D3vilsheep's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[PrTr: 04 Drunken Pirates]

Leitmotifs!

This is so you, haha. Lots and lots of loud hits and syncopated low brass, but that fits the sound perfectly. There is no real melody (progressive at least) to follow, which I'm OK with, because this is clearly an action cue. The intensity does not let up, that's for sure. Are you sure you're not Hans Zimmer?

The strings at 1:44 are well done, and the call-return style around the 3:00 mark is a nice addition although short lived. At five minutes this is quite a lengthy piece you have written, but somehow the drama is consistent (no doubt due to your skill and careful selection of the catchy motifs that are littered around). On second thought, some of these motifs are NOT catchy, but rather a utility for tension where it seems you have the percussion as the foremost driver of the action. Please excuse me while I pull my socks back up.

I can tell you had fun with this one. Once you have established a flowing beat everything else pretty much follows suit, like around 2:30 where you have a melody line ride over the insanity. Well done, fits the theme, but I am waiting for something a little more creative from you. Nice job on the mastering -- my only complaint is, and it may be because I'm listening at work on less-than-decent headphones, that the instruments themselves are centered too much in the stereo mix...because in a real orchestra of this size you don't have violins and trombones sitting (or standing) together...like at around :36 when the little diddy (the motif I hear throughout the piece) comes in (and is then quickly discarded as it evolves into sixteenth figures for the brass.). It's like, I'M DRUNK....oh wait, I'M FIGHTING!...but...I'm trashed!....but...cannon fire!

Good work Peter! More to come, I hope.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemiola

EvilRaccoon responds:

Yeah, it really annoyed me there is no real melody, which was wierd, but I had the intent to. lol

Thanks so much DS. You're always showing me new ways to improve. I really need to sit down and spend weeks on a single track, tweaking it to really get the right feel and creative flair. I just seem to still get into a repetitive pattern with a track of keeping in time, when really, that wouldnt happen.

Great link. :D

[Dark Poetry]

Well...

Your contribution is a slight one in this piece, but it is nonetheless a decent song. I will say it sounds like something I have already heard, so perhaps you are trying to emulate a certain style or band, which is OK but I much more prefer originality. The writing is mature, the instrumentation crisp, and your guitar playing, while not technically demanding, is the perfect addition to those Patton-esque vocals. Good luck with future endeavors, you are truly a gifted musician.

enders1 responds:

Thanks for your words.
Yeah I started the idea of this song with the first 4 chords you heard, then in the progress I decided that the guitar in this song was not to be shred styled, so I keeped simple.
as for the strings and piano sven has his influences so I think he when movie like with his amazing contribution.
and I dont tried to emulate a band, like all my songs, they just come up the way they are, but with hundreds of bands triying diferent things, is hard to come up with something ''original'' sometimes I create something that I though is mine and then finding a similar if not indentical thing on the internet.
so again thanks

[PrTr: 03 Artine's Stars]

I have no choice...

BUT TO GIVE YOU A TEN! Good luck with the album. Everything is sounding awesome so far.

EvilRaccoon responds:

Thanks Devilsheep! <3

I'm still awaiting your next release!

[-Give me a break-]

Yessss.

You really have the ears for a good beat. I like the rapid movement of the lead and the melody does not let up. This is non-stop and very danceable (you achieved what you set out to do). I can see where this would take at least 5 hours in one sitting but even in that amount of time you have shown your mastery of this style.

Waterflame responds:

Thank you :D yes heh it kinda makes you wanna get up and shake it.

['09 The Launch Overture]

A work expanded upon.

Ah there's that theme again, hehe. Excellent pacing throughout. I especially like the build up starting at 2:30 and continuing on through 3:00. This is very epic and a worthy successor to the original. Keep it up!

EvilRaccoon responds:

Thanks Devilsheep! Inspiring reviews as well as music from you as always!!

=D

[_/Rixet\_ (demo)]

Woah.

I am digging the sound on this one. A little too repetitive for my taste, honestly, but it has an excellent feel and the writing is way above average. The bridge near the end blew my mind. You have some very refined skills that can only get better from here. Keep it goin.

ShootingStar responds:

Ha...thanks for the review!
And yeah, I"m going to "edit" this one with a little better version of the song!

ShootingStar

[Escape Of The Leprechaun]

Lol nice title.

The musicality here is very mature. The arrangement, flow, and electronics are top notch. Good use of effects and a pretty seamless ambient beat. Once you learn more about Reason you can start to experiment more. It's pretty straightforward for the most part, but still very listenable. I would say look more at the MIXER and try out different mastering styles. Play with the pans and maybe some effects, overdub some stuff, or try phasing/compressing combos on drum kits (or anything for that matter) for interesting things. I hear you like to have fun with the pitch wheel. Hehe. Overall, great length and flow, but next time you label it "Drum N Bass" work more on the DRUM part of it. That's important, you know. Keep up the great work!

Afterfall responds:

Thankyou D3vilsheep! I love your stuff and your review really means a lot to me. Yeah, I'm a Reason newbie but I'm slowly getting better, I only started using it a few months ago. I don't really know much about mastering or how to effectively use the mixer, but I'm doing a course in Studio Recording next year that will cover a lot of that kind of thing. I smiled at your comment on my amazing pitch wheel skills :)

Thank you so much for reviewing!

['09 Orchestration Contest]

Oh yes.

Harry Williams and Hans Zimmer just ate their hearts out.

EvilRaccoon responds:

lol In my dreams. :P

Thanks DS! =D

[Dance Of The Quirky]

Hmm.

Added to my favorites for some reason. I get the whole "intentionally bad" concept, but damn dude, some parts are barely listenable. I LIKE most atonal works, however, this tries to retain some sort of key and even then still makes me shudder. Amazing work.

Afterfall responds:

hahaha thanks so much. That was exactly what I was going for.

BTW man, I love your music and your flash so much! I'm big fan! Forsaken and Strider are really inspiring. But my favorite piece of yours so far would have to be Final Flight. I hope that one day I will be able to make music like that.

[The Launch]

Oh yes.

It's like Apollo 13 meets Crimson Tide, amiright? I heard a little bit of The Rock in there also, but I know how much you love Zimmer and his goons. This piece sounds fantastic. The harmony definitely evokes a sense of exploration, and the drums help with the idea of impending action. I have no problem whatsoever imagining this in a film (maybe someone will use it, eh?). The synth in the beginning is reminiscent of 80's Goldsmith...so you automatically get a 10. Keep it up! More, plz.

EvilRaccoon responds:

lol. You got me spot on. As always do. :D

Awesome review!