HexMonkey's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Refraining Bad News]

Sounds good

Starting Off:
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Not bad. Gets a bit sluggish a points from overuse of the same 4 chords but other than that it does a good job at setting an atmosphere. Also, parts of the song go on too long without enough (noticeable) change to keep it interesting. However, It does have a nice expansive sound and sounds relatively well mixed.
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Suggestions for Improvements:
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Hopefully this doesn't come out sounding harsh. I'm gonna speak my mind and not sugar-coat it because sugar-coatin' never helped anyone. It took me awhile to find out why, even though I liked it tonally, the song sounded boring. I came up with this...
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Some of the sections run too long with the same progression and tones.
I'm guessing but it sounds like 70-80% of this song contains the same 4 chords playing repeatedly with different instruments. Interludes like at 1:08, 2:47 and 3:26 are a nice change of pace, but they have identical chord progressions as well. Actually, from 2:46-4:05 its the same 4 chords playing the entire time.(over 32 bars)
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Its great that new instruments come in, but if their playing the exact same progression in the exact same way it kills the point of adding something new. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the song lacks contrast. It doesn't have extreme blacks and whites, highs and lows, etc. It comes off as just being gray and flat. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Gray is great for background, just not for keeping interest. If you wanna keep the audiences interested for 5 minutes 14 seconds you have to have something more going on. Something to catch the listener off guard and make him/her interested.

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What Works:
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I like the way it starts out and ends with the bells. They add really nice touch of atmosphere to the song. Gives a mysterious feeling. Sounds almost like your in a cave. I'm not sure what that has to do with "bad news", but it sounds nice. The melody has a nice mellow feeling to it and works well throughout the piece. The instrument choices you made were great as well and different than one would expect. Actually, Even though the notation was repetitive, you used (or at least sounded like you used) a wide variety of instruments and managed to get them to all work well together in this song. Great job.
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Conclusion:
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You need to work on length. If its going to be 5 mins it needs to keep interest. I'm not saying that it needs to have crazy drum beats, quick playing synths, and explosions (though that would be awesome ^-^), but I should be able to hear something new and engaging with each passing phrase. Take the best parts and trim the excess and filler. Keep it short and sweet.
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I make these mistakes all the time (most people don't call me on it though :P .)
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Final Score:
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Vote:3.5 out of 5 (I rounded this up to a 4)
Review: 7.5 out of 10 (I rounded this down to a solid 7 to counteract my rounding up on the vote score)
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There's always a definite improvement from you from song to song. I know you do a lot of mellow, but for your next song I wanna hear the opposite (exciting). I think the shift would help you in the long run (even with your calm, peaceful songs). Keep improving like you are and there'll be no stopping you.
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All the best,
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~Hex Monkey~

dicennian responds:

I love reviews with actual content and honesty, thanks Hex! :D

[Seeking Bliss - Home]

Nice job

Starting Off:
Its really calming and peaceful. Of course that can be said about any of your songs. However, this doesn't really sound classical. The main reason being the drum beat. Its a good beat but it doesn't fit a classical piece. Also the structure and pacing flag it as pop music (at least in my mind). The song as a whole sounds much more pop or R&B than a classical. Not that there's anything wrong with that, thats just how it sounds. I think it would actually be a great fit for a pop song. Maybe, that's what you were going for.
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Suggestions for Improvements:
First off, the bass drum and the snare are too dry. The synth guitar sounds a bit dry as well but its a lot less noticeable (you can really hear it at 2:46). Also, I think it could use a bit more variation in the instrumentation and volumes. Like maybe the strings can be more prominent in some sections and less in others. Like around 2:15 and from 3:55 to the end, I think it would sound great if the strings were louder and with a bit more reverb so they can really fill up that area and just pull you in.
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Right now, the volumes sound kind of flat and even throughout the whole song. It makes the song drag, because your missing out on the build-release tension that could make the song so much more dynamic.
You could also use some better quality samples, but that's not a fault of yours.
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What Works:
Like I said before, you nailed the peaceful, calming feeling of a home environment. The chord progressions around 2:13 and 4:00 are very soothing and sound lovely. Coincidently, those sections are my favorite part of the song. I like the flute and the bell instruments you chose for the melody. I think it fits the tone of the piece. I still think it would be nice for some other instruments to get the "spotlight", but they do a well enough job of getting the message across.
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Conclusion:
This is probably one of your better pieces. There's stuff to fix here and there (like the genre :P), but overall it sounds good and gets the mood and message across.In the end, That's all that really matters. Hope you enjoyed this freakishly long review I wrote you and hopefully the suggestions and comments help you in some way (whether you take them or not).

