MaestroRage's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[O- Emotion [Truth] (Loop)]

Good vibe, steady flow, perfect loop.

Hey HotDecemberOcon... I mean Sex.

This song loops perfectly, that is the first thing I noticed as I listened to it in the background while doing some reading.

I didn't find it that depressing to be honest. Yes there were some feelings of sadness, but really it wasn't as severe as Dorkside here makes it sound.

I really liked what you did with those sliding synths. You've always been good with them, good to hear you go at it again. I did find the percussion a little strange sounding. The build up snare sounded perfect no doubt, but just something about the percussion after that kinda bothered me... nothing too major of course.

Good steady beat, melodically it doesn't change that much, but thats an absolute must in an ambient loop. A good mix of sound effects and background noise, really helps bring it along.

All in all a pretty slick track. I remember still where you and I came from Ocon, we sure did come a long way, and this song proves it. Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[A Stealthy Move]

broken loop? smooth flow, good imagery

hey Rocktee mai buuuuuddddaaaaay!

This is a rather strange song, I get sneaky, I get movement, but often in the song I feel that image changes all together. Like that ritardo (correct term?) you have at 0:22, and then it goes into that slower melody, that initially completely changed the mood of sneakyness, that is until those quick staccato sounds came in.

And i'll be honest, i'm not seeing too much... sneakyness in Castle Crashers. I mean you don't make wicked weapons to sheathe them *though I totally would, wicked looking weapons are wicked looking weapons*

The loop also sounds broken. Maybe the exportation didn't work, but the end definitely sounds like it was cut, doesn't loop well.

All in all, it was a good submission, it didn't captivate me, then again I don't think it was aiming to, I can recognize a good piece of work when I hear it, and this is one of them, so best of luck to you my good sir on the competition, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

MusicalRocky responds:

yo yo yo
lol

After that ritard, it is a bit of a different feeling ,but I still get the sneaky vibe there, if not more so than the beginning theme.

I think I fixed the loop. You can never be sure though >:[ Oh well.

Anyways in Castle Crashers I was just hoping there might be some kind of sneaking. I mean, come on. THere has to be some.

Glad you liked it. It's fine that this didn't win, my Batalla placing up there is fine :D
And good job YOU getting up dere.

Thanks for teh review,

Rocky

[Oleo-in funk]

Very slick, smooth piece!

It really is a shame that the masses here neglect, even get out of their way to degrade songs of this caliber.

I have never tried composing a funk song, nor even a jazz one, yet I do realize the level of skill it takes to build a solid tune like this, so even if I don't find much to say, I do tip my hat off to you. A song well made, is a song well made, without a doubt that is universally true.

I had this song playing on my speakers as I did some work around the house, it really helped fill in the silence, and the song loops incredibly. Maybe it was my own fault for not directly paying attention to the exact details, but I don't remember going "And from the top!" as the song started again.

Slick smooth saxaphone riffs you got going on, steady simple bass to underline it all. As I sit down to write this review, I see that the song does have a punch ending, which still serves the listener well so thats all good.

I'm afraid I don't have much else to comment on Soro. I don't think I could give criticism to make it better, but I did enjoy it, so hats off to you! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

sorohanro responds:

thanx Maestro, you are very kind...
almost everytime i cut the song on bars, so, i guess that's why is looping ok
and i think i'll do another version, i'm not very satisfied with the trumpet solo.... and next one i'll do a little bit faster ;)
thanx for your very nice review

[Seasons (I Will Catch You)]

A great song, though a bit standard.

Why do these live voice recording songs never get any reviews. This is the third song i've found today that use live voices that have no reviews. it's ridiculous as live recording is far more difficult then electronically producing.

In any case, lets get onto the review.

These friends of yours are incredible, I really like how the voice flows, and the voice is quite crisp. There is... something thats off with the song though. Maybe I am wrong, because I don't listen to nearly as much of this genre as I should, but around 1:21-1:34 seems a bit off...

could be me, i'm just saying.

But leaving that aside the lyrics are a tad standard, there weren't sentences that really made me nod my head and really let it sink in. I am a firm believer that lyrics are not merely words and a story that flows melodically with the song, but invoking, powerful lyrics can make or break the career of any musician. With thousands of musicians going into the business every year, you have to make damn sure the tools you use are over the standard.

All in all, it was an enjoyable song Bosa, but it was quite standard. I have heard many songs like this before. Still, I have to give you props, the song is produced in a great way, professional style.

Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[The Castle is Breached!]

good vibe, flow, good melodic work

I've been listening to this piece for a while now, and I have to say it's quite awesome. Doesn't get tiring at all, though that loop end is an area of debate. It is good, but not flawless in my opinion. Maybe Newgrounds looping style makes me think so, but there you have it!

I felt the thumping at the end was a bit much, a little too much of teh beatings there. And I also feel there is some energetic joy in this piece, but only because the image in my head is not the castle being breached, but being taken back! And in a sense, being breached by being taken back. Can't take things without breaching something, like trust, or a life... or both.

A grand majestic song for sure, with some slick flow. I really do like what you did with the woodwinds and strings when you got the timpani going into full gear though.

All in all a slick composition, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

MusicalRocky responds:

Hey, yeah, it really is a catchy song (I think), doesn't get tiring to my ears either. As for the loop, it's perfect on my computer...Ah, well.

