WinTang's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Countenance (rough draft)]

So...

I'm finally getting around to reviewing this.

This is a very good song, very well composed and even better performed. A nice swaying 6/8 time is always appreciated by me. The glockenspiel (?) is a real nice touch and you might consider giving that a few more subtle cameos after its introduction.

Since it's the rough draft, the only thing I really feel needs commenting on is the production. Lo-fi is good but sometimes it's actually a bit sloppy, which is a pity because it kinda pulls me out of the listening experience.

First off, I think you should take the time to make a good volume graph for the vocal track. Its overall volume is somewhat too low anyway (I can't really make out a lot of the lyrics), and at certain points it gets snowed under completely for a short time.

There's also the bit from 1:06 and 1:18 where the melody is really too low for your voice. At 3:32 again. I'd really try to either alter it a bit so it falls within your range, or add a line an octave higher and mix that to the background.

Overall I think the vocals are wonderfully done, you have a modest but flexible voice and are able to reach the higher range without having it sound forced or off-key. It's emotional but not pathetic.

The guitar would probably benefit from some compression, I feel the emphasis on the high and mid frequencies is somewhat too small. Because the drums are so (deliciously!) clanky, it gets a little mushy overall.

All said and done this is a great singer/songwriter track and with a little extra thought put into mixing it can compete with acoustic Pearl Jam in its glory days. 5 and download for effort and goodness. Keep it up and don't let douchebags like above lower your spirits in any way.

attemptedperfection responds:

Thanks for the detailed review? I completely agree on the production needing to be taken up a notch or five. I've never even heard of a vocal graph; I usually just play around with it until it sounds halfway-decent. As for the low melody, I've already started playing it a whole step or so higher, and that helped a ton, so the next recording won't have that issue.
Thanks again for the review! Glad you liked it. I'll definitely work on the mixing...

[dontdoasididacid]

asid

Nice pun.

Minimalism is good, though I think this is just a tad too sparse. Now that it's looped on me 5 times I'm pretty much done listening, I really enjoy the craftiness of it but I just crave for that one break or whatever to bring me closer to the edge of my seat. But boy, are you onto something. I like you already.

[Carry Bee An Tune]

Hehehe

Good stuff, very catchy and light-hearted with a little glitching thrown in for good measure. Cool how you acheived such groove with just a few elements. Not much else to say, except that there may be more to this idea than just a 1 minute loop, but it's quite gratifying as is.

[3 AM Trip]

Interesting!

I like the atmosphere of this track. Lots of original and semi-catchy stuff going on, it reveals more on replay which is always a plus in my book. You seem to know your way around using FX pretty well.

There are some structural things you could improve on. What I always try to do when making electronica (which I won't claim to be excellent at, by the way) is see how I can make it 'peak' as much as possible, this generally means making a (few) pattern(s) where everything is present - full bass, full drums, a wide range of frequencies, intertwining melodies and chords - to potentially blow the listener away.

What I think ails this track a bit, is that it seems like you came up with all the parts "on the fly", which makes the song flow very well, but lack a general direction from beginning to end. Some of the elements, like the piano, are a bit overused, while other elements fall behind. The drums for example feel like they could gain much more body.

My advice would be to take the time to figure out all the elements you are going to use, get to know them, determine their impact on the listener, and then decide how you are going to 'build' the track. One of the most difficult parts about making music, or any kind of art, is to keep a fresh ear (or eye), as if you are experiencing the piece for the first time.

I think we can expect excellent things from you, just keep at it, you show a lot of talent already.

4/5

baller9hundred responds:

thanks a lot for the great review, i'd rather see one like this than 10's across the boards anyday, feedback is what i'm trying to get at putting it on here, you gave some really helpful hints

[Crush it.]

Excellent.

This reminds me of Depeche Mode, it's a very full sounding energetic mix, well done!
Nice (if borderline cheesy) ominous lead melodies.

It suddenly dawns on me that your mixing has become clearer throughout the things you have submitted, that's a good thing because it really sheds light on your music, makes it transparent and very exciting.

Been looping a few times now, it's really growing on me. A lot of great ideas that were crisply executed. I tip my hat sir.

attemptedperfection responds:

You always think my melodies are cheezy. :P
...I actually agree with you on this one. XD
Thanks for the review!
Glad to hear my mixing is improving. (although I actually thought this one to be a bit muddy...)
p.s.
I'd much like to hear what you think of "countenance," which I uploaded a while back, if you've got the time. It's the first real proof of any effort towards my next cd.

[Gypsytone]

Smileys for you

First time in ages I actually check out an artist I don't know by an ad they placed on the BBS. I'm not regretting it.

Basically I loved everything except for the drums. I'd bet my left arm that you intended them to be near incomprehensible, but I feel they should have acted as the driftwood to cling to while drowning in the insane 8-bit-chiptune-ness. In order words, I'd like to at least get a hint where the kick and snare are :)

Ace otherwise, really disorienting and lots of thought put into detail. Great half-time parts too. Keep at it, and check out my latest tune, "Tease me", I bet you could give me some interesting comments.

[things snoball (complete)]

pfew

Reeeeally having some trouble getting into this tbh, listened to it a LOT of times.

There's plenty of elements to lurv, the intro is georgeous with the cheeky percussion and bass, guitar (which however seems to be tuned a tad too low), harp and cello cooperation. Arrangement and mix are pretty much perfect.

Thing is that when Bob Marley enters, the whole tune to me seems to be postponing something that doesn't come, can't quite put the finger on it, maybe it's the drums that make it a little droney. Everything is still flawlessly and smoothly executed, but I crave for more dynamic progress, I guess.

