Gravey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Used_to]

Wonderful...

I love the atmosphere and overall vibe of this song. It is so laid back and inviting to the ears. The mix of instruments is wonderful as well. Really, can't say anything negative about this song.

5/5 and 10/10 overall.

This has been favorited.

-Gravey-

Tokolos responds:

Thanks Gravey
you did a great job.

[Cast From the Stars]

Not Bad...

The percussion is kinda lame-duckish though. I would add some glitches and stuff to it to give it some flair. I'll show you later what I mean exactly. :-)

The synths are decent, but awfully stereotypical. Would have been nice to hear something a little different than the norm. Most of the synths used are decent, they just don't really stick out as anything new or original.

The song was alright until the FL Slayer came in. That really made me want to cry. Slayer might just be the worst sounding vst ever created. It's really bad, so you should stay away from using it at all costs.

The ending gets pretty cool and intense with all the layers of melodies and synths. Very nice how it built up to a climax then died down at the very end.

Also, I hear clipping throughout the last 1/3 of the song. You should check in on that bud.

Not a bad tune, but nothing really original in it either. So it's good, but not really great.

4/5 and 7/10 overall.

-Gravey-

Bracksta responds:

ya i need help with fx and EQ :(

[<PS> Love Scene for Strings]

Lovely...

This is quite exquisite my friend. You have quite a knack for writing the slow and long drawn out string pieces. This is definitely just more of the same that I come to expect from you. :-)

There really isn't much to say other than this fits exactly what you were going for. It's slow and methodical, and really hits home on your intentions of a sort of love song. Especially for the soundtrack of a movie.

5/5 and 10/10 overall.

-Gravey-

PenguinSam responds:

Thank you!

It actualy really fits with tonight, I just found out that the girl I liked likes me and we're official, and this happens to be her favorite song of mine, so I think it all fits together nicely.

I'm glad to here that fits what I was going after, especially from you!

<PS>

["Glowsticks"]

Heh...

...Not to sound like a broken record, but this sounds exactly like everything else you've ever submitted. Lol!

Btw, there is clipping going on around the 1:12 mark I think. At least it sounds like it on my speakers, but I could be wrong.

But back to my original point. It's more of the same in just about every way. This song is 95% effects, 5% composition, and that isn't really a good balance between the two. Because when you rely on effects so much your music begins sounding the same. And that is happening with your music; it is becoming stale.

Also, I can't lie, I'm really not crazy about the one synth. It sounds like a bunch of white noise to me in all honesty, and really just fills up a lot of space which makes the overall sound and mix a bit stagnant. Its the big fat synth that has white noise over top of it's actual sound.

I don't want to be overly harsh bud, but it just sounds like you aren't trying to progress as a writer. Now I'm not saying you aren't any good, and that your music just sucks. Your music doesn't suck. But there isn't a single moment in this song that actually is based more on the composition itself, rather than the effects which warp it. And there isn't a single moment in this song I could really say sounds anything different from what you've written before.

It's just a dangerous way to write because things start sounding the exact same, and your style becomes stagnant. I'm not saying you have to branch out and start making indie pop or classical music. But there are definitely different styles of trance music. You should try going down a different path in your favorite genre, and simply writing something that pushes your boundaries a bit.

Flashy effects are fun and all, but when they are the backbone of your song I think there is an issue arising.

But I'll show some love cause I know you worked hard on this. And it doesn't sound bad, other than the clipping I think I hear. :-P

4/5 and 7/10 overall.

-Gravey-

P.S. - I think the title is very appropriate for this song. :-)

Rukkus responds:

Thank you a ton for this review. I don't know why my songs start sounding the same after awhile. Its just a really bad habbit that i get into. But like the last review you gave me, i'll take your advise and try heading into a new direction. I don't really know what else to say besides the fact that you're right. So i really appreciate the critisizm and advice because i def needed it. Thnx man. I'll try to keep growing lol

[MH16: Maybe Tomorrow]

Nice...

I really like this. It has a very unique atmosphere that would fit a lot of purposes. For the most part though, it sounds like something you could hear on the radio. Not alone though, but rather with some vocal artist putting their lyrics over top of what you have here.

I like the mix of instruments in this song, a lot actually. And the percussion is pretty much right on. I like the set you used, and the shaker does a wonderful job of taking up space and yet not being distracting or obnoxious. Very nice touch there my friend.

The guitar sounds great as well. I really like the guitar a lot. Wonderful quality sound that fits the emotion of the song.

5/5 and 10/10 overall.

-Gravey-

FairSquare responds:

Haha, is that this song could be heared on the radio a good or a bad thing? :P
And the shaker are actually half open hi-hats, played very softly and in a shaker pattern.
Well, thanks for the review! :D

[(gaia) va bad-man-inc preach]

Great...

This is really good. I mean what is there to say that hasn't already said in the reviews before me? :-P

Nice to see someone as nice as yourself actually get some recognition on Newgrounds.

(Not one of my better review I know. Sorry, I'll make up for it next time.) ;-)

5/5 and 9/10 overall.

-Gravey-

rednikaiaG responds:

You're so silly, Gravey------!
It meant the World to me that you made it here to write a review PERIOD. Ok? I mean, I wasn't asking for an epic novel or anything!
Thank you for always voting honestly.
I know that I can ALWAYS count on you for that.
Hmmm, I only assume, when I check my inbox, there will be a new song up for YOU as well? Heh heh heh I shall proudly go, where no man has. . . wait a minute, this sounds familiar, yeah.
I'll go review yours too. Besides, it's like I get a free movie when I listen to one of your pieces, ya know? You're quite the ivory tickler, Gravey!
Until you baffle my audio movie creating talents yet again. . .

