Gravey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Jungle Gospel (edit)]

So...

I am sitting at my pc, and just got around to realizing you have a lot of entries on here. And I really like all the stuff you have sent me so far, so I'ma go listen to everything I haven't listened to yet.

I remember hearing the original of this song, but I'm not sure I heard this new edit. I like it. It is fuller than the other version, which is always nice. I like the ending. Although, it is kinda odd. Good work here. 4/5 and 8/10.

-Gravey-

P.S. - When you post the final version of this, make sure there isn't 0:30 of blank space at the end of the track! X-D (The one mistake I've found in all your songs. I had to poke a little fun at it!)

Aeris responds:

lol i just noticed they were doing that, iTunes auto-cuts them so i never knew x3

thanks for being such an awesome reviewer :D

[Spill the Sands of Time]

Damn Man...

You have the whole concept writing down. This is fucking amazing! And it reminds me of clocks, which is awesome!

I love the transitions from major to minor, and even to a diminished chord in a few select places. The overall sound you got was very nice indeed.

Now, to go a little more into the music itself. I like the quiet, dark intro. It sets the mood very nicely, and gives this song a peculiar feeling right away. When the instruments come in around the 0:20 mark, it isn't too loud. Yet you can definitely tell the song has truly started.

I am not sure I like the strings up to the 1:00 mark. Strings are a good choice, but I'm not sure those strings are. Now the background strings are perfect, but I'm talking about the harmonic strings that are arpeggiating. There is something just not right about their sound. I think you need more percussive strings for that part. Maybe what you could do, is put a piano part playing the exact same thing. It would give it that percussive edge it needs, and if done correctly might just fit nicely into the mix.

I love the "Wah Wah" sound you have going throughout the piece. Very original and nifty, if I may say so. The piano at the 1:00 mark is simply beautiful. Not really that complicated, but the quality of its sound truly enhances the overall mix of instruments. I like it when it comes in earlier as well, but it really shines at the 1:00 mark on.

Now, is that an oboe at the 1:30ish mark? Cause it adds a very dramatic quality to the piece, and really brings this song to a nice close musically. Very nice choice there, very nice indeed.

And am I mistaken, or are there some clock sounds going on in this piece? I love the sound because it gives you that constant that every song needs. I am extremely pleased at how you composed this song. 5/5 and 9/10, because I'm not sure it is perfect. Like I said, I would change those strings in that one section. Other than that though, perfect!

-Gravey-

P.S. - I hate people who vote 0/5 on everything. I vote 5/5 and it averages out to 3.2, because the person before me voted so low. I'ma come back and vote 5/5 a few times to raise that score to where it belongs! :-D

Aeris responds:

i'll look into those string timbres, i think you're right... maybe cuz it's kinda supposed to be swelling. But ya i'll fool around with it.

yes i did use clock sounds, in fact, they're the same ones from Dreamin' Clocks x3
I was unhappy with how the sound was portrayed, so i tried again and BAM i'm happy.

That is actually a clarinet, I found that it made an awesome distortion sound.

And yes, unfortunately somebody was a dick and zero-bombed my song, but it's making its comeback.

anyway, night, sleep well
-Aeris

[Canon 4 the Seventh Sun (2:23)]

Interesting...

Very warm tone. It has a very solemn mood and timbre as well. Only problem is, it doesn't go anywhere.

Like the guy who reviewed before me, I think this sounds like a jam tape. Just you getting some ideas out of your head and into the guitar. Which is not bad, but typically jam tapes don't really give much aesthetically as a listener. It does to the writer, but unless you are looking for a good tunes to sit back and get high to, jam tapes really don't do much.

I do love the overall sound however. Simply beautiful. The sound and tonal qualities are very rich and warm. This has such a wonderful texture to it. I would love to hear a real song come out of this. With or without vocals, I think this could turn into something very wonderful.

I'm giving you a 2/5 and 5/10 because there is potential here. And like I said, I love the sound. But there really doesn't seem to be much in the way of writing. Just kinda go along with the flow, and that is ok sometimes. But a little variety is necessary in everything. So I hope you expand on this. If you do please send me a pm. Cause like I said, I would love to hear it.

-Gravey-

WinTang responds:

Thanks and I guess I agree. Might remark that I never intended it to sound like a jam tape - it is a pretty simple experiment with three guitars playing the same basic progression in canon. While that results in some interesting harmonies, I share the feeling that it lacks any actual direction or variety.
I do plan to expand on this, I just don't know how yet. Your comments were once again welcome! Thanks a lot.

[K'nex and the City (1:46)]

Uh....Wow...

Can't say I like it, at all. Although it is....interesting. I will say nice job on coming up with a video game tune. This would be perfect in all those old school original Nintendo games.

There is one sound in it that reminds me of the sound that Mario makes when he goes into a tube on the original Mario Bros. Maybe I'm an idiot, idk. But yea, other than that I really didn't dig this. Sorry. Maybe use some different sounds in it, to give it a little...balance? Yea, that might be the word I'm looking for, but I'm not sure. I'll give ya a 2/5 and 3/10.

