I reviewed this song even though I like your song Exploring the Highlands better. Now, in this one there are long, slow notes and the composition seems less impressive than some of your other stuff. With the yin comes the yang and on the positive side this was an astonishing song. It had emotion, struggle and best of all a story. Hey, I love hip-hop but songs like this remind us of the true beauty of music and not just the slutty, drunk stuff! Good job!
Reviews for "As The Phoenix Rises"
Neon-Bard responds:
Thanks for the review, and also, thanks for taking the time to listen to some of my other work! I thought in terms of composition, this was one of my best pieces to date, but of course I suppose that's most likely because I felt much more emotionally attached to this song than I am to some of my others. Speaking of which, it's great to know that you felt the emotion, the struggle, and you recognized that there was a story involved. Thanks! :)
On a new level from your usual work sound wise, indeed. Good job!
Good use of percussion of the oriental style, I do love those sounds and they're always reminiscent of a meditative state (gotta love cliches). Well mixed over all too, of course.
Now you have reached a higher level I have to be more critical though. I have to admit the lack of variation (some have pointed it out already) is tiring after a while, it could really do with a break somewhere to take a breather, that would allow the next part to come on even stronger.
It's biology really, if stimulated non-stop by something we become numb to it... like how you can never actually smell the inside of your own nose because it's always there! (The classic example is how smokers can't tell that they smell of smoke)
Neon-Bard responds:
It's a great feeling to realize that I have reached a whole new musical level! Of course, as you have stated, that opens me up to more criticism...but criticism is always a good thing in my mind because it allows me to keep growing. Especially the constructive kind that I receive from you, for example, which I always appreciate!
I'm glad you liked the percussion. I used Taiko drums for a reason, and it looks like it was a good choice. As for the lack of variation, as I said to Stunkel, I was partly 'blinded' by my emotional attachment to the song. I admit that even I got a little tired of it after a while. However, I think it helps support the theme I was going for (in a way). Constant growth and persistence. Though on the other hand, it's good to know that I could work on using more variation because it will eventually improve the things I produce.
Many thanks for listening, and letting me know what I can work on for the future! :)
I don't normally rate things above a three, but what you've done here is deserving of more than that.
This has turned out the way you intended it to, and that's normally how I rate music: not on whether or not I enjoy it, but on how well the composer met their goal.
You've done a splendid job here!
Now, some thoughts (because you don't get off that easy!):
I feel like this would be better suited as a 2nd movement to an overall piece. Rising out from the ashes means being burnt down to nothing to begin with.
Having a movement to precede this one would make this part much more satisfying for both us (the listeners) and, I feel, for yourself. Remember, insofar the audience hasn't been there to accompany you through the hard times; with this, we have only ever been present for the recovery of the downfall and nothing else.
Neon-Bard responds:
I'm really glad that you think that. That's all I really care about with this piece to be quite honest, is that I met my own goal. Everything else is secondary.
"I feel like this would be better suited as a 2nd movement to an overall piece. Rising out from the ashes means being burnt down to nothing to begin with." I couldn't agree with this more, I would have loved to make something prior to this to show more personal growth, but unfortunately I just wasn't there, musically or emotionally.
Thanks a million for taking the time to listen and comment on the song, it's most definitely appreciated! :)
I love that you've put so much of yourself into this piece, it really gives it a special sort of feeling that you don't see every day (or hear). To me, this seems very much along the lines of a film score, with a lot of cinematic imagery floating around within it. I think the parts are very well written. One thing that I'd suggest is to really let yourself be free with the dynamic motion of these parts; it does wonderful things that nobody usually expects they are capable of. Push and pull, rise and fall, every part should be going somewhere. When I last performed with an orchestra, the conductor could easily pull aside any section for hours at a time to relay a single section to them. You could practically write a documentary on each of the instruments' parts, there was so much the composer would do.
I really hope to hear more stuff like this from you in the future! ;D
Neon-Bard responds:
You know, I'm beside myself after reading this review. It makes the song that much more meaningful. To know that somebody else appreciates it for what it is and what it means personally is fantastic. It's pretty cool that you mention that it has a 'film score' feeling to it!
This really struck a 'chord' with me (see what I did there?....yeah it's awful I know...):
"One thing that I'd suggest is to really let yourself be free with the dynamic motion of these parts; it does wonderful things that nobody usually expects they are capable of. Push and pull, rise and fall, every part should be going somewhere."
I'll definitely be keeping this in mind for everything else I make. Btw, it must be awesome to play with an orchestra...I don't play any classical instruments myself so I can only imagine what that must feel like.
I will be making more stuff like this for sure, it's great to know you'll be keeping an eye out for it. :D
Wow. This is awesome man. Glad you managed to pull off a song like this for Dreams of Splendor! From what I have heard, this very well might be your best song yet. Love those small build ups and the overall theme of the song. Very well mixed and very powerful. Again, those East west instruments are just awesome. The ending was just gorgeous, your instrumentation is just truly awesome. The only complaint I have is that it seems to build up a little too much in the song. It's always going up (I do the same exact thing, it's hard to resist) but a little bit more dynamics like dropping all of the instruments and then going back up into a build. Awesome work though dude. And best of luck in Dreams of Splendor!
Neon-Bard responds:
Thanks! I'm glad I was able to as well! :)
It's good to know that it was mixed appropriately and that is had power to it. That to me means that I was able to show, through music, what I was feeling. The ending was something I struggled with at first, so I'm glad you think it had some beauty to it.
As for the constant build-up...I would have to agree with you. I think my emotions overtook the basics of song structuring, and I ended up wanting things to get bigger and more astonishing to show my revelation. Unfortunately, it became the backbone of the song in terms of theme and so forth, which isn't necessarily a bad thing...but I could have added more variation by dropping certain volumes or removing instruments accordingly.
Again, thanks for listening and for the review. It means a lot! :)