Music : Levellers 'Letters From The Underground'

Album Info :
Artist: Natty
Album : Man Like I
Released: 04 August 2008

Album Review :

by.Luke Slater
The perennial issue of mixing politics and music rears its sometimes problematic head once again with Levellers' first full length in four years, Letters From The Underground.

Mixing pop and politics is nearly always a tough one to judge because there's not much worse than Bob Geldof or Bono getting on their knackered and thoroughly downtrodden high horses. Lee Ryan of Blue certainly runs them close though, after he proclaimed "Who gives a fuck about New York when elephants are being killed?" after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Ahem.

Thankfully, Levellers are far enough detached from either of the above cases that the thorny issue doesn't matter; it just wouldn't be the Levellers without the content being politically and socially charged, would it?

That said, the main problem with political albums such as Letters From The Underground is not that it's a struggle to believe the veracity of the sentiments expressed, but that those same sentiments have a tendency to be just too bog-standard, and song entitlement such as Burn America, Burn, and Accidental Anarchist do very little to refute this. When an album so overtly political as this is made, bands open themselves up to appearing to be no better than every sixth-form socialist with a guitar in the country.

Musically, Letters From The Underground is an album which rarely differentiates from the opening blows of Cholera Well, a frantic fiddle fiesta in which Mark Chadwick vents his anger on the recent problems in Darfur. Perhaps not that, bog-standard then. There's enough substance within to satisfy, perhaps only superficially, but this is an album lacking so much in variety it often just sounds like the same song at several speeds; fast, super fast, and meandering.

Letters From The Underground is also done no favours by being seemingly produced to death, infinitely tweaked and mixed; so polished it's blinding. Letters From The Underground would be a far more encapsulating and rewarding listen had it been even a smidgen rougher round the edges. By no means does it need to be recorded on a four-track tape recorder in some battered garden shed with barely audible vocals.

But when the accompaniment to Chadwick's calming vocals is indistinguishably low, as on Heart Of The Country, it's easy to find yourself willing for something other than a violin to jump out of the mix and take prominence; but it seems that is just overly wishful thinking. There's even supposed to be a bass guitar, somewhere, but there may as well not be, so inaudible it is. It's just all a bit, well, radio friendly and musically inoffensive.

That is not to say that Letters From The Underground is a complete write off, there's a lot in there that isn't politically loaded and issues that the everyman, or indeed woman, can relate to; Death Loves Youth, where a melancholic Chadwick proclaims 'the good die young and death loves youth, and Before The End an good old fashioned love song. The memorable melodies expressed by Chadwick, drive Eyes Wide and Accidental Anarchist passionately along, and album closer Fight Or Flight is undoubtedly a gem in the rough of an otherwise largely underwhelming effort.

Taken From : http://www.musicomh.com



Levellers - Letters From The Underground Track List :
o 01 - Levellers - The Cholera Well.mp3 (3.92 megabyte)
o 02 - Levellers - Death Loves Youth.mp3 (6.23 megabyte)
o 03 - Levellers - Eyes Wide.mp3 (4.77 megabyte)
o 04 - Levellers - Before The End.mp3 (5.42 megabyte)
o 05 - Levellers - Burn America Burn.mp3 (4.07 megabyte)
o 06 - Levellers - Heart Of The Country.mp3 (4.73 megabyte)
o 07 - Levellers - Behold A Pale Rider.mp3 (6.65 megabyte)
o 08 - Levellers - A Life Less Ordinary.mp3 (5.07 megabyte)
o 09 - Levellers - Accidental Anarchist.mp3 (4.17 megabyte)
o 10 - Levellers - Duty.mp3 (5.09 megabyte)
o 11 - Levellers - Fight Or Flight.mp3 (4.89 megabyte)
o 12 - Levellers - On The Beach.mp3 (2.35 megabyte)
o 13 - Levellers - The Everyday.mp3 (4.07 megabyte)
o 14 - Levellers - Tv Suicides.mp3 (3.87 megabyte)
o 15 - Levellers - Burn America Burn [Video].mpg (38.03 megabyte)
o image filetype folder.jpg (25.52 kilobyte)
o playlist filetype Levellers - Letters From The Underground [Digipak].m3u (1.18 kilobyte)

