Marks-a-lot's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[MH16: Hopes And Dreams]

Dude...

You got this! I don't even need to say anything anymore! But just because I can't really review your songs anymore doesn't mean that you should stop telling me when your songs come out. I need your music in my body...that was weird, but seriously your music kicks ass and I want to listen to it when it comes out. a little criticism, use some more fx and Eq's on your drums and I guess on your song as a whole. with music like this though I can't really say anything about your sounds because it's just orchestral stuff. Nice job though!

I am going to be away from newgrounds for a while though, maybe two months or so, but when I get back you should have some nice music for me to check out! well, I'll be seeing you around.

5/5

-[V]-

FairSquare responds:

Wow, thanks!
It's a pity that you're leaving for 2 months, but when you come back i promise you that you'll have more music to enjoy :-)
Really thanks for this review, it means alot, keeps me motivated and it even inspired me! :D
See ya!

MH16

[TkJ - Broken Amen]

My god I am sorry for my sins with all my heart...

Amen to this, nice job.

Tome89 responds:

xD thanks

[MH16: Simple Loop]

Rhudimentary and Reifined...

yet still very appealing to the ears. Very nice arps on the keys with a nice and easy four step bass line that combine to create a streaming goodness into my ears. It's a loop so repetition isn't necessarily a bad thing. The only thing that is chiding my mind is that same drum in every song. As a drum zealot I build my opinions for the song of the drums and they are starting to become dull. Not to say they are bad samples, I think those are some top notch samples, but maybe you could try putting some effects on them or try using a different kit. That's about the only beef I have with this rather refined and rudimentary piece of gold. I definitely think you should keep working on this. Throw in some more parts and some nice effects and you have yourself your very own easy bake conventional masterpiece. Oh, and an epic title to go with the riffs would only make the song better. Alright, that's enough for me. Keep up the nice work and keep experimenting with different sounds to broaden up your general music window of sound engineering.

5/5
-Matt Damon-

I know it may come as a shock that I am Matt Damon but this is a fact that everyone has to realize sooner or later...

FairSquare responds:

Woah, Matt Damon XD
I didn't you were so musical, Matt :P
And call this coincedence or not: i'm Brad Pitt
Also, you're right about the drums, but most of the time i'm to lazy to search for drums that fit the song.
Now all i have to do is:
-Change the drums
-Create some new parts
-Add some more instruments
-Add effects
-Make an epic title

Thanks for your review and i'll keep working on the song
- Brad Pitt

[MH16: A New Era]

Age Of Empires Sounding...

This sounds like Age of Empires, I don't know if I said that on my last review of one of your songs but it really does sound like that. It has sort of a ancient kind of touch to it, like they are moving from the ancient era into the bronze age or something.

I definitely like your progressions, but the song sounds a little flat at times. There needs to be a more broad range of sound. There just needs to be more here, maybe a vocal progression, a more demanding lead, some crescendo horns, just add some more stuff and this would sound a lot better. try to get some more emotion in the song. I think that a nice calming pad would have gone nicely behind those strings or maybe another string for some accompaniment.

On the plus side, I think that the percussion really added a broader feel to the song. And the breaks in percussion really brought the strings to my attention. The lead is definitely epic I liked that progression the most.

Nice job though, keep it up!

5/5
-[V]-

FairSquare responds:

Thanks for your review!
Your reviews are always helpful and this one is no execption :-)

[*Stranger in the Desert* [RMX]]

Woot

the solo threw it out of control! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Jenni-Harry4eva3 responds:

Hawtness! I'm glad you liked it XD

~[IZK]

[I Rule (Hyrule)]

aaaa....

mazing

[Music Can Change The World]

Strong messege...

The meaning behind this song is definitely a strong one. Nice job with the melody and progression. The strings really added some emotion to the song. I am really liking the idea behind this song. this kind of reminds me of Flobots, with the parallelism in the verses. and with the style in singing to I guess. One thing that I will say about the vocals, I heard a sniffle, I don't know if that was intentional or not but that was pretty nasty. Other than that though the vocals were pretty good. I think that some fx and some more types of accompaniment would have really polished the singing.

It feel like there is something missing in this song....let me think and listen for a while. Okay, you might want to add some more types of strings to really use the full sound spectrum. I am hearing some white noise too, that is probably what is making your track seem a little empty. That could be easily fixed though with some EQ'ing or filtering. A chorus would have really made the song stronger and more interesting to listen too. But I guess that wasn't really up to you since you weren't the lyricist or vocalist.

