Coop's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Capital katlean (remix)]

Slightly haunted

Hmm, this piece seems to conjure up imagery of a haunted house, with the piano playing a slow, almost disjointed melody that really does speak volumes for the rest of the track. This covers the first few minutes very well, especially as it blends into a duet.

When it goes quiet and then gets recreated with synthetic instruments, you've got a very different dynamic to the piece and it comes alive, as if it were someone trying to recreate a sound that they heard, possibly as a child. I can see this being played and in the middle of a floor, some ghostly couple waltzes around in time to the music as everything takes hold. The piano is in danger of being a little too dominant here, so it does need to be reigned in ever so slightly.

I also think that you could have added more strings to this piece, as that seemed to be the natural progression, as strings always accompany waltzes really well.

[Review Request Club]

Calamaistr responds:

Based on a future katlean makes your interpetation close to correct, seeing as katlean in the story is a 'undead' hermitage, the atmosphere of the little melody was definately meant to portray such a topic, not actually haunted but eerie and horroresque nevertheless.

I never even noticed myself that it was a walz heh. Now thats eerie too about my own work. :P

As usual, thanks for the review. :)

["Frozen Clockwork" -GST Mix-]

MADNESS!

Having only recently watched Madness Combat 6.5, I can't think of a better place to start with this piece - your work would be right at home with this sort of piece. The pace is hectic and there are only the pauses that really stop the listener from exploding, as the tension seems to keep building through the tracks, hitting these sudden drains and starting the climb once more.

With the way that this goes, I think that a solo would be the best thing to do. Take out the bass and give us a run for our money with what the synths are capable of. I know that you changed them at around the 3 minute marker, but the beat was still there. Take it out completely and show us off that the synth melody can take the track elsewhere.

I like how it built up after the solo, so perhaps that needs to stay though.

[Review Request Club]

Dj-GST responds:

I don't know if I wanna do that or not...

Anyway, I'm happy you liked this so much. Thanks for the 9 and the great review :D

[Stargenx - PsyRockin]

Good rock tune

The guitar riff in this reminds me of the intro riff that was used for Alice Cooper's "Prince of Darkness" tune from the 1970s. It's a very well constructed piece that allows the listener to hear a good range of sounds, carried along by the lead guitar with some good backing from the bass and drums.

I like this tune, but I'm torn as to whether or not it could use some vocals to improve it - with the vocals, the track will go in a radically different direction, but without, there is a danger that it goes a little stale.

With the way that you've laid it out, there is a good balance, but perhaps it calls for a rhythm guitar to play alongside, as opposed to just guitar and lead?

[Review Request Club]

Stargenx responds:

Possibly. You have some good suggestions. Thanks for the review!

[Campion's Brag]

Great Piano

Well, this piece certainly grabs the listener's attention with the piano, before hitting them with the drums, which is an interesting combination, especially since the percussion is cymbal heavy. With how it all comes together, the piece seems far better as the piano, as opposed to the way that the percussion seems to drown the piano out.

To take this further, I would tone down the cymbals and work at getting the piano to do something else, as opposed to just this tune that you've got. Perhaps a quicker solo piece, just to get away from the cymbals, which might seem like they are trying to be oppressive?

[Review Request Club]

Sawdust responds:

The cymbals could probably represent teachers? Lol. I'd probably tone the drums down then, Maybe reduce it to a simple drumloops sample.

[antiexasperation]

An interesting song

The sound of this is very akin to the 60s and 70s surfing tunes that were done by bands like the Beach Boys, as it reminds you of something that it played on a Californian porch on a single amp, with no additional music to go along with it. I love the way that it sounds.

What I think you could do with a sound like this is gradually build it up - bring in a vocalist that start to sing along and then get someone with improvised drums coming in and maybe even a barbershop style bassist, just for the feel of the piece overall. It's still something that reminds me of the sun going down over a beach environment, with the fire pits starting out and people gathering together for an evening of excess. Perhaps just have a soft wave sound in the background for extra emphasis?

