Reviews

K. Sparks’ Diagnosis: Success

After having a successful run with his Trilogy mixtapes, K. Sparks is back with his latest project Diagnosis: Success. This time around, Sparks tackles and narrates his experiences in trying to achieve his dream of success. Filled with 17 tracks and quite a handful of guest appearances by producers as well as fellow rappers , the compilation is a real treat for hip hop lovers all over. The songs are fresh and carry that signature melodic rhythm with spot-on lyrics that the artist has excelled in for so long. Of course, there's a touch of something new as well. A great album that's perfect for welcoming both old fans and new fans to the fold.

Portal: No Escape

Valve has been getting plenty of great fan film renditions in honor of their games lately. First there was Escape from City 17, a short fan film created by The Purchase Brothers based on Half Life 2. This time around, it's Valve's Portal video game that's getting the treatment. Portal: No Escape is a short film directed by Dan Trachtenberg. Although he's been working on the project for a year and half, it's only in August of this year that he was able to release it. The movie focuses on what is believed to be the character of Chell (Danielle Rayne) as she wakes up and discovers that she's a prisoner. With no memory, she eventually discovers the Portal gun and uses it to escape.

Bomb The Music Industry!: Vacation

Known not just for their upbeat indie rock offerings but also for their ethos, Bomb The Music Industry! is back with their latest record - Vacation. Abbreviated as BTMI!, the group has been together for some time. They've released several records and are known to be firm believers of distributing their own music. Following their DIY credo, the guys distribute their music for free and are known to perform only for a general audience while not charging more than $10 for the ticket price. With their mix of punk, pop and fun indie rock; Vacation is impressing both fans and new listeners alike. Take a listen.

HomeBank

When it comes to money, most of us have trouble budgeting and keeping track of our expenses. If you find yourself always on the short end when bills start piling up, then you might want to try out HomeBank. This personal accounting software is perfect for anybody who wants to have a better idea where all their expenses go every single month. Packed with tons of helpful features, the program can easily collate the info you have and help you map out where each cent is spent. Moreover, thanks to a user-friendly interface, even those that haven't tried out an accounting software before will find this a very helpful tool to have at their disposal.

Stub Horn: Pure Sappiness

An interesting alternative grunge rock band, Stub Horn releases their first foray into the music business with Pure Sappiness. Contrary to their album title, the group isn't exactly sappy about their music. They incorporate a blend of punk, alternative and a slight tinge of indie, to create their own music. Switching between loud rock to a mid-tempo sound, the group manages to showcase their love for a louder type of sound. Their album is offered as a free download on Jamendo and licensed under creative commons. Give it a try.

iBall3D

iBall3D is actually the latest remake of the old classic game, Labyrinth. Instead of the old graphics, you get an updated gameplay and the game in full 3D. Gameplay is similar though; you need to guide a ball from one point of the map to another. The game was created by Stone Trip, and it features great graphics as well as excellent gameplay that will get players hooked into playing it. The perfect combination of puzzle solving and agility will ultimately help you to win this game. Give it a try. iBall3D works on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It's also available as a free download right under the Mac App Store.

The Diamond Light: Krotona

In a scene dominated by the cheery and contrived, the gritty and bare-bones rarely stand a chance. Sure, The White Stripes and The Strokes made it, but their presence is hugely rendered anomalous by the prevailing forces. That's why it's a delight – and a respite – to stumble upon something as authentic as The Diamond Light. In 2009 this Los Angeles-based “soul-rock-blues” band, as the members categorize it, released Krotona, an eight-track EP that is a testament to how good and satisfying music gets when you keep it raw and real.

Aor Agni: Join The Circle

A little different from what we usually feature here in Frostclick, Join The Circle by Aor Agni is a full-on, electronic, ambient/chillout compilation that most music lovers will enjoy. Although there's not much online about the artist except that they're from France; the music speaks for itself. Join The Circle beautifully combines meditative beats and soothing, moody, sporadic lyrics; perfectly capturing a relaxing mood. Formed back in 2003, the group makes use of several samples on this record, including songs from Central Station and Freesound Project.

Forget-Me-Not

If you follow the latest iOS games quite faithfully, then you must have stumbled across Forget-Me-Not. This exciting game has been winning praises and scoring countless of minions ever since its initial release. Unfortunately, the game came with a price -$1.99 a pop at the iTunes App store - and was only offered for iOS devices, well, that is until recently. Yep, the game is now available for download for Windows and Mac users. Plus, it's all for free! With additional features incorporated, this retro arcade Pacman-type game is destined to become an even bigger hit thanks to these new formats.