Gravey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Feelings Of Music (Joy)]

Interesting...

I like the concept behind this. But I'm not sure I understand the point of the water sound effect. It kind of gets in the way of the music after a while for me. In the intro it is pretty good, but I think it would be better suited if it faded out early in the song.

I like the bird effect later on. And the wind as well. It counterbalances the water from earlier in the song. This has a very natural sound to it. Even mystical in a way, and I like it a lot. Very original work here, and would be well suited for a serious flash video with an Asian setting.

I normally like my music to be a little more on the technical side, but I think the simplicity of the music itself gives this song a charming side to it. I do think you should tweak your compression a bit. I hear some issues with some of the sounds being "Warbled." Which can happen with the types of sounds you have are over compressed.

I like the piano lines. Very nice touch there bud. And the ending is simply perfect. This is a good song, and like I said above, very original. But I'm not sure it is a great song quite yet. There are definitely some things to tweak.

4/5 and 8/10 overall. Very nice work here bud.

Good luck on your future projects, and in the competition. :-)

-Gravey-

P.S. - If ya get bored, you can go hear my entry for the competition as well.

(http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/list en/215108)

zenodio responds:

Okay thanks a lot man. And yeah i noticed that with the soun is over-compressed.

[SolTec]

Great Intro...

Love the choir in the intro. Pretty cool sound.

Good god, the snare makes me want to kill myself. Sorry, but I think it sounds REALLY badly. But that is only my opinion. Take it or leave it as you will.

I like the overall sound you have with this song. Everything meshes well together. One thing though, I do think you could have a better kick. Something with more punch. And make it louder in the mix. You can hardly hear it most of the time.

I like the sound starting around the 2:00 mark. Very full and rich there. And I love the instrument that carries the lead in the very next section starting around 2:15. Cool choice there man.

I like how this builds and builds, and then there is a drop off. And then everything starts anew with the choir. Awesome idea there man with the bridge. Awesome awesome awesome.

And the ending is in your face. Nicely done, but I think you could have added another instrument in the ending. A descant voice high above everything else. That would make for an AWESOME effect.

4/5 and 8/10 overall. It is a good song, but not a great one yet. At least not in my opinion. It does have the potential though.

Good luck working on your future projects man!

-Gravey-

Drawoh responds:

thanks for the awesome review, but I still like the snare the way it is xD
but as u said, its ur opinion so I will not object :3

[Carol's Melody (Far Away)]

:-)

God, I love it. This reminds me of my playing style. Not so much my writing style, but my playing style. You should look into some Jim Brickman and Jay Rouse stuff. This reminds me a bit of them in many ways.

As for the song itself, it's beautiful. A great chord structure, and wonderful harmony. I love rolling chords in the left hand. The easiest and often best sounding harmony structure you can use for songs such as this.

I do think it can be improved though. Instead of always rolling them up, maybe roll them down sometime. And even go out of order sometimes. Say you are rolling the C-chord, C-E-G-C. Go from low C to high C, then up to G. Then ending on the E right below that high G. It is a great way to break up the continuous rolling chord sound.

Other than that I have no real issues with this song. Great job here bud!

5/5 and 9/10 overall.

Best of luck on future projects man!

-Gravey-

Drawoh responds:

Glad u like it, and thanks for the chord suggestions, I'll have it in mind :P

[[Tell] - Holly's Song]

Touching...

I can tell that a lot of thought and emotion went into writing this piece. I am a pianist myself, so I get suckered it by little songs like these.

Everything is in pretty good balance overall. The piano has a nice quality to it, even if it doesn't sound to real. Not much you can really do there though. You work with what you have at the time.

The strings are pretty good sounding, but I think that they could have benefited from having another set an octave higher. Just a thought anyways.

The ending is kinda iffy for me. Even with slow and dramatic songs I want a crescendo at the end. It didn't really have much of one. It needs that final push. Nothing too dramatic, but still something small to give it that finishing touch. Closure. :-)

I personally think it would benefit from an oboe solo. And some flutes quietly interweaving with the strings.

I really like this piece. But I can't say I love it. A little too simple for a great score. But definitely worth a good one.

4/5 and 8/10 overall. Nicely done here bud.

-Gravey-

Telliath responds:

I thought about it. I think I'll add some of this stuff. Thanks :)

[I R MAN!]

Whoa...

The intro is cool as fuck, and is completely different from the rest of the song. Great idea for that man!

I like the kick, but it could have been slightly higher in the mix. The melody is pretty nifty, but a little to repetitive. Probably would have benefited if you changed instruments that were playing the melody.

I don't want to dog on ya to much for this because you got screwed by the power going out.

So 3/5 and 5/10 overall. Cause I can see where you were going with this. And I like the idea.

-Gravey-

jbarnett responds:

i actually start out with one melody. then i go back and change it. thiis is before i got to the second part :/

[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.

[*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!

[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