[Review Request Club]

axlisbak responds:

it was intended to be just a solo song but im starting to like the idea of adding extra sounds/musicians into this song, if you happen to know of anyone willing to help me improve on it id love to hear. thanks for the review

[AF+T888 - Lightspeed (DM Edit)]

Interesting blend of dance and piano

Not necessarily two pieces that I would have seen as going together very well, but it's something that I think you've done a good job on.

I think that there is some room for manoeuvre here, since you've got quite repetitive parts that do take away from the tune ever so slightly, so capitalising on these would be a great way forward. Moving on from the synths to a more dramatic piano solo could make the world of difference to this piece overall.

Still, keep up the good work, it's got some great length to it and changing a little more could help you no end.

[Review Request Club]

aliaspharow responds:

mhm... il definitely look at that! thanks for the feedback!

[<MWA> Electric]

Calm, racy

This is the sort of tune that I could expect to hear in one of those finesse based space racing games, like WipEout, but where you have to keep it on the track or fall off into the void of space. You don't want a track that's too aggressive there, or you will make a hash of it :P

It does get a little repetitive, from time to time, but that can be changed very easily by making just a few small changes and allowing you to get a much better feel by adding a few new instruments and perhaps a solo here or there.

Vocal samples are always a good thing to go with as well, since you can always give a new dynamic to a tune by adding these to a tune.

[Review Request Club]

mjattie responds:

yea, You're right about the repetitiveness... Thanks for the 9/10

[[SxHx] Mrng.Aftr (NGcut)]

A little repetitive

Generally, the feeling is that transitions are supposed to take the track to a new place, as opposed to bridging between two periods of very similar music. For example, your first bridge led from tune [A] to tune [A]. Exactly the same, rendering the hard work of the bridge completely useless. You wouldn't leave your front door, walk around the block and back in through the front door just to go from the kitchen and back, would you?

In short, this requires a lot more variation, from the bassline, to the more dynamic parts of the track. Start throwing more instruments in and giving yourself a fighting chance of taking this track elsewhere.

[Review Request Club]

shesmackshard responds:

I'll admit I dont like this song much, but chicago house doesnt ever change key, nor does any house other than progressive.

Thanks though!

[[dj-Jo] Piano Excursion]

Interesting melodies

A real shame that the piano couldn't always be heard over the rest of the melody, since from the title, it seemed that you were aiming for the piano to be the most prominent part of the music.

You got some good work with the initial beat and it all came together well, although at this point, there was no piano included in it. More work is required there, I feel.

Further to that, I would seriously suggest that you incorporate some vocals to the piece, as a young lady's voice would certainly go along with this piece and help break down a potential for monotony, since it starts to sound a little over the top with the melody practically not changing. I know that you do change it, but it wasn't quite enough for my liking (hey, I'm a critic, my standards are ridiculously high :P)

[Review Request Club]

dj-Jo responds:

lol, about the name, I only did that because I couldn't really think at the time.

I have problems with names and songs. I make songs then I name them, I don't really plan the name of the song before-hand, but right near the end of the song producing.

soooooooo
I think I should probably think of a better name next time I make a song.
BUT
I should definitely think about planning a song before actually starting one, so then, I could adapt the song to it's actually name instead of having a mess with random names and unfitting names too. uhhhhh

anyway, about vocals?
I have a sister that can sing farely well :D
She has a NG account, but she barely uses it.
Oh well, I think about some vocals in my later works.
Thanks for the suggestion :D
I also got a new mic! Check my news post when you have the time.

All in all
Thanks for the review lol

[Movement one: Valience]

Well, it's short, but good

There is a good sounding start to this, with an epic tone of the orchestra and the drums just come in to make it sound like a marching band that it is an army of sorts marching to war. Perhaps listen to the drums that go with the Scottish Army bands to make the next step of the piece?

I think that this could certainly stand to be a minute or two longer, it has the legs for it, without doubt. I think that with the strings sections, you've got a great lead into the troops leaving the somewhat friendlier confines of home as they march to the field of strife, where some of them will meet thier ends.

Keep working at this piece, I certainly think that you've got a chance to make it shine through :)

[Review Request Club]

Cimba responds:

Thanks for reviewing