Score: 10

"The Clock. The Myth. The Legend."

submission: B

date: April 25, 2008

With the single letter "B," StrawberryClock staked his bold and visionary claim on the portal. Though many before and after would attempt to pass off minimalist works as art, only StrawberryClock's absurdist genius successfully took root in the minds of Newgrounders.

This seminal work inspired a generation of Flash artists. Whether you believe this change was for good or for ill, a look at the trends since then shows the futility of denying that Strawberry Clock is the King of the Portal.

Score: 10

"A Rare Treat"

submission: Alien The Movie

date: April 10, 2008

With Alien The Movie, Marco Perugini examines the quirks of human civilization and the tendency of history to repeat itself. By viewing humanity through the eyes of an alien explorer, he elegantly demonstrates the absurdity inherent to the human condition. The movie is short and to the point, and so classic is its message that it needs no dialogue.

It is rare to see genuine social commentary rather than simple criticism of established pop culture icons, and this elevates Alien The Movie head and shoulders above other such entries.

Score: 7

"Like A Dating Profile Flash"

submission: MidoriEyes ID

date: April 7, 2008

While this shows a better range of subject matter and much greater thematic unity than most submissions, it also abruptly turns into a glorified personal ad. The overall effect is somewhat bizarre - is this humor? Is it social commentary on the responses a female artist tends to garner on the internet? Is it in earnest? Perhaps it's some combination of the above, but the viewer is left guessing.

Midori's artwork is well-suited to capturing emotion and movement. For some, the stylized "sketchpad" drawings may ultimately give an unfinished feel to the product.

Score: 10

"Positively Skilled"

submission: "Positive Vibe"

date: December 12, 2009

The song features multiple layers of sound, the precise use of crescendos, and a beat that manages to be menacing without completely taking over the song. 'Positive Vibe' is one of 2009's best trance offerings that people won't find in stores.

Score: 7

"SBB Climbs High, Can Go Higher"

submission: ==(Climbing a Snow Mountain)==

date: June 13, 2008

SBB's aptly-named 'Climbing a Snow Mountain' demonstrates both elegance and simplicity. Wind, ice, and the heavy tread of feet are all cleverly depicted, using synthesized steel drums, chimes, and bass. Its harmonious nature and lack of aggression makes it ideal wait music for more uptempo games. Layered percussion effects add a certain degree of complexity, though subtle crescendos among the different parts are missing, leaving an overall sense of direction absent.

Though imperfect, the track demonstrates a firm grasp of technical details and a certain sense of aesthetics. With 'Climbing a Snow Mountain,' SBB establishes himself as one to watch for future offerings as he hones his craft.

Score: 7

"Ultimately Nice"

submission: [TMM43] Ultimate Destruction

date: April 11, 2008

Despite a somewhat acoustically confused beginning, TMM43's 'Ultimate Destruction' turns out to demonstrate a fairly solid grasp of trance. Certain stylistic choices will surprise listeners accustomed to hearing more complex "wall of sound" techniques, as TMM43 opts to keep things minimal and focus on the primary voice alone - even to the point where the drum track is lacking for large portions of the song.

While this artistic choice is laudable, the unfortunate effect of minimalist composition combined with a typical slow-build technique and a very short track length is to leave the listener feeling that the song is incomplete. All in all, TMM43 shows promise, but this reviewer cannot help but feel that his style is more suited to eight-minute extended dance tracks than radio-length clips.