Reviews

James Edwards “Christmas Bells” – free melodic acoustic guitar album

As I was listening to this free and legal seasonal album by guitarist James Edwards, my wife shouted from the other room, “Is That Julian Bream?” I doubt if I can come up with a higher compliment. While Edwards may not be Bream, he is still an accomplished guitarist. Christmas Bells offers 10 classical guitar renditions of classic Christmas songs. Beautifully played and easy on the ears, this is a highly recommended download for your seasonal music collection.

Revolution Void “Increase the Dosage” – free energetic nu-jazz and trip-hop album

Proving that music never truly died in the region, after its heyday in the early 1990s, Seattle native Jonah Dempcy’s project Revolution Void reached a funkified zenith after 8 years in existence with its 2004 release Increase The Dosage. The energetic nu-jazz and trip-hop blending in the album actually harkens back to jazz fusion groups of the 70s and 80s, like Weather Report or Chick Corea’s Return to Forever.

RoseGarden – a free midi sequencer for Linux

Remember drawing those squiggly lines and circles on 5 lines when you were in music class? You draw them then read them afterward and realize that you do not understand anything you have drawn because they were in weird places between and after the lines. Do not be scared of making the same mistake now. Rose Garden is ready to help you create the best music sheets and midi sequences possible, allowing you unleash the professional musician inside you.

Ben’s Imaginary Band “Trust” EP – songs that tickle your imagination

When everything else around you feels like a dream, you end up slipping into your own imaginary realm. And with the help of Ben's Imaginary Band, it isn't hard to achieve. Trust EP is a surreal-sounding album, with hints of melodies which seem to transport you into your own world. The band's name may be a bit contrasting with the album's name (Trust + Imaginary seems to cancel each other out), but once you hear it, you'll definitely appreciate it.

J.E.L.L.i “A Jolly J.E.L.L.i Christmas” – holiday music with a twist

It's Christmas once again, and you are now probably hearing Christmas carols everywhere - TV advertisements, in the malls, and even in the streets, perhaps. Tired of the usual and traditional Christmas carols? Try J.E.L.L.i.'s version of the carols that we all know - and you would surely have a smile stuck on your face. With six cuts packed in his Christmas album, A Jolly J.E.L.L.i. Christmas puts a whole new twist to the tunes we've grown up with and learned to love.

Florensia – Free MMORPG to play in land and sea

Have you ever heard of a massively multiplayer online game that lets you travel land and sea? In most games, you are stuck in a landmass and whatever water body that the environment suggests will be nothing but decorations. However, Florensia Online allows you to create your own adventures on the shore and in the water! You have to hone your naval skills as well as your land skills to progress in this game.

Bézèd’h “Les Illuminés” – celtic, rock, violins, guitars and drums fused into one

Unique and appealing music; that is what we simply want to find as we dive into an ocean of music collection found in the internet - and Bézèd'h does just hat with their album Les Illuminés. With 13 tracks of various genre fusions such as rock, celtic, drums and violins all rolled into one, this album is surely one of those which can leave your head bobbing. Oh and did we say that they also got interesting male vocals with classical strings?

Clonezilla – backup and duplicate your hard drive the open-source way

Perhaps one of the most important things that technology has taught us is to save our precious files and make backups. Sure, technology makes it easy for us to store our files. Gone are the days when we need to put all pictures in physical albums - they are all done digitally nowadays. But a simple worm, trojan, virus or some hardware failure can steal those memories away. Don't fret - CloneZilla can save you from such nightmares.

Maya Filipic: Lonely Night

Christmas means carols - admit it. But if you are getting tired of all those Christmas carols being played over and over again, in traditional full-band arrangements or perhaps pop, then here is a different take on our favorite carols. Lonely Night by Maya Filipic features piano instrumentals of your favorite Christmas carols. Now isn't that the perfect companion for those warm nights right by the fireplace, sipping hot cocoa, while you both get into the Christmas spirit?