Levellers - Burn America Burn



Levellers - Burn America Burn lyrics

There’s a shooter in the school, get your fuckin’ heads down
Or I’ll blow them clean off you luckless fools
The cracked windows break, start crashing
The alarms sound a warning, as we all fall

Burn America Burn (blow yourself away)

Stun grenades flash, as we are dropping
Blood on the blackboard spells out truth
The SWAT teams are crawling with stealth
And the gunman has just one round left, and he’s saved it for himself
The cops are fighting, and some are on the run
There’s a blood-bath in the school, and I’ve only just begun
The sun is shining, the days just begun
Start praying to your gods 'cos I’m still having fun

Burn America Burn (blow yourself away)

I never looked like a monster
In the mirror you just saw yourself
Did you notice me at the prom-dance
So much like you
That you never stood a chance



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Music : Bachelors 'I Believe'

Album Info :
Album : 'I Believe '
Release Date:Jul 21, 2008
Artist: The Bachelors

Description
With a string of hits throughout the 1960s, The Bachelors became a particularly bankable pop act on the strength of singles like 'Charmaine', 'Diane' and, perhaps most notably, 'IBelieve'. With roots in Dublin and beginning as an instrumental harmonica ensemble in the tail-end of the 1950s, the group has a mixed musical heritage that was evident still whenthey found mainstream success. Their first single, 'Charmaine', was originally composed in 1926 by Erno Rapee, an indication of the band's penchant for reinventing existing material for contemporary audiences.

Album Review :
By. J. Leyland (Blackpool UK)


One of the risks associated with buying hit songs from the 60's is that you never know if you will get the real deal until you put the CD on!
The are a lot of re-recordings of Bachelors songs around, but the good news is, not on this new album from Decca/Universal. This package of 25 songs contains 23 original Decca singles, 17 of which made the top twenty.
All the massive songs are there, Diane, I Believe, Marie, No Arms Can Ever Hold You etc, but among the non-hits there are some classic and well crafted recordings of songs that suited 'the boys' perfectly. 'If Ever I Would Leave You' (from Camelot) is one such number. I well remember hearing them perform it live at The Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool; the audience went wild with a standing ovation! It should have been a hit record, so maybe now, as part of this CD it will be. The two remaining tracks are recent recordings by Con and Dec Cluskey (the three original members have not performed together since January 1984 - mores the pity).
'Gortnamona' bears witness to their Irish roots and 'Somewhere' is totally typical of the powerful ballads that Decca used to find for Con Cluskey to sing his heart out.

But, is it 'the very best of The Bachelors?' No. Of course, an album like this has to have all the big hits - that's why people loved them so much and still do. The group recorded over 350 songs with Decca over a ten year period alone and there are some amazing songs, beautifully recorded that have never seen the light of day on CD. 'Sally' (the Gracie fields song) 'Invisible Tears' 'Put your Head on My Shoulder' are just three that spring to mind. Come on Universal - let's have another compilation with their best album tracks!

If this CD charts (and I suspect thats likely), it will be a lasting testament to the tremendous vocal versatility of John Stokes (the one with the bass and supplier of those lovely soaring high harmonies)Dec Cluskey (lead guitar and low harmony) and Con Cluskey (rhythm guitar and lead vocal).

So....go out and buy this slice of 60's pop history. These fabulous recordings will have you hitting the replay button on your stereo for sure!

