Score: 7

"Brings back memories..."

submission: Paper Mario - Dry Dry Outpost

date: October 18, 2009

Paper Mario is one of my favorite games of all time, so I just of course had to check out what you did with it. So, I found the original on YouTube and I listened to both your version and the original-- I'll be reviewing yours, but I may make reference to parts I liked in the other version better or worse than what you did. It's all a matter of personal choice I suppose though, so everything I say should likewise be taken with a grain of salt.

0:00: the opening chord is rather aburpt. I compared the sound that your chord makes to that found in the Paper Mario game, and I found that the one in your song is much quicker... i'm not sure which instrument it is off of the top of my head. The Paper Mario's chord, when you hear it, makes you just imagine a desert-- it's as stereotypical as it comes. I appreciate what you were trying to do, but I feel that chord should have been a bit longer.

0:02-0:08: You nailed it. The conga drums really work with the song, and you kept much of the rest of it close to the original. i heard a few other percussion instruments in there too that spice up the song without the listener really noticing it. Very well done indeed.

0:09-0:12: The main notes here seem a little bit shrill, especially when compared to the other song-- I'm guessing it has more to do with the instrument you were using then any creative decision on your own? Either way, I just don't think it has the same vibe as the original, but then again, we're comparing you to a professionally created piece for a video game that was released to a wide market. You're not doing too badly. :P

Just a general note here-- the tempo seems to be a faster when compared to the original. Out of curiosity, was it a creative decision kind of thing?

0:21-0:26: I feel that this is the most important part of the song, both in the original and yours. When I think about Paper Mario, it's this part of the tune that I think about, so therefore, I'll probably end up taking the most time on. In the original, it's maybe a banjo that plays the part? I'm not a stringy enough person to know. Anyways, i noticed that there was a rather large difference in what instrument you used-- I was just suprised to notice that I enjoyed your instrument just as much as the original's. What I wasn't a fan of though, was how your version used much longer notes in this section than the original did; that version made it feel almost... folksy I guess would be the word. This one sounded like a MIDI from a Super Nintendo, and I know that's not what you were going for. :D

My last comment about the piece is that the beginning also is a very... off transition as a loop. The chord just seems to break it up over and over again as I looped it, and it was a little disconcerting.

Just to clarify though, I still enjoyed the piece. I gave it a seven because I thought it was well done-- all this was just nitpicking at the minor details. As an artist you've definitely got talent (and great taste haha-- Paper Mario was excellent), so don't be surprised if I'm around when you make new songs. I'd like to be there when you really become good.

Score: 10

"Simply Wonderful"

submission: Pablo'N'Cezanne - Sundance RMX

date: October 17, 2009

It's been awhile since I've heard a dance song that I feel is "uplifting", but if there was such a song, it would be this. It just has such a brilliant beat, and it feels as if the music consistently strives to go higher-- I love the song at around 1:50 when the higher synths come in and really drive the song upward.

The best part is when the heavy uplifting synthesizers come in (and the great background beat). My favorite moment of the song probably comes down to around 2:32 when the main hook comes in... and what a hook! It just makes me smile listening to it, and it's rare that I hear a song like that. Well done.

The weakest aspects are when it's just the drums: the beginning is especially weak and around a little bit around 4:05, the music itself seems to be drowned out by a rather weak synth beat with a drum accompaniment... those were the only two weak spots I really had with the whole piece, so hence the ten rating.

I can't stress enough, that hook was just simply divine. A job very well done.

Score: 6

"Solid."

submission: Aquatic Ruin Zone *Ninjakoopa*

date: March 23, 2009

Okay -- it's actually a solid piece of work, so there shouldn't be too much in this review. I'm just going to go through it and label times in the music where I think things could be improved and why.

One note before I start: I have never listened to the original, so I can't comment against it. I'll just make notes about where I think certain stylistic changes would've been better as a fit.

