ObsidianSnow's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Noise Research]

Interesting...

Initial comments: You seem to be new to this. That's ok, don't worry about that. You're experimenting, which is a critical step in getting better. Don't take the rating personally, either - I see potential here, so I'll help you if I can.

Flow: There's a bit too much repitition. I think you can probably hear that for yourself. The 3 seconds that keep looping do have a sort of flow of their own, which is good. But the whole piece doesn't have flow. It doesn't go anywhere or serve any musical purpose. There needs to be something done to make more rhythmical and harmonic variation.
Also, watch the transition from back to front of the loop - the loop doesn't finish the phrase before it begins again. You might want to fix that, or just keep it in mind for next time.

Balance: Decent, although you really only had one voice and a couple background effects going on to deal with. Nonetheless, I think that the balance present is still pretty good. Your mastering is actually fairly acceptable overall.

Effects: Not too much going on, but I like what I do hear. You seem to understand a few interesting little effects and how to use them.

Themes: No themes were really present. Throw in some melodies and variations, and some other voices or instruments... and you might have something in the way of themes. You have a nice atmosphere, though.

Extra: None.

Overall: [3.84/10.00]. Needs some practice, but you have the ability to get yourself places. Keep experimenting and getting better! :D

My review methods and the explanation can be found on my very first news post on my NG profile, in case you're wondering.

Power to you, Tix92!

Tix92 responds:

what can i say thanks so much :P now this is a helpful comment :D il keep in mind on everything you said so i can make things better and better. your totally right im still in an experimental fase im trying out lots of things. so thanks again for the review and il keep al this in mind when im going to make a next real thing :D

[<MWA> Trembling]

=D Yes.

Initial comments: I really like the way you introduce the piece, and I love the idea with the kids in the playground. I can see the imagery, too - this method is my personal favorite way of writing music, because so much emotion can be expressed...

Flow: Absolutely fantastic on every level. You were writing an image, with hundreds of emotions. The expression that comes across as a result of this method will always beat the hell out of anything that's just written for the sound of the music. There's just nothing like it.

Balance: I don't think I'll ever be able to complain about your balance. Full marks to you, sir.

Themes: Same deal as with the flow. There's just nothing like writing about an event, an image, emotion, or anything on that level. Especially when it's done through skilled hands.

Effects: This is my only complaint. I thought this might just have been my speakers, but my high-quality headphones are giving me this, too. Right at the beginning with the piano solo intro + children sounds, the notes in the higher register are creating some crackling and fuzz, which is something I haven't heard in any of your pieces in a long time. I'm sure you can fix this, I just think maybe you didn't notice. I was pretty surprised to hear that happen, I have to say. In any case, outside of that one thing, your effects are just phenomenal.

Extra: [+0.10] Awarded. That's something that almost never happens. I have no other words.

Overall: [9.98/10.00]. [10/10]. [5/5]. I really can't say more. I'm very impressed.

I don't care what other people are saying - there are certain qualities I find here that they would only see for themselves once they gain a greater understanding and appreciation for music. This is art - and more. It's times like this that I remember what music's greatest potential is. Thank you.

Power to you, MWA!

mjattie responds:

obsidiansnow :)

glad you took the time to review! I thought the cracking noise was my sound system... (it's logitech 5.1), but if it's bad on your expensive earphones, then I have to equalize the piano a bit in higher freq.

thanks for the 10 and 5!

[<MWA> Flexibility]

Worth cranking.

Initial comments: You continue to live up to the high expectations I have for you. I'm grooving to this.

Flow: Great. You managed once again to take me on a bit of a ride with this. Good use of your dynamics and musical expression.

Balance: As usual, I really have no complaints with your balance work. You seem to have found a bit of a "balance niche" that works for you. Keep it up.

Themes: Good use of the recurring themes... However, despite the fact that there was some distinct diversity in this track, at the end I still felt like there hadn't been anything particularly memorable about the piece. There was diversity, but it still lacked something to distinguish itself among other similar tracks. For some reason I'm thinking a saxophone solo would work really well to serve that purpose... I'm almost tempted to write a sax solo to go with this myself...

Effects: Everything blended in a really fantastic way. I can say nothing that would make the effects better.

Extra: [+0.03] Awarded. Might be more with the theme issue resolved...

Overall: [9.92/10.00]. [10/10]. [5/5]. Solid, solid stuff. Enjoyed from start to finish - even if I felt there was a little something missing.

Power to you, MWA!

mjattie responds:

yea it's plain, and I not regard this as one of my best pieces, but I just couldn't let it sink in my big folder of .rsn files and forever be forgotten :P Shall I give you the .rsn? :p and you remix it xD would be awesome

[Ziende Ben Ik Blind Geworden]

Vocals...

...I like it.

Initial comments: Great stuff - the lyrics are really great, too. Tips to the vocalist.

Flow: Has a mind of its own, and evolves really well. Genuinely enjoyable.

Balance: Definitely has the kind of balance you'd want to listen to while driving. Which is something I might do... No complaints.

