SplatterDash's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Staying with You]

This is an official NGADM Judge Review for the Final Round.

As always, I tend to like to read song descriptions before listening to pieces that I need to judge. When I read the description here and saw that you were combining elements of your previous entries, the bar was set pretty high, and like always, you managed to knock it out and away. This piece sells emotion and really shows how flexible of an artist and player you are - the faster sections have energy, the slower ones have all sorts of smoother textures, it really works. It's a piece that leaves to the imagination a unique story. And I will even say the run at 2:22 is top notch - it must have been hard to perform that, considering that you have to keep the intervals while rapidly heading upwards. I've listened to this multiple times, and it's absolutely worth listening to plenty more
I just have a couple of complaints: firstly, the transitions between the faster, energized portion into the slower one (at 1:38) was a little bumpy for me, even after going back and listening a few times. It happens again at around 2:54, but it's a little smoother there. A little ritardando should help make the transition a bit easier to handle. Second, the sustain at the end of the piece, while a good idea, did include a rogue C6 from the repeat phrase that was in the beginning (I did like the callback, though), and it kinda left a sour taste because of it clashing with the B and C# from the phrase, so just make sure to be careful of that when doing something like this again.
Overall, though, this is a genuinely great piece. I love it a lot, and I know I will be coming back to it again and again. Good luck in the final phase of NGADM, and thank you for coming out this year!

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

It's nice to see that someone reads the descriptions I write. They're not for everyone, but I feel like it's a chance to look just a little bit into the artist's thoughts behind a work, regardless of its format or presentation.

To me, this composition signifies a journey that's full of learning and interactions with all kinds of things and people. So to show my own growth as a pianist and composer throughout this NGADM, I felt it was only right to incorporate some of the element from my previous pieces. I'm glad that you felt that this piece succeeded in conveying many emotions, especially since it's filled with positive feelings, which can be difficult to convey believably with just a piano.

As for 2:22, it's a difficult run indeed. Thankfully, it goes straight into a short pause, which makes it easier to focus on it whilst playing; I don't need to think as far ahead.

I agree that 1:38 is a bit of a sudden transition. The way I imagined it, the person that's experiencing a rush all of a sudden gets struck by a thought/memories, and everything slows down for a moment while they reflect on it. As for 2:54 (2:57), I was trying to convey the feeling of determination. You're probably right in that it could've been a bit smoother.

And yeah, I should've been a with more careful with the sustain pedal and the reverb with the few end notes. I don't really mind it too much there, but I can see how the slight distortion that occurs because of it can leave a slightly sour taste, especially since it's the end of the piece.

Thank you for pointing out where I could improve the composition, and I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you for the well-wishes, and for helping the competition along by judging.

[Fulcrum]

This is an official Semi-Final review for the NGADM.

I like the feel of this! The best way to describe it is kinda like jazz mixed with some modern music. It's so chilled out and relaxed, and I'm not afraid to admit that I listened a time or two over.

My general nitpick is that I feel that the brass at 1:07 doesn't really fit in with what's going on. I don't really know how to describe it other than it just feels... a little set back from the other instruments. Basically, feel free to bring out the brass instruments in the mix. (EDIT: during that section. I forgot to mention that 1:07 was the only part that didn't fit in; at 3:15 it fit well, so just bring it out only at the 1:07 section. Sorry about that confusion lol)

Otherwise, I like this a lot! It's funky and cool, and I think it's good enough to bring some competition on. Good luck in the final round of NGADM!

vocaloutburst responds:

Thanks a bunch for the review!! Yeah, the mix was definitely barely touched on, my fault for not managing my time well, but I'm really glad you liked the vibe of it! I'll have to fix it up and reupload it sometime in the future for sure

[Escaping Limbo]

This is an official Semi-Final NGADM track review.

Where do I even begin with this? There's so much that I love about this piece, especially considering there's so much that's backing up the one thing you know best: playing piano. I decided to read the description before reading, and I could feel all those barriers portrayed throughout the song (the vibrato on the piano at 5:26 gave me literal chills, as well as the reverse keys throughout the piece). But the best part is that it's not just the effects; there's so many playing techniques that are used on the piano that brings out the most in it, polyrhythms especially. Plus, it's a homemade, live playing of a piano - making it all the more better. This is a piece, despite its length, that I would go back to and listen again - which I did as I played the video after listening.

