ThaScientist's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Reasoner- Living Transparent]

Why couldn't it have been special?

Although it's pretty decent, I will focus on the negative because I have urgent criticism.

It is proficient, but I am sick of the same mood in these piano ballads that shows a deep lack of imagination. You know what I mean, the kind of music that supposedly evokes a bittersweet tug at the heart strings, the kind of happiness that makes you cry...except that because it is done to death by every artist it looses its meaning. This is manipulative without being powerful, proficient without being creative or daring. It sounds pretty, but it sounds as if the progression of the chords and the mood are locked in to a stereotyped pattern. There are many devices, such as counterpoint, harmony, key changes, scales other than minor and major, and too many things to name which can be used to make music more unique. If you have not mastered tonal music theory and the techniques of composition, you will not be able to express the subtleties of emotion that you feel.

It does not have to be complicated or technical to express emotion, but if you analyze the truly good music it requires skill to compose the notes, chords, and most importantly the deviations from the cookie-cutter format that make it good. Somehow, I think this is not a question of talent but one of skill. Either you do not have skill at music theory or choose not to use it. Go use it or go learn it. I am being blunt because it saddens me when good intentions misdirected cause a loss of potential.

[We Dream to Fly]

Brilliant, but detrimentally choppy

Your many melodic themes contain feeling and remarkable depth, but I have to dock four points for your lack of transition and unity between your themes and different combinations of instrumentation and even rhythm and tempo. It is EXTREMELY disjointed and choppy, and from one theme to the next it feels like you have switched to a totally different song and feeling. When you switch too many times and don't use in-between themes to smooth the transition, you dilute the emotional staying power of all of them.

Please read this and respond if you think there's something I'm missing. I'd like to know your side of the story.

Bosa responds:

I've made music for 7 years, and sometimes I hate to admit that not everybody agrees with my style. If you don't like the beginning with the progressive acoustic change, then know that I did make an attempt at preparing you for the change in theme. I added a slow cymbal to build up any tension that I could. The other changes were intentional. I didn't add them because of my lack of musical knowledge, I added them because I am completely aware of faulty music and I make sure it sounds right to me before it is released. But, as I said, not everybody agrees with my style of music and changing themes.

-Bosa

[{Hollow Man} [NG Cut]]

Stunning.

Ranges from bold and bombastic to eerie and subtle. Strings and synths practically laser etch the melody into the brain, beat charges forward like a tank. Inspired, vivid, awesome,

OWNAGE: 100%

[[ d i s t i l l ] (demo)]

Great everything.

It was well composed, well played, but especially well sung. Your voice has a really great aching timbre and expressiveness that seems real rather than rehearsed. At first I only heard it instrumentally with The Composer, but the singing just makes it perfect.

Kingbastard responds:

Thanks very much.

[Thinking In Slow Motion]

Awe and wonder.

This music reflects a deep understanding of the contour of music--the sounds that move us. You spin a bittersweet musical theme which is carried by widely varied instruments ranging from guitars to woodwinds to orchestral strings, and make it into a rich soundscape that stirrs the emotions. The notes don't change much throughout, but it's clear you're really focusing on changes in volume and timbre which are more subtle. The simplicity serves it well, the richness makes it grand. It can inspire, bring up memories, or just calm the mind.

Truly great, hope to one day write and record something like this myself.

SuperGoodSound responds:

I feel often that I have kinda an innate sense for the music. I started composing songs on the piano before I ever had any lessons of any kind! I think I was using standard chords and such as well...it was so long ago that the details are all blurry now. But I think I was 6 or 7 when I started picking it up.

The real problem is just that I should be so much better at all this than I am now - 15 years later. And of course you can write music like this - I mean, the stuff I write is nowhere near the things I want to do either.

[[O-K] CrownRoyal]

Don't get it

Competent guitar playing, but the lyrics make no sense at all. It's just incomprehensible what your message is or what this song is about.

O-K-Gay responds:

When you get old and you lose all your money, don't hide it in my trash-bin.
I never litter on the ground cause i is so clean like that.