BloodyN00b's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Lost Colony {Trevor Dericks}]

Perfect

When I listen to this I imagine something like the abandoned mining colony in KOTOR2, and I'm sure it could go with some environments in Mass Effect too, at least from the pictures I've seen. It has that feeling to it like the colony is not entirely abandoned, because some machines are still running...

There is one thing that disturbes the atmosphere in my opinion, the very sudden pitch shift a few seconds before the end. I don't know what effect it could have in a game, it is possible that it might fit perfectly into some environments and I realize that it also smoothens the loop. But I the bass is kinda heavy throughout the track and an it's important element. Suddenly dropping it out and at the same time highpassing everything else creates a feeling like we're getting beamed back up to our ship and getting the hell away from that colony.

On second though, that effect would probably be very desirable in a game!

So overall, great work as always =)

[Plains Theme]

The effort shows

Seems like the guy who made the request missed out on a lot, because this song is great.

The combination of instruments works really well, the mixing is great. The rhythm is energetic, but the melodies are calm. A nice contrast that gives it a very adventurous feel.

There are many details in this song and I'm going to study them. One day I want to make a song like this =D

Step responds:

Wow, thanks!

I'm pleased that you like the track. Pretty surprised you think the mixing is great though because when we made it we didn't know how to mix if our lives depended on it :P.

But anyhow thanks again for the supportive feedback!

[Quadrasector Iota Chloe]

Definitely 10/10

I've waited way too long with this review. The thing is that I want to find the right words to describe the song. But I've made little progress with that.

Anyway, I think it is excellent from start to end. The melody is very catchy, I haven't forgotten it since I first heard it and I still come back and listen to the song every now and then.

There is one part that always catches my attention around 02:30. It sounds like some kind of filter+panning automation. It sound a bit different on different speakers, so I have multiple opinions about it. On my regular headphones for example, it sounded pretty uncomfortable before I got used to it.

But right now I'm using in-ear earphones and I get a feeling as if something is put over my ears at that part, kinda like a very mild airplane ear. Considering that it lasts only about 10 seconds, that's an amazing effect that I haven't heard in any other song. It somehow makes me imagine taking off and soaring above the clouds.

[Japanese Fields]

Great!

I was drinking a cup of good herbal tea when I stumbled upon this loop. I was impressed by the soundscape you threw me into, in an instant I was watching those japanese fields from atop a hill. Farmers were harvesting rice, the sun was shining and the sakuras by the edges of the fields were in bloom.

Then the song looped and I swear I nearly choked on my tea! You were certainly not exaggerating when you said that you looped this perfectly, no Sir. That was the best loop I have heard in a long time. Perfection like this can be lethal! =P

Step responds:

Haha thanks xD.

Yeah I like the atmosphere I did here quite a bit, but this loop was mostly a product of me wanting to try out my new VST Ethnoworld.

Oh and sorry for making it a perfect loop :P.

Thanks for the review!

[Spiced Banana Smoothie]

Hell yes.

I was expecting another one of those "ambient" pieces I so often hear that feature complex melody lines, like trance. But your song is ambient for real, it isn't trying to tell me a story or have me feel a certain way (well, it does but it doesn't feel forced). It just is there in the background and lets me choose whether I should try to listen more closely to its sounds or just go on with my business.

The dumbek part has a life of it's own though, because the steady rhythm breaks the ambient feeling and catches my attentention (i.e distracting, because I start dancing). But you're pretty quick to counteract this with the whistle and bringing the ambience back.

I haven't played Azurefish yet, but I imagine the combination of the ambience and the dumbek work very well in a game. Keep up the good work =)

[Skittles - F-777]

Tight

What a variety of sounds! It sounds so random, but the drums and the bass keep it all together very nicely. And it's all perfectly mixed.

[First attempt @ Orchestral]

It's alright

I like the pattern, but after the first five seconds I would have really liked to hear some variation, whether rhytmic, melodic or textural. And because I can hear the potential in this I'm going to criticize it to the best of my abilities.

In my opinion, the same accents over and over again get repetitive, so I would have tried doing something with the violin/viola that's at the top of the mix. There is so much that could be done to make it interesting, even in 35 seconds. Expected accents could be left out, or it could switch roles with the bass/cello on some notes. I would have expected more tension, leading to a more significant release.

However, I believe you wanted to add some melody instead at ~00:20, which would be fine, but why is it in the background? It is overwhelmed by what should be its accompaniment. In this situation I would have expected a change in dynamics to bring that melody to focus! One can barely hear it as it is now.

But let's move from the bad to the good. Out of the individual instruments, I'm amazed by the bass. Especially in the beginning, before ~20, it brings much needed variation to the rhythm and gives a feeling of movement.

In general, I think you have a very good foundation for an orchestral piece. And that is also why I cannot give it a 10/10. It is very good for a first try, I get the impression that you know your music theory. And I look forward to hearing your 2nd attempt!

Lithorph responds:

Thanks for your awesome review, ill take everything in and do my best on my next attempt :)

[Dream of being best]

Good

I have to say that I don't usually like slow beginnings with only the strings playing slow chords. But it is common, and for a good reason. I imagine it would work very well as some kind of transition in movies.

When the drums kick in, that's when shit gets real. Their contrast gives the chords a whole different meaning. The melody starts playing, and it all starts to make sense. Intensity increases as a choir, which I realize has been in the background all the time, brings on the forte. They sing with all their hearts (sounds a bit synthy though), the whole song has been a buildup to this. And it's great. It even sounds as if a viola takes over playing the melody, that alone makes this worth a 10/10.

Then, suddenly, it's gone. And it feels unresolved to me. But, I realize that the song is exactly what you wrote it would be. You express both the feeling of being best and the hard work behind it very well. Honestly, I haven't heard all the NAC submissions yet, but in contrast to the couple I've heard, this one seems to expresses complex emotions flawlessly. It feels like it's on a different level, not written for the NAC.

I hope you win.

Cleverhill responds:

First of all, I was a bit moved by you review - I'm glad and proud such words can describe my work/composing.
Weither I win or not, doesn't really matter. I never thought I would make it to top 8, and if I succeed express emotions through music, I feel like I've already won!
Thank you for your review!

- Dan Cleverhill

[The Robot Top 100]

What am I listening to?

I'm sorry, but it sounds like the song has been rammed through a myriad of bitcrushers, thrown off a cliff, catapulted into space, lodged into a meteor, and jammed back down through the atmosphere before reaching my ears. There must be something wrong with my Internet connection.

You can rest assured that I would never make fun of your composing skills, I would instead question the mixing. What is the point of all the lo-fi clutter?
I know there must have been some thought behind this, but I don't understand it. I hear what could be a great concept, hidden beneath layers of disturbing distorsion.

Because I don't understand it, I'm rating it mostly by my personal taste and I feel generous giving it 3 stars. Perhaps I'd give it a higher score if it was part of a greater picture that would make more sense. After all, it does provoke both thoughts and emotions and it does not physically hurt my ears (other "songs" have).

CCCAGENTCHARLES responds:

YOUR JUST SAD BECAUSE EVERYONE THINK IM CUTE