Taken From : http://www.amazon.co.uk

Track List

1. I Believe
2. Diane
3. The Sound Of Silence
4. Ramona
5. I Wouldn't Trade You For The World
6. Charmaine
7. No Arms Can Ever Hold You
8. Marie
9. Whispering
10. Marta
11. Walk With Faith In Your Heart
12. Can I Trust You
13. In The Chapel In The Moonlight
14. Oh How I Miss You
15. True Love For Ever More
16. Faraway Places
17. Hello Dolly
18. Long Time Ago
19. Everybody's Talking
20. 3 O'Clock Flamingo Street
21. If Ever I Would Leave You
22. My First Love
23. Diamonds Are Forever
24. Gortnamona (Bonus Track)
25. Somewhere (Bonus Track)

The Bachelors Live -21st July 2008



Bachelors 'I Believe' lyrics

I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night a candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray someone will come to show the way
I believe, I believe

I believe above the storm the smallest prayer will still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere hears every word
Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe

Every time I hear a newborn baby cry or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why I believe (why I believe)


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Music : Basshunter 'Now You're Gone'

Album Info :
Released 11 July 2008 (Ireland), 14 July 2008 (UK)
Recorded 2008
Genre Eurodance
Label Hard2Beat, Warner Sweden
Producer Basshunter

Album Review :
By Alex Fletcher, Entertainment Reporter
Basshunter: 'Now You're Gone'

The continuing success of Jonas Altberg is without question the most bizarre story the pop world has thrown up in 2008. Altberg, who began making music on the computer program Fruity Loops nearly a decade ago, has outsold nearly every Winehouse-wannabe soul siren and skinny-jeaned indie band by a whopping great margin this year. With only Eurodance-loving Clubland TV helping to promote his records, that's quite an achievement for the 22-year-old Swede.

Basshunter racked up over 400,000 sales of his debut single, 'Now You're Gone', earlier this year and his follow-up, 'All I Ever Wanted', is heading for similarly impressive figures. Altberg produces mass consumption hits that appeal to a generation more used to downloading ringtones than flicking through the Woolies' singles charts for their pop fix. He takes the Stock Aitken Waterman hit factory production process to new lows, literally knocking out sound-a-like "choons" from his home computer.

In interviews Altberg comes across as a fascinating character. A Tourettes sufferer who has minor obsessions with geek culture and his own genitalia, he provides more interesting chatter in five minutes than any number of hours locked away with a Pigeon Detective or a Guillemot. Sadly, Altberg's warmth and sense of humour is a world away from the cold calculation of this robotic debut LP.


With 16 tracks in total, most listeners will require a packet of Ibuprofen and plenty of resilience to see them through to the finish. Each track follows a rigid formula, with surging synths, throbbing basslines and corny, power ballad-style choruses that arrive exactly when you expect them to. Altberg understands the basics of Eurodance and wallops us around the head with them until we surrender.

Take for instance the generic shout-outs of "Ready for take off!" and "Are you ready!" from album opener 'Now You're Gone', which are used to herald the inevitable pummeling crescendo of bleeps and beats. Altberg uses the same trick on 'All I Ever Wanted' with the cries "Drop the bass!" and "Are you ready?" Obviously running dry on ideas by track three, he tries "B-B-Bass!" and "Are you ready?" on 'Please Don't Go', a horrifying KC and the Sunshine Band cover. You won't be surprised to hear that Altberg recycles these phrases ad infinitum throughout the rest of the record.

But, on an album jam-packed with musical atrocities, there are a few moments which stand out for their sheer comic awfulness. Altberg's occasional attempts at romance are particularly laughable. "You can make the seeds infertile, but you know you can never make me love you more," he sings on 'Love You More', inviting jaws across the nation to drop to the floor. Meanwhile, the addition of two Swedish-language originals and pair of bonus remixes is surely overkill for even the most die-hard clubber.

What Basshunter intended to achieve with this record is unclear. If he merely wishes to cash in on a musical craze that appeals to kids sloshed on Red Bull and ringtone creators, he's done his job well. However, if he has any desire to be seen as an artist who cares about his music, he's totally abolished that dream with this hellish musical cocktail.

