Spadezer's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Heartsteps]

There's not much more that I can say aside from what LSD has said already. Just to be nitpicky, I would've tweaked the melody synth at 00:55 in my opinion. But your production quality has improved. Be proud of that.

Now that LSD has mentioned it, your style shares some similarities with Johnfn. I love what you're doing.

Be awesome, be more awesome, and repeat.
-Spadezer-

LunacyEcho responds:

=> tweaked the melody synth =>

DARN IT! I spent so long working on the sound of that synth. I guess that the majority of the time, the reverb on the synth was too high, so I tried making it sound less reverb-y. It sounded good to me, but I guess it could've been brighter. Also, it probably should've been in a higher octave. Well, live and learn. :D

=> johnfn =>

Oh, wow. johnfn is one of my favorite musicians on Newgrounds, if not THE favorite, so I probably absorbed some of his musical ideas when I was listening to his pieces. Yikes.

Incidentally, this song was heavily influenced by a johnfn song - http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/563874

Thanks for the review!

[Impulse]

I've been finding that throughout the contest, you've made the best homework study music in my library now. You make beautiful themes and the amount of detail you put into your songs give it a lot of depth and this one is no exception.

You stick with a main theme and you give it some cool variations. There's a point or so you turn into some dubstep stuff which gives the main theme a nice break. The melody is a bit simple and I think you could have used a better synth, but that's just my opinion. You still manage to make it work with what you're doing throughout the track. The quiet section 02:39-03:56 is where I like the theme you have best. I hear some orchestral drumming in there too. Not something I'm used to hearing from you. I like it.

There's my two cents. And I can't wait to see how you pull the next round off.
-Spadezer-

garlagan responds:

thank you Spadezer!

[Borghild]

Just a quick review:

I feel like it's too empty IMO. The atmosphere you create in here is quite calm. I like how you utilize the flute throughout the piece. The composition is simple but leaves something to be desired. Overall, it's not a bad listen but nothing really jumped out at me to grab my attention (probably not the intent of ambient pieces but I'd imagine that ambient pieces can still make you want to listen). Again, just opinions.

Be awesome, be more awesome, and repeat.
-Spadezer-

ScottJacob responds:

I can see where your coming from i think, though it was always my intention to keep this a calm and restrained piece. Just a nice ride out into the country lol. I don't think this is necessarily an ambient song or not, i just thought it would fit best in there instead of dance or dubstep haha.

Thanks man, i appreciate the opinions

[Sundans - Wonder (Preview)]

I like what I'm hearing.
First impressions: it seems like there's almost too much going on in the mid-high frequencies. It gives an airy feeling but it almost feels like it's too airy. Too much reverb maybe? For the most part I like the percussion work. Combined with what's going on in terms of composition, it all feels simple. It's not bad for a minute and a half, but it sounds like it's going to develop some point after it. Granted it's trance and it's more of a forced ambiance, but with how you started this piece it sounds like the theme (or themes) will get more complex. Something to keep in mind when you continue on.

Stepping back a little bit at the composition: Makes me want to think of Mirror's Edge. It's close but I feel like if you toned it down a little bit, it could quickly be applied to something in that game. It's hard to tell though with the pads and reverb up as loud as it sounds. Keep in mind this is my opinion, and I don't do much with trance but I'm letting you know what I hear.

Sounds sweet. I'd like to know when you finish this. It sounds like you're on the right track.
-Spadezer-

Sundans responds:

I will absolutely experiment with the reverb levels and continue to work with the mixing.

[so metal]

I really like the beginning of this. Not something you would expect to come from a metal song. I could tell where it was going though, and it had me really excited. And then when the metal finally entered at 00:59, I had a hard time hearing the main guitar lead. The backup guitar seemed a little to overpowering, and the drums didn't feel like they were punchy enough. One suggestion I have that could help: maybe take the lead guitar up an octave when it's playing the main theme (like at 01:00). I bet it will make it a lot easier to pick out once everything starts playing at once.

I like what you're doing at 03:04. It's a really cool blend of what the beginning theme was, and what your metal was doing. I feel like it started entering the rock ballad genre at this part, which isn't bad.

It also feels like when you were trying to play the main theme at the 01:00 section, it also sounded a little empty. The only thing I can think of is that if you quiet down the back up guitar and have it play a little longer it might help. But I'm not an expert in the metal genre, I just occasionally listen to metal.

