LJCoffee's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sexy Shagadelic Awesome Bass]

Damn nice track

Great work - can't make any suggestions

You seem to have a very laid back style all around - this one has a nice little jump beat though - nice job.

Good instrumentation and nice overall production.

WAR-BASTARD responds:

Making insane compositions doesnt seem to be my strong point so I tend to steer away from it although I shouldn't. I hope to get recognised for melodic tunes rather than immense sound lol :D

Appreciate the group of positive reviews and votes :)

TheGaffer.

[Human Life Cycle]

Chilled like Smith

Very laid back - at first I really wasn't thinking that I would like it but after a few bars I got a little more into it - Which is good - It's always nice to win someone over like that.

Very chilled out track - This also gets a 5 - I really ended up liking it quite a bit.

I would have LOVED to hear more of a progression into something just completely manic and off the wall but perhaps that would be best saved for another track.

Also - watch the distortion on your instruments - I'd suggest either a little more or a little less - the amount you're using in places sounds unintentional.

Overall, great work - really liking what I'm hearing.

WAR-BASTARD responds:

Thanks man :). I hear what youre saying about the progession. When I make a peice I get so into one melody I've created I can't get enough of hearing it and I forget that other people won't want to hear it as much lol. When I listen back on my old tracks they do sound really repetitive, but, it all comes with practice, ive been making music for about 5 months so I'm still learning and getting better (I think)

Thanks for the 5 :D

TheGaffer.

[Natural Development]

Lo-Fi cool

Very nice track - great timbres, love the lo-fi sounds. Some nice techniques used.

Could have used a bit more percussion.

I know (hope) it was intentional but there did seems to be some unchecked distortion here and there - the problem is that in some spots there wasn't enough to make it obvious that it wasn't a mistake. I think that adding something that's clearly not distorted along side of it would help make your intention more obvious.

All around cool track. You get my 5.

Keep it up!

WAR-BASTARD responds:

Glad you like it coffee. Hmm not sure which bits you mean, obviously I used quite a lot of distortion when the track picked up and when it was more mellow the quieter background synth was still somewhat distorted dunno if that answered your question lol :D

Thanks for the help I'll remember to use it next time im using distortion.

TheGaffer.

[(ST) Bassport (Remaster)]

Straight 8's

But you'll get teh 5!

Very good work here - I can't say it was the most spectacular example of DnB I've heard but you definitely set yourself apart from quite a few others with this track - I loved some of the techniques that you used in this one - Stutters and repeats were effectively used to punctuate the track where needed. I liked the granular pulling and stretching applied to a few samples.

The negatives - whole track sounded just a bit washed out - same as "Believe" - great work but when compared to other portal entries it seemed to lack punch. I'm thinking it might be due to the MP3 compression settings - just a guess...

Great job!

StereoTactik responds:

Thanks for your awesome reviews! I'm glad you like my music.

I know that the Believe full version lost quality because of filesize, and this song is just terribly mastered :P

Thanks again LJ! Be sure to check out my 1337 new benny hill remix ROFL!!

[Believe (StereoTactik Remix)]

Nice!

Great job - seemed just a bit low when compared to other portal submissions (overall volume)

Other than that it was a great track - absolutely lovin the bassline - very sick.

You get my 5! - I have no real complaints or suggestions - I'll have to PM you about this track.

StereoTactik responds:

Alright, thanks again for reviewing!
I shall check my inbox.

[-Robotnik Remix-]

Not bad at all

lost points due to the self proclaimed "reMix" aspect but all in all a decent job.

Again, sorry if this review seems a little off - VG is just not my thing - I have the same general comments that I did for "Bloodrush" - everything was well done except for the percussion. Maybe it's supposed to be that way but I really think that if you put a little more effort into the drums this would have been much cooler.

Very good job though!

WritersBlock responds:

Yeah, the remix is a learning curve, by finding out what makes existing songs good, I can try to make original songs more interesting. Thanks for the comment... yes the drums need work (it's on the top of my to do list)

Cheers

[Bloodrush]

Nice work

Not too much into VG but it had a great sound - you did a very decent job on it.

Loved some of the timbres used - the lead portamento synth has a great sound - a little quirky and a little sick - very cool.

The percussion was lacking though - It sounded almost like an afterthought - sorry but that's what I thought.

You've obviously gotten zero bombed (by looking at your score) - you deserve better - I'll help that in just a second.

Overall - really nice work with the exception of the drums.

