ZipZipper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Toucan - Semi-Crisis]

Ahhh. This reminds me of the music in Brave Fencer Musashi and also the music in a random Yu-Gi-Oh video game for GameCube that I enjoyed once upon a time...both are rather old things. And your song here has captured the genuine warmness I felt in both. This piece has so much nostalgia in it. I wish soundtrack instrumentation was more simple and innocent like this. The whimsical anxiety of a child constructing ideas in an unstable imagination. It's perfect for the game it's in; it helps you concentrate while also making you nervous. Excellent work here!

SilentTakedown responds:

Thanks a lot!

[-*}RAC{*-Franc-Maçonnerie]

Holy crap. That is wicked good! Wow...although you said you only listened to their music as research, that's a lot of research to me! You seriously represented the country flawlessly. I'm dying at the waltzing bits. They are extraordinary! The chord progression on those bits is quite reminiscent of a valse musette. And I definitely feel the solo electric piano bit with the drums. Soothingly jazzy and yet anxious with its slightly dark tonality, maybe dissonant? A note is clashing that makes it very interesting. I enjoyed this piece greatly. Excellent work!

camoshark responds:

Wow man, thanks for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed!

Cheers

[Your Marbles]

An unusual inspiration, but pictured perfectly in this piece. I think it captures a sort of innocence in thinking up a strategy...the first thing that came to mind was Scrabble, but that's dreadfully agitating to me. No, this is peaceful, like marbles...because marbles are peaceful (?) Anyways, it reminds me of the music during a 'The Sims' loading screen. Or when you buy furniture for your house. Overall a flawless ditty and a creative, cute song. Nice work!

BenTibbetts responds:

That's interesting. I think of marbles as relatively violent compared to Scrabble. Thank you for the review.

[Crown of Snakes]

...what is that instrument? It's not a guitar is it? It has an extremely interesting twang to it. It is quite neofolk and captivating. Would love to hear it strumming violently. Or waltzlike. A quick waltz or some riffraff fast step would be ecstatic. This is a cool little intro. Perhaps some worldly bongos or other such drum would fit well...a pan flute or violin too. Well...good luck on your album. This intro keeps me interested, so great work!

AtomicAgeVampire138 responds:

Thank you for such a positive review!
Yes, it's actually an eccentric guitar I picked up for $15 at a local thrift store (G-135? Can't really find too much information on the model), & everything was played on just it (including the swells, which I used an eBow to create).
Need to get more instruments!

[Ochestralstep]

I do enjoy the progressiveness of this all, how it's all flowing together and not split into parts, it's just one big build up and die down. That in itself is also a weakness as well as a strength. I also thought that the 'clap' in the drum beat was harsh and the war drums in the beginning too. I personally would have made both of them absent, or slightly syncopated, for a couple of beats to trick the ear a little bit. The strings I thought could be more enhanced, or have greater change in velocity, like bigger crescendos. Other than that, everything else sounds fantastic. As it is, it's like an intriguing, epic introduction to an alternative soundtrack piece. I really like it. It's a very cool little song. Great work!

Nmanif responds:

Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback. I do need to go back and change pretty much everything that you mentioned...however I think I'm gonna keep the war drums in. I'll change them a bit, but I personally like them. This is very much a work in progress, so thank you for helping me improve it!

Cheers!

[Absence]

I dunno. I personally enjoy this as it is without a singer. I mean, depending on what is sung and who the singer is could really change my mind. I really love how the piano and guitar weave together so well. I didn't think it was very jazzy except for a few stings with the piano that get especially prominent towards the end. It sounds more like a pop ballad or something. Anyways, great song and your production, I think, is actually very good!

DaveValentine responds:

Well the problem was that there only seems to be two 'easy listening' categories: classical, or jazz. Unfortunately, this one doesn't really seem to blend into either. Maybe I should have submitted it as miscellaneous? :) I'm really, really glad you like it ,by the way!

[Dancing Mad]

Very nice. The one thing that I was a bit iffy on was the big gap between loud and soft. I understand it yet also don't understand it. But anything waltzy will grab my attention, and this was classically coherent and well rounded. Nice job!

[BFD - Before Its Too Late]

Indeed, your string sounds are extremely similar in nature to the ones used in Miyazaki films, and not just in the way they sound but how you constructed them musically; melodies and harmonies. It's not a bad thing. It's very beautiful, but to me maybe a bit cliche?...no that's the wrong word...too similar? I don't know. Well, I love the part at around two minutes in with the harp and the pizzicato, it sounds great together and different. Overall, this set of four is definitely synchronized perfectly and very reminiscent of a Miyazaki film. Nice job!

MeAndMyMuse responds:

Thanks!

[Kw- Ocular Clock Cycle]

Very very nice stuff. Like flying over a city at night with a giant clock tower straight ahead. The one thing I was hesitant about was that there was too much reverb for some parts, especially that beat that ends the piece, which also occurs a couple of other times. Otherwise, it's extremely ambient and calming. I guess it could also be a song that occurs underwater, but in an underwater city. Ehhh...I think I like the idea of flying over a city better. Great work!

nightsurfermusic responds:

I do tend to put too much reverb on things, I try to make it as spacey as I can. Thanks for the feedback though, I'll keep it in mind. :)

[Forward March]

Hmmm...I guess I do see soldiers marching into combat, but they're wearing extremely stylish suits and maybe parading through the streets of a modern city, perhaps a parade preliminary to a party to thank them for their service? The song itself has a great melody and a cool beat. I thought that maybe it could change up just a little bit at some points since it got a bit too dominant through out. Like there was a definite A melody but never a different B melody. Maybe even a change in the drums would have made it just a little more interesting. But, it's pretty catchy as is too. Nice work!

Paulwe responds:

I see what you mean. The song wasn't even meant to be military themed originally, it just sounded like that when I finished. And it is a bit too... well, anyways, I get what you mean about not having a B melody. So I'll keep that in mind when writing my next song. Thanks for the review!