Random-storykeeper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM - No CRT's]

AIM 2025 Judge Review

I really love this song - it feels very distinct, like I can't really picture something like this being made outside this compo. And I think as a whole, it really came together for me. Those fading pads, the bells, the bassline doing that little descension at the end of its phrase, the rapping...I don't know why but it all just comes together in a strange and alluring matter. It just feels like there are conflicting emotions, but they intersect in a way that makes indescribable sense.

Some of the vocal lines - the chorus with "defeat, to your" feels like it might be an awkward read. However, your performance makes it so I don't even really think about it until I read back the lyrics. I also noted that the pads can get a bit buried by the bass.

I love the intertwining of the rap and the chorus towards the end. And the chorus's vocal processing filter is an insanely good choice. Yeah I don't know; this entry really worked for me.

Kalviter responds:

Don't think I could ask for nicer feedback than that :) thanks for taking the time to write it up!

[Black Forest Countess (AIM2025)]

AIM 2025 Judge Review

This rock-opera style track is absolutely bonkers. I love the energy of the guitars, and the guitar going ham is like being slammed against a wall.

Unfortunately, I didn't really love the production as much as the other elements. It was mainly the drums; I just wish they had some more punch. I don't know why, but I felt like they didn't really support the guitar and just got buried underneath all that intensity. The track felt relatively flat dynamically. I also wished I heard the lyrics more prominently in the mix.

From what I could hear of the vocals, I enjoyed the performance, very theatrical and entertaining. The lyrics are well done; who wrote them? The poetic lines are so vivid and reading them just brings the art inspiration to life for me. I would love to hear this track get fleshed out more (pun not intended...).

LD-W responds:

I wrote the lyrics in under 30 mins (wasn't kidding when I've mentioned this was all done on a short period of time lol)

Drums are a pain for this specific sub-genre at speed (Symphonic Death) which requires heaps of very surgical Mid/Side to do across pretty much everything just to carve out minue parts of the soundstaging to get even half it it to be hearable when also introducing orch into the entire thing as another engineering headache. I could always boost the drums and/or the vocals, but then from the feedback pool I get privately for alot of my stuff, I'd still remain in a death spiral of conflicting opinions (this track already is getting that. Very much pulled into 3 different directions where there's no conclusion or end-sight on a perfectly balanced mix. But then again I half expect that since no one can ever agree on metal mixes lol).

If I had more than 4 evenings to get this done in, the plan would of been to try something spanning 5 mins, some more subtle orch inclusions (the orch in this one right now was improv-done in 3 hours), give far more time for a longer bridge section, more time for me to compositionally adjust around Casual's vocal capabilities for his sections, and a far better final section. It would stay as a Symphonic Death track and not a regular rock opera, so based on what you would be looking for with this version anyway, you wouldn't get what you want with a theoretical expanded/longer worked on version.

I really don't like this track and the only reason I've kept it up instead of nuking it is that it has a (somehow, I have no idea why) decent placement result and it would be unfair on Casual if I took it down.

[Rooftop Dragon (AIM2025)]

AIM 2025 Judge Review

I love how this piece manages to build tension upon tension. It feels like you're thrown right into the heart of the action - no buildup, and yet it keeps the tension evolving.

I really enjoy the instrumentation with the fast-moving strings and the textures are very exciting and thoughtful.

The only other note I had was that I kind of wish those solo string sections at 2:42-2:43 and such were more dynamic - like a quick soft-to-loud fade for each little phrase. Just feels like the exchange between these parts doesn't have as much impact as the composition suggests.

But besides that, sorry, I didn't really have much else noted for this entry. It is tight and well-paced and I really enjoyed that. I may not be as knowledgeable about the technicalities that went into the composition and production besides what you've shared, and it all cumulates into one on-the-edge experience.

LD-W responds:

Not sure what you're really looking for with that section? If it's done roughly in the way you're asking, then it would be either too quick for such phrase transitions to have any impact (which is why I went with the fairly jagged stabs there with the string ensembles in Sautille Spiccato & Scrapes layered), or it would require tempo automations to let that fit which would throw off the energy of the entire piece.

If I'm not able to get top scores for this, then I'm not sure what else I'm supposed to do if there's nothing really notes beyond one very small thing. It just feels like my orch tracks from this year and 2023 are getting noticably harsher scoring from you without any real notes as to why beyond immensely small reasons, to the point that my scoring from you after 2021 has taken a noticable downslide.

[Dried Ocean]

AIM 2025 Judge Review

I really like the movement of the lower register throughout most of this entry. Those lower strings have a rough sort of quality to them, which I think works well towards the bleak and sad nature of the scene. There's a good sense of height in your texture, and I like how the structure shifts towards a slight sense of hope.

I thought the hand-off from the strings to the brass section playing was quite seamless, and the brass works really well against the strings. I would have loved to hear the brass be worked in more into the piece, as it feels like it only gets to work with the strings for like 30 seconds towards the end.

Regarding the first section, I am curious to hear the rests between the phrases be slightly longer or have varying lengths between the rests. For some reason, I felt like the first section was particularly fast-paced compared to the later sections where I think there are more rhythmic parts. It just seemed like something playing up the atmosphere could really stretch that out a bit more.

