3manonMusic's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[Distorted Sands {NGMC 2025}]

I like both parts individually but damn that transition at 1:19 is just sinful lmao

[Shoreline (ft. Solacitude)]

Ngl the intro really reminds me of celeste's strawberry jam OST, really cool atmosphere there. I like the watery sound design, it's like I'm drinking water with my brain by listening to that. Drop is pretty nice and solid. Right on with the theme. Solacitude's solos always go so hard too. Very clean and atmospheric last drop. A bit too long between the first and second drop tho I think

[Vanuatu [NGMC 2025]]

yet again right on with the waterflame energy, I love it!

[Caliente Island]

this goes so hard lmao what
the production of the beat is not really the best and the fact that it ends really abruptly is a bit sad but damn this is really cool

CasualBreather responds:

Thanks a lot for this good feedback! Yeah we have regrets about the ending as well now, an artistic choice initally, but with hindsight it's "abrupt" for sure.

[Frosty Glide Ride]

Absolute spot-on with the theme, this is so so much like mario kart icey music, sick with that. I would have liked to see some more high-energy in it though! I really like the composition overall, but some more progression would have done wonders since there is somewhat an issue of repetition. I like the little 7th while the track is already fading out, it's like a little wink.
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Production/composition: 7.5/10
Mix/master: 8/10
Relevance to the theme: 10/10

Albe responds:

I personally consider, while being an impressive display of one's compositional skills, too much variation in a composition would have made the song difficult to remember, so a little repetition is fine as long as you don't abuse it. Thanks for the comment!!

[Windswept In The Chilly Nostalgia]

This is quite a cute song! This track is unique in the way that it leans more in the arctic side of the theme, rather than the racing side (unlike most other submissions who do it the other way around). This also sounds perfect for VGM, which is also nice. It does get a bit repetitive over time though.
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Composition/production: 7/10
Mix/master: 8/10
Relevance to the theme: 7.5/10

ZuwerWS responds:

I'm curious why you think it's repetetive, is it the drums? The bass? Because I went for a structure that at least to me tries to be as fresh and not loopy as I could in the short amount of time I had. Of course it could just be opinions but eitherway I'm curious

[Polar Drift (w/ X3ll3n) [NGMC 2025]]

I don't have a lot to say for this one, because it kinda speaks for itself? It's just a fun tune to listen to, there's a lot to like and the mix is done really proper. I think it might just be a little too safe, but that's just my preference. There's also a grid error where the solo at 2:14 kind of errors on it's timing. That's just a nitpick tho. It's pretty good at the atmosphere and theme it's conveying, so good job on that department.
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Production/composition: 8.5/10
Mix/master: 9/10
Theme relevance: 7.5/10

Snikio responds:

It's not my favorite thing to be criticized for something that doesn't sound good and then defend it by saying it was intended, but... It was a carefully intended beat 🥲
for me It doesn't sound like an error when I listen to it again now, but I'll keep it in mind for future completions!
Thank you so much for the heartfelt review👍👍👍 that's what I needed most

[DJ Jini VS. DJ Immy - ~Crystal Frostroad~ {NGMC 2025}]

I was so scared when I saw that audiofile but it's not even that bad LOL. It's pretty well done thematically, as I can definitely hear this is for a racetrack. It's pretty lackluster in making it arctic themed, although the high piano in the latter half helps with that! Would be a good point to focus more on the theme for future rounds. It also gets really repetitive overtime, I think there could definitely be at least a minute shaved off of it to keep it interesting, but that is by your own preference of course. The fact that most of the drops are pretty similar don't help with that either. It's a pretty nice listen anyways! Would definitely like this when I hear this during racing in a game.

Production/composition: 7/10
Mix/master: 7.5/10
Relevance to the theme: 6/10

[-Frostbite-]

I will have to agree with aforesaid commentary, the general instrument quality is pretty low. That being said, I feel like the track goes along pretty incoherent. The parts on their own sound pretty good, but there's some grid errors and mistimed parts that lead to some pretty awkard stuff like 2:41, until it kinda sounds, quote on quote, like "a mess of chiptune, breakbeat, and orchestral".

Sorry if I started out on a bit of a negative side, lemme get to the positives! I think the atmosphere of racing VGM is definitely there, as it sounds like an old retro arcade racing game! And I can't really blame you for the low instrument quality of course, because having high quality orchestral stuff can get really expensive really quickly.

Production/composition: 6/10
Mix/master: 8/10
Relevance to the theme: 6.5/10

Creeperforce24 responds:

Well… if that’s the case I’ve been set in place, if the instrument quality is THAT low, then I’m thinking I should just quit the competition, cause it’s apparent no one wants to hear my shitty violin samples.

[Chocnoon x Carboluka - LAS AVENTURAS FLIPANTES DE JOAQUIN ALEJANDRO EL DRAGON AZUL (DCLXIX)]

As far as the theme goes, I don't really hear arctic in here I'm afraid. For racing? Sure I can definitely interpret that (especially with the literal racing samples in there lol)
I really like the drop starting at 1:29, reminds me so much of Ultimate Destruction haha.
For the rest I don't have a lot to say, it's a pretty solid, but safe song. I really like the break at 3:00, that's a little bit more arctic there. There's some notes in the bass there that are out of key tho, which is definitely unexpected from the average quality of you guys.
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Composition/production: 7/10
Mix/master: 7.5/10
Relevance to the theme: 6/10