Bezman's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Solus- She]

Epic

Why is it called 'She'?

Anyways, this is a pretty epic instrumental piece. Really makes me think of massive armies of swordsmen, hundreds - even thousands - slain and a few survivors reminiscing or passing on the story.

Sounds kinda like the music you might get in an old RPG whilst someone's talking about all the battles that have led to this one final ultimate encounter.

I loved the start - simple but effective keyboard melody. I liked the way you played with the drums, bells and... violins? (Sorry, I'm not the best at telling...)

After the energetic crescendo, it was a creepy vibe with the soft melody and bells.

The 2nd half begins with what sounds like some slow violins - makes it sound more peaceful for a moment.

Sorry for the boring review technique - I'm unsure how to analyse a symphonic arrangement like this.

I do feel it is lacking maybe another layer. I wouldn't suggest lyrics at all - that'd take away too much from the instruments you have. However, maybe a choral arrangement could work?

And maybe punctuate some moments even more than you do? I like the changing 'pace' brought on by your selective use of instruments and judicious drums. Maybe go even wilder at the peaks of crescendos.

This is a great piece. I wouldn't want to listen to it when relaxing, but it'd be a good thing to maybe wake up to or play when beginning a big project. It's kinda energising.

_Review request Club_

SolusLunes responds:

The choral arrangement is planned- but the vocals, I agree, would take a lot away from the instrumentation- as such, the usage of them would be minimal.

Glad you liked it :D

[Bearded Gentlemen from Texas]

Good song, but I'm growing less enthused by it.

I did really love this the first time I hear it, but having just heard it for the 3rd time (over the course of a week), I find myself growing weary of it.

The intro is great and I loved what sounded like a little bit of speedy improvised fingerwork.

Throughout the song, I felt the drums were a bit too repetitive.

The whole thing kinda seemed a bit flat after the 1 minute mark. If you'd had more energy in the drums and some more variations generally, I'd have probably preferred it.

The lyrics were kinda funny. I liked the use of stereo effects for the guitars.

It's a good song with some great elements, but I just felt the whole thing failed to live up to the promise held by the guitarwork in the intro.

_Review Request Club_

[Wicked Spiral]

droningly/repetitive

The vocal samples are cool. I enjoyed the laughs.

Throughout this tune though, the melodic loop was really drilling into my brain - though you changed up the beats and added some background stuff at points, it just felt like there was never enough variation or stuff going on to elevate it above a dull experience.

Often, when you switched the beat it was only to return to an earlier one. You had an alternative melody and what sounded like a few instrument (or effect) changes. Really though, it just seemed to drone on and on and by the end I was just glad it was over.

You've got some decent loops and sounds, but need to work on variety and progression.

-Review request Club-

[The Street Life {sample}]

Too repetitive and overpowering a melody.

I like what you have here, but it's too repetitive.

The piano has a nice vibe, but it's way too repeptitive and dull.

The drums are great and I noticed a few minor variations, but it's the piano that's really in the foreground.

I liked the way you killed the harder beats/melody before the sample and seems like you're technically skilled with the software. (Far more than I, anyway.)

I just feel like the repetitive melody makes it all really boring to listen to.

Btw, the full tune was cool, but I reckon the melody remains too simple, repetitive and overpowering.

[Speedy Bass (Dubstep)]

epetitive and static but cool sounds later on.

A kinda spooky vibe.

The tempo of the start seems at odds with what follows.

I liked the occasional notes you drop in every bar or two around the 1 min. mark. In fact, I liked a lot of the sounds that followed.

It does generally feel repetitive and slow to move. The vibe and the sounds you have are cool though. Specially for the 4th minute.

I think if you'd skipped the first minute or two or sped up the progression a bit, it would have been a stronger tune.

_Review Request Club_

Jimbobsthebest responds:

Ok man, thanks for the suggestions. Much appreciated.

James

[Three Little Words by Id of Oz]

I'm seriously looking forward to hearing more fr

Probably the best song I've heard on the AP.