I like where it's going, but it needs a little work.
-Spadezer-

lantaren responds:

yep, everyting you're saying would probably help, actually. I'm no expert on the metal genre (though I listen to a lot of it) and I'm certainly not the best when it comes to production, but I'm glad that you liked it. The hard part is trying to get everything that I want into the song, without altering the sounds of the instruments to work together better (as that would lose even more depth, I feel) and just trying to control it (especially my sloppy playing). Definitely one of my favorite projects so far, but it does need a lot of work.

[Lurkin' in the Jungle]

Nifty
The only thing I can say about drumming is make it emphasize the piece, not simply to give it rhythm. The percussion work in here is fun to listen to so you're not having a problem in this track. When I'm making my tracks, I've started to make each percussion pattern unique so at the end I'm getting about 8-10 different percussion patterns, and it's not even including sound effects. But each one is different in some way to make the piece a little more fresh. I try to take special care in making the kicks and the snare hits kind of accent notes and rythyms with my synths instead of laying down a steady beat.

All-in-all, it's jammin'.
-Spadezer-

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thanks!
Those are some good tips that I'll make sure to remember and think about. I haven't really done many pieces with percussion at all, so I'm totally new to it. I know absolutely nothing of drums and the theory behind playing them in general, so I can only listen and experiment :p (I know next to nothing of mixing either, which is a problem as well).
I know I should make several different drum patterns to keep a song interesting though. I'll make sure to use this once I have time to make a longer piece (which regrettably will take a while) :D

[Spectral Cosmos]

I like it. It's pretty simple and has some cool moments behind it. Usually I find that if it's electronic and it's composition heavy I don't think people mind too much if it goes in the video game genre. I do that at least and no one has said anything. It still does give a bit of a 90's feel, but you still make it your unique style. I can see this stuff being used for some Luigi's Mansion stuff.

Starting with the mixing first. It's not bad, but it does seem held back at times. Especially at 00:49. The chorus synths could stick out a bit more. However, you still make sure that what is telling the theme the most is heard. I like the transitioning arpeggios.

The composition is where you still shine, and I like that. It really helps to have both mixing and composition, but I find in my opinion a piece that's mixed really well but is lacking in composition is fun for a bit but isn't as entertaining as something that doesn't have the best mixing but is really fun to listen to. But like I said, it helps to have both nailed down. Otherwise it's like cold pizza that's three days old. Not as good as when it's fresh.

Back to your composition though, I like what I hear. It's like a dark cartoon (or like Luigi's Mansion as I've said earlier). It doesn't quite stick out as something that makes me want to download it and listen to it while I'm doing homework though *sad face*, but you're on your way. You use the simple chord changes quite effectively, and then you break it up a bit to keep it fresh at 00:49. The build up at 01:27 is a nice touch.

It could use work, but I wouldn't touch it (doesn't make sense but oh well). It's nifty and I look forward to seeing more of your work. While the synths you're using sound vintage, your style isn't.
-Spadezer-

LunacyEcho responds:

Hi!

=> video game genre =>

I guess so. I'll probably do that from now on, seeing as 'video game' entices more people than 'miscellaneous'.

=> Luigi's Mansion =>

Really? Sweet!

=> mixing held back =>

That's pretty interesting. In retrospect, I think what I should've done there is bring out the chordal synth, lower the velocities of the snares, and add a limiter to the master track. Well, it's a bit too late now, isn't it? :P

=> composition + production =>

I think Step once said that those are the two pillars of music. Different people can enjoy different aspects without having much of the other, but everyone can enjoy a song that has both. Your cold pizza simile is great! :D

=> simple chord changes =>

Who ever thought that Cm-Bm-Em would ever work? Not me, that's for sure. But it does! Somehow. I'm not well-versed enough in music theory to explain that. :P

=> buildup at 1:27 =>

Thanks! That's one of my favorite parts of the song, even though it's a really simple and overdone transition.

=> "While the synths you're using sound vintage, your style isn't." =>

I think that's a pretty great way to describe lots of my music. :)

Thanks a ton for the big review! I'll keep all that in mind.

[Dawnglide]

There's so much potential here. I may not say much since there are already some really good reviews that could point out a few things that even I can learn from.

