ZipZipper's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[AIM The Legend of Uncle Dave]

No kidding, that sounds like a nightmare to play and sync together. Great use of space with the production and just enough reverb to keep it alive but not drowning. Interesting inspiration for the piece; I wouldn't expect a song of this nature to be featured in a Zelda soundtrack, but it definitely would be a nice change of pace from the generally clanky soundfonts they still like to use ironically. I suppose this is specifically a representation of a personal time period and not the game itself, so whatever. Really nice dinga dinging and drawn out to just the right length of conciseness. I enjoyed this very much.

Daveisgr81 responds:

Thanks for the positive review - it's nice to be called out on the aesthetic side! It is 'about' a time when I was into video games and making music is equal measure: the art inspired the music but the piece isn't necessarily about the work of art that inspired it.

It was a nightmare to record, you're right. Playing the guitar parts so they all aligned took lots of takes... and I am definitely not completely happy with the current recording even if I am drawn to the raw sound!

Thanks again for taking the time to review this - really appreciate it!

[AIM - Wheat Breakfast Sheepman]

Hi this actually made me realize the reality of the artwork in that it's a sheepman eating Wheaties like wtf. That beep boop on the left is totes annoying, which is great. Y'know I really like your use of varying rhythms in all your works. Oh the song is speeding up and I'm not ready. Wait it just ended okay perfect. Anyways, that was fun! I just WISH there was a super obvious melodic line over the harmonic progression that I could follow because I'm cheesy. Okay goodbye.

Quarl responds:

love <3

[The Beast in the Sky]

Yeah, more reverb. It's rather deserted, especially because the art seems to depict an atmosphere full of whoosh because omg wings. But I also hate you so much that I would push you into a ceiling fan. You have fun musical ideas plus changes though hee haw wtf those VSTs can I have some great okay bye.

Azhthar responds:

"Meep moep" *Swoosh-Woosh*

[EspiDev - Strife]

Experimental in what way though? Is it the changeups in instrumentation, because that is a great thing to have in a sea of monotonous bleep bop boop. What would be a great pair for those constant changes in literal sound is some variation in musical sound as well. You were doing that a little towards the end with those chromatic shifts and I liked that; that needed to be expanded on earlier in the piece. Still, you're using the same 8-bar progression throughout the whole song, which I suppose is characteristic of the genre. But y'know, if you wanna be experimental, I believe it's all or nothing. Maybe a counter-progression, even by just rearranging the original harmonic progression in a different order, could vary the mood more. That way there doesn't have to be so much work invested into constantly changing the synth setup. Though, I do like that approach too; it still keeps the song not-so dry to listen to. So all in all, it seems you have a good grasp on what sounds sound cool together. Now, I think it's just a matter of challenging yourself musically. Pretty cool song here...

EspiDev responds:

Thanks for the review!

[Dead skin]

Hmmm...your instrumental setup and mixing leads me to think that this song is about to drop the bass somewhere and evolve into a horroresque electronica smashthing. I'm not hearing it so much as horror background lol. In fact, I think this idea would work great with a nice beat, since you already included a few synths and that bassline. If you really want to go for a horror background, I would suggest removing that bassline first of all, and going for a quieter mix overall; not so rough with the pizzicato strings and piano, but instead have them whisper. Though I'm sure someone could use this for the purpose you intended, I think it's a little ambiguous in its direction; is it trying to be scary or is it trying to make scary sound cool? I think you've got a good start here...it just needs to expand!

