BenTibbetts's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[The Mapmaker's Tale]

good experience

Big piece! Congratulations. This must have been a lot of work. Very interesting choice of instruments. Were those actual windchimes? You do a nice job of suggesting a story.

Tainlorr responds:

Yes, windchimes! Thank you. This one, I poured a LOT of time into it. Thanks. I used a Santur, (the plucky thing,) a Ney Flute, and Taiko drums with some synthetic and metallic percussion.

[Summer Blockbuster]

Popcorn

Nice work. I particularly enjoyed the harmonies you use, which are not quite generic although repetitive. Is there any way to make the low strings clearer?

Tainlorr responds:

Yes, I've been working on the strings and the repetivety. My goal here wasn't quite to make a great song, but rather, see how easy it is to score a movie like "Dark Knight" or "Inception." Listen to those and you'll know exactly what I mean.
Thanks, though!

[Magic of the Wind]

Magical

I like this a lot. I'm not sure about the title--the driving, short notes by the strings seem to suggest mechanical imagery. I agree about the bells which seem a bit overpowering here. Good luck with your studies.

Tainlorr responds:

Thanks again!

[Take It Slow, Bro]

Disagree with Fizzyfox

I disagree with much in Fizzyfox's review. I don't find these sounds to be grating or unpleasant. The moments when you played with the tempo were quite imaginative. I'd love to see the score if you have the time.

Esn responds:

Thanks Benjamin. You can read my reply to Fizzyfox below where I explain some things about this piece. I do respect his point; this piece is really me entering an area which is not my forte.

[Falling off the Planet]

Review!

Hi Phil,
The melody you've written here is really lovely. Hearing it repeat many times in different instruments, I couldn't help feeling I might have liked you to vary it a little bit more. Even some small, almost arbitrary changes might make for a special moment which stands out.

The harmonies seem unsettled, ambiguous, and anxious. All the suspensions make me feel nervous and excited, although you linger (beautifully I might add) on some very lush chords for your strings. As none of the harmonies ever seem to reach consonance this track has the ability to loop easily. But you've marked this as a "miscellaneous song" which suggests that you want it to stand alone as a piece--if this is the case, I think it might be very satisfying to end with a slow, deliberate Eb major chord (which I more or less came to expect... and never got!). Also, I agree with what David said about the low end, and want to add a suggestion: perhaps you could save the really powerful low notes until the second half of the track. I think this might give the ending a sense of purpose and inevitability... two attributes from which I think this music could benefit!

PhilVille responds:

Hey man thanks thanks for your advice man, very useful information. Hmm I never thought of the misc tag like that haha I didn't think it mattered too much. I feel like i'm making a bit of progress hopefully my next song will be better ^^. my computer crashed so I can't write anymore for a while 3=

[{Heim} Mystic Light]

Lovely

Beautiful sounds and chord progressions. Great juxtaposition of the low, slow strings with high, quick mallets. Sublime.

JeffHeim responds:

hoo rah!

[{Heim} Mystic Night]

Awesome

Certain moments in this piece stand out to me. The flute's gliss at 1:02, and that whole section, is really exciting. For me, hearing the flute flit and dance above the low strings there is the best part, and the harp adds some much-needed motion that makes it sparkle. Trash-Man-1 is right about the intro as well, great work.

JeffHeim responds:

Hey Ben! Thank you- this was real fun to write, although I don't think Mike A. would approve lol. I keep procrastinating when it comes time to "think outside the box"

[Beetle Circus]

Impressive

This is an absolutely terrific little piece of music. I love the trumpet and the accordion... so bizarre and sarcastic.

[{Heim} Montagna dei Fiori]

Beautiful

Awesome, in the real definition of inspiring awe. This is an awesome piece!

JeffHeim responds:

Thanks Ben!

[-Orr- Colony]

Satisfaction

Kudos, my man! You are so at home in this medium. I love that in all your pieces I've heard (even in those I didn't care for) you are always completely in control of where your music starts, where it's going, and how it gets there--your mastery of form is your greatest strength!

DavidOrr responds:

Thanks Ben! Always a pleasant surprise to see a review by you :)