IndustryStandard's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[reaching out for help]

Reminds me of mario 64 sunken ship level music.

[Strumming The Bassline]

Had to give this a listen since I love the original song. I love the chilled down vibe - if the original was hitting the streets, this is coming home and winding down at the end of the day.

[handlewithcare]

I love this, but I wish there was a rap in there somewhere! The intro felt a little weird too, I don't think it took away from the song but it didn't really introduce it either.

[Cast Away (feat. TroyMan)]

Excellent choice of sounds and use of effects, you make a good use of taking them on and off the vocals. I particularly appreciate the chorus in the background, adds a fun "hoard of zombies/demons" kinda vibe. The lyrics could use a little work, especially since they repeat quite a bit - not a bad thing in itself, but they lack substance or meaning beyond "be my girlfriend, other people are fake" and maybe a little "I got break up". It's a fine outline, but I personally want to know more about the narrator and what was done to him, the person he's asking to "dance with me", something. As it is the lyrics just feel like filler, a delivery mechanism for the vocal melody. Also, and this may just be subjective, but your use of "coolest people" confuses me. it sounds like whoever left him there in despair at least left him in good hands.

great track overall though!

chipsqueek responds:

Yeah the vocals are just a loop I found on looperman, there wasn’t much I could use of the vocal loop since it was just one phrase if I remember correctly. So repetition was inevitable. I have no idea the context of the vocals since they weren’t done or commissioned by me, just a royalty free loop.

[Kirby Works a 9 to 5 job and lives in a 1 bedroom apartment theme]

Might just not be my kinda thing - I like the oldschool 8-bit sounds, but I like them alongside more modern sounds usually. Still, I think you've got the right idea. I think the main pieces of feedback I would give are these:

1) the leading melody just sounds random. Not bad, but it doesn't really hook in your mind, I couldn't see myself whistling any part of this because I couldn't really follow the melody at all. Using sounds this simple requires the melody to pull a lot of weight, and while i didn't hate it, it wasn't doing it for me.

2) The dynamics could use some work. You drop the higher frequency drums out at times, which is a good way to change up dynamics, but I never really felt like a different part of the song was taking lead. Try playing around with giving each instrument a little time to be the main instrument - even if that's just a single bar drum fill or a couple bars of letting the background instruments play with no leads on top of them.

3) The ending... was bad. That's subjective of course, but it felt to me like you didn't really know where you were going with it, so you kinda just stopped. The melody doesn't resolve, and whether intentional or not I don't think it fits. You should try making a loop - I honestly was expecting this to be one when I started listening to it.

SuitedBroccoli responds:

1) I totally agree, I think I thought too complex which makes it sound weird and not memorable.

2) I get where you're coming from, I should add like, a bit more variation with what's playing where.

3) Yeah you're correct, I didn't know how to end it, making a slightly shorter song that loops might've been a better way to go for this song.

[That Wasn't A Chicken]

I love the composition, excellent choice of instruments too. I think it would be nicer if you toned down the sort of ring mod on the initial lead synth for part of the song, i love the sound but it's a little too dissonant for the whole song i think.

LeonRiskin responds:

Thank you. I'll check into your EQ suggestion :)

[Breach]

Reminds me of Bastion, one of my top OSTs of all time. bass, drums, and synths are really well mixed, key changes keep if from feeling repetitive or empty. The synth that opens the track sounds a little goofy, especially right at the beginning before the song really gets going, but personally I love that. Fits perfectly with the rest of the sounds anyway. Great stuff.

Crashtroid responds:

Never listened to the Bastion ost before, but MAN is it really hitting for me, just pulled it up at your recommendation. Gonna go binge this!

I really, REALLY appreciate the specific feedback here, helps me a ton to figure out what I do that works and what doesn't. And yeah, the goofy little opening helps me maintain that feeling throughout the song of not taking itself too seriously and more just being a conveyor for the player to jam out a bit while playing a game jam title. I want them to feel the intensity but not feel too much is on the line, yknow?

Anyway thanks again for such in depth feedback bro, means the world!

[Chiptune n°699]

Love that baseline. dope lead melodies, but the saw-sounding one that comes in around 0:50 stands out a bit when it goes into the higher octave. Desperately needs some drum fills/other drum changes for how long it is.

[Cosmic Shift]

I love the synthwave vibe. Wish the drums were a little louder though, maybe throw some high hat in as well to change the energy dynamics.

Zunixx responds:

thanks man, i appreciate the comment. I will admit the drums are kinda iffy, i've never been great with drums, so i normally make them pretty basic.

[The Musical Imp - Ignis]

you should try adding some bells or xylophone just to accent the strings and low drums

TheMusicalImp responds:

Thank you for your feedback.