stunkel's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Battle on the Bitmaker]

Came on here for the first time in a while and decided to check what you've been making. Glad you're making some music still man. Hope you're doing well!

[~Fore~ In The Depths]

NGADM Review:

So really, there is nothing bad to say about this track, it's just that it's one minute long which i had to take off a lot of points for. In comparison to a complete 3-4 minute track with emotional buildups and drops, I can't really give this a complete score :/

I reallllly was hoping for something big from you, but computer issues can suck... Honestly though, this is probably your best work in terms of production. I really enjoyed what I heard in this so far. I can tell you absolutely improved a ton through NGADM, and I really look forward to hearing what else you come up with in the future. Keep up the good work :)

8.2/10

-Ryan

[Vintage Cinema]

NGADM Review:

The expression in this is wonderful. Anytime I think of someone who creates realistic orchestrations, you are my go to person. It all just sounds so awesome man. There really isn't a lot of negative in the track. The reason I gave it a 9.3, was because I just didn't feel moved emotionally entirely by the track. I also felt that there could be more reverb on the strings, at least the lead (this is where it was most prominent). The strings felt a little weird on some attacks and releases at time as well. I understand that it can be difficult to make it sound perfect, but I think that just adding a little bit more reverb could have helped a lot with masking those glitches/sequencing issues. Besides that though, the expression of the strings cannot be beaten. The vibrato on them is moving and fits the style of this song in particular perfectly (on a side note, what strings are they and how did you do it?). Anyways, this was a killer track man. Keep it up. Hope to see you next year.

9.3/10

[Can't Be (ft. Popushi)]

NGADM Review:

Your sound quality is always really solid man. Production can't be beat really. The structure and composition compliment the overarching story of this track to convey an emotional message. The only thing I'd really say is that the melodies themselves feel very uninspired. This is partially in the chord progressions as well. That's really all I have to comment on. The vocals are really neat as are the synth choices. Good job man, and good luck in finals.

9/10

-Ryan

[The Prodigal]

NGADM Review:

This is the best and most memorable song in the competition. And the scores you got really show it. I know that I gave the lowest score out of the judges and it brought your average down a little bit, but it's mainly because I rated soundchris's track first and liked this track that much more. I have VERY little to comment on with this track, and only nitpicks. This has a wonderful soundscape and you chose each instruments sounds perfectly. The kick drum has a really nice, low feel that fits the environment of the song. The same with the snare and the guitar.

Vocals are awesome man. First off, it's not very fair because I'm obsessed with guy/girl duets. I don't have anything to comment on except that it would have been nice to hear the vocals panned a little bit more. You and your wife and Josh and his wife expressed so much emotion in your singing, and it was all composed very well. Vocals can be difficult, but you nailed it man.

And obviously, the part at 2:08. Holy shit dude. Everytime I listen to it I get chills (only listened to this on loop about 20 times now, nbd). It's just so unexpected and fits so nicely. The changes in the guitar, the drums, the vocals. I love it man. I can only describe all of the elements of this track as tasteful. Everything feels to be placed naturally and like the song needs it to be complete, but I didn't know I wanted it until you put it in the track.

Mixing is really solid too man, this might just be a preference, and I feel it might not really work with the emotion and soundscape of the track, but I would have liked to hear the overall track to be a little brighter. This could be fixed in mastering I'm sure. But again, just a nitpick. I feel this track has a much greater quality than your previous work in this competition which is awesome to hear. I feel it might have to do with the samples you usually use. Whatever it is, you seemed to have nailed it here.

Great work man, looking forward to your next entry. Good luck in finals!

9.6/10

-Ryan

bassfiddlejones responds:

Stunkel, thank you for the kind review! We really loved making this song. I hear you about the mix, though I think generally it's a pretty minor thing. Thanks for your comment on the vocals, this is really my first time putting my voice out there in a recording, I'm glad it went ok!