Final Score:
3.5/5 (rounded up to 4)
7/10 (2:13 and 4:00 bumped this score up for me, sounds soooo good.)

~Hex Monkey~

dicennian responds:

Now that's what a review looks like :) Thank you for the critique, need stuff like this to improve - also thanks for taking all that time to write this essay of a review. Awesome :) Thank you.

[Sonic 1 - Boss Orchestral]

How...

How have I not added this to my favorites yet. This sounds really awesome. A very interesting and beautiful take on the original. Bravo!

[Aerith's Theme ~(O.O)~]

Nice and Calming

I don't know why this is so lowly rated, I think you did an awesome job on this. I tried to help (+0.47). Sure piano Aerith's theme isn't the most original but I think your version sounds really clean and awesome. Great job on this.

<HM>

[A}{A Silent Slaughter]

Eerie and Cool

I really dig the eerie, creepiness of this piece. I gives me a kinda silent hill feel. The low groans and echoe-y, semi-off beat piano really drag you in and make you uneasy. One complaint I have is the pad that comes in around the :18 sec mark, sounds a bit dry to me compared to the rest of the song.
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I like the heart beat leading up to the gunshot at the end. The heart beat lets you know something bad is coming and it puts you on edge as you reach the climax and then the loud gunshot just explodes and scares the hell out of you. It also makes you realize the horror of what has just happened and makes reflect on the song sequence of events. It does a really good job of tell a story with just music and sounds. Great job.

Vote:4/Review:8

Also, this should probably be under ambient and not new wave.

AphoticAthanasy responds:

New Wave is the music that is crazy, and has no set of focus on any set of planes of cliche compositions . My music is not your everyday type of music . So I put it in New Wave since it means ''Eccentric music that is here today'' I forgot the whole definition . Lol . Also, that pad you disliked is actually the notion that evil is lurking, passed the neon lights, (Cars going on their everyday routine) . Everything I used fits, it just matters if one's personal taste fits . thankyou for such a beautiful review, I wish I had more people like you ^_^ .
A}{A

[[dB] Electric Charge]

Good but...

The song sounds a bit hollow, like there needs to be more in there like a really low volume pad in the background to give some depth or something similar. I like what you did with the stuttering instruments and the static-y sounding clap or other instrument you used. I kinda makes it sound like its coming from an old Tv or other electronic, like you implied with the title Electric Charge. I does give of the feeling of electricity. I just think it could use more to fill out it.
I also think the kick drum would be better with a more hiss-y static sound or maybe a more electronic drum kit. Your going for electricity and I think it would be better if you just went all out with it. But I still think this is a good start, I just think it needs more.

V:4
Review: 7.5 (rounded up to 8)

Decibel responds:

Thank you, your review is very much appreciated, I am working on a couple of projects right now but I'll get to work as soon as possible!
>DJ< ;-)

[Heavy Rain (Club Mix)]

Really Good

It really does have a wet sound and a bouncy, melodic beat. I like all the different layers to this song hard edged saw-sounding instrument to the crisp, clear plucked instruments. I think the reverb really gives it that wide aquatic feel and the beat drives it all the way to the end. Great job and keep the good work.

Vote 5 Review 9

[Piano 36 - End of an Era]

Sounds Great

Deserves way more than a 2.84. Fives and Nines for you, Sir. Really peaceful and relaxing. A little repetitive but it is a loop and it does its job well. Great job.

[The First Try]

Nice song

...and a nice melody. Peaceful and relaxing, doesn't draw away to much attention which makes it good thinkin' music. Kinda fades into the background. Not really any problems I can find with it. Keep up the good work.

[Kasumi's Theme W.I.P. {DOA}]

Nice

Gotta love Kasumi. Which Dead or Alive is this from btw?

Also, good job on the song.

MidiGuyDP responds:

I think you hear it in almost all, if not all DOA's.

Though I could be wrong.