Hope this didn't seem like a hate-fest of a review. I didn't intend it to be, if you took it that way. :-/

-Gravey-

WinTang responds:

No man I don't mind at all... as long as you don't mind that I don't intend to step away from the "bleeps" on this one... It's intended to be a trying listen, hence it's not for everyone.
There are a lot of more easy-listening tunes on my profile if you're still interested... you might dig tracks like "Time for bed", "Galactic summer" or "Crystalline".
Thanks for listening and taking the time to word an honest opinion!

[Oops, I Did It Again - MS]

Sorry...

I can't get into this at all. Oddly enough the music itself was done ok. I mean you got the notes and everything right. But you didn't do anything with it, other than make the notes and pick sounds. Really doesn't sound like you put any real work into it.

I get the whole thing with the vocals as well. I like the sound in certain flash videos. But I really don't get into people making songs with them.

-Gravey-

[Trance - Wake Up]

Nifty...

I didn't realize you posted any music on here. I guess it is my time to return the comment favors! :-D

First off, nifty loop and beats. Especially around the 1:40 mark. That secondary sound is really cool. Not the thumping bass, but the high pitched, fast hitting sound. Also, around 2:20 the bass hum gets a bit overhyped. Maybe tone that down a notch or two, to help the song out a bit.

Overall I like it, nice little trance-like tune. 4/5 and 8/10, mainly cause I wanna hear a new version of this that is remixed. And if I give ya a 5/5 then you won't do it! ;-) Nice job man.

-Gravey-

Badspreekill responds:

Hehe thanks bro.
Now i know what to correct!

I will be also posting a new audio too.

[Test Subject A]

YES!

So I wanted to find your first submission on here, and compare it to what you are writing now. It is nifty indeed.

I love the strings that come in a little after the 1:00 mark. And that sound around the 1:30 mark is fucking intense man. Cool as all hell. I really love the dissonance in that section. What sounds did you use for that industrial effect? The machine effect is so cool, I wanna use it in something myself.

Then the strings come in VERY nicely. Creates a very stimulating effect aesthetically. Really makes the ears rise up in attention, that is for sure.

Going in my favorites immediately! 5/5 and 10/10. I truly love this piece.

-Gravey-

Aeris responds:

thanks :D

I used an 3x oscillator, the major oscillation being a tone, and the 2 minors are fuzz.

I used the same effect in Desdemona, except with a few more mixer effects.
Also check out simsynth, it's part of FL already. It's got a good oscillator.

[Desdemona]

Almost Epic...

The piano part is nice. I like the back and forth feeling of the chords.

(Rocking, as in rocking something back and forth. Not "rocking it out" of course. Just clarifying this for meat heads who have never heard the term used for anything BUT their favorite pop band.)

You did a nice job of rocking the chords with the tonal of the chord progressions you wrote. Very nice indeed.

The strings are a nice touch as well. Which strings setting did you use? They really glide along nicely on their own. And the piano matches them beautifully. I think maybe some oboe and french horn would make this song truly epic.

Very nicely done. 4/5 and 8/10 from me, because I don't want this to be the finished version of the song! I'ma make you work for that 5/5 and 10/10! ;-)

-Gravey-

P.S. - I posted the final version of Acoustic fun. It's the "Sexy" demo I posted! X-D

Aeris responds:

cool thanks, and i'll make another epic version for your ears C:

i'll be sure to check out your sexy demo lol

the strings i used can be found in the squidfont soundfont. vlns I Detache

[Jungle Gospel]

You said it...

...Odd! lol But interesting all the same. I love the percussion section a lot. Now, did you single-handedly come up with all the percussion instruments yourself? Or was there a pre-made kit you used? Either way, it is pretty nifty sounding.

I like the choir sound a lot in this song, but the accompanying strings are a bit louder than necessary in my opinion. The...Monkey?...sounds are cool as fuck, and mixed in perfectly. Very nice touch there. Gave this the true "jungle" feel you were going for.

Now normally I would give you a 4/5 and 7/10 overall. But your score is below 2.5 and that is WAY to low for this entry. So I gave ya a 5/5 and 7/10 instead! I got ya above 3 at least, which was what I was aiming for. Cause I think a 3-4ish score on this song is about right overall.

Is it done completely? Or are you planning on working on it some more? Nice job here either way.

-Gravey-

Aeris responds:

i came up with the percussion and everything on my own x3
well, i wrote it, but i didn't like record it or anything.

thanks for the 5/5 x3
I'm probably done with it, maybe make a few edits, but its length probably won't go any longer. Like the crash at about 2:48... it wasn't meant to be there. And the outtro needs to be worked on, and there's too much left over time for some reason. Also i'll probably edit the high string melody.

Haha thanks for the monkey comment, :D it's peculiar but i thought it tied this piece together perfectly.

[Piano and Drums]

Eh...

I can't lie, I hate the reverb/delay on the piano. But having played the piano for over 19 years, I'm kinda stuck in my old school traditional ways when it comes to piano sounds. It is unique though, I will give you that.

3/10 because I just didn't dig the sound.

-Gravey1-

dj-KDUB responds:

fair enough