[[IV]The Offering]

NGADM Review:

So basically, you have always had a really solid atmosphere in all of your tracks. I just feel that it doesn't have a direction. It doesn't really have a melody to follow, and it lacks in dynamics. I can't really define anything by parts, nor did I feel much of an emotional connection to them. The realism of the track is really nice, and the overall emotion is nice, but it's the change in emotions that I was looking for. That's really the only thing that I dislike about this track, but I think it definitely affected your score from me quite a bit. I've heard your other stuff, and I know you can do a lot better than this. You're very talented, and I hope to see you next year :)

8.6/10

-Ryan

[~SW~ Annar]

NGADM Review:

The crispness of your drums are always so awesome man ;_; Clarity being your #1 priority, I'd say you nailed it. Everything is crystal clear, bright and overall very pleasing sonically. Two things bothered me a little bit. I wasn't a huge fan of the lead synths, in particular, the one at 1:14 that plays just doesn't sit in with the rest of the instruments so well to me. The second thing is the melody felt directionless. The guitar part felt very directional and absolutely loved that. But I want to feel an emotional connection to the music. I can tell you put a lot of work into all of your music, but in this track, the melody seems to feel rushed and soulless. Miles Davis said that the notes that he plays doesn't mean nearly as much as the space between notes. To be more specific, the timing from one note to the next is what matters more, letting the listener anticipate what is coming next. Keep it up man!

8.6/10

-Ryan

SkyeWint responds:

I have had a few issues with directionless melodies at some points. Most of the sections in this were very deliberate, and intended to work through a lot of the rest of the piece.

I'm curious about why, specifically, you didn't like the synths. I'm fine with your not liking them, mind - I just want to know why so that I can avoid it in the future if it's an issue that could happen again!

[Past, Meet Present]

NGADM Review:

This is really awesome man. Everyone has been commenting on the synth, but honestly I like it a lot. The melodies you have are pretty great too man, and obviously your production is up to standard as usual. The melodies flow really nicely from one point to the next. I would have liked a little more dynamics on the entire track. I think rhythmically, your dynamics are AWESOME, it's just that on the full scale of part to part, it's a little too all rise, if you get what I mean. The reason I gave this a 9/10 was because relative to Bass Fiddle and Josh, I felt you guys had an equally great track for different reasons. Some shortcomings in your track he made up for and I just had to give you guys both the same score. You are super talented man, your production decisions and ideas are brilliant. Keep it up man.

9/10

-Ryan

[~Fore~ Savage]

NGADM Review:

YES! This is exactly what I was looking for from you. Your compositional skills have always shined in this competition, but your production has been off. But in this sound you NAIL it on the mixing side. Again, you create a wonderful soundscape for me to fall into, with tons of expression in the synths. BEAUTIFUL drums. This is what I was concerned for you with in earlier tracks, but I'm so glad that you've improved on it so much.

In terms of composition, this fell shorter compared to your other pieces. For example, the ending felt a little repetitive and it could have been pushed to be prettier in my opinion. This could have been done simply by changing the chords first, and then adjusting the melody accordingly, or even layering more pieces on top of it. Otherwise, transitions and everything is really nice. Tons of variety in the drums and synths. I guess I just felt that the transitions and everything could have been moved a little more than just variation in the sounds that you use, and more in the chords themselves. Dynamically I think the track was fine, but I do feel that towards the end some slight dynamic changes from the 2:00 mark and onward would have been nice. GREAT work. Congrats on making it to the next round. You've definitely shown the most improvement in this competition than anyone else. Awesome awesome awesome work.

8.9/10

-Ryan

[BVYS N GVRLZ]

NGADM Review:

I wrote an entire review for you but then I lost it, so I'll do my best to remember everything I touched on.

This song has GREAT feel. This is definitely my favorite and best produced track this round. It's so freaking catchy and enjoyable to listen to. Excellent synth design and drum sounds, and there isn't a single note that isn't placed to make me feel great and immersed into this. Transitions you had in this were really awesome too. The part at 1:20 going on for 20 seconds is beautiful. That's a 20 second expertly executed transition full of emotion. The chorus going from the first half to the second is freaking awesome with the chip lead. Just two small complaints: I felt this song really could have benefitted from a C section, currently, it seems to be just an ABA structure. I suppose I just felt that the way the track was taking me, it fell short of a greater potential than what it currently has. The other thing is that I felt the ending part could have been bigger harmonically and dynamically. Comparing it to the first chorus of the song, it didn't feel any different and definitely would have been nice to hear something more to it. This is awesome though, congrats on getting to the next round. Favorited.

9.3/10

-Ryan