Taken From : http://www.digitalspy.co.uk



Track Listing :
01. Now You're Gone
02. All I Ever Wanted
03. Please Don't Go
04. I Miss You
05. Angels In The Night
06. In Her Eyes
07. Love You More
08. Camilla
09. Dream Girl
10. I Can Walk On Water
11. Bass Creator
12. Russia Privjet
13. Bota Anna
14. Dota
15. Now You're Gone (Fonzerelli Edit)
16. All I Ever Wanted (Fonzerelli Edit)

Basshunter - Now you're gone [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] + lyrics



Basshunter 'Now You're Gone' Lyrics

Now you're gone
I realize my love for you was strong
And I miss you here now you' re gone
I’ve been waiting here by the phone with your pictures hanging on the wall

Now you're gone
I realize my love for you was strong
And i miss you here now you're gone
I’ve been waiting here by the phone with you're pictures hanging on the wall

Is this the way it's meant to be?
Only dreaming that you're missing me
I'm waiting here at home
I'll be crazy now you're gone

There's an empty place in my heart
It won't alarm me it will break apart
It won't heal, it never fades away
I'll be thinkin' 'bout you everyday

Are you ready?
Ready for take-off!

Now you're gone
I realize my love for you was strong
And i miss you here now you're gone
I've been waiting here by the phone with you're pictures hanging on the wall

Is this the way it's meant to be?
Only dreaming that you're missing me
I'm waiting here at home
I'll be crazy now you're gone

Now you're gone
I realize my love for you was strong
And i miss you here now you're gone
I've been waiting here by the phone with you're pictures hanging on the wall

Is this the way it's meant to be?
Only dreaming that you're missing me
I'm waiting here at home
I'll be crazy now you're gone

There's an empty place in my heart
It won't alarm me it will break apart
It won't heal, it never fades away
I'll be thinkin' 'bout you everyday


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Music : Sharleen Spiteri 'Melody'

Album Info :

Artist: Sharleen Spiteri
Album : Melody [Mercury]
Released on Monday, July 14 2008
Bitrate/Quality: 165 kbps
Genre: Rock » Pop/Dance
Length: 37 min 29 sec

Album Review :

By Nick Levine, Music Editor
Sharleen Spiteri: 'Melody'

Sharleen Spiteri describes Melody, her solo debut, as her "ultimate personal fantasy record". If that's the case, the Texas singer has clearly been dreaming about lush, melodramatic pop music from the fifties and sixties: Motown, Bacharach, The Shangri-Las, Serge Gainsbourg. It's hardly a revelation that Spiteri likes this sort of thing: she's been homaging Motown ('Black Eyed Boy'), channelling Marvin Gaye ('Say What You Want') and sampling Gainsbourg ('Guitar Song') with Texas for years.

But "going sixties" is also a savvy move commercially. Spiteri's long had her eye on the ball, drafting in hip hitmakers like Dallas Austin and Xenomania to maintain the momentum Texas built with 1997's White On Blonde album, and it's surely no coincidence that she's chosen to make this album now. After all, Melody has plenty in common, at least superficially, with the defining record of the last few years, Amy Winehouse's Back To Black, and the biggest-selling album of the year to date, Duffy's Rockferry.

Melody lacks the contemporary edge of Back To Black - there's no talk of "f***ery" or carpet burns sustained while giving oral sex here; nor does it feature anything quite as epic as the title track from Rockferry. But there's no denying that Spiteri has attacked her brief with gusto. Largely self-produced, and mostly co-written with Texas bandmate Johnny McElhone, this is an authentic, affectionate take on the pop sounds of the fifties and sixties, an homage that's sympathetic to the very last finger-snap.

