50Steaks's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Sailors from up North]

*Leaves a review on Virginia about arpeggios mostly*
*Makes a song that has them as a major element in the background*
In all seriousness, this is extremely catchy. There are two main issues I have with this and they have to do with subtler elements. The first is replay value; the lack of variety in the melody decreases its replay ability (a term usually used for video games but I think it works for music as well). I know this because Virginia suffers from the same thing. The second is the transitions between parts of the song; good example is 0:34-0:38 where the transition to the next part is very abrupt, so unless that goes against the style of the pirate theme it could be improved. In fact it was improved at 1:35. So really what’s missing until then is percussion, I’m feeling like a fast beat or something with a snare to build up its introduction at 1:35. I’ve never played Sea of Thieves so I may not be the most qualified to review this, but I do really love the chord progression and I think the guitar is a nice addition. Very well done, I think you’ve mastered structuring and harmony/melody at this point, just need to find better soundfonts for some instruments. I’ve never mentioned that; the violin soundfont you use I actually am not a big fan of because it fails to balance each note properly, as in in terms of volume and vibrato (string player of 8 years).

Tangerine responds:

Thank you for the review. I agree transitioning is something I really need to work on. I'm trying. The abrupt chorus with all the percussion was intentional because it was supposed to be a sudden jump with the whole crew playing together. I agree I lacked percussion for the first couple of sections of the song, but I didn't feel like putting much percussion into it later on. I preferred it without percussion in the gentler parts. Not much I can do about the sound fonts. I was thinking of just doing the violin parts myself so I can choose the amount of vibrato since the synth absolutely abuses vibrato. Has no wind down in it, just goes straight for it. The only thing stopping me from doing it myself is recording equipment. I don't have the microphones and insulation to record music. "*Makes a song that has them as a major element in the background*" At least you know I'm inputting my own advice haha. Thank you for the feedback!

[Giant by the Cliff]

Honestly just an improved version of End of the Road. I love that it’s shorter than that one and less attempt to be grandiose, more so just a fun one. Minor criticism, I really like the cymbals but the constant instant panning can get a little disorienting, especially with headphones. Getting better at outros, really feels like a giant about to fall off a cliff but luckily avoiding that at the last minute. I wonder how this would have turned out in minor key? That’s interesting to think about.

Tangerine responds:

" I wonder how this would have turned out in minor key?" Well, the answer is right there. The key is a minor key. Forgive me if I misinterpreted what you mean, I'm still learning music theory and musical terms. When listening to End of the Road I felt that I didn't have enough percussion so I fixed that in this piece. Thank you for the reply. I always appreciate it when you stop by.

[Just Another Crime]

Amazing. The outro sounds like a gunshot which PERFECTLY fits the theme, despite being really dark. The melody is really good. This is one of those instances where 4 repeating chords works in a song, when it builds the atmosphere and the lack of tension and release benefits the song. A follow up of probably your worst song, this is... just... I have no words anymore

Tangerine responds:

I'm glad you like my piece and melody. I was messing around on the guitar with Dm and I managed to create this chord progression by each chord moving a finger down a fret. I have absolutely no idea on what 75% of these chords are. This song was created when I discovered the sound effect list of instruments in sibelius. There's so many bizarre things in that list. You consider The Police Are Coming to be my worst song? Personally, out of all the public songs i'd say Kitu was my least favourite. Overall I can guarantee that Kitu sounds like a masterpiece compared to other monstrosities I've made. Someone once paid me $10 nzd to create the worst sounding remix of the doom eternal theme for a game they were making for a school project. The game was called COOM. Creative Observations Of Mathematics. It should be COM but they insisted on COOM. (Don't worry I know why they want it.)

[The Police Are Coming]

Could have sworn I reviewed this before, but I guess I didn’t. This is your most popular song I think, even now, and 158 listens is pretty substantial. Do I think it deserves to be your most popular? Absolutely not, you’ve made way better than this (take the outro for example)

Tangerine responds:

Yeah, I don't understand Newgrounds. Well, not complaining with the views haha. If people like it then that's all that counts.

