MaartenC's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[3 Hours to Midnight]

I can't believe I forgot to review this...

... To be honest, this is my absolute #1 favorite song, which is really, REALLY impressive.

The song builds up perfectly; slowly adding more and more instruments and building towards the climax...

And then the climax, one of the best I've ever heard. I had to pause for a while writing this review to listen to it.

Also, after the climax most songs tend to get extremely boring, but you made this song build down just perfectly, till the end, which brings me to the only downside of this song. Suddenly you used an instrument at the end that wasn't used throughout the whole song... I'm used to it now, but the first time I listened, this was quite vague.

This song isn't perfect, but if I have to use decimal nubers, I'd give a 9,9. I'm giving this a 10/10 and this is perfectly deserved and I think this song will be my #1 for a very, very long time.

syphonmax responds:

That instrument was actually used through most of the song :P

[FS: Life Is A Song]

I felt obliged...

...To write this review, this was for me a very... Interesting thing to listen.

Personally I don't like pop songs, or anything with an acoustic guitar, but the song managed to keep my attention, mainly the lyrics.
The lyrics themselves were pretty much too soft for me, when I first listened, but then they started to make sense and the song had my full attention again, well chosen.

Then your part in this:

You can sing very well, let me tell you that. I had to get used to your voice at first, but that can also be because you sing the sing a bit higher than I'm used to (with other songs).
I'm assuming it's you who's playing the guitar and I also think good job at that. I've never played the acoustic guitar in my life (I've played electric baseguitar for a while), but I've always found it very hard to play it; respect for doing that AND singing at the same time. Nowadays this doesn't seem much, but you did it and you did it right.

Sidenote: how well is the quality of your recording mic? It's perhaps a good idea to invest in a better one.

Overall I'd give a 6/10 for the song chosen for the cover and an 8/10 for the cover, so in total that'd make a 7/10 and a 4/5, well done.

(I'm counting the cover heavier, but rounding that up would still make a 7/10 average).

Keep it up!

FairSquare responds:

Yeah, the lyrics are my favourite part of the song too :)
And i actually have a very low voice, it's pretty weird that you experience it as high :p
And the quality of my mic is pretty good actually, this is just a bad recording :(
Thanks for the review! :D

[Drum sampling or something]

That's quite an original piece you've put here...

...But I don't think it worked out very well. Don't get me wrong: The piano used has worked out very well in the end.

I understand you've used a very hard-to-master program, so perhaps it's better to use another program. I personally use FL studio, it's a very professional program; you can make perfect drumloops with that.

Other than all the critique, you also did something right (else you wouldn't have 5/10, right?) You have put up a good rythym and, as I said the piano was used greatly.

Still, good job and keep making music, you'll be better each time you compose! (now to live up to that advice, else it'd be hypocrite :P)

NekoMika responds:

Haha, noted.

I am also learning FL Studio, however this was something I recorded when a user made a thread in General showing drums from a site called Rowinter so I toyed with them and got this. :P

I tried to hit the basics and stick with a steady beat on this one. Tried to pick out the sounds that sounded the best when worked together to form a rhythm.

If only making a drum pattern was as easy in FL Studio. :-(

Thanks for the review. :-)

[shadow dark touches]

Hm, hm...

I found this upload very interesting, because at first this also sounded way too chaotic/low quality, but that's likely the purpose, reading the author comments.
Again, your drumlines are good and the main melody is gloomy and gives indeed a bit of a bossfight feeling.

One thing to improve: The background noises are pretty nice, but they make the song so chaotic; it would be a waste to just cut them out and depending on what programs you use, it's easy to lower that sound, right?

Anyway, good job.

NekoMika responds:

Haha, yes. This was my very first piece I uploaded to the portal and was just goofing around when I knew little to nothing on music at the time. Forgot what sounds I was using in FL Studio though, still sounds OK to me though. I guess removing some sounds could have made this better too.

Thanks for the review.

[Strange City]

Potent...

Well done with the overloop, just that at first and a good drumline. I think with a bit of patience you can make this a background loop of a bigger/longer song.

If you do it that way you can also add more instruments, or whatever...

The only drawbacks are that it does sound too chaotic and the song is slightly too fast. How about removing one or two instruments, or make the drums less active?

Anyway, I'm moving onto your next songs, I'll be reviewing two more.
Good job, keep making music, it sounds good.!

NekoMika responds:

Yea, Nightmare sound slowed down (didn't use piano roll or effects at all to reduce echos sadly). The drums here don't sound too bad. :P

I guess so. D:

Less active drums, can do.

Thanks for the review. :-)

[Khuskan - Dick and Rick theme]

Gives a pretty epic feeling.

Heard this in the strawberryclock game title screen and it felt pretty damn epic.

Unfortunally my boxes were set pretty loud and that kinda... Blasted me out of my seat. I guess (from reading the first review) you already compressed it to the max, so there's no problem in that.

Okay now to the serious review:

I loved all the instruments apart, but together you could actually make a good song with it, just everything fits together smoothly (which I love in both animation and music), so great job on that!

The only thing that bothered me is the sudden slowing down at around 0:58, why did you do that?

Anyway, it was a good song, no a great one actually, keeping in mind you only spent 10 hours on this...

9/10 5/5 great job!

[Quest of the Manwhore]

Not as good as the dance, but still great!

Really, the lyrics are hilarious as usual, and in the flash the animation was perfect, but thats not of any importance right now:

As I was saying, the lyrics are great, and the music is... mweh okay. I think it could get a little better... The part with the gooseman (30 seconds-43 seconds) was a nice change in the song, and overall I liked the song a lot.

5/5, 9/10

Keep it up, I am looking forward to the next one!