It's also an album of likable, well-crafted pop songs, which is exactly what we've come to expect from Spiteri. The likes of 'Stop I Don't Love You Anymore' and lead single 'All The Times I Cried' feature terrific melodies - as the album's title would seem to promise - and 'Don't Keep Me Waiting' is a swooning, gorgeous girl-group pastiche. In fact, the only misstep is Spiteri's ill-advised attempt to play Nancy Sinatra on 'I'm Gonna Haunt You', which proves that some fantasies should stay in the mind.

However, Melody isn't just Spiteri's "ultimate personal fantasy record"; it's also her break-up album. Nearly all these songs deal with the dissolution of her relationship with magazine editor Ashley Heath, the father of her daughter. Spiteri spends large chunks of the album telling us he "isn't the one" and serving up surprisingly bitter one-liners. "Something inside just died," she sings at one point, "it was you". But the songs are so polished, and Spiteri's vocals so sweet and controlled, that the bleakness of the lyrics isn't immediately obvious.

That's the thing about Melody - it's pretty rather than gritty. It's a bit conservative too, choosing to replicate the sounds of the period instead of trying anything novel or adventurous with them. Nevertheless, on its own, somewhat limited terms this thoroughly accomplished album should be considered a job well done.

Taken From : http://www.digitalspy.co.uk



Tracklist :

1. It Was You
2. All the Times I Cried
3. Stop, I Don't Love You Anymore
4. Melody
5. I Wonder
6. I'm Going to Haunt You
7. Don't Keep Me Waiting
8. You Let Me Down
9. Where Did It Go Wrong
10. Day Tripping
11. Françoise

Sharleen Spiteri - "All The Times I Cried" at Graham Norton



Sharleen Spiteri 'All The Times I Cried' lyrics

VERSE 1
You don't come around no more like you used to do
Oh god I miss your company
Your innocence you know just like
Yeah like it used to be
And how I need you here with me

BRIDGE
You just kept on asking why
Never wanting to really try

CHORUS
Cause all the times I've cried
All this pain I've tried to hide
What am I supposed to dream
When nothings ever what it seems

VERSE 2
The pain it drifts from day to day
And it makes think
That how I wish it would subside
To smile again all the fears be gone
Find my self respect
There's nothing done with that effect

BRIDGE
You just kept on asking why
Never wanting to really try

CHORUS
Cause all the times I've cried
All this pain I've tried to hide
What am I supposed to dream
When nothings ever what it seems

MIDDLE 8
Oh...
You never were the one
Oh...
You never were the one

CHORUS
Cause all the times I've cried
All this pain I've tried to hide
What am I supposed to dream
When nothings ever what it seems

Cause all the times I've cried
All this pain I've tried to hide
What am I supposed to dream
When nothings ever what it seems


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Recipe : Baked Brunch Omelet

BY: WALLEN

"This is so easy to prepare and everyone raves about it. The best part is that you can put it together the night before and just pop it in the oven the next morning. Delicious!"

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 1 Hr
READY IN 1 Hr 15 Min
Original recipe yield 1 - 9x13 inch pan

SERVINGS : 12

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 (1 pound) loaf white bread, cut into cubes
• 1 1/2 pounds Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup cubed cooked ham
• 8 eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion

Nutritional Information

Baked Brunch Omelet

Servings Per Recipe: 12

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 377

* Total Fat: 25.7g
* Cholesterol: 211mg
* Sodium: 696mg
* Total Carbs: 12.6g
* Dietary Fiber: 0.5g
* Protein: 23.3g

VIEW DETAILED NUTRITION

About: Nutrition Info

Powered by: ESHA Nutrient Database

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Place half of the bread cubes on bottom of baking pan. Sprinkle with half of the ham and then half of the cheese; repeat.
3. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, salt, hot sauce and green onions. Pour egg mixture into pan.
4. Place pan on top of a baking sheet with a rim and place in oven. Pour water into baking sheet and bake for 60 minutes, or until eggs have set.

Taken From : http://allrecipes.com



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Recipe : Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

If you need to keep this casserole warm until the excitement dies down, cover it with foil and put it in a 200° oven.