I'm also not really sure the first section was as emotionally/atmospherically effective as it could have been. I sort of wish the phrases were longer or the gaps of silence were slightly varied or even if the amount of time the strings played for were more free-form. It just felt kind of rushed.

I'm also a little split on the piano being part of the mix. On one hand, it does add a good contrast against the strings surrounding it. On the other hand, it doesn't really feel like it fits with the sound design as well as the strings/brass combination. When it comes in, it's just kind of there. Perhaps it helps to bring up the highs, but since higher strings come into the texture later, the piano didn't really feel like it was as cohesive to the soundscape as the strings/brass layers.

Solacitude responds:

I'm really glad that these low bass notes were interpreted in the right way, as well as this sense of hope I tried to portray as the piece progresses. Going from the dried/dead ocean, disorganized societies, incertitude, to life thriving despite this environment.

I get what you mean by these first phrases that could've been spaced a little bit more to give maybe a little bit more suspense or unsettling feeling. In my first versions I actually had more space between those, but in the end decided to make it shorter. I might apply your take on those and update this piece at some point though, because I think as well that longer silences might work better ^^

For the piano part, I actually enjoy it :P it might sound a bit off, but this melody is intertwined with the strings, I kept it quite simple but it acts as a voice that fits with the string melodies, though I feel it could have been mixed in a bit better! At some point, it's a matter of taste, though I understand why someone would find it doesn't fit, this piece might've been better served by keeping it fully brass/strings.

Thank you very much for this thorough review!! This being my first real attempt at making a proper orchestral piece, I'm really glad by how it's been received, and being up against masters of the art of orchestral composition, I'm really happy with a 29th position!! :D Thank you for hosting AIM it was a nice experience to compose based on a piece of art.

[AIM - Bomb Pop]

AIM 2025 Judge Review

Following your username change, I could hardly believe I was listening to the same user from past AIMs. As far as sweetness goes, this entry definitely nails the cuteness of its art inspiration. I really like the hook and the warmth of the sound design. The melody is catchy and quite replayable.

For the most part, I think the piece progresses well, taking away elements of the bass and percussion then re-adding them in later sections to enhance the repeating melodies. Personally I feel the accompaniment could have used just a little more texture to it, particularly with the bass and the syncopated chords starting at 0:13. The syncopated chords and bass also being syncopated cause them to hit in unison rhythmically, and I would have liked to hear these elements play off each other in terms of where they hit on the beat. Right now, it feels bare when there's not a lot of rhythms playing off each other and all the musical layers constantly work parallel to each other instead of working with each other. I think it's fine as a start, but I would have liked to hear this more as the track progresses to its later sections.

Overall, I think this a really good entry. I went back to this a lot when it was first submitted to the compo - that opening hook is worth the repeat listens!

Kiraichu responds:

Thank you so much!! Didn’t think about that. I appreciate you listening to it so much! It was definitely an improvement from what I did in the past <3

[AIM / Slugg Dogg SMS²]

AIM 2025 Judge Review

This entry manages to be both smooth/cool while leaning into the silliness of the art, particularly with the use of both acoustic instruments and vocals in the accompaniment. It feels like a strange combination, but the mixing makes it feel natural. I also really love the vocal performance in this. The raspy voice adds just the right amount of edge to help it work with the accompaniment in an otherwise minimal setup.

If I had to nitpick one thing, I would have liked to hear more enunciation in the vocal performance. If I didn't have the lyrics, I would have thought the hook of this song was "slugg dogg sell my soul" which really would have changed things (or not, haha). Perhaps just more emphasis on the consonants would have helped. I still enjoyed the tone of your voice a lot, but with vocals so prominent in the mix, I would have liked to hear the words be more clear.

Overall, I like the sleepy and laid-back nature of this piece. It feels smooth in a slimy way, and I think it's hard to think of entries with this interesting setup for the accompaniment in past compos. There's a lot of substance that feels very connected and focused on the art inspiration, making it a great entry.

CasualBreather responds:

Thanks a lot for this detailed review and the good rating!
I take good note for my pronunciation of "save" my soul for if I sing this song again!

[AIM - Tyrant]

Per your request, here are the rough notes I took for your AIM 2024 entry:

That slower beginning section that appears in the middle and end of the track works really well with the art and has a great sense of atmosphere.

I love the use of piano there, but I wish it were more prominent.

The main part of the track with those fast synth lines, for the most part, does not work given the art inspiration and also feels disconnected from the track besides the one part where it's slow and reverbed in the middle section.

I like the sense of playing around with the tempo and the pulsating of the chords.

COMPOSITION: I like the intro and there are nice ideas here like playing around with the tempo and the fast synth line.

PRODUCTION: The panning is fine but the main part of the track is so dry, especially those drums and the loud synths.

EMOTION: The beginning is quite atmospheric but the main synth line doesn't really flow that well from the intro and the lack of reverb makes this a difficult listen.

