xxxZigZagxxx's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[I am Squire]

0:00 Nice pads. Very ethereal. It's got some really nice melodic undertones too.
0:18 Actually this is really beautiful. I hope it turns into something even more beautiful later on.
0:30 I can feel those underlying kicks. The building. The builds. It is building.
0:40 They are rising... the world is rising
0:45 WHEW that came out of nowhere. Was a bit sudden! I like the parts in the song where it cuts to near silence except for the pads... you could have cut out the pads too at those parts too maybe?
1:20 Are you using soul vocals samples here or something? I like it... but those pads underneath are perhaps too mellow for the entire thing.
1:40 The kick-snare pattern is getting a bit boring... a bit dry too... it's just the same pattern.
1:55 But the vocals here are pretty cool.
2:00 I think sometimes the EQ'ing isn't done to major effect... but it still sounds good. Especially dat bass. But it could have a bit more simmering energy to it like in the build ups.
2:30 These build ups are actually my favourite part of the song. They're very subtle, if a little quiet. The melodic combinations that you use are very nice.
3:05 It builds nice, but perhaps you can warn us for the major drops more often, lol?
3:20 Hearing longer versions of those vocal samples... upon second listen they're probably not soul samples. They sound like it might be a rock song or something.
3:50 The vocal manipulation is pretty cool...
4:00 Here again the drum beat is a bit too loud for the simmering underneaths.
4:12 I like this lead synth coming in... I wish it came in earlier because it is introduced quite late in the track.
4:30 Then again, it's for a COD video so I guess big drops without warning can signify gunshots. It seems really cool. Even Deadmau5-y (sorry if that's an insult to you, it isn't to me)
5:00 This noise effect with the filter being automated downward is a nice effect... perhaps it should have implemented earlier?

Overall it's an enjoyable listen. I'm not usually a fan of dubstep like this but you won me over a little here. Keep doing what you do, you're good at mixing and composing and everything like that.

Stay cool!

BrAxTrax responds:

I have to say, you're completely right. The only reason this song isn't as polished as it should be is that I was on a deadline, which was approaching fast. I completely agree with you, and thanks for the great input!

Oh, and those vocal samples are a mixture of vengence 3 shots, and my own voice from another dubstep song I made called "ketamine".
As for the badass deep vocals, that's just the FL vocoder at work on my voice, too.

[{!RGH} Whisker's Ballad]

I know this is supposed to be a sad song about your cat but i couldn't help but laugh at that intro... o well, he must have been a great cat. RIP whiskers... you'll always live in our hearts <3

RyeGuyHead responds:

Haha, that intro just sorta popped up out of nowhere when I was recording my original vocal melody for LadyArsenic to work off of. It cracks me up, so I left it in.

As is, my parts should either be expanded upon or removed all together...not sure yet.

Glad you liked it :D

[-+[Zero Gravity]+-]

Absolutely annihilating.

LadyArsenic responds:

Why thank you! <3

[-+[Ashen Feathers]+-]

Really moody and atmospheric. <3

LadyArsenic responds:

^__^ I'm really glad you like that!

[He Comes]

Beautiful. Sounds very Joanna Newsom. Love it.

WingoWinston responds:

I'll have to look her up, thanks for the kind words!

[Heaven's Trial]

Absolutely spectacular. Favourited. I love the vibes wholeheartedly.

[Who Am I]

listening to this on soundcloud made me happy. you deserve more. keep doing.

TazPrimo responds:

You my n***a for this bro! And you already know I'ma do more no doubt

[Sly]

0:00 A bit antimelody.
0:24 You've got a nice little e-piano in there.
0:30 OK i really like the vocals here. very beautiful.
0:37 Some reversed snares or something.
0:46 New phase. that sounds like a drake beat or something... the sample. but it's really waell done.
1:00 that really bassy bass though. i think this tune bumps a lot
1:14 lol reversing that sample... feels a lil weird but nice.
1:29 ew dont really like this melody all that much sorry bro not feelin it there
1:38 it might be just this little guy that feels slapped on. the drum beats a bit uninteresting too

My ranking would be Phase 2 > phase 1 > phase 3. That sample is godlike. it's nice. you also like to have that 0 release don't you? if it's a stylistic choice, then ok i guess it's acceptable. jai paul did that in "jasmine" and it was effective. i love that song.

anyways i really like. keep doing.

phosphorusprocedure responds:

Yeah, I agree 3 was the weakest. When I get a new sample pool going, the first beat I make out of it tends to be the most boring. I threw it in to pad the length, uhhh I mean for pacing. The other feedback you listed helps a lot, I appreciate it!

[Armadillo]

New World placental mammal? kinky

0:15 The use of those tuned 808 kicks or whatever they are
0:24 and the synthy toms
0:29 I can hear what sounds like machinery or something... probably a garbled sample trusting you
0:52 Those vocal samples manipulated like you do
1:04 This has that "hyphy of the 90s" type vibe, or like a mustardonabeat-ho early 00's r&b rhythm but not as electric-piano based
1:41 There's some of that vocals interpolated in there too
1:48 and then a couple farts at the end. nice.

Wouldn't say this is a loop tho. more like a song ;) I like the way you experiment and the ideas you bring up. Kind of visceral machine-like noises and vocals being brought in but with a really short release. And that poppy beat too. nice stuff. forward-thinking.

phosphorusprocedure responds:

Thanks for the review! Whenever I make a track that starts with one element (like the vibraphone here) either I keep it in or ditch it. Here I think I should've ditched it. It sounds cool, but I don't think it fits in with the rest of what's going on. It kinda bugs me. I dig everything else though.

Yeah the vocal chopping I was really happy with.

[ICU]

0:00 Tighttttt... there's so much reverse.
0:10 You're always the man at the sample manipulation
0:18 Not sure if I'm a fan of the complete silences.... after each "for you"
0:33 That string sample. Such a fan.
0:38 I can hear the reverb on that little click.
0:54 OK right here would be a good time to provide a breakdown.
1:11 You've always been adept at this kind of beat. Comparisons to Madlib, etc.
1:24 That abrupt ending

This has groove, it has flow, it reminds me of Madlib, Dilla, those kinds of folks. You might want to put a little bit of release on the end of your samples, coz they end so quickly, but maybe that's a stylistic choice. Overall, this bumps hard. Nice!

phosphorusprocedure responds:

Thanks for the feedback! I had it end kinda abruptly since the whole time the dude is "searching" "for you" and at the very end: "I see you" -- or, ICU. Story's over, I guess. Although when I was making it, I couldn't make up my mindi whether it was designed for someone to rap over, or for plain old listening. If I leaned towards the latter, I might've shortened it or thrown in a breakdown like you said. Also, the click not lining up with the snare sometimes kinda bugs me, but it didn't seem like a total deal breaker. Thanks again. Also, I read all your other reviews. It was a lot in a short span of time, so it might take me a while to respond to all of them. But I did read them!