Now the thumping...I'm guessing you mean when the song goes into a faster tempo and the timp is pounding on each beat? I didn't think that was too much. Anyways, I do get what you're saying about the castle being reclaimed. Indeed, indeed, not too dark of a piece.

The melodic work with triplets in the faster section was great fun, I assure you, glad you liked it.

Well, thanks for the nice review. Again, good lucks with the contest :D

Rocky

[The Castle Comes A-Tumblin']

good vibe, misleading desc >:(, good flow, mix

Well for a castle falling loudly, this sure is a rather quiet song :O! It also has a very noble, epic feel to it, like a grand adventure, I am not getting any kind of sorrow, or bitterness towards seeing the castle fall.

The melodic flow and direction of the song are all top notch though, truly entertaining! Perfect loop too so good for you thar!

I'll be honest, I was expecting something else entirely when I read the description and title, a little disappointed at not having my ears blown off by super crazy beams of high energetic death, but after getting over that loss, I have grown to love the song.

Nothing to criticize, it is a well written song, and I didn't even know you have more then 1 submission. Yay :D! Time to go hear the other two, keep up the good fight and keep em coming Recky!

MusicalRocky responds:

A review from the Maestro, woot :D

Yeah, I guess this piece isn't as energized as you might think, from the title. But, I personally thought it perfectly fits the scene I hads in my head. It's not really like...OMG THE CASTLE'S CRUMBLIN' LET'S ESCAPE LOL! It's more like a heroic departure after a great day's work :D Oh, well, as for sorrow -- they're the Castle Crashers, right? That's what they do, I didn't imagine they'd feel any sadness about it

Also, about the description, I wasn't really trying to emulate the sound of the castle falling through the music, more about showing the mood of the scene, you know? Sorry about the misleadingness : (

Well, anyway, I'm glad you could still enjoy the piece, and much luck with the contest!

Rocky

[The Village Valse]

great vibe and mix, lovely oboe

I can't believe I hadn't reviewed this!

Time to fix that!

I have no need to tell you that oboe was brilliantly written. I'm sure you're being told that on a daily basis... but what the hey!

That oboe was brilliantly written.

The percussion beat to this song was a fascinating aspect. I would never have fathomed making something like that, single tom hit, tamborine and wooden click combo. I would love to hear this song performed live. I'm sure it would give even more power like that...

The high violins and oboe duet you had during nearly through the entire song really peaked my interest in this song. It is what I felt was the strongest elements to the piece.

I have nothing to really say and criticize, waltzes were never my cup of tea *though I do study them, and your score you sent me several weeks *months?* ago, you have done a great piece! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[Marche au Château in G minor 1]

great melody, good vibe and mix, too attent demand

Hey Winter! I listened to these songs of yours like madness, yet never left a review, so while i'm reviewing everybody now, lets get to yours at long last :D!!

I absolutely admire your theory and ability to weave an orchestra the way you do. It is my desire to one day be able to form and shape an orchestra the way you and David can. One day, I will reach that goal, but until then i'm going to keep watching those better then myself.

In any case, onto the review now.

The song loops perfectly. There is no room for debate in this point, well done my good sir!

The song does NOT get tiring in my opinion. I love listening to this song, been listening to it for weeks now. It does however become tiresome to hear after half an hour or so. The song though incredibly complex, also grabs a lot of attention, which backfires in the sense that I keep wanting to hear it go other places, yet will always hear the same thing.

Great mix of instrument sounds of course, nothing says "OUT OF MAI WEH >:(!" and all co-operate well.

The only other downside of this song is that it wouldn't make a good level theme in my opinion. It demands too much attention. Like in the other Marche au Chateau I reviewed, i'd constantly be dropping my controller to go "I LUV DIS PERT!" and then die a horrible death while my eyes are closed.

Damn you i'd say. I'd curse your soul with every life lost.

All in all a great and powerful piece, I'll see you on the battlefield my good sir! Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[The Halls of Ramses]

good vibe, well mixed, a bit cliche.

This song really does scream arabian to me. However the Arabian motifs you have going on in there are pretty generic. I mean I hear them in nearly every Arabian oriented song, which I suppose is a difficult step to overcome, unless you study Arabian music it is difficult to create something without using what many consider "the source" of Arabian music.

The song loops perfectly! So tops off to that.

The mix of instruments were all good, nothing seemed to clash with anything else, nothing wanted attention at the expense of another. The trumpets were also well written.

If there is going to be a desert level in CC, I'm fairly sure I know which song is going to make it :D!

All in all a valiant effort, keep up the good fight and keep em coming!

[Farms in Distance]

bit repetetive, good vibe, peaceful

I really liked this one Bosa. It gives off that peaceful air as you said in your description, the song also loops rather well, though not perfectly.

MJTTOMB already brought up some good points, so there is no point in regurgitating what he wrote, though I felt that the violin/pico thing wasn't THAT tiring. Though I definitely agree a nice perc beat would be nice here.

I also think more reverb on that flute would have made it much more powerful, more epic as this song seems to say to me.

Not much else to write, it was an enjoyable song, and that is really all that matters. Keep up the good fight and keep em coming!