Gravey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Marsh (Preview)]

Interesting...

It has a very malevolent feel to it, and I like that.

It needs some percussion of some sort obviously. Nifty beats and poundings would really help it out a lot. But I'm betting you have some ideas on that already, right? :-P

I will say I think that you will need to make it a bit more impressive structurally in the full song. Obviously with only 0:13 secs you can't really build anything grand.

Don't just stick with a melody and effects. Create a chord structure to follow of some sort. And use different instruments to create harmonies in those chords. So many of these electro songs end up just bad because it is just a melody and tons of effects. And that is so boring. Hopefully you don't get sidetracked with a thousand effects.

Also, you might think about adding guitars to it. Some dark and deep distorted guitars would sound really good with this. As well as some string backings. Even the crappy FL synth strings would sound decent with this type of song.

Hope this gave ya some ideas bud. :-)

3/5 and 5/10 overall, because I hate to pass true judgment on demos.

Good luck on this and your future projects.

-Gravey-

Seiku21 responds:

Thank you for the ideas. I may end up using them, It's just... When I think about making this song, I think of a story that goes with it, and right now, I want this music to sound like... Well, The characters running through a marsh, being chased by a horde of monsters. I think for the start, and since I just started this, it's coming out well.

[whoopdidoo]

Badass...

This is simply groovy man. 0:31 seconds of groooooovy love! X-D

I love the overall sound you got with all the instruments. They all mesh very well sonically, and that is so important. Nothing is out of place, or stands out in a bad way.

I love the beats you have going on. They really drive the loop along at a very methodical pace. And they are mixed very tastefully. Not too in your face, but also not distant. Great job there bud.

I love the piano chord structure. Cool as fuck man, and it sounds wonderful! Very nice touch on the piano.

But what really sells this is the bass. That bass is phenomenal sounding! Great tone, and a slight form of distortion to it that isn't overly done. But it is still noticeable. Spot on with the bass bud!

My only issue is the length. I always say loops should be around two minutes long. And that varies depending on the use. For a menu loop in a game, maybe just a minute to a minute and a half. But if this is a loop for actual game play, then it should be about two minutes to help it keep from getting stale.

For a commercial though, it is fucking perfect! I could definitely see this in a Mazda 3 commercial where people are jammin' to your tune in the car. Just seems like that this would fit that kinda thing very well. :-)

5/5 and 9/10 overall. Because like I said, justa bit short. But other than that fucking brilliant man!

Best of luck on your future projects bud!

-Gravey-

[*Atmos Aura* [IZK]]

Interesting...

It has a nifty sound to it.

I never have quite understood the point of the same thing over and over again though, with just a few different layers changed here and there. Seems rather tiresome and even obnoxious to an extent.

I like the layers you create, and the beats are alright. But as with so many songs in this genre, there really isn't any structure. It is kinda like trance music in the fact that you need to be more of a programmer than a musician to write it. Not saying you aren't a musician by any means. I'm just saying this style of music hinges more on the effects than the actual musicianship.

Kinda pointless after a while. It really wouldn't be that good in a video game, because even video game music needs to change a bit. Ya really can't dance to it because it doesn't have the right style or beats for that kinda thing. Unlike everyone before me, I don't see how it is really that great for chilling out. The beats are too fast and in your face for that. Would just get on my nerves if I was trying to chillax.

I think it is a cool concept, and could really be expanded on in so many ways. You could turn it into a full song with some sort of structure. You could tone down the kit and make it an ambient piece. You could even change up the instruments and make a nifty piano loop out of it. But as it is, I see no real point to it.

2/5 and 3/10 overall.

Best of luck on your future projects man.

-Gravey-

Jenni-Harry4eva3 responds:

Hm... despite the low scoring, I really really thank you for the criticism. This really gives me an idea on how to improve myself as well as this song. I have an idea of how to change this, and, really, I understand that this kind of genre relys on the effects rather than the music, which is a weird kind of bias, considering that I love this music very much.

I think I can expand on this some more, as you said, and I have some ideas on how to changed this around. I'll probably lower down the kit some more... it is kind of in your face there. Mostly the snares rather than the kicks. I'll develop this some more, and I'll repost. Thank you!

~[IZK]

[LOST (for karen)]

Wait Wait Wait...

The piano is digital? What are you using? I beg you my good sir, tell me what you are using! Because it sounds like a real piano.

As for the orchestration, spot on mate! I love the pan flute. Good lord, it sounds so real as well. I am having a hard time believing this is all electronic media.

I like the whole piece, in every shape and way man. I love the progression you used. You are right, it is a happy sort of progression overall. Gives a nice little effect. Everything is in such good balance here man. Just amazing in every fucking way. I'm rather humbled by this work in particular. I'm not sure anything I've written quite matches up to it.

5/5 and 10/10 overall.

This has been favorited!

-Gravey-

Stalagmite responds:

yayness. i am really smiley now! heehee. I beleive this performance was recorded in REASON, not sure which model. but i do know that i changed noggles and toggles around until it sounded right lol. i hate technical stuff, so i guess i just got lucky! heehee. i tend to add a touch of reverb on my piano, and avoid using any notes in pizzicato form unless thats the impression i am trying to put across. also lengthen notes to give the illusion of sustaining a piano key. also, this was a preset. called Grand piano, i think. but i may have gotten the untouched instrument off the internet. I really wish i could tell you more, but i have a memory like a fish named Dory. Literally. Half the time i drift into nonsencical spanners and stew with dumplings..... THANKS FOR DA REVIEW! I AM GLAD YOU ARE PLEASED WIV IT. :D:D:D:D:DSmiles all round!

[change of emotion]

Niiiiiice...