Themes: Good work with this. I have one thing to say, though. Even though your lyrics are great, and even though I don't speak Dutch worth crap, I can tell when the lyrics repeat. And it seems to me that after the first time you go through the words, it just ends up being a repeat of the entire song. I might suggest adding at least one more verse so that there are both familiar elements (the chorus) and unfamiliar elements (verses) for the listener. You always want to balance predictability and unpredictability.

Effects: I have nothing to say here - I would be happy with these effects.

Extra: [+0.03] Awarded.

Overall: [9.89/10.00]. [10/10]. [5/5]. Very, very well done.

Power to you, MWA!

mjattie responds:

yea you're right... But I can't write vocals, I'm enormously bad with that xD I also said it to the singer, but he's lazy xD

thanks a lot for your review! your way of reviewing is very nice!

[<MWA> Don't Forget [DEMO]]

Review spree time!

That's right, I finally have the time to review all the things you've asked me to. I'm going to go full out on this run, too - I have some (sort of) new review methods, so check out this link to read about that if you'd like: ( http://obsidiansnow.newgrounds.com/ne ws/post/268177 ) (without the spaces)

Alright, here goes:

My initial comments: I like it. And I love the bass! It really sounds like you took my advice last time to heart - you've done a good job with it.

Flow: Yeah, I'm liking how this one works. I'd have liked to hear the rest, but hey, I'll take what I can get. Good work.

Balance: Everything in this category was great. Panning and levels were all just great, so I really have nothing to say here.

Themes: =D ^^ I couldn't have asked for more - except maybe for it to be longer... ;P

Effects: Great work with the phaser and your textures. It sounds full and rich while not being too busy or muddled. All your voices were well done, too.

Extra: [+0.04] Awarded. Great professional sound.

Overall: Solid. You get a very high-ranking [9.92/10.00] from me for this puppy. [5/5]. [10/10].

Power to you, MWA!

mjattie responds:

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

well I can send you the original version or just let you buy the cd xD BECAUSE I'M SELECTED FOR THE EP2!!!!! :P

lol

[Fredgy - Dream Away]

Nice tune!

Some awesome stuff happening here. Definitely something I'd put on my playlist.

Flow: Awesome. The piece progressed through some really distinct stages that were all unique, interesting, and enjoyable to listen to. Full marks here.

Mastering: Great work here, too. Everything sounded full, rich, and clear. Full marks.

Balance: Good transitions in the balance between voices, and nothing was ever overpowering / overpowered. Full marks.

Themes: The piece had distinct themes which were played on throughout the entire piece. They could be followed and were not confusing, while still maintaining enough variation that there was always something new to listen for - which meant that I was actively listening throughout the piece. Full marks.

Voices: Everything fit together nicely, and sounded good. No complaints, and full marks.

Effects: Great. There was active use of a range of different effects, all of which added to the piece in a positive way. I liked the use of "here we go", too. I only have one suggestion: You use a kind of noise run during the buildup to the first climax (right at the end of the intro). This works really well, except that in this case the pitch begins to fall again just before we enter the climax. This might have worked well musically, but the fall lasts a little too long. As a result, the climax was... well, a little less climatic than it could have been. Not a big issue, but something I noticed.

Extra: I have a bonus system for reviewing when I find meaning in a song or something indicates that it has just a unique/extraordinary quality in it. Note that the highest score I'll give to a song without bonus is 9.90/10. In this case, it did give me a bit of a shiver in one or two places. [Bonus = +0.04]

Overall: A fantastic piece, well put together and generally well done. With minimal noticable issues, I put this piece at a very solid 9.92/10

Which means that you, sir, recieve a 10, a 5, and a shiny gold star. (Once my carrier pidgeon finally figures out that it's supposed to take things to other people, anyways)

Great work.

Power to you, Fredgy!

Fredgy responds:

wow thanks for this HUGE review haha :D
nice :p
glad you like it, and that you looked at everything, not like some people do :p

[Leave the World Behind]

Eh...

This... umm... Let me make this blunt. (But don't feel discouraged - I'm not sparing you any ugly on this one...)

The drums sound horrific. I understand that you wanted a really gritty, hard sound from them - which you got - but it had absolutely no relevance to the music itself, and clashed in such a way that I just wanted to run and hide in the section around 1:00. You probably should have stuck with a more normal sounding drum kit.

I've heard this melody (one that's least extremely similar) before, too - I can't remember the song, but I do remember that it was played live for the finale at the Basel Tattoo (I was performing there) in Basel, Switzerland this past summer. It may have been an MJ tune (R.I.P., MJ - you were weird, but we loved you, and you were important for the development of the music world). Look it up.

As soon as it got to 2:06, I lost almost all hope for the rest of the song - did you completely randomise the notes of that solo, or did you actually put in those notes yourself? Because it sounds like a little kid hitting the keys of a piano pretending as though he knows how to play (I mean that in the kindest way possible). It didn't get better before the end, either.

