Coop's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[SN | Once Again | SN]

Great Piano

A lovely little tune that sent my girlfriend's cockatiels into a frenzy, I think that we can safely say that the pacing is electrifying and the piano / keyboard is something that really does keep this track pumping through the phases expertly. I love the bass variation, where it stops for half a phase and allows the piano to shine through.

You've clearly given a lot of thought and effort to this piece and it is really mind boggling to see how people like you can keep churning quality pieces out week after week.

With the way that this sounds, I'd have perhaps taken a little off the louder notes, as they can be a little abrasive as they get to the loudest point, shaving a little there would certainly help.

[Review Request Club]

SessileNomad responds:

its funny you say that cuz i almost wne through the trouble to quite down the pianos and stuff when the big lead came in, but i didnt really think anyone would notice how loud it was getting there

i should start trusting my instincts more xD

thx for reviewing

[Fable - Rebirth (XB)]

Nice remix

A very worthy little tune that certainly would not seem out of place as a jingle for the main menu of various games that crop up around Newgrounds, even things like Epic Battle Fantasy, for example.

Quite serene and well played, it can put the player at ease, lulling them into a false sense of security, but this is something more than that. I would have made it into a better loop though - the end and start of the tune are just a little too quiet for that to really take effect well.

It's got a very nice "music box quality" backing tune, which suits the track itself down to the ground. Great stuff.

[Review Request Club]

Cosmos8942 responds:

Ha, I always enjoy your reviews, y ou always have something to say that I've yet to hear. In this case its your "Quite serene and well played, it can put the player at ease, lulling them into a false sense of security, 'but' this is something more than that." Right there, I wonder what you are talking about actually. I can't really feel anything, it might be because I've heard this one so many times or it might be because I made it. But I'm not getting you here as well D:.

Meh, maybe I'll figure it out with time. But I'll agree with the loop itself but here is something that might interest you. I believe this one was made before NG redid the site and it was labeled as a loop not by me but by either the staff or some program they came up with. Nothing I can do about that now though. Meh, ah well.

-Tony-

Once again thanks for the review. I actually enjoy yours quite a bit as it shows knowledge and experience which is always nice to get on just about anything.

[~-Chrono Trigger-~]

Really nice

While the "perfect 10" was spoiled for me by some high end static on most of the higher notes, you've put together a good sounding track - working on the equalisation will help you here, no doubt.

It's pretty Epic and if only I'd heard the theme for Chrono Trigger before, I might be able to make comparisons, but we'll just stick to what I can hear. There's a good amount of variation, starting with the way that the track starts slowly, with the strings, blending into the woodwind and the other bits and pieces, giving me a sense of being taken into the piece and conjuring up images of CT.

I think that perhaps with the backing track that you're playing keyboards over the top of, you need to make this more prominent and fade out the keyboard, just to give another new dimension and some added variation to it - a great way to phase change, no doubt.

[Review Request Club]

Cosmos8942 responds:

I'll agree here. The static I just could not seem to get rid of for some unknown reason. I tried and tried and tried and gave up and submitted then cried and now this. Heh. Ah well, minor minor, the static hits somewhat hard the first time through then falls away the second time playing. I don't even notice it any longer actually.

Sticking to what you can hear can be good here. It allows you to make a unbiased opinion on the piece itself and not compare what is very likely a much better original. In other words you are basing it off of what you hear and that is nice since normally what I get are reviews based on what a person remembers. Sometimes annoying that. The variation itself is based around my old philosophy "If it is good as it is DON'T FKN CHANGE IT TOO DAMNED MUCH!!" The original had alot of the same flow I simply added some of my own zing to the mix to give it that homely 'Cosmos' feel :3.

But I do think that you could be correct me. The backing track could use some minor work, either with a fadeout or with some other conjured sensibility pondered up. Might have to look into that with my next CT remix...if I make one. I really should x.x.

Heh, well either way, I've yet to get a 10/10 from you so I guess I'll just have to work harder. I'll be happy once I manage to bounce that score up a little.

-Tony-

[Dr. M Fever]

Good remix

Yes, I remember this game. The remix does it justice, perhaps with something done to the parts when the tune itself seems to cut out and you get that "duh-duh" note, it always seems to run aground for me.

