H2opoloseal's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Control]

Nice! Definitely had a neat and funky groove... the problem is that I was bored after only 1/3 of the way through. It's not that it's a boring sound at all, it's just repetitive! Get some bars in there that change the pattern a bit more , and when you double back around the second time, try incorporating some more new bars and a different timbre or tone to the lead!

Consider experimenting with some nice convolving reverb around the lead too, I imagine that would sound great with the right delay in places. The tone that predominantly takes over after 2:00 bugs me... if you took that and made a great melody out of it instead of an annoying syncopated gate (in my humble opinion, of course, I'm sure some love it.) A great little catchy melody coming in and going out with a low-pass filter would sound great, but that's my personal taste of course.

Nice percussion elements, sounded clean and concise, and I love the keys you use in the intro and outro. I've always been averse to the minimalist sound, which you probably accomplished really well, it's just never been my thing. I know the kids do like this kind of stuff. I've always been more old-school electronica; I like a myriad of elements coming together to weave one complex piece. So maybe it's just me.

Overall, it's a cool track with a lot of potential.

[Dying Earth]

Terrific rhythm and percussive bed, but please please please get some better percussion samples! Most were fairly cheap (not necessarily your fault) and mixed a bit dry, but not too much to where it's bad or bothersome, just a stylistic choice. I loved the track as a whole, just get some better samples! There are some great free packs online. Very well done! I liked it a lot. The concluding piano segment was my personal favourite.

Firefreezer responds:

Yea, I agree with you there. But for example: The military snare drum samples were really hard to find and I wanted to use them for such a long time - I just had to do it. :)
The hip-hop beat...yes, they could be better. Thanks anyway! =)

[Guitar Vs. Piano 1.2]

The melody is very strong, but I would have liked to see some better mastering and compression on the Slayer riff in particular. Great track.

[007: Eurodie - EuroOil X]

Not bad at all! I wanted to take away half a star because I really wanted it to get bigger, and it didn't, but I did like it, so I wanted to give it 4. The star I docked was due to composition, leveling, and compression issues I noticed - I also think it could ave been a bit more varied. I thought the piece was nice, definitely suitable for background music in a game. Maybe some of the strings could have used an elevated octave or two for some segments, maybe with a faster riff variant of the same melody you used... maybe a key change? Just throwing out ideas, but I did like it, and I'll be listening to your other work. Kudos!

Ironclover responds:

I appreciate your feed back, Its suppose to be in the style of Goldeneye's Multiplayer levels. Since the original file was All or Nothing, I had to stick with this style. Thank you for your suggestions and I will try them next time.

[African Drums]

Dig it! Could use a little more complexity, but neatly done and clean sounding.

[The Lost]

While it may have a different EQ/Mastering style to it, I totally loved it. The way it was compressed and EQ'd sounded awesome to me, and I bet this would do justice to any number of subwoofers. Great work!

[After Dark]

It's not necessarily my kind of sound, and I can see how it might be a bit of a polarizing track, but I liked some of it quite a bit! The first two minutes were not flooring, but the last thirty seconds were particularly great! To elaborate on my less-than-gleaming feedback of the first two minutes, there was too much distortion for me to relax with the track, as well as feeling very busy and cluttered, and a bit of a loudness-war. Like I said though, the last 30 seconds, especially the guitar-esque synth, were great.

Rhoder responds:

I didn't really meant it to be "clustered". I think I just mixed this slightly off.

thanks !

[Sky Kingdom of Arcadia]

The brass work on this track is astonishingly well-done! As another user said, very Lord of the Rings-esque! The vocals are similarly wonderful and wholesome... and in addition to the cymbal work, it is simply masterfully done.

Neon-Bard responds:

Thank you! That's really good to know! Actually this is the first time I've really worked with brass to this extent so at least I'm on the right track. Again the LotR reference is more than a compliment for sure! :)

[A Grand Adventure]

Sweet!

Not sure what's up with THAT doucher down yonder though!

I think this has a heck of a lot of potential. It is already very solid as is, I simply take issue wit ha small number of minor things. I feel the singing vox could have been mastered a bit differently, to provide the track with a more full sound... tickling the edges of the L/R channels with delay, for example. Keep in mind, this could simply be a preference thing, as The Chemical Brothers do a great deal and tremendous work with a minimally mastered sound, quite often.

Other than that, I feel that the beat was a little staccato, and did not quite match up with the "busy" feel that the track took on. Again, it could be just taste, but I feel that a number of other subtle percussion elements would do a great to making the track feel more "wholesome" and professionally done. As someone else mentioned, the percussion you are using sounded a bit dry, but going back to my Chemical Bro's example, it doesn't sound bad necessarily! The vox are the main thing that could use some moisture, in my opinion :)

Now that I'm finishing being an ass, I commend the great melodic and harmonic work, and I liked the underlying string "bed," if you will, very good. I thought the use of basses and kicks were very balanced and well done; orchestral stuff isn't meant to shake walls. I didn't mind the instrument quality at all.

My biggest thing are those vocals... they would sound strong if you just opened them up!! You know, some gentle reverb and stereo-seperated decay... I'll be looking out for the second edition! Based on the feel and sound you were going for, I think this track is very strong! Very Age of Empires - background-music-esque... or title menu theme... or credit roll music. Along those lines. Really liked it!

Let this all be taken with a grain of salt, as I do consider your melodic and composition skills much superior to mine own. That being said, perhaps you'd take the time to similarly critique my track "Core Collapse?" :)

Thanks mate, and great work!

Neon-Bard responds:

Hey H2o,

First off, I have to say...this is a fantastic review! I really appreciate it! Also, thanks for sticking up for the song! :)

"I think this has a heck of a lot of potential."
That definitely made me feel like I accomplished something because knowing that something has potential is a special thing indeed! :)

When you mentioned the vocals several times I couldn't help but agree. They seem too...I don't know...it's hard to describe. Continuing on, you were not being an "ass" at all. I had to laugh when you said that! If anything you've provided me with invaluable feedback that is crucial to me growing as an artist/composer. I'm going to take everything you said and think about it for the next song I make, which will undoubtedly help me improve. In particular, I'll try and aim for that 'wholesome' feel that you talked about.

I should mention that I haven't even heard of the 'Chemical Brothers' so I'm thinking it's time to check that out ASAP....but in the meantime I'll head over to your song and have a listen! :D

Again, I really appreciate this, it means a lot!
Neon-Bard

[Ma cherie. (Techno Remix)]

Great melodies and beat going on there, but for goodness sakes, AMPLIFY THAT LEAD!!!!!!!!! Make that baby scream!!!