Quarl AIM 2022 Review
Composition/Structure (0-10), Production (0-10), Emotion (0-10), Relevance to Artwork (0-10)
Yoshiii343, should i...?: 8,8,8,8 (32/40)

I've been looking forward to judging your tracks Yosh, they really manage to stand out via style and genre. Admittedly, I have a small bias for droning Indy. The genre might be a little vague to the other judges but having grown up during that period when "Indy rock" was most prolific this sound and style manages to take me back in time. A little Explosions In The Sky and a little Sunny Day Real Estate. I really wish there was some kind of drum line such as a 16th note snare rhythm that crescendos and decrescendos but I'm not certain a driving drum line would benefit the relevance to the art. You managed to make a very contemplative work that lacks a little structure. Interestingly, the art also seems to lack certain structure and depth. I'm very pleased that you took a challenging piece of art and gave it a piece of music that also makes me think.

The only color in the art is a red figure, I think your music could have used a "red figure" of sorts to stand out from the relatively colorless zone of contemplation. Maybe you could have included some orchestral percussion swells to help give your song some colorful climaxes? Some gentle brushed cymbal hits, swells, and orchestral bass drums would have bled nicely into the music to help transition your guitar patterns. That's just a suggestion, you have a very strong piece of work here and it reminds me about why I love hearing from you every now and again. I doubt anyone else in this contest will sound like you.

There was room in the mix for that missing element, that "red figure." I've suggested using samples to some of the other contestants, samples that can help tie the listener to the scene. There is water flowing under a bridge, possibly car traffic moving by, a sidewalk that could host the pitter patter of foot steps. You wrote a very romantic piece of work but you could make it a little more memorable by including atmospheric sounds and ideas. It hurts a little to notice this kind of stuff in other people's work because it took me such a long time to learn it myself. Without solid ties to the scenery of the art work, we're left to judge entirely via how we interpreted the connection. Take away some of that ambiguity with scenic samples or recordings. Good luck swaying the other judges, I really do like this one.

(An afterthought I came to at the time I posted this review, I wish I gave you one extra point for relevancy. I feel like the red figure listening to this again, contemplating my choices and actions. This song is so lovely.)

Hmm... I am a bit torn. It's repetitive, sure, but at the same time...I think that's the point. Based on the poem and your art inspiration, it fits the theme. Tiring, repeated thoughts, over and over, of depression, of anxiety, of feeling not good enough, of feeling alone. We all have those thoughts. And they all revolve around the edges of our emotions, on and on, ad-infinium--and that's the point. Like the man sitting under the bridge, we're just transfixed on those negative feelings. And sometimes positive ones--and this Indie Rock track sums all of that up in very few chords and very few plucks.

Sometimes we don't need "deep, wide-range music" to achieve what we're trying to say. And I really like that about this track. Especially the undertone harmony that starts playing @ 2:50. It's very beautiful, almost romantic in a sense. And in so many ways, a timeless expression we all know and are familiar with...

Good luck in AIM 2022! I look forward to hearing more of what you produce. :3

I gotta say, this feels a bit too repetitive. HOWEVER, I understand the meaning behind that and the way you turned repetition into a plotline. I still feel like it kind of brings down the song a bit, but it's definitely well done. It feels calming, yet at the same time uncertain, keeping you on edge on how to feel.

Overall really good job.

Incredible. This means so much to me, you have no clue.

It actually matches this artwork I accidentally clicked on even more 😮
https://www.newgrounds.com/art/view/moertel/it-s-a-long-long-haul

It blew my mind when I thought they were paired escpecially after reading the dialogue in the description lol.
But your choice was still pretty neat as well :)