ART RELEVANCE: I think the long, flowing lines - the slower parts with the piano - feel quite inspired by the art, but that main sort of fast sidechained synth line feels disconnected from the art. Ultimately, the bulk of this track sounds too similar to "Digital Demolition" - which in itself isn't a bad thing necessarily, but I felt like the sounds weren't as strong in conveying this different style of art used as the inspiration here.

Orenge1 responds:

Thank you! This was very helpful. I personally felt the synth was connected with the art as I thought the synth as the dragon approaching aggressively basically. But the lack of reverb and the dry excessive loudness I can well understand is a problem. Can also agree that the piano isn't so prominent and the synth bass sound selection also needed more work and so did the percussion.

All and all, once again thanks for this detailed review! :)

[AIM2024 - To the Skies]

Per your request, here are the rough notes I took for your AIM 2024 entry:

Great seamless shift from the uplifting tone at the beginning to the more intense sections in a short amount of time.

I love the use of the guitar for added intensity and...it sounds more epic like that.

Drums could definitely use a touchup. I missed a lot of their presence here.

Could have used another hook somewhere in the middle that is not like the beginning or ending's main melodic ideas, but also something different as a touch point. Most of the track is quite good, but it feels mostly background.

COMPOSITION: I really like the transition from the happier string section at the beginning to the intensive parts with the guitar and strings. I just feel like there was a lot of "waiting" to get back to the main hooks.

PRODUCTION: I think the guitar was mixed quite well with the strings, but I wish there were more presence of the drums - the cymbal was really the only thing prevalent.

EMOTION: The punches and shifts of emotion and atmosphere work quite well with the sound design and hits in the composition. There is that sense of having an epic battle adventure.

ART RELEVANCE: There's definitely a video game feeling to this, which seems inspired by the art. I think it also reflects the environment and the idea around the narrative is quite well done.

NahuPyrope responds:

Thank you!, I agree that I dragged out some bits a tad too long, I wasn't confident about that, to be 100% fair I wasn't super confident in this track, but I'm happy there were some good things in it.

Thank you again RSK, you're wonderful!

[AIM2024 - Arrhythmia]

Per your request, here are the rough notes I took for your AIM 2024 entry:

Guitar sound is incorporated in a way that works and still follows your signature style

Fantastic, lovely melody recurring throughout. Great sound choices to complement the guitar (piano and strings, etc.)

The vocal section - I like the idea but not the execution. The melody line I would like to hear if it sounds better an octave lower? Also the use of the vocaloid here hampers the emotional weight for me. The way the vocaloid pronounces the words is very unnatural sounding. It's almost there but not quite.

COMPOSITION: The melody is fantastic, but I feel like the vocals section is a bit of a miss. The way the metre changes feels very natural and not something I'm consciously thinking about, which is one of the piece's greatest strengths.

PRODUCTION: I feel like the production could be just a bit lighter, feels a bit heavy-loaded in the lower end.

EMOTION: The melody of the guitars just hits that right level of cuteness and comfort, but I felt like the heavier production and vocals detracted from this feeling a bit.

ART RELEVANCE: Does a great job at making you feel small and the sky feel big, with feelings of comfort and uncertainty wrapped up into one cute little package.

(Sorry I went ham on the vocals. I'm just personally not a huge fan of vocaloids/synthesizers unless it's in very specific contexts. For me, having this lovely sort of piece culminate into sudden vocals where they feel unnatural affected the emotional impact, especially since the piece builds up to the vocals. I still enjoyed it overall, but it was definitely the one thing I didn't really connect with.)

NahuPyrope responds:

I also don't 100% feel good about using a voice synthesizer, of course I'd much prefer having actual vocals, been practicing my singing a lot but I'm still a few ways away.

Thank you so much for the notes RSK♡

[AIM24 - Hypertrain]

Per your request, here are the rough notes I took for your AIM 2024 entry:

Lots of fun little musical ideas here, like the slight ascension of the melody at 0:12 to 0:17 in the lower voice.

The counterpoint at 0:57 to 1:31 with the jumping lead is great.

Wish we had more sense of the bass rhythms to really get a sense of the train travelling. I think there were faster moving bass notes, but the instrument used is so soft and low that none of this is felt at all.

The slower-moving section at 0:40 is uninteresting compared to the rest of the track when the bass, high note and drums all hit at the same beat and play the same notes.

The ending is very abrupt and doesn't sound like a train hitting its "last stop".

COMPOSITION: I think there are a lot of very good musical ideas and counterpoint here, but there are also some sections where it feels like the track grinds to a halt in an uninteresting way. Also the ending is so abrupt in a way that makes the track feel truncated.

PRODUCTION: The lower end is so soft that the sense of bass is lost and I think that causes the track to lose energy and sense of motion.

EMOTION: There are some moments where the track stops and starts, generally, where it does feel like a train travelling on the rails and stopping at the stations.

ART RELEVANCE: I think the synths complement the art style, and I love the idea of the motion in the bass and counterpoint to convey this train moving along the tracks. With tighter execution, I think this would have scored a bit higher.

Dynamic0 responds:

Thanks for feedback!