Spadezer's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Spider Machine]

Since it's a WIP, I'll attempt a thorough review (I'm still stuck in NGADM contest mode).

So Cool! Makes me think that this could be a thowback version of Star Fox and Andross isn't a monkey. Or a really cool Dishonored level. All the creepy and brutal instruments make it spectacular, especially the low brass / strings 00:51. The tune definitely is an earworm tune. Most likely will be singing it in my head afterwards. But it's cool. I just want to walk around like *boom boom boom*. Your composition is up there by the least. The creepy notes you use make this all just pop. The only complaint I have since I'm on this note is that the percussion feels like it needs to be more complex between 01:07-01:23. I feel like the timing is off in the drums ever so slightly, right around 01:11 I think. Don't get me wrong though, what you're doing with the percussion everywhere else is spot on I think. I like the key change that you fade out with though.

Short recap:
Awesome
Love it
Would love to hear and download the full version.
Oh, I forgot! The organ and chimes are sweet.

I'd also like to know what you're using for the orchestra.

Respect
-Spadezer-

cazok responds:

Wow thanks! Really appreciate it :)
A mix between brutal, weird and epic was definitely what I was aiming for. I know what you mean about the percussion, and I gotta admit that my playing was a bit off there. I play everything by hand on a keyboard and record it on a multitrack recorder, it's a pretty old fashioned system really (f.ex when you're done with a song you have to burn out a CD to get it to the computer :P). Sometimes I make mistakes or play a bit out of time... I try to avoid it though.

Thanks a bunch for the review!
-Cazok-

[i believe]

It's good to see that you made it on to the next round. I don't think I'll get the chance to directly compete against you (I don't know why but I decided to make you my benchmark for my first trip in a NGADM contest).

All that aside, I'm really glad to hear this. The first half of this is just an excellent display of your ability to make beautiful atmospheres, and then the song really just blossoms at 03:30. It's really cool how you take a synth that sounds like it isn't meant to be soothing but you make it turn it around and make the piece sublime.

Be awesome, be more awesome, and repeat.
And good luck
-Spadezer-

johnfn responds:

Thanks Spadezer! I really enjoy your entries too, they use standard instruments in really unexpected and nonstandard ways.

I'm glad you liked it! Gonna go attempt to be more awesome now.

[Punchy Punch]

I hope that when you win in round two it's because you demolished me with music like this.

You get another fan for that.
-Spadezer-

garlagan responds:

don't be silly. Your submission's retro style actually blew me away entirely! this is gonna be fun!

[Reset]

... Wow.

Favorited, downloaded, and you now have a new fan.

Respect

-Spadezer

Shanath responds:

Thank you, sir!

[Swan Lullaby]

*Sighs* All of the good feelings.
It's like a combination of Wind Waker only on Ocarina of Time for the 64. I feel like the song needed some background pads or some soft strings in the first half of the song. I feel like the tuba could have some reverb to make it seem more authentic.
Oh the good feels. You've gained another fan

Chemiqals responds:

Oh wow, thanks for pointing that out! I actually did have some reverb on the Tuba, but I accidentally left the effect off when I exported it! I re-uploaded it with the reverb back in place! (Though you might have to clear your cache to actually hear the changes). I'm so glad you enjoyed it though and I'm happy to have you as a new fan! =)

[Shapeshifter (N G A D M '14)]

Based on the name and the style of the song, I get the feeling of someone like a lonely bounty hunter/assassin wandering in life trying to fill a hole in his soul (hey, makes me think of Elektra).