Ingredients

1 pound ground hot pork sausage
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 1/2 cups frozen cubed hash browns
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 3/4 cups milk
1 cup all-purpose baking mix
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Toppings: picante sauce or green hot sauce, sour cream
Garnish: fresh parsley sprigs

Preparation

Cook sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until meat crumbles. Stir in hash browns, and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and potatoes are lightly browned. Drain mixture on paper towels; spoon into a greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Stir together eggs, cheese, and next 4 ingredients; pour evenly over sausage mixture, stirring well. Cover and chill 8 hours.

Bake, covered with nonstick foil, at 350° for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, and let stand 5 minutes. Serve with desired toppings. Garnish, if desired.

Yield

Makes 8 servings
Southern Living, DECEMBER 2003

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Recipe : Bacon Quiche Tarts

BY: Kendra Schertz

"Flavored with vegetables, cheese and bacon, these memorable morsels from Kendra Schertz are bound to be requested at your house. 'The tarts are an impressive addition to brunch, but they're quite easy to make,' notes the Nappanee, Indiana cook."

RECIPE RATING:

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 35 Min

Serving : 8

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 5 teaspoons milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup shredded Colby cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped green pepper
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
• 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
• 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add the eggs, cheese, green pepper and onion; mix well.
2. Separate dough into eight triangles; press onto the bottom and up the sides of greased muffin cups. Sprinkle half of the bacon into cups. Pour egg mixture over bacon; top with remaining bacon. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Serve warm.

Taken From : http://allrecipes.com


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Recipe : Zucchini Lasagna

* Prep Time 15 min.
* Cook Time -
* Serves 4
Recipe Provided By: Martha Stewart

INGREDIENTS

1. Olive oil, for baking dish
2. 1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, room temperature
3. 1 (15 ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
4. Coarse salt and ground pepper
5. 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced thinly crosswise
6. 1 garlic clove, minced
7. 2 teaspoons dried oregano
8. 6 no-boil lasagna noodles
9. 2 ounces shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Nutrition Info

Per Serving

* Calories: 462 kcal
* Carbohydrates: 39 g
* Dietary Fiber: 2 g
* Fat: 21 g
* Protein: 26 g
* Sugars: 8 g

About: Nutrition Info
Powered by: ESHA Nutrient

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly oil an 8-inch square baking dish; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together cream cheese and ricotta; season with salt and pepper. In another medium bowl, combine zucchini, garlic, and oregano; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.
3. Spread 1/3 zucchini mixture in prepared baking dish; top with two lasagna noodles, then 1/3 ricotta mixture. Repeat twice with remaining zucchini mixture, noodles, and ricotta mixture, finishing with the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
4. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil; bake until bubbly and noodles are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove foil; bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Yield: 4 servings

Still Hungry ?

These noodles save time because you don't have to boil them; they soften as they absorb the liquid from other ingredients.

Taken From : http://food.yahoo.com




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Recipe: Clone of a Cinnabon

SUBMITTED BY: Marsha Fernandez PHOTO BY: abrooks
"You have got to try these. The first time I made them, I thought of how much money I could save by making my own!"

RECIPE RATING:

PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 15 Min
READY IN 3 Hrs
Original recipe yield 12 rolls

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup margarine, melted
• 4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.