I love the idea of this song, I love the melody of this song, and I think the vocals are average. The song just needs a little more unity, and it needs to sound more fuller. Nice song though. Great job and keep up the good work.

5/5
-[V]-

FairSquare responds:

Thanks for the review!
Probably there'll be a new version of this song, without the sniffle :P
I'll keep you updated :-)

MH16

PS: Thanks for the advice too! :P

[MH16: Walk Through Life]

Very nice!

that harp was a very good choice! everything really goes well together and as usual the progressions are very nice. But the structure of the song is very lackluster, the abrupt stops and starts throw me off as a listener. It is pretty short too for a song, don't be afraid of repetition. Repetition can make a song great when used correctly. Another thing that I am not really liking is this snare. I think it is far to wide for this kind of music. and although the quality of this sample is very high it doesn't necessarily mean that it is the right one for this song. All of your percussion seem to be very sloppy (wide) which can sometimes be a good thing but usually in classical type pieces such as this you should try out some tighter sounding drums. A little more work with your high end percussion could have really brought out more in this track too. Things like suspended cymbals, gongs, rides, and crashes. Maybe some orchestral things like timpani's could add more to this song too. There isn't really a bass in this song either, you should probably add one, maybe something like a Cello/contra bass with a lot of brightness and other various timbre adjustments.

On the flip side, I really like the harp I just can't get enough of it. This song kind of reminds me of the game Age of Empires (great music.) the piano and wind instrument blend nicely with the harp. Although I have given you many criticisms about you drums I am actually liking you hi-hats. Maybe you could use a little more of a flange and filter on your hi-hits to get a crisper sound though. The title only makes the song even better, nice job with that.

so the only thing that I would really like to hear from you in upcoming songs is the attention to the little things. Things like filtering, FX, and working with compressions and frequency outputs (like adjusting how much of a sound comes out at a certain point in the spectrum, you can does this through adjusting the mixer or using a compressor.) It is clear to me that you can write outstanding music, and it is obvious that you know/have a feel for music. just keep working on the fine details, and don't focus to much on one thing, look, listen, and feel the song as a whole.

Keep up the good work and I'm sorry that I am just getting to this, it's been a while since I have been on NG :'(

5/5
-[V]-

FairSquare responds:

Wow, that's a very long and very helpful review! :-)
I'll work on the things you said like filtering, FX, working with compressions and stuff.
Thanks for this review! My response may be short, but my graditude is big :-)

MH16

[MH16: Always Here]

Nice...

This reminds me a TV show theme, at first it does anyway. It turns kind of dark at the end. Very happy though at the start. This piano progression kind of sounds like "Clocks" by Coldplay, but a little more 'Raveified' if you will with the style of this piano. The drum samples still sound nice (same ones I take it?) good stuff though. I'm not sure if I like that ending yet though...I'm sure it could be worked upon to maybe get a slower transition. It kind of hit me by surprise, try to find ways to let your listeners know that a change in the song is coming. Some things that you might be able to use in reference to this song could be an elongated drum fill, Fading in with a lead or progression that matches or is similar to the new riff, or maybe, (I'm just brainstorming right now) but maybe everything stops and a viola/violin type thing plays and builds into your ending. It doesn't really feel like there is a middle to this song though. It is like there is only a intro and an end.

Other than the structure of the song it sounds really good! Very nice job on this one. I can't wait to hear the next one. I like your old title btw :D

5/5
-[V]-

FairSquare responds:

I use those drums samples most of the time, because they're so realistic and that really adds something extra to my songs.
And you're right about that it only seems like an intro and an outro, but i don't think i can change this song. I will try, but i really, really suck at making a song longer and better. Sometimes it works though, so i'll definatly give it a try.
Thanks for the ideas you've given me and as a ''reward'' i'll give the song it's original name :P
I appreciate your review!

MH16

[Dulcinea]

It's been a while....

And I can certainly hear that you are still rippin' shit up with your DnB! This is just laid back pro bono chill back and let the tunes take you away. The theme that you put to this song goes awesome with it to. I think my heart rate is slowing down as listen to this song. That lead is so soft and the flow of this song is simply amazing. The "think" break only makes it better, great job in using that.

I can't think of any criticisms so it looks like you get off scot-free.

5/5
-[V]-

Peptotrippin responds:

Most righteous!