grasp on melody and harmony. And I sense that you can also feel the music, instinctively, which is very important. For example, I think that the name and theme are very apt, and suit the atmosphere.
There is some volume dynamic going on as well, if one cares to listen to it. This track didn't even need any percussion. I guess you could've tried adding some atmospherical cymbals or deep toms somewhere, but I think that this works just as well without them.

If I would have to give any criticism at all, it's that I feel the final notes could've dragged on for just a little longer. The ending could've also been structured in a way that it was hinted at, for say, the last 15 seconds or so. But upon relistening, it sounds just fine :)
Also, I like that you ended the piece with a chord that sounded a bit inconclusive!

All in all, splendid job. It's great that you finally got to finishing up the album :D
I myself am thinking about eventually gathering the best of my piano tracks, and creating an album out of them XD

larrynachos responds:

I'm flattered that you think so highly of me. I put a lot of love and effort into this song, and I appreciate that you enjoy it!

I probably should have extended the end, but I'm no good with endings.

You should definitely release an album, LSD!

Thanks for the review! It means a lot to me!

[A War Between Our People]

Aww, it's a shame you didn't finish it in time!
This track is beautiful at first. There are some great harmonies and melodies in here. That drastic change at 0:55 really took me by surprise though, and I love it :D
The action works really well in contrast to the beginning. Awesome job ;)

larrynachos responds:

Ah, I'm glad you liked the contrast! I was really worried that would throw people off and they would hate it :X

Thanks a lot, LSD!

[Home]

A very beautiful track indeed. You earned yourself a new fan :3

Ylmir responds:

Thanks a lot, and welcome ! :p

[Shadow Play]

Hey, this is pretty cool :D!
I like the experimental feel that this has. The bass is awesome :3
The rhythm and progression are very interesting, to say the least XD
I guess that apart from the very beginning, the volume dynamics can feel a bit flat at points. Luckily, you included the breakdown-ish thing at 2:05.
The ending is a bit abrupt, but I totally like that!

It's cool that you managed to do this much with so few intruments. Great job ;)

frootza responds:

Thanks Lucid!

I have been mixing with an old set of ear buds ($1), so I need to use my eyes to check the levels on most of my new tunes. It is a hit or miss, I just hope for the best after I do a general master track.

There is going to be a lot of cliffhangers in this series because the songs are all going to eventually lead into eachother when we perform this in my live band.

Thanks for the comments on the rhythm and progression! Conventional song writing and composing gets very boring for me so I am always experimenting with new harmonic ideas and I've been known to write quite a few rhythmically challenging pieces. Hope that you stick around for the next installments of the Twilight Zone saga!

[Aether - Mindchamber]

This is brilliant!
It's a shame that it's a bit short, but as the track is so fast paced, it still manages to get a lot in there. Coolest sfx ever, pretty much XD

AetherNG responds:

Thank you so much man :)

[Innocence]

Alright, I'm on the third loop right now.
You know, I haven't read the description until now, but that didn't stop me from thinking about Gustavo Santaolalla while listening to this. I would really like to play a game where this is stage music. Another thought that came to my mind is that this reminded me of broove's music. It's a shame that the flash game "pine", where his music was featured, was taken down by Dylan because it was unfinished. "ALZ" is still up though :D

As I'm sure you know, this is right up my alley in terms of music I enjoy to listen to. The piano is a bit rough even, or maybe I should use the word "Cold"? I use a sound similar to this quite often, because I enjoy it. But it is not soft and warm, is what I'm trying to say. There are a few pieces that use this kind of cold sound, but can still express a form of warmth as well. At a few points in this track, I think I felt that effect. Mostly because of the combinations of other intruments though. At most points, however, I got the cold feel from this track. But know what? I like it.
I can imagine an empty house in a desert of Ice and snow while hearing this, and it's a very pretty image.

That said, I can definitely see what you were going for in the description as well. The art piece that inspired you is brilliant, and I left a review for it as well. In a way, I feel that this could be brilliant menu music as well. But it fits in stage music, so I see no reason to complain.

I would like to imagine that I have still not lost contact with the child in me; something that I'm very happy about.

As for the genre, I get why you choose ambient, and this certainly fits. I just think that this is a very cinematic ambient piece, which almost makes it all the better.
You use very interesting tones and chords. Not unlike Erik Satie, especially in the Gymnopedie No. 1.

It's a bit like the individual chords and notes aren't designed to catch my immediate attention nor interest, but to simply float around. This is pretty perfect, at this is background music. The progression is something floating too, which I thoroughly enjoy. I can sit back, relax, and just float with this track. Very apt, considering the fish in the art piece.
The mixing felt a bit interesting during the first minute, before I got used to it. Probably because I heard all the high notes very clearly (clearness comes with the cold sound) in my right ear, and the low tones more in my left. That's what it'd be like with a real piano though, and once I got used to it in combination with the other intruments, it sounds fine.

That's about all I have to say. I really like this.
Sorry if my review is a bit all over the place. One could say that it too is improvised :)
Probably on the 7th loop now.
Brilliant job. I wish you good luck in the contest!

Phonometrologist responds:

"reminded me of broove's music"
I honestly regret more that he doesn't write as much as he ought as for him music is more a hobby as he puts it. One of my favorite artists here because he seems to write such poignant piano music that stir my heart in a manner that strangely seems all too natural for him.
" I got the cold feel from this track"
That's quite an interesting insight. I wonder if that has anything to do with playing primarily in the higher register alone combined with the attack.
" I have still not lost contact with the child in me"
The aspect of being a child that fascinates me and I miss the most is the feeling that would be considered being oblivious to the world around me. Back then, the world was a great mystery and my perspective was confined to all that I knew at home. Before seeing and experiencing the evil and heartbreak that is in it. It eventually reaches to your own home and your eyes and mind grow up to understanding that before you reach that age that one tends to live a sheltered life. I wouldn't go back to it, but it's funny how that works. A strange place to live as a child.
" It's a bit like the individual chords and notes aren't designed to catch my immediate attention nor interest, but to simply float around."
You are correct. The chords are so simple that what makes these chords different from any other is the mindset behind them. It was never meant to be listened to in a microscopic point of view for each individual note. You know, as I listen too, I don't think the notes and chords that play really tell you where the piece is headed. It does sound like it just floats on, but by 4:05 one can tell that the music has arrived home in its own subtle way. I'm talking as if I don't necessarily know what I was doing myself. Sitting at the piano doesn't necessarily become an intentional one for me all the time. It really didn't come about from any preconceived thought process.
"I wish you good luck in the contest!"
Likewise! Thank you for writing this.