Nutritional Information
Clone of a Cinnabon

Servings Per Recipe: 12

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 525

* Total Fat: 18.6g
* Cholesterol: 69mg
* Sodium: 418mg
* Total Carbs: 81.8g
* Dietary Fiber: 2.2g
* Protein: 8.9g

VIEW DETAILED NUTRITION

About: Nutrition Info

Powered by: ESHA Nutrient Database
Taken From : http://allrecipes.com


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Manga : Rocket Man

Rocket Man
By Katou Motohiro
First published in Japan in 2002 by Kodansha

This is the manga from Katou Motohiro who brought you Q.E.D (Detective manga with a tons of Science). Not like Q.E.D. the art have a progress esspecially for details of scene and expression of the character. The Story is about a boy (Yo Mizunashi, typically Katou main character) who meet a mysterious guy called "R". R works for "True Eyes" organization which sell secret information. Right now Yo get an amnesia, he forget about several years in his life particularly his memory about his mother.
Another character is a girl named Yayoi, Yo classmate who often help Yo at his adventure. When I first read this manga, I feel a little bored because the plot is slow. But when I come to third book, the story is very Interesting. The cleverness of Yo starting appear. If you like espionage story this manga is the right choice for you.


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Music : The Dark Knight - OST (Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard) (2008)

Album Info :

ARTIST: Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
TITLE: The Dark Knight
LABEL: Warner Sunset
GENRE: Soundtrack
GRABBER: EAC (Secure Mode)
ENCODER: LAME 3.97 / -V2 --vbr-new
QUALITY: 191 Kbps Avg / 44.1 KHz / Joint Stereo
PLAYTIME: 1h 13min 32sec total
SIZE: 101.1MB
RELEASE DATE: 2008-07-15
RIP DATE: 2008-07-21

Album Review :

by Sean Cameron

James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer have rejoined for The Dark Knight, a continuation of their sterling work on the film's predecessor, Batman Begins. Those that paid attention when Batman first attempted a film career with Tim Burton's 1989 effort will know the gothic militant overture by Danny Elfman. The instantly hum-able theme encompassed the franchise becoming an archtypal superhero anthem copied throughout the genre, even by Elfman himself with Spiderman in 2002.

Howard and Zimmer threw out the superhero theme rulebook when they worked on ...Begins in 2005. Wiping the slate clean they created a sound with more depth and a grown-up sensibility not revealing a heroic Batman theme until the last moments of the film. As tempting as it would be to reprise these established tones the pair have practically abandoned their heroic sound. The signature tune, a stirring of fast stings and heavy horns, is still there but only as minimal vignettes. The overall sound is much darker and heavier than you'd expect.

The pairing of Howard and Zimmer and their own musical personalities are still evident. Zimmer tackles the large thumping tunes whilst Howard's stings heighten the emotional punch. Zimmer's strengths are best utilised in action scenes and nothing sounds more suited to a good chase scene than Like A Dog Chasing Cars. Meanwhile the emotion of Howard's solo work is only truly evident in the Harvey Dent tracks, Harvey Two Face and Blood On My Hands, suggesting a less sentimental sequel.

However, there is a third unexpected dynamic to this score, Joker's theme, a twisted unsettling razor-sharp sound make from two simple notes. This can be heard in the album's standout track Why So Serious. It's nine minutes of spine chilling intensity which feels like it will rip out of your speakers and unlike anything you'd expect from the pair. Different variations of the theme are played throughout the score in tracks named after probable Joker lines such as And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad.

The most cinematic and pleasing standalone track would be the last: A Dark Knight - an overture of the full soundtrack with the most evident use of their Bat-theme. As a musical piece in it's own right some tracks work better than others with the aforementioned A Dark Knight standing on its own two feet. But the album is littered with tracks such as I Am The Batman feeling like mere incidental music guiding unseen visuals.

Taken From : http://www.bbc.co.uk

[ TRACK LIST ]

01. Why So Serious? 9:14
02. I'm Not A Hero 6:35
03. Harvey Two-Face 6:16
04. Aggressive Expansion 4:36
05. Always A Catch 1:40
06. Blood On My Hands 2:16
07. A Little Push 2:43
08. Like A Dog Chasing Cars 5:03
09. I Am The Batman 2:00
10. And I Thought My Jokes Were Bad 2:29
11. Agent Of Chaos 6:55
12. Introduce A Little Anarchy 3:42
13. Watch The World Burn 3:48
14. A Dark Knight 16:15

