Jacob's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Xrus & ∀malgamation - Burst [UPDATED]]

Hey! Neat. FL Studio Mobile is a great app for progressive digital house.
I'd recommend playing with the off-beat a lot more. That's how you'll get a groove out of your rhythms, and get people dancing a little. A little hat action is great for that, and predictable things like melodies and chord progressions benefit as well. Maybe add a snare or clap when you've hit climactic moments with all the bass hitting.
But you've got a nice sound here. It's a pleasant perspective.

Skiddle responds:

Thanks a lot Jacob! We'll definitely benefit from your criticism :D

[It Hurts Remix]

One of my favorite songs when that album came out. Really interesting choice of key - it's a little bit lower than the original - which admittedly sounded a little off until the bit at 59 seconds, which really brought it together.
Honestly, I'd just play with the pitch a little bit on the phrase, "Your best friend is not your girlfriend." Maybe even resolving "Friend" down the half step would do it for me, either right on the word or halfway in. The dissonance is there right now, but the tension doesn't release.

I really like the space you've created here. I'm going to go check out what else you've got.

ChoccyMilk responds:

Hey buddy, thanks for the comment and the tips. Im a bit of a noob with music production, just trying to learn right now.

Your right, it is down a key compared to the original song. Im sure it might sound funny at first but i got use to it after a while.

[∀malgamation - Cloned Creatures]

I really love the vibes on the primary synth - although the sawtooth that came in around 24 seconds sort of undermines the whole thing. I would probably lower it and put it in the same major key as the higher synth, or find something a little bassier to just fill out the mix a little bit.
I give this advice purely for a chance to listen to that product. I'd play it on loop for days.

Skiddle responds:

Ayy thanks Jacob! Yeah, I just couldn't find a good bass for this, but thanks for the great advice <3

[Freeze]

Yooooo I dig everything about this. The percussion is silky as funk, the bass pops, and the chops are kickin'. Excellent use of panning, too - the space is clearly laid out.
Keep 'em coming, my dude. Never ceases to grab me.

MacMelto responds:

I'm glad you like it!

[[NGADM] Undertow [final]]

I have ONE COMPLAINT: You didn't edit the file properties to give the piece a proper title and credit yourself as the artist.

Seriously excellent work. I linked the original post to a friend, saying "This is the kind of shit I have to compete with. :("
She offered no solace. Only, "That was dope af." Af, she says. Af.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you create for the next round.

Jimmypig responds:

Hahaha, that made me laugh, tell her I said "mt", that means many thanks, I'm still cool.

Yeah I always forget about the file data, oops! I'll be sure to fix it before I release it elsewhere. Thanks for the listen!

[Wings]

God damn, fellas. You just shattered my hopes of progressing to the bracket rounds! Excellent sounds all throughout, particularly the bassist. The first half of the song had my head bobbing compulsively, and the last third got me drumming.

There are some mixing issues, particularly in terms of levels, and I get the impression that little to no EQ work was done. But the production still has an immersive, albeit amateurish feel to it.

Spectacular stuff. I won't be upset about losing this round.

TheMoebiusProject responds:

hey thanks! But It's quite the competition!! Even if it's a contest, Sports are to compete, art is to share! So 'm glad Im in this more for the reviews, tips and the opportunity of knowing new musicians like yourself! So, let's go at it not so much to win, but to become better artists in the process!! :)

[One of Those Days]

I listened to this on the way to the gym!
It was a terrible, terrible workout.

But this was stuck in my head the entire time. Excellent piano, beautiful vocals. Very reminiscent of 30s blues.

I'd recommend using a lot more breath support behind your voice. You have a great sound, but you're holding back to fit the mood of the piece. Even singing something like this, it's always important to have plenty of breath, and plenty of energy in your voice.

Great submission, brotha. I hope to see you in the next round. :)

ChronoNomad responds:

Thanks a lot, Jacob! Sorry to hear that your workout was so terrible, but I guess if you had to have a song stuck on repeat in your head at the time, this one would be rather appropriate.

Very pleased indeed to get such a positive review and helpful feedback from a guy who sings vocals on a regular basis! Yeah, this kind of piece always makes me think back to the music of the roaring 20s and 30s. I was actually a little torn with the overall genre since the piano is so very Jazzy, while the lyrics themselves are much more Bluesy in nature. Suffice to say, I am overjoyed that you feel the elements work well together! :D

I really appreciate the advice, and yeah...I was purposefully holding back a bit to tap into the mood of the piece. Unfortunately, I am also coming (very slowly) off a very nasty Summer cold, so my lung capacity is crappy right now. Your words could not be truer, but I found a good space to record lyrics when the neighborhood was quiet, so I jumped on it. Nevertheless, I could have waited a few days longer to see if there would be more improvement in my condition and ability to belt out strong vocals. Hopefully it won't be too damaging in the long run.

Many thanks, my man! Hope to see you there, too. Can't wait to hear what you come up with!

[Death Match]

The purity of your classical guitar couple with the organic percussion are pure bliss.
The vocals seem forced an affected, which at times makes them quite pitchy. I would also recommend some EQ work on them, making a cut somewhere around... 900Hz? And a high end shelf for some floating clarity, allowing you to boost the level on the guitar a bit without sacrificing vocal presence.
The electric guitar had mostly great tunes, adding a bluesy flair to the soothing background. But the timing sometimes gave off the impression of improvisation, and the riff at 2:14 seemed to disregard the key entirely.

All in all, excellent stuff here. A great listen, honestly. I have to nitpick because it's a good track. :)

Good luck, Ceevro! I'm glad I got to listen to your track so early. I have a feeling you just might snatch our round.

Ceevro responds:

Well...given the time-constraints, is it any surprise that I had to improvise the solos? And...uh...well...everything? I literally wasn't able to touch a guitar until this afternoon, so all I had was a rough idea, and it actually turned out a good bit different than the idea. If I've learned anything, it's that forcing my ideas into a song that doesn't want them always results in disaster.

But I am very glad you enjoyed the tune, and thanks for the mixing tips. Sadly, I won't get to use them this round!

[Purity]

Excellent mixing, perfect sampling, all around gorgeous. I can't wait to give this a proper listen with higher quality headphones.

If you'd ever like to work in some vocals, I'd love to work with you. This is top notch stuff!

Jumper responds:

Wow, thanks. It's a weird, but very nice feeling to see ''excellent mixing'' on one of my songs. I'm currently studying Producing, mixing and sound design at the moment because I think I have a lot to learn still. So this is great to see. thank you so much for that comment Jacob. I'll definetely keep your proposition in mind for futur projects. Thanks again! :D