Phronemophobia's audio Reviews on Newgrounds

[High Tide Ride (2020)]

This is some proper Bertn delight right here. Alongside Lovebug Legacy and Honeybee Flats, High Tide Race offers every bit of sound I've come to expect from a representative piece of your music, Plok. To suggest any change would be to tell you to become someone else entirely, and there's more than enough non-Bertns out in the world as it is.

Thank you, Brent, for continuing to dole out high-quality originality. It's a crime that more creators don't utilize it for their own content.

Bertn1991 responds:

This is a very touching review. Maximum thank you for your support. More Bortn19 coming soon :-)

[Bombo's Academy (2020)]

Everyone I linked this to has responded with it being comparable to Banjo-Kazooie. I want to assume you'll take that as a compliment, though I also want to assume Kirkhope would do the same when being compared to your music.

I, of course, enjoyed this immensely. I, uh, love you, too, Bertn.

Bertn1991 responds:

Maximum thank you. A comparison to Grant Kirkhope is high praise in my book. That N64 sound is exactly what I was going for ^.^

[Munch's Theme (2019)]

Reminds me of Skeletons In My Closet from The 7th Guest, which is the only thing about that game I enjoyed more than the terrible live-action cutscenes. It's also got a bit of Western sound to it, which I find interesting. You're doing a pretty good job of fleshing out Munch through song alone, though the description is still appreciated.

[Busy Beaver (2019)]

"You horrible fowl! How dare you waddle your way into my dam and start quacking during my wooderful song!"

Man, I love it when you deliver a quirky, upbeat track. It's my favorite kind of music, but you probably know that, Bertn. You definitely know that, Bertn. You obviously know you're Bertn.

Bertn1991 responds:

Ducks shall inherit the Earth, busy beavers be dammed. I am the one and only Bubm1994 and quirky is my middle name ^w^

[Across the Zodiac (2019)]

I went through that album shortly after it was up on YouTube. It's a beautiful gift for the holiday season, Bertn. You didn't have to trouble yourself like that (nor should you have!), but I guess you're too kind for your own good.

I hope you have a more wondrous holiday planned tomorrow than I do with my lonely frozen pizza dinner and IBC Root Beer. I did receive the adorable Duck Hunt Duo amiibo from a friend at work, so maybe I'll toy around with that on Smash.

Bertn1991 responds:

You are a shining gem. Thanks so much for making the day a little brighter. Happy someone enjoyed the album ^.^

Also, frozen pizza is pretty good, but it's even better cooked! Hot pizza, cold IBC, happy Bertn. Also also, I'm sucker for Amiibos so that actually sounds like a wonderful gift.

[Passage (Bonus Track)]

Finally took the opportunity to watch Timelapse of the Future. I'm sure some find it peaceful, but an absolute end without any hope for change of any kind scares me. On it's own, the music sounds like whales. Calming. With regard to the video, it's haunting. Sad. Either way, this piece is beautiful and (seemingly) flawless.

[Hawking's Waltz]

This is amazing! I can't believe another celebrity has decided to join the Audio Portal, and he brings with him the sounds of life itself. As much as I love your remixes, especially the PBS ones, there's no denying the natural beauty of your original content. This song alone brings to mind such wonderfully peaceful thoughts when I close my eyes. Honestly, it's what I've needed recently. The holidays are a stressful time for my job. Thank you very much.

Welcome to Newgrounds, Mr. Boswell. I do hope you stay and continue to share your thoughts, and music with our little community.

[Undercover Hobo]

Initially, I imagined a playable Wario lurking around the red-light district of Crypt of the Necrodancer, but now it's Mitsuda's "Remains of the Factory" with Crono looking like Afro Samurai. Either way, I've clearly not had enough sleep today.

HoboKa responds:

How do you come up with these comparisons, sleep or no? I just can't draw on stuff like that normally. HA. Thanks for great comments as usual man.

[Funkertron2000 [Remix] - ToeJam & Earl]

My only two bits of nitpicking are the sprinkling of TJ&E voice clips throughout and that this piece doesn't differentiate itself enough from other remixes of the same song outside of the use of those clips. "Big, Big, Big Earl" goes along with the music... becomes part of it. I'm all for that sort of thing. Then, there's the random "Rap!" and "Jammin!" that comes across as minor irritations/ They're just there for the sake of it, and I rather they were not. It's still a TJ&E remix though. The internet can always use more of those. This one just doesn't stand out much among them.

HoboKa responds:

Well, a lukewarm reception beats a frigid one. Thanks mate. I suspect I'll be getting the same comments in my compo, though I submitted it as a BONUS, not an eligible entry to vote on.
Still, I had fun making this.

Also, if you REALLY want my worst work, check out my sonic 2 remix. It'll kill you >:3

[SHMUP Stage Uno]

Man, I haven't heard a first stage shoot'em up sound this good since Cat Girl Without Salad: Amuse~Bouche, though the tone is far different from the fun and quirky setting created by Virt's Radical Galaxy. This feels more like Streets of Rage... in Space!

HoboKa responds:

Nice, you always have the best comments man.