So much about this song rocks. The beats are great - cool syncopation and variation.

The starting intro really has a sorta 'creepy circus theatre show' vibe.

The lyrics are great and I love your different voices. The robotic section works well and the whole thing makes me chuckle.

At the start, I felt the lyrics were a tad cliche, but I love the story and the way it turns out. You've got cool sections that mirror parts from before and a great variety of ways you deliver the words.

I'm seriously looking forward to hearing more from you.

_Review Request Club_

[Red Sunday]

Funky, enjoyable and a keeper. But disappoints.

The beat that arrives at 0:45 is a bit harsh for my liking. Or at least it is until the other instruments come in.

All the instruments work really well. The drum loop is great - specially the tempo of the faster beats of the starting loop.

I was kinda disappointed by the lack of cool progressions after 1:25ish - the harder beat sounded great, but was kinda 'obvious'. I was hoping it'd escelate a bit further.

The ending is kinda cool and it is interesting to hear a tune that's almost 100% buildup, but it was a tad disappointing.

Still, a definite keeper.

= Review Request Club =

[dolphin rescue squad]

Nice sounds but too repetitive.

The little drumrolls (on what sounds like wood) do kinda sound dolphin-y and I liked the syncopated tempo.

The sound around the 59s mark is cool too.

My main complaint is what I view as WAY too much repetition.

There's a 6s-ish melody that you play for most of the first minute -and-a-half. At 1:30, there are some cool 'underwatery' sounds, but that again turns into what seems like a loop with no variations.

I like the tempo and instruments but just feel like you need to develop the melody more and try to keep it fresh.

And don't be scared of making the tune half the length if that's all the 'material' you come up with. CUT the FAFF!

- Review REquest Club -

spamwangler responds:

youre totaly right about all the repitition, i think i just made one riff and dragged it out the length of a song:)

all you guys advise has inspired me to rework this dull old tune into something more dynamic and different

thanks for taking the time to review:)

[==(Melting Snow)==]

Too much repetition of melody imo.

I like the water dripping. Thought the 'bubble-type' sfx were a tad odd, it worked well.

I don't know what the instrument that comes in at 1:10 is, but it sounded great, lending the song a floaty, uplifting feeling. I'll call it the synthy flute, but tell me what it actually is please.

I did feel it was a bit more repetitive and less enjoyable than other stuff I've heard from you. The synthy flute and the piano kept up the same melodies for too long in my opinion, and I'm just a guy who loves a bit of variation in a song, I like a meandering melody and felt it would have suited the vibe well.

The fast drumming heard at 2:42 (sounds like skewers tapping...) was cool.

I like the vibe of the song, and ejoyed the bg of watery sfx. However, I just felt it never quite flew off and really embodied the birth of spring like I'd hoped.
-Review Request Club-

[Grand Chase]

Should be 7-8s long. Otherwise awesome.

4.37 / 5.00 (+ 0.0083)

This is a beautiful loop. So hypnotic. It all kinda reminds me of a turning spiral - something that might play whilst a guy's trying to hypnotise me or whatever.

I've been listening to this tune for quite a while. Admittedly, I've gotten a bit tired of it after half an hour (!) but that's to be expected for what seems to be a 7.75s loop.

I'm seriously impressed here. You've really captured that 'dreamy' feel you wanted. The tinkly sound, the long, legato notes, the slowly shifting 'beats'... though I only really made out 4 distinct instruments, there is a lot going on in those 7.7s.

But - why didn't you upload this as a 7.75s loop? True, NG doesn't loop stuff perfectly. Listening to something like that here might not have the full effect. But a shorter loop would have the same effect for those of us who download it and would make it a far stronger tune for including in a game, whether for a menu or a short level.

To be honest, I have no other real criticisms. I'd have given it 8/9 if it were just the length of a single loop.

However, one suggestion for improvement might be to add some more tinkly noises and maybe soften the beat a tad (maybe so it's got more sustain or sounds underwater?).

Seriana responds:

I could have cut in half, but I doubled the patterns to try and make it loop more smoothly.