MeteorManMike's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Snowy Landscape]

Good retro tune

This is a nice, simple 8-bit track. Brings several things to mind, I guess a snowfield could be one of them. Probably best used as a title screen or main menu, gets way too repetitive for in-game BGM. It's enjoyable for a few listens through.

I'm noticing where you have two of the lead instrument going at once, it gets really loud for a few notes. This, I think, is because you are playing the same note with them. I try to avoid this whenever possible, keeping my harmony and melody separate, yet supporting.

Good work, keep it up!

M3 of the Review Request Club

DahDoctow responds:

Thank you M3, next time I'll separate the notes.

[Echo Of Neglect]

Feels lazy

Most of the time, I reflect on the meaning of my music after it's composed. I like to make it in the moment, fine-tuning each individual note and chord.

Anyway, this piece has, I think, a lot of emotion in it. It does feel kind of melancholy and lethargic, maybe kind of regretful. I feel that everyone can relate to this at some point, when there are things we should have done and could be doing, but it feels kind of pointless. The instruments chosen convey this well.

I'm not sure what constructive criticism to offer here. This probably took a great deal of effort to make, and very much attention to detail. Great job.

M3 of the Review Request Club

Birdinator99 responds:

Thank you for your appreciation of the work that went in to this. I'm also glad you connected with it on an emotional level.

I find that I interpret my music after it is complete as well -- I can't build around preset guidelines very well. That's cool how we think alike there!

Thanks very much for the review!

[~SW~ Cavern of Memory]

Very eerie

Congrats on the top 5! It feels great to be the best, no matter how briefly (LOL).

To start off, this is a great ambient piece. It reminds me a bit of the mine theme from Donkey Kong Country. You have a really interesting blend of instruments and effects here, kind of makes my hair stand up a bit.

This, I think would work great as a cave or mine theme, as you intended it. I like to imagine there are luminous crystals growing from the walls, flashing in time with the instruments... Yeah, that's all I've got.

Awesome job, keep it up!

M3 of the Review Request Club

SkyeWint responds:

Thanks, Mike! No matter how briefly, maybe I can get more on there, maybe more people will help with that now. lol.

I tried to bring in as many interesting effects as I could - I focused on having a HUGE ambient background under the chording and tune. I'm glad you thought of the crystals, that was what the high, er, crystally synth at the top in the beginning and end (main theme) was intending. The memories are crystallized, and if you break one, you can experience the memory. But what you can't tell is which is a good or bad memory, there are an equal number of both... Besides the fact that such a cave would be creepy just on general principle, I think that would make it a bit more eerie.

Anyway. Thanks for the review, I plan on keeping this up for sure.

[Eric Freeman - See You Around]

DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Take those 0's and throw them in their faces! I get b0mbed with great frequency, but remain happy with scores of around 3.5. So long as there are yet people who truly appreciate great audio, you will always have a place here at NG.

With regards to the music, I thought this was pretty good. It sounds really intense, and would work for a great dance song, I think. I like your choice of instruments, as they give a large variety of feelings to the music.

The only issue I have with it is that there is not much melodic variation. It tends to sound the same after a while, and I lose track of where I am in the song. I would throw in some varying harmony, maybe even a secondary lead instrument to spice it up a little.

Whatever you do from now, do it with everything you've got.

M3 of the Review Request Club

EricFreeman responds:

That was one inspirational review <3

Yeah, I know it's pretty repetitive, but I really couldn't think of what else I could add. I didn't think it'd be too much of a problem since this was more of a song to move your body to than a song to actually move you (if you get what I mean).

Thanks for listening and I'm glad you liked it :)

[EML - Skeleton]

Unusual

Really nice, slow chords to begin with, kind of relaxing the listener. The instruments used are very good, I especially like how the strings swell in, heightening the atmosphere. I half expected a full percussion section to step in.

The strange, buzzing percussion-like instrument steals the listener's attention from the beautiful chromatics you have here. It sounds way to strange and random. I'm not sure what effect you were trying for, so it's all a matter of personal taste.

Keep up the good work!

M3 of the Review Request Club

eatmeatleet responds:

yeah, the buzzing is way too loud, thanks

[-*CaSH*- Redemption]

Smooth

I really like what you've done here with the constantly shifting jazz chromatics. The choices for instruments are spot on, and the entire piece stays fresh and interesting all the way through. Good job with this one, jazz is one of my weak genres to compose in.

Not much to criticize about this one. The only thing that immediately stands out to me is a rather long fade-out at the end. Maybe shorten the fade, or wrap it up with a little riff or something.

Nice job, keep up the good work!

M3 of the Review Request Club

camoshark responds:

Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed!

I'm glad you liked the progression, it's the part I've put the most effort on.

As for the fade-out, well, I guess it's all a matter of aesthetic choice, and that's entirely personnal, so to each his opinion, I guess.

Thanks again for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed!

Cheers

[[Assios] - Electron]

Great techno beat

This works as a good rave beat, I think. You chose some really cool synth to use here, it gives the piece a really good techno, almost retro vibe. You seem to have all the parts covered (bass, melody, harmony, etc.)

The melody does get a little bit repetitive and predictable. However, the supporting parts adjust themselves nicely, along with various changes to the lead instrument, to keep it from getting boring. This piece remains interesting throughout, ensuring that the listener stays for the whole thing.

Good job, keep it up!

M3 of the Review Request Club

Assios responds:

Thanks :D

[forest temple (E major remix)]

This hallway is all twisted

The forest temple theme will forever haunt me. Had to have spent a good 3 hours wandering around the dang thing. Forget phantom Ganon, finding the bow is the true challenge.

This version leaves out the more creepy parts of the original track, which I like. It feels more like a peaceful ruin than a shadowy, moss-covered dungeon. The only other major difference I noticed is the absence of that strange, rattling percussion (whatever the heck it is).

Great remix, keep up the good work!

M3 of the Review Request Club

Horsenwelles responds:

shall

[-*CaSH*-Race Through Hell]

Has potential

You have an interesting sample for your lead part, and the chord structure is strange but good. When the saxophone kicks in, that's where it starts getting really good, I think. The loop is flawless, as well.

Sounds a little easygoing, considering the title. I was expecting something a bit more fast-paced and frantic. But otherwise, everything seems to be well organized and well mastered.

Keep it up, I'll be waiting for the full version!

M3 of the Review Request Club

camoshark responds:

Thanks for the review, glad you enjoyed!

Thanks about the lead sound, I made it distorting a muted jazz guitar! As for the chord structure, it's superposed 4ths moving diatonically up and down.

As an unrelated side-note, you're the first person here I've seen spelling correctly "saxophone" ; it fills my heart with joy! :D

Easygoing, I guess IS the right term, for, you see, this is a pretty franctic song in my terms of composition. But to all their aesthetic choices, I chose to write it such because I'm into that peculiar genre.

Thanks again, really glad you enjoyed!

Cheers