..........Take care, be good and don't worry about
"makin' anything up", ah-ite?question mark

[FFIVThemeofLove-Metaljonus]

Not Bad...

It has a nice gentle flow, and really has such a wonderful tone throughout the entire song. The overall mix is really nice as well. I have never played Final Fantasy, so I can't compare it to the original. But from what I hear as a stand alone version, this would be a solid recreation of the old.

I would have to say though, you seem to do an awful lot of cover songs. I can't say I'm all that crazy about cover songs. A few every now and then are good, especially when they are songs that aren't done so much.

But other than the fact that this is yet another cover of a Final Fantasy song, I can't really find much wrong with it. It really flows wonderfully, has a nice variety of instruments, and the mix is solid.

Oh, and I really love the piano. It sounds great. :-)

5/5 and 9/10 overall.

-Gravey-

Metaljonus responds:

Gravey train! lolz. Thanks for the review. I pretty much do all of the these cover just to fuck with and get to know these programs I am using now. I have'nt had time to really sit down and write a new original. But when I do it'll be pwn! Thanks for listening!

[Fire Spider]

Decent...

...but there are improvements to be made. :-)

I'm not crazy about the vocals. They are too bland. You might think about adding some glitch effects to them to give them a more industrialized touch. Reverb is almost always good for vocals, no matter what the style or genre. So adding some glitches and reverb to the vocals would probably improve them a bit.

The percussion is pretty decent, but not all that punchy. You should compress the kick and snare a bit to get some more oomph outta them. Now if this is a full set vst like the Tama generator in FL, you should use the multiband compressor in order to compress the different frequency ranges of the kit seperately. That could help a lot.

The synths are ok, but not all that mind shattering. You need to add some effects to them, and like the vocals some glitches would be appropriate. Maybe some tape stops here and there, and some noise gates going on would be cool to hear as well.

Lastly you need to fill up space. There is so much open air in this song that you could fill up by introducing new instruments, melodies, harmonies, and percussion rhythms even. Now you don't want a million things going at once probably, but this could really benefit from some more layers, such as synths.

But this is not bad at all, so don't take this review as me trying to be harsh. I'm just trying to give you some ideas so you can grow as a musician is all.

3/5 and 6/10 overall.

-Gravey-

Bracksta responds:

lol, cool, cool, i wish i had more reviews like this. it has been a while since i have gotten such a good review. thanks bro, i'll work on it all.

["Track 13" v3]

It's Interesting...

This is similar to many of your other tracks, and all of them are good for the trance style you are going for. This song seems like it was a bit rushed though. Some quality issues are present, from clipping to odd compression. Might have wanted to spend a little more time on the quality side of things rather than the composition stuff.

The one thing I have to ask is are you growing as a musician? You songs are all basically in the same genre and style. You should think about expanding you writing style by forcing yourself to write in new genres.

Now I know this is posted as techno and not trance, but in all honesty this is pretty straightforward trance. So you should think about expanding to new genres, and I mean ones that aren't closely related to trance. Something like the blues, classical, rock, metal, even DnB would be a new frontier for you as a writer.

As far as this song goes, I like it. But it definitely isn't one of your better songs. It just seems like you might have hit a musical rut like I sometimes do.

4/5 and 7/10 overall.

-Gravey-

Rukkus responds:

Ya, i understand what you're trying to say. I used to make orchestral music too, so i guess i'll try going back to that for a bit because my techno and trance songs seem to be becomming too generic. Thanks for the review man.

[Blue Fuzion - Return (Special)]

Typical...

It is produced really well, but is far to stereotypical of this genre to really get me into it. I really just don't enjoy this style of music at all. But you asked for a review, and here it is.

Like people said before the production work is impressive, er, loud. Which is the most important thing with this genre. The louder it is the more people love it, and this is definitely in your face. So that is a good thing I guess.

I hated the intro. I like the concept, but it just didn't sound that good to me. I would rework the intro a bit. It just didn't really sound as much old school, as just bad quality. Some EQ work there would probably help, as well as finding a better vinyl simulator.

The synths are good choices, but then again I get back to that stereotypical trance sound. It just isn't anything out of the ordinary. And that is something that I always look for in music. Is there something there that can separate this artist from the rest of the pack. And although this is a upbeat and very in your face trance song, I would have to say this isn't distinguishable from 90% of trance music I've heard before.

Oh, and the crowd and deejay vocals drive me insane. Soon as I heard them I couldn't really take this song seriously. That stuff was cool back when it was first incorporated, but the idea has been used so much that it just isn't that interesting anymore. Its just more of the same really.

All that said though, for a trance song you have put together a pretty decent track. Although short, it flows well and seems to be pretty complete. But for me, it just doesn't really strike me as original or really even interesting. Sorry.

3/5 and 7/10 overall.

-Gravey-

BlueFuzion responds:

Ahh...okay then. Thanks for the review and all, but i would have expected more than 3/5 for improvement and effort, not just for the song and because you dont like the genre... =( I didnt expect you to like the song or anything, i just wanted to se if you could see how much i had improved and that kinda thing... =(

But oh well. Thanks anyway...