Codefreq's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Outlaws and Disorder]

Feels like it belongs in Shakedown Hawaii or the like. Very cool concept in your description.

No notes here. I can't wait to play whatever game this becomes a part of. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

001247 responds:

I had to check out the shakedown hawaii ost after reading this and... wow, thank you! That's pretty much the vibe I was aiming for!

About the game, I can sadly say it's just an hypothetical concept for now. I'd love to make something with these tracks but I don't have any experience programming outside of fucking around in rpg maker and making simple python programs.

[Curiosity (demo)]

This song to me represents awe and the experience of amazement; the title of "curiosity" fits well.

The only suggestion I have would be to raise the volume with compression/limiting plugins and/or normalization.

Other than that, solid work. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

ZappaFan52 responds:

Glad you dig it man! Yeah definitely not hitting it too hard with processing right now, just in the sketching out ideas phase for the project lol

[Chlorines - Somnolence]

This has a pretty cool vibe, like the main hub of Super Mario Galaxy (1), or the spacecraft creation mode in SPORE. The name is apt; the song has a lulling-to-sleep appeal to it.

Nice work. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

Chlorines responds:

Thanks for the kind words!
I really like how you look at the themes of a song :D

[Squirrel's Adventure through Time & Space - Rytmik Retrobits]

It sounds like an intro scene to a squirrel character's adventure game... That ISN'T Conker's Bad Fur Day. ;)

Seriously, though, as fitting as it is for an intro scene, nothing about it really strikes me as adventure-themed. Without seeing the game, it's a bit hard to tell thematically what this piece represents. It's not a bad piece, I just think some additional clarification on your thought process would help, and it could influence my score.

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

edhe responds:

It was a long while ago (and the game never got past the concept), but I saw it more of a proof of concept. I visualised it playing in a theoretical opening cutscene.

[Indomitable]

This reminds me of the good ol' days playing Star Wars: Rogue Squadron on the N64. :)

The music has a determined quality to it. I can see the avengers or the Guardians of the Galaxy walking in slow motion away from an explosion like true badass heroes.

Great job! :D

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

[Introducing Mr. Kipple]

Wow, what vivid imagery! Your description and music really go together quite well.

Really, the only suggestion I can make is to use some kind of compression, limiting, and/or normalizing plugins to increase the volume so the listener won't have to change the volume for this specific song.

Still, nice work! :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

FlipWillie responds:

Thanks Codefreq.

Yeah, I've pretty much given up hope on trying to figure out limiters. Always ends up distorting the instruments for me. But I certainly understand the critique!

[Phoenix]

What a story! I've definitely been there, as I'm sure countless other PC music makers have. Glad it worked out for you. :)

I think you could let the end of the song go a bit longer so it doesn't cut off sharply.

That's about it, though. good work.

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

Synfang responds:

Okay, yeah, I guess I should've done that... :/

Anyway, thanks for your feedback!

[Theme of Joshua Smellingstock Jr.]

So convincing is this fiction that I actually Googled Joshua Smellingstock Jr. Can't find any record of him. Heheheh bravo you had me fooled. ;)

Anyway, this beat sounds to me more like a hip-hop beat with jazz elements rather than strictly jazz.

Either way, It's hard to know what vibe you're going for regarding this theme. Is this character a chill ruler or powerful and confident? Conflicted or clear-minded? It would help if you put in the description the kind of person this Joshua Smellingstock Jr. is. That way I can evaluate how clearly I think the aspects of this person come across. If you add these details, my score might change.

I hope this is helpful. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

Czyszy responds:

I added the character bio out of pure boredom. xD There's no connection

[Its The End OF The World]

How bittersweet. :(

I feel like I'm watching the end credits of the world; looking out at abandoned buildings, simultaneously grieving while acknowledging mankind's achievements.

Not sure if that was your intention going into this, though. Also, as much as I like that you put poetry in the description, I think it may be good to also include what your thought process was going into the music. That way I can see your intent and judge how clearly I think your intention comes across, rather than strictly my own taste. If you do that, there's a chance my score could change.

I hope you find my feedback helpful. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806

[Eleven]

UPDATE:

I see you added the lyrics. Nice!

Thanks for clarifying your intent. Knowing that, to you, the piece represents belonging, everything falls into place quite well. The instrumentation is quirky and unusual, and now I know why.

I do understand the impulse to let people take meaning from a song themselves without prompt; I'm inclined to do the same thing with some of my music. My review philosophy is meant for when people have something to say with their music and intend to get the message across to others. It's there to help that message come across clearly.

Original 3 1/2 star review:

"Yes. Yes, I can tell you like space. ;)

I wish you included the lyrics to this piece in you description. It's such an interesting and unusual concept for rap I think not including the lyrics would do this creation, and yourself, a disservice.

It's quite well mixed, although the vocals cause some ducking in the synthesizers that makes this a bit tiring and difficult to listen to on repeat. Maybe some tweaking in the compression/limiting would help.

I think you could go even further with the instrumentation. I can see you adding some ambient pads and cool synth-y effects. Still, as it is, it's pretty good.

The only other thing is your intention isn't clear from the description, and reading the title in combination with this makes it even less clear. If you were to include more information about your thought process with naming and creating this piece, I may change the rating.

I hope you find my feedback useful. :)

More info about how I review music here: https://codefreq.newgrounds.com/news/post/1089806"

Kalviter responds:

Hey, cheers for taking the time to give this a review. I like that the lyrics got you interested, I've put them in the author comment for you to look at.

The vocals are (mildly) sidechained to the synths to cause that ducking deliberately; I'd figured it might help the vocals cut across slightly better. If that's not helping the mix then that's fair enough, I'll bear that in mind for future tracks.

I think the instrumentation thing can be a bit subjective, I've played with layers and layers of pads before and I find it makes the lyrics even more difficult to pick out (though maybe that's also a delivery issue). I like being a less is more guy for the minute.

With intentions, I'm happy that you're interested in what drove this. I don't like dictating what these more serious songs really mean, I'm always interested to see what people take from it without prompting. My own interpretation of it is it's a song about belonging, hence all the alien and space imagery. Eleven comes from rocketry; To escape the Earths gravitation field you need to reach eleven kilometres per second.

Anyway, cheers again for the review! If you liked this, check out any of the other songs with "Quarantunes" in the short description.