alternativesolution's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Safe inside the dome]

Er- I meant to say in my last review that maybe some thought should be given to accepting loops, if there is some way we can make that work on SoundCloud, or another site. :p

So, I'm really liking this one a lot! :D This just has so much style. Very unique. Your mixing has improved from your last submission, for sure! I gotta say when that guitar synth came in at 2:28, I found myself bobbing my head. Man this just sounds so videogamey ! You do nothing to challenge that assertion at 0:55. Greatness everywhere!

So your main strengths for this one? Composition, and mixing.
Yes, it began to get a bit repetitive -- but only chord-wise, because your melodies are just really fun and unique.

I'm just gonna repeat what I said in the thread, and say that this take on the theme was very refreshing to hear. It's as if we settled the biodome on another planet instead of a future Earth. Listening to this, I imagine the atmosphere outside to be hostile in the sense that it's not *scary* or *frightening*, but rather just...we can't go outside. Because reasons!!

Alien life is having a blast outside the dome, while us humans are having a blast inside the dome, too, and it all just works so well. Straight from the beginning of the song, that is exactly what I feel. And that pad in the background really helps establish that 'unearthly" sense.
This song is the epitome of having normal life take place inside the dome - something about your mixing makes the track feel very interior (I blame some of it on your reverb?), which is perfect for being *inside* this fun atmosphere.
I find it interesting that you wrote "It's not like there's monsters outside (or, who knows?)" in your description, because that just fits so well - the "or, who knows?" part. Because this piece gives off the vaguely mysterious vibe while at the same time maintaining it's cheerful, carefree-ness.

So this was definitely one of my top favorites in this last round, which had some very competitive pieces, no doubt! Very well done !

Jernemies responds:

Thanks again for the WOT :p
That view you just described was pretty much precisely what I was thinking about when making this. I'd blame that on the second picture (from the inside) scott provided :p But nah. Points also noted.

[Asdfstereoworld (NGMTr1)]

Oh, yes. As a loop, this works very nicely. A tiny stutter, but that might be intentional? That explains the sudden cut-off; perhaps we should look into accepting submissions You've got a really chill, wintery atmosphere. I suppose after a few more listens, the only color that really sticks out is blue. Your piano gives this a very watery feel, too.
I like that bass sometime after 2:00. Your bass in the whole piece actually sounds very unique, in terms of composition.
Your mix does sound a little muddy on the low end - I think this is from the reverb on the bass clashing a bit with the low strings you have in the background. Strings were, by the way, mixed well. As for the composition, I feel like some notes clashed toward the end, especially.
That tiny buildup before 1:10 was good. I really like the part that came afterward :D This sounds like perfect video game music, really - but especially right there. Something you got about the chords going on, I suppose. You just have some very good melodies here, and they all sound really pretty, and mysterious, especially.
Your transitions are anything but showy, and I think there are a few instances in which there isn't any kind of transition at all - but it works, because each measure just blends in rather smoothly with the next. Your instrument use is also fantastic, by the way.
So what can I say...I like this one a lot. I hope you plan to submit for round 3! c:

Jernemies responds:

The abrupt end was kind of my fault. It was not unclear that SoundCloud was used, and I was well aware it doesn't accept loops. It just didn't cross my mind D: Oh well
Thanks for the wall of nonse... I mean, feedback :o Points noted
And yes, I do plan on submitting to r3, provided that I won't be tired out by real life :G

[Filthy Fenders]

Pretty cool sounds! I do have to say that the guitar is pretty repetitive though; try for some variation.
I like your intro btw ^__^ And yeah those drums are pretty sweet. The way the guitar is mixed makes it feel like its sitting behind me - they need to move a little closer to the listener! I think having a melody would do this one good. Just ...like a long guitar solo or something. Or a different instrument if you like :D
Overall, not bad at all!

Ketzelkab responds:

That's actually really helpful, I'm still learning how to mix/edit my recordings, I just kind of wing it... That's kind of why I'm playing around with grunge, it's not my favorite, but it's a sloppy genre I can tool around with whilst learning. Definitely going to work on layering melodies/solos into my future work. Thanks for the review! =D

[Resurgance]

Whoa, really liking the atmosphere! Your sounds are pretty nice. You've got some nice rhythms going on, but hearing something this unique gets repetitive after 3 minutes.
Perhaps some variation/progression? Also your ending was cut-off sounding, unless that was intentional?
Overall, great work, and greater first submission to NG :)

zeefae responds:

Thanks, that is really helpful. Honestly, I have trouble with melody progression so its something I need to focus on. I appreciate the input though! Thank you, again.

[Infinite Universe]

Nice ambient stuff! :)

It's repetitive, but works well if you're looking for something to relax to, and not really pay attention to - kind of as something in the background while you're enjoying a nice book, or writing up a story, yourself!

There is some minor clipping all throughout the piece; I suggest taking another look at it, and finding where the song peaks, and when it goes over. Some of this can be heard at 3:48, 3:54, 4:06, and so on. At 2:12, it is especially audible. Try lowering the volume of the particular channel(s) that's causing the clipping, and you should be fine. Or else you could try using a limiter.

Your intro and ending are slow, and pretty. Good ways to begin and end for this type of piece.

And yes, the title is too long, as well as the track. I suppose they suit each other then, no? I do like it, anyway. Good work!