[Kitu]

I actually don’t really like the melody all that much this time. It sounds like it can’t decide what atmosphere it wants to go for and the chord progression reflects that. I mean it can’t decide whether it wants to be cheerful or saddening, and tries to do both. Also the title sounds like an anime character and, no offense to any of you anime fans out there, but I hate all anime with one major exception that I actually kind of enjoy, but it’s pretty old and I only like it with my siblings. Ok enough ranting, I feel like Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye (that’s an American joke)! Ok song but could use improvement.

Edit: holy shit I’m glad I’ve improved at reviews since this. Wow.

Tangerine responds:

Yeah, I don't really like this song either. I don't think I uploaded this one to spotify. I let my standards drop a little with this one. Anime is alright but I have my limits with it. "Ok song but could use improvement." I'd rather burn this in the past and move on.

[The Good Withering Away]

Kind of a weird title to describe a stub of a toe but it sounds super dramatic so I’m down. I didn’t even notice the subtle guitar at 1:04 but I am absolutely loving it, represents progression in the pain, or in other words, more of the good withering away leaving only the bad behind. There’s a famous song that goes “only the good die young” and they’re completely right in saying that it seems. That’s what I think of when I hear this song. Depressing yet realistic, uplifting yet full of despair. A near masterpiece in my opinion. Especially since the outro actually works quite well.

Tangerine responds:

"Masterpiece" is a powerful word. Yeah.. my toe really hurt. I think this song sums up my pain and how I regretted existence at that moment, haha.

[The sun has toes]

Ahh this would have sounded way cooler with an accordion, missed opportunity sadly. In case you haven’t noticed I basically use the supersaw synthesizers in every single song I make because A. I think I’m decent at using them and B. They always fit exactly what I want them to fill. I’m sure you could use accordions more than once BUT, even with piano, this still sounds pretty good. For once I actually like the outro, and how quickly it ends. Yeah it’s swing, if only there was a way to almost boost the lower end of the drums to emphasize that somehow or make the violin fit this interesting genre of electro house more (yeah I know it for electro house don’t shoot me).

Edit: what the fuck is this review 😂

Tangerine responds:

Don't mind my grammar mistakes on the falire reply. I really wanted to use the accordion too but the sound font didn't go well with it and I didn't know how to change the sound font for one specific instrument. I was really into swing at the time but I didn't want to make another one because I was afraid they'd sound too similar. I think it's been enough time and i'll be able to make a new one using fun instruments like harmonicas and accordions.

[Falire]

Really good. I like the sequel more but this is still nice. I agree with Tin cap in that the melody is super chill and fun to listen to. This may still be your best melody, although I feel sad saying that because this is also your first song. If you look at MY first song it’s hot garbage because I made it WAY before I posted it, and it was part of a series that was spawned because I didn’t have a direction with what to do with my music at that time. I like ranting today it seems; my favorite part of the song is 2:14 to 3:04, it’s just fun to listen to. The outro doesn’t feel like an outro but it’s your first song so it’s fine. Way better than my first song, good job!

Tangerine responds:

Hahahahahaha you think this is my first song?? If only you could see my composition folder on my computer. This is just the first that I put out to the public. First one I felt proud of. Blood sweat and lots of tears came before this piece. And don't feel sad about saying this songs melody is the best so far. I think so too. I came across this melody by complete accident while I was messing around with a timpani. No music thought went into this melody. So I sort of consider it as a one shot wonder in my songs. I'll hopefully create something with a melody who outshines this later in life. I've still got a lifetime to create something better so at the moment i'm just messing with harmonies. Yeah forgive all the bad structuring this was still an early song in my development.