WritersBlock responds:

Hey, thanks for the review. Yeah, I found that lead sound and took to it right away. Percussion is one of my main problems with my music, I think that once I've done enough experimentation, then things should be better on that side of things.
Zero bombed, is that what it's called eh? I notice that happening here and there...
Cheers for the review, very helpful.

[And Now I'm Fearless]

Awwwwwww.. how bitter-sweet

Nice and ...ummm, sweet? I liked the bits of reversed something-or-other that were in there.

This was a really nice track - Here's a disclaimer: My instinct is to recoil and/or throw up a little when presented with "sweet" things. Puppies playing on a sunset beach would make me vomit. Lovers walking hand in hand and sharing lingering gazes ignite not a spark of romance in me but rather turn my stomach and make me want to light them both on fire. Wistful dreams of gentle happy places fill my mouth with bile. - You get the idea...

So then, with that disclaimer I'll tell you that I really felt uncomfortable at certain times while listening to this track.

That's a fairly good indicator that you've created something really nice - something really sweet - something worthy of a stage/movie soundtrack. Either the scene where the two who we've wondered "will they or won't they" finally get together towards the end - or maybe the part where the protagonist reflects on all of the sage advice that his dying father gave him and thinks back about all of the good times - and realizes that despite his loss, all is right with the world...

*puke :D

It really was very good so you're scores are nice and you'll get the 5 but I really have to go now because I will soon be sick ;)

Nice mix too! - Levels were all good on this end.

pitbulljones responds:

haha this review made my have a little sex wee. Yea i very rarely do nice like this, but if a tune is being made you gotta go with it innit. thanks you very much.

let me know when you have owt new up.

pitters

[scarred]

Really nice job

Loved the layering -

The atmo sxf in the beginning were quite unusual - nice bit of reverb, gave it all a little depth.

The strings were nice - the soft edges did a nice job of masking the synthesis.

Some very different chord progressions. Very nice though - I really liked that the progression was unexpected. I think that's just enough to keep someone listening to find out what happens next.

The buzzlines and the 303-like arp set it all up as something other than a symphonic comp. Again, Made me wonder what was coming next.

The bells panned toward the right were nice and simple and added another layer that played nicely with the strings - Same with the pluck that was panned toward the left - both timbres were good and created some nice dissonance against the strings in certain spots.

The only couple of things I would have liked to hear done differently would be to drop the level of the distant bang synth somewhere near where the bells come in and bring them back again toward the end. Also the addition of a deeper, slow moving string would be great - maybe something an octave or two lower than what's there. Like a cello against a violin - you know...

All in all this was a really nice track and it was put together well. Overall mix was great.

pitbulljones responds:

Hey man thansk for the thorough review. Like i mentioned to ped i got myself a new vsti and its been my muse for this tune, sounds, timbres and shit.

The string arangement was obviously a case of trial and error, as i started with the atmos synth, tried getting a war feel, impending doom thingy me jig and well it mutated into what you hear.

I really cudnt decide on the arp for ages either, didnt know whether it was too 'electronic for the peace but it seems to work well as a bass supplement whether than lead/melody enhancer.

The bell synth is from rhino, think its a marimba, just played really high in octave, simple qudruplets that support the main chord scheme. and the pluck is a guitar with trem and slight flanger over it, bit of delay too i think..

I agree with you on the atmos synth, i have already rolled it bk quite a bit before mix down and rolled the bass off too, think it might be a mid-range problem where the noise is coming from but defo needs a roll back. and the addition of a lower string is a very good idea, i may have to go bk to this and do exactly that.

thanks again LJC

pm with with any tunes you need reviewing, best way to get me.

pitters

[[GF]If-I-Could-Be-You[GF]]

Hmmmm...

OK - you're calling it a remix PLUS to be honest - it sounds very much like every other trance or techno tune I've heard so you lose a few points for originality. Diversity is a little tougher - again, honestly it's the same basic timbres that you hear in all techno and trance - you've done nothing new here - but what you did do, you did well for the most part.

Clarity was fine - a few minor issues on this end but I can't tell if it's the track or my settings so you get the benefit of doubt and a 9 to go with.

Overall I'm giving you a 9. I don't particularly care for this style but I can appreciate the effort and skill required to make it.

It was well made but you've stayed right in the middle of a very safe path - I didn't hear anything new or extremely exciting in this track. You lost a point of two for using the stereotypical cheering crowd samples. I've never cared for those at all - oh well though right?

GroundForce responds:

after listening to my track, i noticed that the crowds are toooo loud lol^^

anyway thank for this great review!!

[GF]