I was listening to a couple of other of your songs before this one, and this one stuck out a bit more than some of your piano pieces. I'm not saying their bad, there's good stuff going on. But this track sticks out a little bit.

Some of the pads and the composing is cheesy, like Mario Golf for the Gamecube, but with a little mixing, adding some dynamics, changing up a few of the pads, this could be a boss piece (just noticed, I don't think this is metal in the slightest. Way more electronic than rock).

After listening to the track a second time, wow, there is a ton of cheesy 90's electronic flavors. Not just in pads but in some of the composition. If you listen to the Mario Golf stuff, you'll hear the same bass rhythm with the 8th and two 16ths.

But, after everything is said and done, this track caused you to gain another fan. Because, there a lot of really cool stuff that can come out of this. Once you get you synths down and your mixing, that ability you have to compose could do some really cool stuff.

I'll keep an ear out for you.
-Spadezer-

LunacyEcho responds:

Hi! Thanks for the review!

=> cheesy =>

The thing about using cheesy tropes in music is that it works. I've definitely done my fair share of super-cheesy music (The Flute Song being my magnum opus in that field), and I think the reason I do it so much is because I'm lazy. These are tropes that are widely used in tons of music, and I just happen to have observed them and reused them. I've never taken any consistent music theory classes, so I just copy what I hear, and the cheesy stuff is only cheesy because it's used so much.

=> metal =>

I agree! This isn't metal at all. Still, the general feeling the song has (especially in the rhythm section) sort of has an indie feel, which a subcategory in the "metal, rock" category of genres in Newgrounds.

=> bass rhythm =>

It's one of my favorite driving bass rhythms, and as usual, I didn't come up with it. I'm sure it's been used in many places and I've heard it unconsciously in many songs, but the first time I remember listening to the bassline and thinking "hey, there's an interesting bassline I can use" was from a Waterflame song.

Thanks so much, Spadezer! I really admire your work and hope you can participate in the next NGADM so we can hear more cool stuff from you too.

[The Archive Is Still[WIP]]

Not bad in my opinion.
I'm always happy to hear people actually playing their instruments in their music. I'd do it too but I (1) haven't messed around with recording too much and (2) have nothing to record with other than a laptop mic. I can edit the computer fan out of the mic, but refer back to (1).

I don't hear stuff like this too much. It sounds like you've really tried to put an effort into the chord structures behind the composition. It's relaxing and kinda psychedelic in a good way. It doesn't sound like that easy of a piece to play. I can get the intro to Metallica's Nothing Else Matters down but I'm out of practice, but this isn't about me. Now that I think of it, it sounds like you didn't do this all in one clip.

I like what you did at 01:23. I wish I could have heard that effect you did more than that once. Even if it was only twice. It's a nifty thing you did and I want to hear it again. Being really nitpicky, I hear some noise/buzzing starting at 00:44. It doesn't hurt the song, but like I said, I'm being really nitpicky.

It makes me feel good, and I like what you did. Keep it up, and keep up the good work in college as well.
-Spadezer-

secantwave responds:

You are certainly correct that I didn't do this in one clip. For one thing, there are two guitars playing for most of this piece; but also, in order to get takes as close to perfect as I could, I split it into sections. I'm still not entirely satisfied, so I'll probably rerecord it after some more practice.
I too was really happy with the effect at 1:23. If the piece had been longer, I definitely would have tried to include it again, although even as it is, I think it feels a bit weird as the only electronic effect, so I may try and insert a variant somewhere else.

Thanks for the kind words!

[redemption]

This is why I follow you. Your atmospheres go to a place that not many people can recreate. This is deep stuff. The reason why the emotions aren't being screamed at and in the face is because they aren't ones that you shout out regardless of how deep they go, but these are the ones that can't be translated, let alone shouted. Like at 02:40. I can think of someone elderly or to be more relatable, myself sometimes at college. It's the feeling of someone who's tired of doing what they can or doing what they should, and is grieving to just return to doing what they want. What makes them feel happy.

Yeah good song. Not many complaints if you haven't noticed. Thank you.
-Spadezer-

johnfn responds:

Hey, thanks for the really kind review Spadezer! I feel like I'm hyper aware of when I'm living up to my own high standards and when I'm doing stuff that's disappointing, but it's always frustrating because there's no real way to force inspiration and creativity to happen to a piece that doesn't want it to happen, ya know? Anyway my point is, I'm glad you liked the song.