Speaking of the end, it's far too abrupt. you need an ending that makes sense - because that one really didn't.

In short, there's a lot of work I think you need to do before this sounds good. I'm going to assume that this is completely original - in your own mind, at least - for my marking here (out of fairness)...

Unfortunately, I'd give this about a 5.64/10 on my scale. You have a nice theme, but it's just not working right now. Do some music theory and listen to professional music of this genre. Look at some tutorials. And then try again.

Because I think you can pull this off if you do.

Power to you, daniel-mcl.

daniel-mcl responds:

Here is how I made this song:

(1) Buy new laptop, discover that it comes with something called Garage Band
(2) Choose a random drum loop
(3) Record each track by picking out a synth voice and "playing" it using the laptop keyboard, i.e. you press "A" for a C, "W" for a C#, etc.
(4) Publish with no editing whatsoever about thirty minutes after step (1).

I don't listen to pop or rock music, so I wouldn't have any idea as to how common the melodies are, but given that someone else thought it sounded similar to something from a video game I'm guessing that this is a pretty universal melody.

Note that I was using builtin laptop speakers so I also have no idea what anything below the treble range sounds like. However, given the average quality of a randomly selected portal submission I decided that this wouldn't be out of character to submit. I'm afraid I have neither the time nor the inclination to become a professional rock guitarist, but if you'd like to reorchestrate this yourself, then by all means take it.

[Cast From the Stars]

Yes.

I like.

Good = very yes. (In case you were ever into HomeStarRunner)

It was a nice piece. I enjoyed listening to it, and the slight 8-bit element to it made it just that much better for me. I love good, solid, 8-bit music. It was a nice touch.

I don't have much in the way of suggestions on this one, as I'm not quite as experienced in making trance music... But if I had to ask for one thing from this piece I'd have to go with an increase in the amount of tension present. More effects, buildups, and "explosions" in the music would be great. Essentially giving it a slightly more dynamic impact would be nice.

Other than that, I really can't say much. 9.77/10, 5/5. Good work.

Power to you, Bracksta!

Bracksta responds:

thanks for the great review, there needs to more reviewers like you.

[<MWA> Peace Inside Me]

Awwww yeah.

The sound was the first thing that hit me (still haven't finished listening, writing as I go) was the clarity of the sound. Some sick mastering here, my friend.

You've got a fresh feel to this one. The themes I usually hear in your music were so invisible that for a second I almost thought it was a different artist. You've definitely grown, MW (Since that is your new name now). Completely new feel, and a new name to boot. I'm really enjoying this one.

Good, strong beat... Nice underlying themes... Solid melodies... A groove that gets me moving a bit... Overall, great excecution.

The only thing I would go so far to suggest with this one is with the bass. For some reason I just want it to take up some more space... you know, give it a wider, more expansive feel (I have no idea how you'd do this, btw. Let me know if you come up with something, yeah?). I also kind of want it to make my chest vibrate a bit... you know how that happens when you're at some crazy dance party and the music is up loud and that bass just reverberates throughout your entire body? If you managed to put a bit of that in here, I'd be flipping out and drooling, probably.

Man, we need to finish our third collab, here (Shhh, I didn't say that! What are you people talking about, third collab? You people are all crazy. ;P ). I think I'll pull it out now and give it a bit of a push. Maybe it's finally ready for its 15... seconds, probably (lol)... of fame.

Sorry about not hitting the character limit on this one the way I said I would last time, but... It's really hard to do that (mind you, I did hit the 7000 character limit on my FABT RPG Collab thread in the flash forums. ;P ).

...But I'll keep trying to hit that limit, MW. Just you wait.

...One day...

10/10, 5/5, Favs. Keep that stuff coming!

Power to you, MW!

mjattie responds:

haha Ian XD

The bass is hard, and I can't figure something better out... I guess I'll have to experiment some more with it...

Man don't try to hit that character limit XD I think it's deadly XD

Shh, what 3rd collab? You're crazy... XD (bye the way, we could start a new one, since you find it hard to work on this one ;), I don't really mind)

I'm glad you like it :)

[Fondest Memories]

Song = :D

You almost got a 10 from me on this one. The audio still has a few cracks and a bit of fuzz in it, but it's much better in that district than in some of your other work. It's almost unnoticeable here.

Atmosphere: omfg. Beautiful.

Flow: !!! ^^ :D

Balance: Great. Could be marginally better, but I don't think there's really all that much space for improvement here.

Effects: The reverb and delay are brilliant. All your textures are really well done, too.

General: I WANT. For it to give me a massive, soloing climax at the end, and then to drop back into a gentle ambience to pull me out into the far corners of eternity, that is.

9.92/10, 5/5. Favs. PM me when this one is done, yeah?

Power to you, lanky21!

lanky21 responds:

Funny you should mention the ending. I had this big, accoustic guitar break out planned for the finale that I eventually removed because I thought it may be a bit too overpowering considering the mellow flow of the rest of the song. Perhaps I'll put it back in and see if I can't make it work. Thanks for the great comments!