S3Xmodit 2 R4 FoD Comments

9/10
1. cryogenesis - oohhh yeah this does it for me. This is too damn pretty, and this is probably the one for me that most rewards repeated listens. Every time I revisited this, I found more to like: the trills in the background, the way all of the samples are used very cleverly (especially getting that poppiness out of the square sample). I think what sells it the most for me is that sense of atmosphere though. When those opening background "yeahs" I already feel a little chillier. I'll admit I'm a sucker for a good winter track and this one delivers it. Awesome job, and I'd love to see this make it through.
2. the track - deciding between #2 and #1 was tricky; I love both tracks though - this one feels like I've just won some kind of karting tourney and I'm now driving my victory lap (which I guess is an easy association seeing as this does remind me very much of something out of mario kart or something). I love the bit when the strings come in in the opening; I didn't expect much from the pan flute intro, but then when those chords fade in, you know this track means business. The only slight letdown in terms of composition was the ending; it just feels a bit incomplete (but then I think the track I placed above this sometimes suffers from the same problem, albeit not as much). Anyway, great stuff.

8/10
3. foreign_grove - I liked author's (I'm assuming Jayster) track a lot more last week. I considered moving
this down the list a few times, but then pattern 8 happens and transforms the song from "good," to something more
special. I also love how the "OOH" samples have been manipulated to sound like birds here - I thought that was quite neat.
Anywho, great track, I hope to see you in the next round (and maybe go on to win, heee). I think the big modulation at pattern 8
hits harder than my #4, which is my sole reason for placing this slightly higher up... it's a tough week when it comes to minute details like that.
4. snowfall_at_twilight - I think this is author's (stinkbug's) best song of the compo. i like the mixed harmony, i like the tunes, i like the cutoff fades, and most of all, i love the use of the bell sample. One place where this track falls short is that I think it could use a little more "stepping outside of the comfort zone." I like the chord and texture change from pattern 4 to 5 a lot - some more of those woulda been great.
5. tales from space texas - yeaaahh. I really like this track, especially the "jazz" waltziness. My only real quarms are that the bass is a little muddy and drums are a bit weak. Otherwise, good stuff.

7/10
6. owner of my thoughts - again, so much to like about this track - a nice bit of cheesy "xyce-esque" euro-chip pop (if that's the
correct genre term :P ). The responding leads to the main melody are a very, very nice touch. My main downside with this is that it perhaps was a little too generic to warrant giving it a higher rating.
7. hey joe - I couldn't choose between #6 and #7 really. i loved the use of the "popipo" sample, especially the solo. The "UH"'s kinda overdid it for me a bit, and also I don't really like how it ends.

6/10
8. fabricated heart - [redacted..]

5/10
9. last stand - again, not bad. Sadly, squeezed out by the others. I like the guitar solo, and the way the samples are used, but like "i'm out," it just feels like it doesn't go anywhere.
10. i'm out - not bad.. compared to the others I think this one falls short though. I don't really feel like it went anywhere, which in this round, is costly.

11. absolutezero - yup, this is mine. Again, rushed, but I'm actually much more comfortable with this
entry than my last week's one, especially with regards to actual interesting sound design and whatnot.
I'd go so far as to say this is my best so far, but then, a lot of the other participants also turned
up with their best entry, so I'm still quite nervous about making it through.
That middle solo was also very rushed (i had this problem last time tho, haha), and I maybe should've
taken out a few of those very low pitched "yeahs" (although I do love the effect they produce).