NebulousDawn responds:

Thank you for the constructive feedback!
I will look into it soon. :)

[IYD- New World (NGMT '13)]

This is just awesome. I'm a bit exhausted from thinking so much about all the tracks, so hopefully all that critique you received (what was it? 11 people? it was great) was enough... :P I'll just leave some praise here:

Aah great guitar work! Intro is amazing. It all just sounds so epic, and fantastic. Your use of effects is very nice. The way your guitar, drums and bass all combine is just so pleasant to listen to. I'm rocking out in my chair now. No, forget it. I'm standing up now because I'm filled with so much energy!

I think that transition at 1:42 is not too shabby; that effect you have in the background helps with the sudden change to strings - which was excellent-sounding, by the way. Also the way you let the guitar go at 1:30 was done just right.

One thing I see that has happened here is how the time-limit challenge got you - your ending is almost not even an ending :( I would really love to hear more to this! Because what you've got here is just so amazing, really. Epic, epic, epic.

InYourDreams responds:

Alti!! (yeah I was reading the forum :P... may I call you Alti? I like it the best :D...)
Thanks for still making an awesome review, despite beeing tired ^_^.

I'm really glad you liked my submission! I maybe didn't get any votes, but it doesn't matter to me anymore, cause people still liked my song and that's awesome :)... Your song was awesome aswell!... oh, this round was so f@$king great!! It was awesomeness everywhere! It was so hard for me to choose my favourite.

thnx again and hope to hear something great from you next round ;)

[Ice Coffee]

As a piece of music by itself, this is great! Incredibly catchy, and I absolutely love the sounds you decided to use. A very fun piece for sure, with excellent rhythm. I can certainly imagine walking around the dome now.

I like that little melody you have at 0:18 - feels a bit weighty in a serious sense, even though it sounds so light. When you reintroduced that melody near the end again, I think that was very well-timed.

For the melody that comes in at 1:30 from the left - if that could be lowered an octave, that may sound just a bit better in terms of making it sound less bunched-up, since your other melodies playing simultaneously are also somewhere within that range. It should add a bit more of a bass sound to make up for that deep synth's absence after 1:10.
For the most part, all of your melodies are pretty unique, and just work really well together.

The snare that can be heard by itself at 1:10 sounds too consistent; I think if you place a flanger on there or alter its sound somehow, it could help with the song's diversity pretty drastically, especially after listening to this several times. (probably my 8th time by now xD)

Another thing I think you could do for this one is to work on the looping (sounds a bit cut off, and not smooth at all), or extend it! Of course I know you were limited by that evil time restriction.. but, if you get the chance, I would love to hear an extended version !

Overall, pretty cool stuff. :)

SourJovis responds:

The looping is cut off indeed. I don't know what to do about that. The rendered wav file loops perfectly. The compressed mp3 just as well. Only now I've uploaded it to newgrounds it's cut off. Yesterday when I previewed it that wasn't the case I think. I've uploaded it again, but I don't know if it's any better now. It sometimes takes a while before my cash is cleared so I can't tell yet. Perhaps I will make an extended version. But I like it when it loops. Perhaps I'll one day put a part in without percussion to break it up more, and make it more interesting to listen to for a longer time. I'll take your other suggestions into consideration.

[Monochromatic Comprehensible]

...Perfect T___T

I love this so much and wanted to hear the lyrics so bad, I was this close o do a cover of it, myself! :D I'm glad you posted this; I didn't know people had asked you to do so, but I can see why..since I secretly thought the same :p I can hear the lyrics clearly, and you have a good voice...definitely suits the instruments you used, as well. The effects you put it on it were great, still conveying that monochromatic sense !

Um... nice title by the way :D Yes it is certainly comprehensible now. So, good job! ^_____^

SourJovis responds:

Thank you. You've mentioned you wanted to hear the lyrics. So did a lot of other people. Finally I succumbed. It wasn't much use writing lyrics when no one can hear them. You can still do a cover thought. Make it very different.

[Lover's Lament]

Someone who would easily notice the intonation issues and further comment on it, must be the creator. :) After listening to everyone's submissions countless times, I'm still happy with this as my vote.

I didn't imagine black and white, personally, but more of a monochromatic red. When the harp harmonics combine with the bass, there is a definite lightening of the red. As for why the color red? Emotion. This one was filled with it - and aah it's so beautiful. Other than that, I can't explain why red came to mind instead of any other color. (I suppose now that it's revealed it had to do with love, well...)

I also didn't imagine the harp representing the woman and the bass representing the man-- What I saw was, in the beginning, a light, fading red, and the bass by itself, a deep, dark red. When they combine in the third segment, the shades continue to decrease and increase, back and forth, in lightness. This is my definition of monochromatic, in its strictest sense. However, it's nice to have a story to go along with it, like you provided above :)

In my opinion, this piece is one of the best examples of a visual concept being applied to an aural one. I posted a similar comment on SkyeWintrest's mock submission, as yours and his do really well with the theme, at least in my eyes. Or rather, ears.

Very beautiful playing of that double bass, by the way. How long have you been playing?

Can't wait to hear your second and third pieces! ^^

bassfiddlejones responds:

Yes, I probably see more mistakes than good things sometimes, haha. Thank you for the vote, I appreciate it greatly! I really enjoyed your comments here, knowing that I've conveyed some emotion or story is what makes music worth doing for me a lot of the time. And I guess I've been playing double bass for... man, 8 years now. Though, I haven't been actively studying it for the last 4 or 5 years, just playing on and off. Thank you again for the review/vote! I liked your piece a lot as well, it came close to getting my vote!