If I would have to nitpick, I'd say the one thing I would point out is that when the rain sounds come back in full force at around 0:40 (and again at 7:31), I feel as if they start to push a little bit on the piano in terms of volume, so just be cautious of that in the future.

But honestly, that's really my only nitpick, and it's hard to really mention anything else wrong with the piece. I really enjoyed this, and I think I will come back to this again, or even download it to listen in my off time. Good luck in this round, and I'll see you again in the final!

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thank you for all the praise, and for the high score!

Thank you also for pointing out the vibrato at 5:26. That is the only part of the piece where I used it, and it was for such a short time. A lot of editing went into the small details of this piece...

I'm also really glad to see you note all the playing techniques. This is the composition Where I was most worried about the recording process. Not only is it really long, which leaves room for mistakes (I sometimes let small mistakes pass, but I pretty much always rerecord the whole thing from the start when I make a bigger one), but like you noted, there are many trills, grace notes, rolled chords, accentuations and left/right hand techniques or patterns throughout the piece.

Thankfully, the length doesn't seem to have put many people off.

I'll heed your warning about the loudness of the rain, I can hear what you mean a little bit. Thanks again for listening, and for taking the time to leave a review ^___^

[Crystal Winter]

Ho-ly snap. I really enjoyed this piece; it's so calming and elegant, and it feels like a folk song mixed with something out of Bambi. Everything used in here accounted for this really wonderful imagery of a winter sky, and the fact that it's so simple and yet so powerful makes it all the more amazing. I felt so cozy listening to this, and each listen enhanced that further. The vocals are wonderful, especially considering it's not just one voice, but quite a few, giving it this ethereal (no pun intended) feeling, which is something that's hard to get in music nowadays. And that chord at the end... it solidifies the deal of this entire piece.
There's one small nitpick I have, and it's personal preference more than a general thing: at the section from 2:35 to 3:08, I feel that some soft vocals could be added there, as it felt to me that it was kinda naked on that part without voices. Plus, small voices in that part could help lead into 3:08 when the main vox comes back in.
Honestly, though, this is a really amazing piece. This is for sure going in the favorites pile. Amazing job LSD and ethe!

etherealwinds responds:

Thank you SD! Something out of Bambi - made me smile haha. I just had the idea of having some crackling fire ambience at some part now, to add to that cozy feel. I can totally see it working either way you mentioned! The particular reason I chose to let that part not have vocals was to let the composition breathe a little. The piano was allowed to shine in the intro, but then after that until 2:35, there wasn't really any part of it where the piano wasn't more than an accompaniment. I thought it an appropriate place for the piano to shine through again and for the vocals to take a rest :) the vocals that come in at 3:08 are quite subtle and in the background, so I didn't feel they needed any lead-in (the fact that they're a repetition of the earlier part at 1:14 also sort of set this second part up!)

Anyway I hope my explanation gives you some clarity on what I was thinking when I arranged it together! Thanks so much for favouriting it, and LSD is sat next to me also very thankful.

Thank you for taking the time to write an in-depth review, they're always welcome. Hope you're well SD!

[Green Fields of Home]

I'm just gonna start by saying... I don't know where you were back in February, and I don't at all want to throw shade because you weren't there, but dang, this sounds amazing, and fifty times better than my remix lol. I feel this is my favorite piece of the winners, and it's that way because there's so much that's put into this that makes it the next level. The sound quality is generally amazing, the mixing is beautiful, and the percussion... I swear, I want to inhale this percussion and let it be part of me because it is that amazing.
There's really only a couple things I have to complain about, one of which being a few nitpicks in the middle part. First nitpick, which is kind of a pet peeve of mine: the part at 3:12 is amazing (I can not get enough of that flute), but it kinda feels the strings are behind the beat. Usually it feels alright, but it feels a little awkward here, and I don't know if it was delay or the instrument itself. Second, at 3:23, there's this flute/ocarina/wind thing in the background that sounds kinda... MIDI-ish. It sticks out to me a bit in this piece because of how amazingly expressive everything else is, and to me it's kinda where the attention goes in that section as well.
Still, though, this is amazing, and there's no big issues with this. It's amazing, and it's so much more compared to the original and some of the remixes I heard back in February. It's my favorite winning music selection, and it's for a really good reason. Well done :D

