Everratic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Searching My Life (Music Box Version)]

This is incredibly catchy! I love the part when the lyrics come in. The chimes make the track sound so pretty.

etherealwinds responds:

Thank you very much! I'm very glad you enjoyed it Bluey! :)

[AIM - Chris, the Boat and the Tormented Sea]

The emotional state of the track fluctuates between tranquility and restlessness, as the chord progression progresses. The way you periodically slow down in playing serves as a momentum killer; the song lacks a stormy climax, but that's a good thing because the lack thereof contributes to the cold-somberness of the track, which appropriately resembles the art. I really like the chord progression; it flows well, yet it conveys so many emotions, from bittersweet to dissatisfaction. The LH arrangement is interesting to listen to by itself; it sometimes sounds like the RH is supplementing the LH arrangement, rather than vice versa. Additionally, the LH arrangement is far more memorable once the song ends. Regarding the mix, the piano sounds harsh and cold; it sort of denies one full-satisfaction, but that's appropriate here. Not only does your song resemble the art work well, but you managed to perfectly manifest the art work's color palette in your own work, from the cold-blues to the highlights and shadows. The very ending evokes a sense of dissatisfaction, which I believe was a risky move, but it worked. A more-satisfying conclusion wouldn't have been that appropriate here in my opinion. I wouldn't say that you composed this song in a rush, but rather, you got caught in the storm of life and made it out just in time :)

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

I agree with pretty much all of your observations! I would argue there's more than tranquility and restlessness in the motion, such as uncertainty, determination, etc. But that's definitely two major parts!

Also, although the song lacks a clear climax, there are a few parts that are a bit more triumphant than the others. One example is the part between 1:45 and 2:15.
It's good to hear you like the chord progression! It repeats almost entirely (with a few changes, and additions) after 1:35, but with a new arrangement, and at times differing right hand movement.

I'm especially happy you like the LH parts! A lot of the melody is indeed prominent in the left hands role, after all. Ofc, the top notes of the right hand, serve as a sort of melody at many points as well. Great observation, once again!

As you know, I tried several different mixes, to have some to choose between, and I settled for this one because it sounded the most grand, and fit the artwork the best (IMO). It would be very possible to create a "warmer" mix, but I think that would change the atmosphere a fair deal :)
I'm glad you seem to think so as well!

I definitely didn't want the piece to have a seemingly positive ending. I wanted it to be somewhat ambiguous, yet heavily leaning on the darker side of things. I wouldn't say it was a rush either, to be truthful. I just really managed to ride the waves of "flow" :D

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this more than once, and for reviewing it!

[Lost In The Hustle And Found You]

The guitar in the beginning evokes a feeling of disappointment and uncertainty, a feeling I'm too familiar with. This comforting vibe comes and goes throughout this emotionally complex track. Overall, the track is pretty somber, which really suits my taste :D I love your synth manipulation effects. They add so much depth and retain my interest. The low frequency, monotonous strings add
a lot of power to the track and drive the vibe of angst and disappointment. The dissonant violin is a really nice addition that enhances the mood of the section.

I'm not sure how you managed to create such a complex and spectacular instrumental, with beautiful vocals on top of it, in such a short time frame! You're incredibly skilled :D

Zoonotist responds:

Thank you so much for your review and compliments! I noticed I write better music when I'm depressed. It's my way to escape the life I had. One of many escapism methods beside alcohol, drug and nightmare. These music are physical fragments of my memories, and of my damaged mind. Music is my way to temporary remove the burdens.

[T-Logic - Ormolu]

You're excused :)

In my opinion, this is the catchiest song you've ever composed. The main melody is especially catchy, but the rhythmic elements don't lag far behind. In the beginning, the simple yet effective bass line supplements the melody quite well. Later, you created a very interesting chord progression behind the melody that provided some welcomed variety and dissonance. Your selection of instruments is delightful. Thanks to the variety of sounds, the song evokes several vibes, from electronic-mystery to a celtic sound. The sound design is pretty good, and I adore the pluck lead! The hi hats aren't very pleasing, but they're not annoying either. Maybe you could have automated them more in some way? This is a very enjoyable track overall! I played it on loop for a while.

TaintedLogic responds:

Wow! Thanks so much for all the positive feedback, BO! I have been trying to make my melodies both simpler and catchier, so I'm glad it paid off. ^^ I was hoping the pluck lead wouldn't sound too minimal, so I'm really glad you commented on it. Admittedly, the hi hats aren't doing much here besides adding texture. I'll try to think about that more going forward. Thanks again for the review. :D

[The Dream of a Robot]

Nice

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thanks

[Whispers of Remembrance]

I was hoping someone would submit a song of such a style, and I'm not disappointed. This is currently my favorite submission. The track has a majestic, adventurous videogame vibe, and it resembles the art work very well. The instruments aren't of utmost quality, but it's not a shortcoming here; it makes the song sound more like a nostalgic video game track.

ChronoNomad responds:

Happy to be of service, BlueOceans! I AIM to please (pun intended). High praise, indeed. Every instrument in the track is from the original VSCO Sample Library, which seemed like a solid fit for the nature of the track, and is uniquely appropriate since a copy of the VSCO 2 Orchestral Sample Library is one of the prizes. Plus, I love that video game-like nostalgia!

Now that I've finished my own track, I'm looking forward to exploring the others on offer. I'm sure you'll be hearing from me again soon!

[Penderecki's Dream]

Although I'd agree that this piece isn't likely to win, it's one of my favorite submissions so far. I have a high level of neuroticism, so I can really relate to the extreme emotions this track evokes. This will definitely be one of those tracks that I'll listen to periodically over the course of many years.

Phonometrologist responds:

Well I hope this doesn’t contribute to the neuroticism, but rather it being a theraputic one. Thank you for the comments.

[Cage of Memories]

This is one of my favorite tracks of yours! It's so lively and powerful. Some parts also evoke a haunting vibe. Everything sounds so professional, and the depth of the track is incredible. The are many different aspects of the track that I can focus on at any given point.

Zoonotist responds:

but im not professional :C, thanks for the compliment tho.

thank you for your review :)

[What Problems [LD38]]

I found this to be catchy even before it looped once! It sounds somewhat like a theme from a Zelda game, but Zelda songs don't have pianos with pitch bends. I wonder if you copied and pasted the violin midi into the piano channel. It sounds like a hybrid of a keyboard piano and guitar. I really enjoy it!

johnfn responds:

Hahahhaha yeah you got me. What can I say I was busy with the rest of my game :D

I find pitchbending piano to be hilarious because it's so impossible to do in real life. Unless you open up the piano and pull the strings i guess.

[Who If Not You - Now If Not When]

This is a spectacular track!
I love the percussion; it has a lot of depth and detail!

Zoonotist responds:

Thank you for your review, BlueOceans!