I've been playing piano since I was three, so when I hear stuff like this it really makes me smile.

I like your style of play sir. Very calming, especially here in this song. It sounds like your recorded yourself on a real piano. If so I'm terribly jealous. And if not, then what effing program/sound fonts are you using?!?! But I'd bet my dog on the fact that this is a recording.

I think there is so much you could do to this piece overall. Orchestration wise. :-) I like it a lot man, a whole effing lot. It is just so short. *Sadface*

Make it loooooooooooooooooonger please. That is the only fault I can find in it.

5/5 and 9/10 overall. Very beautiful work here. :-)

-Gravey-

Stalagmite responds:

Fanks 2 uz. LOL. it is short! and again it was recorded in reason. very convincing though eh? i promise you it was. you can tell the difference between my live piano performance coz i always cock them up! ( i have one in my selection called "the castle") lol, this however has been super scanned by my tiny brain to find faults in notes lol. and sorry to burst the bubble lol, but even if music like this is possible through digital programs, i can not play it live to save my life! i am not good enough to play my own music. lol. Irony you ficker bitch. :Dhaha, thanks so much, and im sure you piano skills are more than satisfactory! give us a demo lol, lets have a mash up! again thanks for the review. and yes i will definately consider making an orchestral version of this when i get a new music program. :D:D:D tanks!

[Bubble]

Intriguing...

I like the timbre of the song overall. Very cool.

The individual instruments I'm not crazy about, but the overall sound is pretty nifty. So the sum is definitely greater than it's individual parts.

Very cool beat you got going on here. And I love the sound of the kick. Very soft and mellow, yet definitely present in the mix. Very nice job on the kick sir.

Not really a lot for me to say about this piece really. It is what it is, and its cool. Other than that, not sure what all to say really.

4/5 and 7/10 overall. Nifty, but not mind shattering really. But then again, not every song has to be. ;-)

Nice job here bud!

-Gravey-

[Chimera (TSA)]

But...

I like obnoxious trumpets... :'(

Lmao! I like this. Very dynamic and emotional. The woodwinds really interweave with the strings in areas nicely.

I love the section starting around the 1:20 mark. Very cool sound there man. It really feels like a moment in Fantasia right there. Like the calm before the storm. And then BAM! Around the 2:00 mark comes the storm. Very nice sir, very nice indeed.

I like the choir. Very dark and somber, and a great way to end the piece.

And in all seriousness, I love the trumpet sound. It gives it a slight vaudeville edge to it. Fucking kickass sound in my opinion. I think there could be more crashes throughout the piece. The gong is a great touch, but I feel the crashes should be coming down like lightning bolts from the sky. Because I really felt like I was in the middle of a storm throughout this piece.

But that is only my opinion of course. Take it or leave it as you will. Overall, this song is badass in so many ways. But here is an idea for ya. What if in the beginning you added some fuzz, to make it sound like it was playing through an old record player? I think that would be EPIC!

I would do it for like the first nine seconds. Then when the gong comes in get rid of it. Does that make any sense? Or am I a babbling moron? Because like I said, I get a very vaudeville feel from those trumpets, especially in the beginning. And that would enhance it even more in my opinion. Just a thought I'm throwing at ya. :-)

I do think it should be expanded horizontally. It is slightly short in my opinion. I would like to hear something around the four minute mark. Give me a new section or two, a bridge even. Something to sink my teeth in even more. But it is really cool as it is now.

4/5 and 8/10 overall. I love this, but I think there could definitely be some very nifty things done to it also.

-Gravey-

[A Perfect Field]

It's Decent...

I like the somber mood it sets. And it is so quiet. Really nice feel to the piece overall.

I think there could be more piano work in there. Being a pianist myself of nineteen years, I like a little technicality in my piano pieces. As much of a mood setter that this is, it could still be more technical.

The strings are nice in the background. Very nice choice you made for them as well. And their harmonies are truly beautiful. But again, I think they could be something more musically.

So this song is not bad at all. But not really great by any means either.

3/5 and 7/10 overall.

Good solid entry here bud.

Good luck on your future projects.

-Gravey-

cRAVE01 responds:

THank you kindly for your review.

any reccomendations for listening material I could listen to that might help nudge me in the right direction as far as technicality goes? I haven't put the "finished" stamp on this song since it's not even a day old (at the time of my typing this). And I know there are 2 or 3 parts where the piano is off-key. Big no-no and I feel bad that I didn't catch it in the first place. But I'll get it now ^__^

I'll be checking out and reviewing a song or two of yours ^__^ thanks again

[(5SCC) Wave Frenzy]

lol

For five seconds, this isn't bad. I'm not sure exactly how you are supposed to even come up with anything good in just five seconds. And I'm not gonna lie, that would get annoying fast in a game! X-D

But for the competition, I think this is pretty decent. Normally I leave long critical reviews on the music and mixing. As well as other things that are relevant. But really, what do I say for a five second loop?

In my best Tom Brokaw voice...

*Well the melody was simply lacking, but the harmony through the latter half was effing superb!*

X-D

Ironically, I enjoyed reviewing this loop immensely. So you are getting a high score from me. :-D

4/5 and 8/10 overall. Nice job here bud.

-Gravey-

EvilScorpio responds:

Thank you))

[Sounds in the night (Demo)]

Heh...

I like it a lot. I have a lot of ideas for it already. :-) But I'm not gonna tell you them here. Because I sent you a pm, and I wanna hear back from you first. Then we shall go from there on ideas.

3/5 and 5/10 overall, at least until I pass true judgment when this is finished.

-Gravey-

Theledge93 responds:

i don't think i need to respond to this considering your working on it right now!