The beginning: Though I like the piano, I think it would've worked even better if you had used chords. Maybe different instruments at once? It would've given the piece a more full sound and would've drawn me in even further.

~0:26: By this point in the piece, though I like the overall vibe, the piece feels a bit flat and the pauses are kind of abrupt. It makes the piece feel as though you're breaking it into phrases, and though it works sometimes, with the already flat nature of the sound, it doesn't really fit.

~0:40: This is an example of the higher instruments holding a note without any other music going on below. Though the hold is only for about a few seconds, why not have a quick run in the bass or something? It (could) sound really neat if done right.

~0:47: The best point in the song. The sound really fills the speakers, and the parts all mesh well together.

~1:01: This stuff got to me earlier, but I wanted to focus on some other stuff. The Western "do-da-do-da-duuuuuuunn" stuff feels somewhat out of place in this piece. Most of the rest of it feels either trance-like or piano-ish, and it... well, it doesn't fit in. I'm not sure if it was in the original, but this is a re-mix -- make it your own! Remove it if it makes the song sound worse.

It loops twice -- I just added the 1:01 bit to address something that should be at the beginning of the song.

This piece shows the budding of talent -- talent that isn't yet fully developed, but talent that's quickly on it's way to that point. Hone your skills and you could yet become one of the better artists here on Newgrounds. Just go with what you think sounds best, and don't always be latched to source material.

You may not be able to do some of the stuff I told you to do yet, and that's fine, but remember to try to get a full sound. If you can't do the fast stuff perfect right away, just stick with the slow.

Cheers and good luck!

Score: 9

"Masterful"

submission: [MvS}(2)Frozen Alone

date: March 6, 2009

The audio portal is so troublesome. I'd love to be more critical of the things I listen to, but it always seems that I run into too much quality... anywho, the last time I reviewed one of your works was February of last year -- I figure it's time to get back on the Maestro (and LadyArsenic) bandwagon.

A duel huh? Well, I do hate to say this, but I think you lost Maestro... Mandi's felt more natural. No disrespect or anything, but the haunting environmental effect was just devastatingly effective in the beginning.

I figure that although artists like to read compliments all the time, we reviewers should be critical too, so a few things of note -- these are both minor comments and are both addressed at Maestro:

- I felt that the high strings (probably intended to increase the drama in the piece) at around 2:07 were a bit... shrill. That might've been the intention, but I think it also might've been my speakers -- I adjusted them and it seemed to feel much more natural.

- Though I love the bassoon, I don't think it worked as well in the piece as the oboe did in the opening. That just might be out of my personal preference though.

As for compliments -- well, you guys know that you're great by now. I don't need to inflate your ego. :D

Cheers, and good luck!

Score: 8

"This is a masterpiece of epicness."

submission: ZELDA, which song?

date: March 6, 2009

I lol'd. That's the only way I can describe what I did when I heard this piece sung like you did it. Because, quite frankly, I know I do the same thing when I'm playing the game.

Normally around here, I'd start writing about my criticisms for the piece, but I don't feel I can realistically have any. This wasn't a piece built to be criticized, this was a work meant to be enjoyed for its campy-ness and epicness. Whether you realize it or not, this is a masterpiece.

Cheers to greatness!

So... how exactly do you go about doing this? Do you sing all the parts or do you get a group to do it?

Score: 5

"There's potential."

submission: [S:C] Gigantic Pentameter

date: March 6, 2009

I'm kind of a classical music nut, so I thought this was an interesting little fusion.

What I imagine, is that this could be quite good if you did a few things to it... right now, the song lacks an x-factor... punch. I'm not a big list fan, but I think it would do here.

First point: You should have transitions in the song. Imagine it as if the music's battling back and forth, and use the different types of song to emphasize different instruments. Have one phrase with a louder string section, and then slowly pull them back to bring out the beat -- this can go on for awhile. With a few tweaks in the hook, you can make this song go on for awhile with good quality.