There are a few duff notes here and there (mostly when they are on their own), the second note of the solo starting at 40s, I think the offending note occurred at 43s, which did take away from that particular piece of the tune. When you've copied that piece for the next time around, it does show through, unfortunately.

Still, it's a good effort and this track does sound good, with some pretty good uses, as Mario games and movies are always being made here.

[Review Request Club]

Cosmos8942 responds:

Who doesn't remember this game. If you've played it you'll remember it. But frankly I'm surprised that so many people enjoy this one. I didn't think it was the greatest thing to ever grace my completed songs folder. But I am not sure when you say "duh-duh note." Frankly I can't seem to pick it out atm. I don't know actually, even when I go back over it and try to locate the note(s) centered around the 40s area I am still unable to pick it out. Guess my music ear just isn't as good as your own. Pity x.x.

Overall I like this well enough and I'm just happy that people seem to enjoy it as well. I may not really make anything off of..well...anything but I am happy just knowing that people enjoy them.

In the end guy I'll have to thank you, it would seem you have pointed out something I can't even hear XD. I'll have to work on that if I ever do another remix remotely like this one.

-Tony-

[[S:C] Avoider 2.0]

Needs to loop better

It was a good sounding track that would be great, until you hit the loop. This is a part of the track that catches a lot of authors out, so more work would be necessary to take it to the next level. Your enthusiasm is good and I feel that you can work this out nicely. Perhaps don't begin with a massive cymbal strike?

I'd have suggested using more projective instruments, as everything that you're using here seems quite deep. Perhaps taking that approach of bringing in something lighter will bring the tune forward, rather than having it 'skulk in the shadows'

[Review Request Club]

SymbolCymbal responds:

So sorry for late response on this. while making this little thingy i kinda just threw it together very quickly and didnt really take the time to make sure it looped tastefully or even do much sound design. this was a lazy piece :(
Thanks for the review :)

[First Musings - v2]

Good improvements

A nice sounding piece has been made better by the tweaking and changing in subtle ways. I like that it's longer and the orchestral backing sounds to have more of a voice in this piece. Very reminiscent of Peter & The Wolf, I feel.

Perhaps stop the oboe and let the strings take over for a solo earlier in the track? This does get quite crowded in the middle and moving things onward with that will certainly help the clarity issues.

I think that you're getting there, but it is still a work in progress.

[Review Request Club]

loansindi responds:

Thanks for the review man.

[~BH~ Aurora Theory]

Classi-Techno

I'd never have thought that you could use piano with a Techno piece - the two styles just seem so different. I like the pace and the beat that accompanies the scales that you're playing with good tempo, to keep this track working nicely.

Perhaps more could be done with regards to variation of the piano, as it's just a little on the repetitive side of things. With something like a slower solo, you'd be able to give a new layer to the piece, eventually giving it something different for the beat to return with. That new dimension is something that can take the tune forward.

[Review Request Club]

ErikMcClure responds:

Almost all my techno songs have piano <_<

The song's variation is rather tricky. The piano has subtle modifications all over the place, but I couldn't actually change it around that much because the song already was running around with nearly 5 distinct melodies. I put in any more variation and it goes from having variety to sounding random.

Thanks for the review!

[The Essence of Time]

Nice work

While I'm unsure about the tambourine (?) sounds in the intro, it's a nice sounding piece, with a great piano overtone.

I think that it's a little short and while the strings give a good backing to the track, they may be classed as a little overbearing, perhaps taking away from the presence given by the piano. A little messing with the volumes of the constituent instruments would help here.

It's a little on the short side and the piano can be used to give a much better grouping of solos, as the versatility of the instrument can be allowed to sing through, as you give it more control.

[Review Request Club]

Step responds:

Solos? You know, that's a perfect idea. Yeah, that is a tambourine, it's true it gets annoying, I may take a few parts of it away. The piano solo can make it longer, and as for the strings, I sort of saw them as the main melody and the accompanying melody being the piano, but usually strings are background instruments, so I'll try and reduce their volume a little. Anyway, I'll be adding a piano solo. Thanks for the great review, expect the updated Essence of Time coming any time soon ;).