Score: 10

"A bit perplexing... but very enjoyable :)"

submission: 3010 A.D.

date: September 24, 2009

I have listened to this probably a dozen times or more in an attempt to figure it out and still I'm not quite sure what to make of this. It just seems so random; there's so many elements all playing at the same time that don't seem like they should work but somehow do.

I was expecting something a bit darker and not so light, and for my own listening preference that's what I would have liked. However once I get past that and started listening to this for what it is I find myself really enjoying it. Though I do enjoy the second half more that the first as it does sound a bit darker.

I'm trying to find something that's out of place or that just didn't sound good and I'm not coming up with anything. The story description TSA gave really helped me to understand why it sounds the way it does, otherwise I might still be lost in a sea enigmatic sound combinations :P And this really does tell a story quite well.

This isn't my favorite song of all time but it is just really great. I was unsure at first if I liked it but given some time now I can honestly say that I wouldn't change a thing.

Just a great piece, I hope you guys do more collaborations in the future!

Score: 10

"...Awesome..."

submission: Stories of the Silk Road

date: September 23, 2009

I actually really like this, and what I like about most of your music is that it's experimental sounding, or otherwise unconventional. This is certainly true of this piece as well. Sure it has a bit of a classic Arabic sound to it similar to what you'd hear with a movie theme but I really like that, among many other things. In fact I was thinking that parts of this would have worked with the movie 13th Warrior...

Anyway, you asked for harsh reviews so I'm trying to be extra picky here...

The choir sounded a little too synthetic in this, at least compared to the other components used. Everything else through most of the song sounded so clean that it could have been recorded by an orchestra, so the contrast was notable but at the same time very easy to forget about.

Though overall I really like the use of the choir I couldn't help but wonder if parts of it wouldn't have sounded better in a deeper tone, maybe sounding a little more male... I have no idea, it's just something I was thinking about while listening.

But really that's as close as I can come to being critical of this. It was epic, mysterious and to tell the truth I have heard songs with lyrics that tell less of a story than this does!

Score: 10

"Much better :)"

submission: The Hero Returns_Final

date: September 20, 2009

First off, I'm really glad you found my previous review so useful. It's nice to know that I was able to help (and that my reviews actually get read :P).

The choir volume was perfect, as was the speed and intensity by which you brought it on.

The first time I listened to this the stops in the song still sounded a little abrupt but the way you started the music up again was perfect. In fact, after listening to this a couple times I barely notice the stops at all, they just start to fit in.

I didn't mention it before but for the first one I didn't think the title really fit the song. With the improvements though, the title fits perfectly.

Before I gave you a 7 for the concept, because I liked where you were going with the song. The 10 for this one is two fold, because I really like it and because of the great improvement from the first.

Overall awesome work! :)

Score: 8

"Sounds like dramatic, intense backround music."

submission: The Lingering

date: September 20, 2009

As a stand alone piece I don't think this really holds up as well as most of your others. I can see this being used in a part of a game leading up to the final boss, or a tension building part of a movie. Most of it at least, 1:05 - 1:20 kind of breaks away from the main theme of the song and gives it a different feel for a few moments. I really like that part, maybe you could have done more with it to really make this stand out...

Regardless, I did enjoy it. The sound quality is great, and for what it was the song was very good :)

Score: 7

"Nice, but it could be better."

submission: The Hero Returns

date: September 15, 2009

I love the piano so that was a plus for me, also the combination of piano and strings is one of my favorites, so that's another plus.

I think you were smart to use choir in your song but I thought you brought it on too abruptly and overall it was too prominent a component. I was enjoying a nice melody when all of the sudden the choir (that sounded louder that the other components) chimes in. I was actually a little startled at first :P

So you could have made the choir a little more subtle in my opinion. Maybe bring it on a little more gradually and make it quieter through the whole song so it doesn't overshadow the other instruments quite as much.

There were a couple of abrupt stops and starts where I thought there should be something.

Also, right before continuing the main melody after a couple of those abrupt stops you quickly played two notes with the piano. If you know what I'm talking about, they were too quick and didn't quite flow into the next piece. I'd stretch them out a little and try to blend them in with the rest of the song a little better so they're not just sitting out there.

Overall it was a nice piece but it does need some work :) Keep it up!

Score: 10

"Very much enjoyed."

submission: Skyfall Theme no. 2

date: September 10, 2009

I liked the beginning, I thought something was wrong with my headphones at first :P I got used to it quick though :)

The ending was abstract, which I can really appreciate.

Much of the first half reminded be of a video game theme, slightly epic with a touch of playfulness. I wasn't sure if Iiked it at first but it didn't take long before I was able to appreciate it. Still the first half just didn't speak to me like the second half did.

The second half was my favorite part, it started to get a little dramatic and more complex. The piano made it. I closed my eyes and could imagine myself flying. To sum it up in a word; blissful.

Overall a great piece but I did have kind of a hard time deciding how to rate this. If I were rating it from a comparative point of view I probably would have given it a 9 as I like some of your other pieces slightly better. But as a stand alone piece I can't really see rating it any lower than a 10... Maybe a 9.5 if that was an option, only because the first and second halves of the song took me in different (albeit similar) directions.

The only problem I have is that it's titled as a continuation of Skyfall and not as a stand alone piece. I hear how they are similar but I just don't see this as a continuation of Skyfall, so I think I would have liked a more unique title, or at least something similar but different. That's just me though :P

Regardless, I enjoyed this song very much.

P.S. Thanks for the PM :)

Score: 10

"Mood neutral, in a good way."

submission: Angel (TSA)

date: September 8, 2009

I keep on expecting to get bored of this after listening to it several times a day since you first submitted it but I don't. In fact every other time I play it I hear some subtle nuance that I hadn't noticed before.

To me it's quite mood neutral in that I don't feel any extremes of emotion while listening. This is one of those pieces that I can just mellow out to for extended periods of time, or use as background music for a game or some other random activity (which is my favorite kind of music). In one sitting I have listened to this about ten times in a row without stopping :P

I love how the song builds up for the beginning but not so quick that is sounds like it could have been two pieces of music meshed together, the whole thing just flows so nicely from beginning to end. I also like the ending, how it just kind of fades to a stop.

After hearing this the first time I started to listen to your other submissions, as of the time of this review I have listened to about half and so far this is my favorite. Just thought you should know :)

I would love to be able to give you some constructive advice on how to improve for the next one but all I can really say is to keep doing whatever you did to make this one!

Score: 9

"Beautiful"

submission: Monte Vesuvio

date: August 3, 2009

The only thing I'm not sure I liked was that high pitched instrument you brought in toward the end, I just don't think it was necessary. Not that it ruined the piece or anything, it just didn't seem to fit.

Now the good: I thoroughly enjoyed it, I could just lay back, close my eyes and forget the world for a few minutes with this. Truly a beautiful piece of music.