The sounds you used are all really crisp and the mixing is pretty spot on. Just about everything has its place and it's not trying to overpower anything else. The only problem I hear with the choice of sounds is the higher pitched lead you use in the WUBWUBWUBWUB (it makes it come across as more BLUBLUBLUB instead of WUBWUBWUB). If you wanted to make it feel a little more dubstep I would suggest having a some heavy growling bass and a high pitched chorus that chimes in when the bass takes a break every other beat or something, oh like the bee drill you have that shows up 03:11. Although this is just my opinion, if it matches more with what you're trying to bring across I could simply be misunderstanding the song. I really like the spacey band saw thing I hear at around 02:40.
For song structure: It seems a bit too empty specifically at 00:49 up until 01:19. It's a really sweet atmosphere, but I think you can add a couple of pads or even some background strings like you used in the very next section after that. It still would give it an atmospheric setting without being too open.
Now you have a lot of good things going on here:
Your percussion is to be praised. I wish I could recreate a snare that sounds exactly like that, and even though it's loud it's not overpowering. You're also doing a good job bringing out a really sweet atmosphere. You're mixing the piano and string instruments really well with sum modern synths and dubstep type of things. I'd wager that this is more cinematic than dubstep. I like the transition you have at 01:17. I don't know if it's a percussion instrument or what, but I'd like to hear it more than once in the song.

Whew *swipes hand on forehead* Hope this helps. I enjoyed it and I think you should have higher than the 3 starts that I see you have right now. I voted a 5 to raise it up a little bit. Otherwise I think this song is a good 4 stars. Not a solid four unfortunately because I think it does need some work, but it does sound really good, don't get me wrong.

-Spadezer-

Kabalist responds:

That's a nice interpretation there, Spadezer.

Firstly: about the wubwubwubbb, I didn't really intend to make a regular dubstep wobble-section. It was supposed to be a little more like you said; "BLUBLUBLUB". I usually enjoy both new- and old era dubstep, but I figured I could go somewhere in the middle since I think the growl-synth has become a tad overused over the past few years. I'm not saying it's bad to use the synth, I just don't figured it would fit in this song. I might try adding something heavier in the second drop, just to make the song fulfil its name.

Secondly, I totally agree that the song should be a little fuller in the beginning. A little whitenoise and padding oughta fix that.

Glad you liked the percussion and all that. The fill at 1:17 is actually just an electronic tom. I think it might become an overplayed card if I use it more than once since it's so... Biting(?)

Anyways, I'm taking huge note to every review I get, but just like any other musician in the world I can't please everyone. I'm gonna keep working on this shit. Hopefully it might get better. If so I might tell you.

Thanks fore the constructive review, Spad! Not sure if you participated in the contest, but if so, good luck in knockout!

//Kabalist.

[Future]

Your name does not indicate how good your skills are as a composer. As I'm looking at the left side of the screen the related content shows some ParagonX9 Chaoz songs and I think "hmmm, must be decent." Then I hear 01:06 and then my jaw drops like this...

D8

and then it flips around like this

8D

I'd love to see how you made some of this stuff. In case you haven't figured it out, you've gained another fan. I'd consider it a great honor if I have to compete against you.

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

Pandasticality responds:

glad you enjoyed it n__n i made this song in FL Studio 11, took me 3 to 4 days straight to make this.
im currently trying to figure out a core melody into a song that im currently working on in case i make it to the next round, thank you for your review.

- Pandasticality

[I Owe You The Same]

Don't know what to say about this (or at least the song as a whole). I'm pretty fond of the fact that you did this all with a microphone. I really like the solo at 01:02. I know I couldn't play that so clean. Everything from that point I like a bit more than the beginning, but now I'm getting into more opinionated tastes. I like how you're doing the percussion but it sounds like its muffled like your holding your hand in front of your mouth the whole time.
I really like the last part of the song (01:38 to the end). You change up the style from fancy guitar to bubbly vocals, and you definitely have a good range with your voice. Good punch line at the end as well.
I'd say a 3.5 since I could tell that some of the timing wasn't quite perfect, but all-in-all a fun little song.

Your friendly competition
-Spadezer-

Ceevro responds:

Well, we shall see how well it does. I was shocked to make it past auditions in the first place...

[Hero's Arrival]

I can't find anything wrong with this. You got some complex harmonies that make the piece pop, you repeat the main themes without sounding repetitive.

I wish I could give you a better review but I can't find any problems. Well done.

Be awesome, be more awesome, and repeat.

Guylee responds:

You just made my day man :)

I am really glad you like this, and I'm glad that it all sounds good considering I spent so much time on it, and kind of lost the compass on the quality and how organized it felt. Thank you very much for this kind review! :D