Puzzler. :)
No biggie, as the fragile gay kids say. You just do that thing you do, I don't have to love every second of music you make to keep loving it as a whole.

snoballandthmonyshot responds:

yo the tang
no biggie? i think it is. i see what u mean about the dynamic progress, i'm gonna do a post-complete version, it definately displays a lack of imagination the way the second half develops.
nice 1
;ped

[_-={The Dead's Witness}=-_]

An army of orcs coming my way!

Probably best to reciprocate for your great reviews to this account eh?

I should come right out and tell you that I dislike this kind of music. I think this is a disagreement between the two of us on the term 'epic'.

Put very bluntly, I feel this is taking the easy way out. Reverb and heavy percussion almost instantly take care of the ominous feeling, throw in a bunch of strings playing long, sustaining notes for the contrast and there's the tension.

What I highly prefer is to have the epic elements - tension, progression, dynamics

I've been listening to a lot of solo piano music by Ravel lately and I can assure you: all these elements are found in the configuration of just notes. No matter how bombastical the arrangement, I feel that, stripped to the bare, the composition shouldn't have lost any of its impact. In the case of this piece, you would have to add a lot of extra notes to the score in order to retain its impact.

It's like when you watch a movie with a shit plot but great special effects. I always feel tricked into feeling what I felt watching it, and that annoys me - I know what they're doing, but I fall for it anyway.

That's because special effects are made possible by technology, which is a factor the artist (director) doesn't determine. They are tricks to instantly instill a sensation in the viewer, but by reflex, not by train of thought. They are a scientifically enhanced attack on the synapses. They aren't HUMAN.

The kid Donnie Darko, clumsily exploring the basics of physical love with his first girlfriend, HE's human. Him I identify with, him I feel for. He is a creation of a writer, a director and an actor, using their IMAGINATION (I wish I could bold it out, I hate how obnoxious caps look). This triggers me to on my turn use my imagination to identify with Donnie and start feeling what I would feel in his situation.

The reflex of a special effect disables that trigger. No use for imagination, because you already know what the outcome will be.

This is a crude analogy. Your music IS more than a bunch of special effects, but I just don't like the balance between them and your own imagination.

I am certainly not condemning your music. You are great at what you do and a lot of people, including yourself, like it, love it even. It doesn't make you any less artistical, you are obviously using your talent to achieve primarily what YOU want and not what you think other people want. So you can completely disregard everything I just said, and I won't lose any respect or sympathy for you. I am quite certain that while reading this, you seriously considered it and weighed it against your own views. I am here to give my opinion. If you'd like to talk more about it, I'd gladly engage in a PMing spree with you.

That all being said, good job. (hehe.)
I've had it on repeat the whole time it took writing up to here, and it's very constant, aforementioned ominous...ness... and tension are maintained throughout and never collapse.

I do think that you should have made the lead more stand out once the percussion got in full gear, it became hard to keep track of. Otherwise the mix is spot on for what you're going after, sharp hooks in the percussion and a very nicely dosed voice sample.

Good, full bass in the arrangement, but more treble might have pulled it towards stronger climaxes. It serves the purpose of menu music very well, creates an atmosphere instantly. Competes with the menu music of Baldur's Gate. :)

This is probably the longest review I've ever writtten, I don't know what the fuck got over me. I really hope you appreciate this for what it is - a largely illustrated opinion, a spark for a healthy debate possibly, in a light tone with no intention to be aggressive or belittling.

I be digging yous.

MaestroRage responds:

A very long and detailed review for sure, please don't think I take any of this in offense, truth be told as mentioned I have weighed your words carefully and there is truth in them. I would love to express some ideas and thoughts on pm, expect a few soon ;).

I thought the most over what you said concerning Special effects in the tunes. I've always tried to keep effects to a minimum, but when I think on it, it seems EVERY song will have at least one. The revaluation, if you will, proved to be quite disturbing.

I am not going to write any more in this review box, and am going to start writing you a PM now. Well said WinTang, I hope to walk away from our debates with some more knowledge for my arsenal.

Thank you for the review.

[3 months down the line]

loverly

Glad to see you back mate.
Can see how my ditty inspired you but you took it to a whole other level here. I think the mix is spot on, including the click track and (seemingly) artificial static.
Trademark pitters stuff all around, adorable, beautiful. Yes, you still got it. Have a jolly 5 :)

pitbulljones responds:

awww nice one mate, i honestly can't thank you enough for inspiring me, it's been ages since i made anything. i doubt i'll be ever bangin em out at alarmin rates now, possibly one a month i dunno, whenever the inspiration takes hold.

nope not artificial static, thats a shit guitar recording that, gives it warmth tho so kinda like it.

thanks again mate

[sorcer]

sorcer?

This started out fun, you build toward a nice atmosphere. Your beats are good, not very original per se but still some interesting choices like the double time towards the end.

Melodically the track is rather weak though. The piano really comes out of thin air and sounds very tacky, the synth accompanying it is too out of tune and the whole thing repeats itself too much without variation.

Mixing and production can be improved on, but I'd focus on adding more direction to the harmonical aspect of your music. When you are going to use the same figure over and over, try to at least invent some slightly different endings to alternate between.

Keep experimenting!
4/5

1zin1 responds:

although i somewhat agree with you, i disagree with the un original beats seeing how there mine, and have obviously not heard them anywhere else.
And the piano is from the song sorcer
( "sorcer" don't know what it is? lok it up)
and was trying to break the song with the begging of the song.
it's all mix a mix of riffs i made, thats the song, and i wouldn't change it a bit.
but thatnks for the review, when i remix this song, i'll keep your statments in mind.