Second point: Speaking of volume, for some reason, the volume in this piece was... surprisingly quiet. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I had to turn my speakers up all the way to be able to distinguish the sounds. It should be a bit louder probably.

Third, and final point: The strings sounded... hollow somehow. I'm not sure if you were using a sample or not, but they need to be brought out a bit more. The beat seems to always dominate it.

Haha, that's all the criticism I have. You have the makings of a master here; just finish it off!

Score: 8

"This is quality."

submission: Solus- Night of Longing

date: March 5, 2009

Saxophone in any form = Greatness.

I won't say this is song is greatness, mind you, because I get the feeling the sax is synthesized, and unlike music from a lot of genres, I think jazz is really something that has to be... played to get the real feel for it.

But as far as a synthesized jazz goes, that's pretty damn good. And if I just sit back and relax, this is perfect mood music. And even though the sax is synthesized, I love it anyways.

If Newgrounds had more songs like this, it'd be awesome. Cheers and good work!

Score: 9

"Impressive"

submission: MH16: Hopes And Dreams

date: March 5, 2009

It's been nearly a year since I've done anything on Newgrounds, but I figured for a song as good as this, I might as well come out of retirement haha.

This is definitely an impressive mix. You blended together a nice repertoire of instruments from totally different groups, and the opening strings (that continued throughout much of the piece) worked to open the song.

I'll focus on my problems with it, because overall, the work was excellent. Compliments really aren't needed when you've attained this level of work.

The end was the largest sour point for me. I understand how this could be used in a game or as a loop, but I like it more when people craft songs for an individual listen. Though using cymbals in the end was satisfactory to end the work, I think maybe the strings from the beginning dimming out slowly in a decrescendo would've had a better effect. That's just coming from someone who loves strings though, so don't take that as an insult against your ending haha.

The instrument in the middle (some kind of wind instrument -- it's been awhile since I've done this kind of listening) that started to build in the music around the :20 mark was very well done, and I'm happy used a more traditional sound instead of a more modern guitar or something like that. The contrast between the old and the new in percussion and that instrument (whatever it was, it worked) was well done.

Congrats! This is an excellent piece of work, and I'm glad I chose today to randomly look at Newgrounds. It was worth it for this.

Score: 10

"Outstanding"

submission: Tremble

date: April 17, 2008

For a long time, I've always felt your songs lacked the loud, full sound and feel that many of your counterparts' songs had. Though moving, I could never pop a song in of yours and truly feel... epic.

I should probably re-listen to your music.

This was incredible. From the piano to the Duduk (thanks for writing that out in your "Fun Facts" -- if you hadn't, I would've had no idea what it was), this song had every ounce of "epic" drained into it, and I loved it.

The softer parts (especially where the Duduk took center stage) were amazing -- simply because there was such a huge build-up gathering for the larger parts. And the larger parts never missed their target -- everytime was spot on.

My only problems with the piece are minor things of preference that I'll list here for fairness's sake.
- I think the song would have been best left unresolved -- though I enjoyed your ending, I think for this case, leaving us on the edge of our seats would have been the better option. Then again, I like the idea of suspense in a song, so this should do the trick for most.
- The very beginning (where you introduced the background) was a bit weak in comparison to the rest of the song, but if you're going to have a weak section, put it at the start -- by the end, nobody will remember it because it's so awesome.

The catchy phrase after the "weak" intro portion was outstanding -- and I can't say enough about the Duduk. To say "haunting" is putting it lightly -- it gets at you.

This is music at its finest -- and that's one outstanding keyboard you have.

Score: 8

"Not bad."

submission: A C i D . L i V E . O N E

date: March 3, 2008

Usually, I'm really against this sort of synthesized beat -- it usually sounds too fake, and rather annoying.

This is one of those rare exceptions.

This is techno to its core, synthesized to the max -- I enjoyed it. The sound almost seems like it's coming from old video games at some points with a nice beat in the background... and it sounds great. It all meshes together really nice, and I truly enjoyed it.

Great work!