UserSigon responds:

Nah you're tot right. I was just bored of the usual 4/4 kick but, well surprise, turns out I can't do something without a bass or a kick. It's also too long for a loop I think.
And yeah I think I should have went for the "make scary sound cool" route :D
Thanks :p

[Tetris A Cappella]

Yaaaaaasss!!!! A lot of nice variation here, especially in terms of tempo. The effect of your distorted low notes has a very catchy bass quality. I wish you continued on with this waaaay more though. I mean...even if it meant writing your own countertheme, since the initial one would be tiring to hash out for eternity. And at first, I wasn't sure if I agreed with your panning choices, but after repeating this several times I get it. Great work, just stop being such a tease!

raggd46 responds:

Ha thank you so much! Yeah this was a quick one I bashed out so didnt spend too much time on fleshing it out, maybe I will come back to it and add a bit more :)

[Mechanical Control]

Very cool! Really sets an atmosphere for a factory level. The way you develop the themes and instruments keeps it moving like a machine. I think the mix is good, especially if someone would want to use this in any content. The loop seems fine too, a plus for the former stuff mentioned. This is a really balanced track, in my opinion; there's a lot about this that's really catchy, but sets up something more. Nice job!

ILG924 responds:

Thanks ZipZipper, I'm glad you liked it. I really like your mixes so it's good knowing you thought this one was alright. A sub wouldn't work well at the place I'm living at, so I can't really tell when my bassy sounds are too bassy. I still cut quite a bit of bass out of this song just to be safe

[Amplified]

Your creativity here is very subtle, yet powerful. The small section of 3/4 you get into before the organ is introduced was a nice surprise. The chord progressions, to me, sounds both extremely familiar and totally original. Now, I'm personally not really into guitars at all, but the way you weave them through these semi-unorthodox progressions really hits with me, so I'm not educated enough to understand how real they sound. I think they fit nice with the genre especially anyways; where instruments don't have to be fully convincing. This piece has some real video game character to it; would work very well as a final battle theme. Nice work here!

ILG924 responds:

Thank you, that means a lot coming from someone as creative and talented as you. I know I won't get a 100% convincing sound from software, but I'm glad you think the guitars fit nicely in this. I guess that's one of the benefits of this genre of music, real instruments are just a bonus.

Also, I don't know if you heard my last song, but all the interesting effects in your music influenced the bit crush effect I used in that song. I really like your compositions

[Tick Tack]

How come the two of you...ugh...you guys always know what to do to make me cry + giggle. The atmospheric approach here was a great choice. It was quite representative of my family Christmas this year with an underlying, brooding dysfunction. Your harmonies were really cool, especially how you had that exceptionally perfect contrast in the beginning between cheery and uneasy. And great balance overall...I wish I could do atmospheric tracks like you dooooooo *sits on floor and twitches*

Azhthar responds:

Sorry for that... I have the feeling that christmas often gets this feeling. I hope it´s better now! I´m also a bit exhausted from the last days. Actually I really think your tracks have an awesome atmosphere! I hide behide these stupid orchestral samples here I guess. You make an epic atmospheric track just by singing all choral voices... I also really don´t like the middle part in the track here anymore. When I made it I thought: cool... loud... spooky... chromatic tuba... but at the end it´s just clichee which doesn´t fit to the rest of the atmosphere, anymore.

[.:{Crystals}:.]

So if there's no vocals already on this, that one background pad sounds like overtone singing...or I guess that's because I'm hearing through laptop speakers :(

Yeah, very >ethereal< hehueheuhuehehuh. Also very depressing yay. It does sound like the backing track for someone, like EthWinds, to sing over. Whichhh...I think is its downfall because there's nothing strongly telling me to go this way or that; there's just ambient whooshing and a recurring piano motif. I mean yeah, it's definitely written in the vein of them receivers of this gift, but I think the track is missing them literally looool. Perhaps that can also be construed into its strength. I enjoy the occasional pluckedy flowyness with the harp and the overall desolate nature in contrast to the Merry in Merry Christmas.

larrynachos responds:

huheuehueheuHHEUEHEUEHEUEHUEH

I definitely feel you. Most of my music is either really epic and over-the-top, or just really simple, with just a few instruments and an accompanying pad/soundscape. I can't seem to find a happy medium that satisfies everyone. Regardless, I'm wholeheartedly satisfied with this song. It's beautiful, sad, and complete. Merry Christmas ZZ :) Thanks for the review!