[Pants]

Apparently I never reviewed this for some reason. I wholeheartedly disagree with karasa; not every song in the world would sound better with vocals, I hate it when people think music is just pop songs. Given that this is one of your older songs I can forgive the somewhat basic chord progression and instruments, but unfortunately the melody lacks progression. I’m going to go on a rant about the nature of the four chords and how they discourage resolution.

Ok so the nature of these chords, the diminished sixth, major fourth, base major chord, and major fifth (vi IV I V), is they they’re meant and designed to repeat indefinitely. Since they’re only 4 chords long, it’s easy to just loop them over and over in modern pop music and call it a day. An effect of this is widespread appeal amongst the masses at the sacrifice of musical expression and variety, as well as any feeling of tension and release, a feeling I consider essential to making good music. That’s not to say every song made with four repeating chords is bad, but it does appear to diminish the quality at least a little bit if used improperly. Anyways, since the chords aren’t designed to end at a resolution, any attempt at one sounds off-putting to me, and this goes for the outro as well. This is my longest review ever I think but I just had to explain why I felt so negatively about the four chords, having taken music theory classes and having it have sapped my (already minimal) liking for pop songs right out of me after I found out they sound the same and all serve the same, twisted purpose: to make as much money as possible while putting in the least effort possible (rap music).

Tangerine responds:

I agree with a lot of what you say here. This was actually one of my very first songs I made (So please have mercy there). I hardly knew what chord progressions were and why they were so important (Keep in mind I made this well before I started uploading to Newgrounds). I can safely say that I have become a lot more aware of chord progressions and their importance in music. I do still sometimes use only four chords in a song when I deliberately want them to have a repetitive feel.

I agree with what you are talking about with pop. I have never really liked pop music for more reasons than just their chord progressions. I've never been a ginormous fan of pop singers because none of them actually spark to me as a great songwriter and I feel like they rely more on their status and looks to grab an audience (I'm not saying all of them are bad. I just haven't found any that I think are amazing). Don't get me wrong, I can still appreciate some pop music. I cannot stand boy bands and those types of groups. UIGL:TUIG:TLULYFUIYGL They all just sound the same to me with the same four chords playing over and over and over and over for six minutes straight while they dance with some girls. I highly dislike that type of music.

A thing I try and do with my music is to make sure none of them sound the same as to avoid them all becoming a blur. I can safely say I can explain how they were created, why their names were what they were and what inspired me whilst I created the piece. A long review deserves a long reply haha.

[Riding a Rainbow]

I’m not sure what to rate this one; it is a big deviation from what you did previously, and I love that you continue to experiment with new styles. I didn’t know Sibelius has a synth section, and since it does there is a lot more you can do in terms of EQ, now that the instruments go beyond classical. This hybrid you’ve come up with is absolutely genius in a way and I hope you continue with it, it shows a lot of potential. Musically, though, it’s not your best. The return to metal with the guitar in the middle was a little underwhelming sadly (given your previous metal sections) and the melody can get a little repetitive. It’s funny because I don’t really like heavy metal at all but the way you can do it and mesh it with other styles, that’s when I like it lol. Also, by “disc” I assume you meant icons. Overall I hope this is a new direction you take with your music, as I move on with mine with the somewhat new melodic layering technique I started in Arizona (but it’s tricky because I don’t want to do that every song, lest it get stale).

Tangerine responds:

Honestly, synth isn't even scratching the surface of what Sibelius is capable of. There is this giant list of simply African percussion instruments and literally anything you could possibly imagine. Yeah, I know this song is very repetitive, i'm still trying to grasp the video game music genre. I'm glad you like my take on heavy metal. I wasn't specifically intending for it to be heavy metal but now that you mention it I realise it resembles a bit of it. "way you can do it and mesh it with other styles" This truly shows that I have absolutely no idea what i'm doing hahaha. I'm not a giant fan of heavy metal either, so when I do it I try to add a little of what i'm familiar with. I will experiment further with this genre in the future but I feel that there is still more I want to try before I start actively improving on a certain genre.