Albe responds:

Thanks splat for the review! Yeah I usually have that kind of issues about where to address the attention of some instruments in some sections, I need to work on that. Aside of that, I'm really glad you liked it, thank you so much!
P.D.: at the time of the contest, I was busy for college and couldn't make it for the deadline

[R]

hey WOAH SIR how dare you introduce that hazardous chemical to pokemans you monster

In all seriousness, though, this is a really great piece. It's nice to hear from you again in terms of music, and it's also nice to see you going good in another field, and being successful in it too (insert Conjugate Coolmath plug here). This is really pleasant to listen to, especially that ending. I really like this :D

Onefin responds:

LOL i was waiting for a Detective Pikachu reference

thanks for the kind words! this encouragement helps a lot when i have those moments of self-doubt

[Comfy Nighttime]

Dang, this is worthy of the true fifth place spot compared to mine lol

This is really a neat song. It kinda reminds me of a few various songs I have heard before, mainly because of it's upfront synths. Plus, it's super chill and actually portrays the intended theme. It's a lightweight song that's honestly enjoyable all the time. GG and congrats again on the tie in the Month Compo :D

Zechnition responds:

Thanks for the review! I liked your song just as much ^^

[On Go]

Well I'm glad that I got On Good songs for ONGOADM with OnGoing greatness. I approve of this song pretty well. It's got that casual 1f1n1ty vibe that I find in most of your stuff, plus some cOnGos, bOnGos, and other stuffs that give it this kinda trance-y house vibe having it On Go with ambiance. In a way, it kinda reminds me of Lockyn's remix of 3mber and Srk's "Night Owls".

My issue for this would most likely come in the form of the key change. You see, I would kinda expect it at 3:54, when it stops slowing down, but then it comes out of nowhere at 4:00. While it is unique, and I will give it credit for that, it just seems a little rocky, especially since we're already establishing the second main part and then here comes this key change about 4 measures late. It's not a big problem, but it's a generally small one that I have with this.

Overall, I like this a lot. In my opinion, it has a great chance in NGADM. Great job and good luck :D

Onefin responds:

oh yeah you're right i should have just put the key change there! that would have been much more effective

thanks for the thoughts! i find your opiniOn Good and constructive :)

[Could've]

I must admit, my thoughts on what to expect were a bit different than what actually happened. At the same time, though, that was a really good thing, because I got more than I thought I would get. I really like the beat that enters in at 0:58 and pulls the entire piece together. And the transition from retro to real was flawless. I still enjoy the piece because, after listening to it twice, it holds very well, even with the beginning being a tad bit misleading (again, a good thing because it gives more than what you'd expect).

Probably my only complaint would be with the bass drum throughout the piece. It just feels a little too soft, even after listening to a different lo-fi piece. I'm not asking for it to be loud, since that would kinda take away from it being lo-fi, but I want it to come out just a little.

Overall, this is a very good standing piece. In my opinion, a great contender in NGADM. Great job and good luck :)

acxle responds:

thank you so much! i'll pay more attention to the drums next time!

[breaking glass]

I can see why this is cinematic. I can almost imagine this being straight out of a spy movie because it's that realistic. The chords, the beat, the strings... kinda reminds me of a game here on Newgrounds called Rotate because it's that much of a spy song.

There's really only one thing I have to say about this, and that's the one weird section the piano has at 0:15. The notes don't fit in to me, and it's probably because of the rest of them being in minor with this one section. It adds difference, but it also adds a little bit of confusion, since those notes come out of nowhere.

Overall, I enjoy this. In my opinion, it has a pretty good chance in NGADM. Great job and good luck :)

Sequenced responds:

Melodic minor mah dude