Why So Serious, The Dark Knight Soundtrack




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Music : Third Day 'Revelation'

Album Info :

Artist: Third Day
Title: Revelation
Release Date : 07/29/2008
Original Release Date : 2008
Catalog ID : 08306108532
Label : Essential Records (USA)
Number of Discs : 1
Studio/Live : Studio
Mono/Stereo : Stereo
SPAR Code : n/a
UPC : 00083061085322

Album Review :

I would consider myself to be a Gomer of sorts. A Gomer is identified as a fan of Third Day. It was taken from the name of the unfaithful wife of the biblical prophet Hosea. Are you a Gomer too?

Formed in 1991, Third Day has become one of the most popular Christian rock bands in history. They recorded their first full-length album with Furies Studios in their home of Atlanta, Georgia for $3000. They had saved this money to do so, and in 1994 they saw it finalized and 2000 copies were released. Eventually their popularity reached Reunion Records and Third Day signed with them for a multi-album deal. After their signing, Reunion Records immediately released the official self-titled “Third Day” album which has now sold over 300,000 copies. The video for their first single “Consuming Fire” won a Billboard Award for Best Christian video. Third Day was also nominated for a Dove Award for New Artist of the year. One of my favorite Third Day song called “Thief” is on their first album. It is an incredible song which is sung from the point of view of the thief on the cross during the crucifixion of Jesus. Being formed out of the Atlanta area they name other Georgia bands such as The Black Crowes, and REM as influences. You can hear other Southern band influences like Allman Brothers Band, and Tom Petty. Third Day has since gone on to release eight studio records including two worship albums and a Christmas album. They have developed a popular following and much critical acclaim. Third Day has won three Grammy Awards and a Dove Award every year since 1998. Their current lineup is Mac Powell on vocals and guitar, Mark Lee on guitars and backing vocals, Tai Anderson on bass and vocals, and David Carr on drums.

The ninth studio album from Third Day is titled “Revelation“. It was released last Tuesday, July 29th, 2008. “Revelation” was recorded outside of their native Atlanta which is a first for them. In order to shake things up a bit as Mac Powell describes it, and “be the best Third Day we can be” they also used a new producer, Howard Benson, who is mostly know for working with secular artists. I think the new formula has worked. This is the strongest Third Day album in quite a long time. “Revelation” begins with Mac Powell singing out:

I’m the son of a good man
I’m the child of an angel
I’m the brother of a wild one
And I’m looking for direction

“This Is Who I Am” is a great start to the album. It has a great rock tempo which showcases their ability to create a song that can groove with the best of ‘em. Track number two is called “Slow Down” and slows it down a little with lead in acoustic guitars. The song also features American Idol phenom Chris Daughtry on backing vocals. The following song is called “Call My Name” and is their first single for this album. The song is composed very well and reminds me so much of their earlier work. The band performed the song last week on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The fourth track is a song called “Run To You”. The song features Lacey Mosely, the talented lead singer of Flyleaf. In an interview about the recording of the song Mac Powell encourages Lacey to just go for it and worship the Lord through her voice. The resulting track is a beautiful peace of worship in song. For there is no one to run to for our salvation but the Lord Jesus Christ.

Like the previous music review of the new Kutless album, Revelation has many highlight’s as well. I would suffice it to say there are no weak links here. I will name a few for the sake of the review. “This Is Who I Am”, “Call On Me”, and “Run To You” are excellent no doubt, but along comes “Otherside” which features pedal steel guitar wizard Robert Randolph. Another beautifully composed song called “I Will Always Be True” speaks of true faithfulness features an excellent slide guitar throughout. The most precious song on the album is “Born Again”. The song is sung as a duet with Mac Powell and Lacey Mosely.

Today I found myself after searching all these years
And the man that I saw wasn’t at all who I thought he’d be
I was lost when you found me here
I was broken beyond repair
Then you came along and sang your song over me
Feels like I’m born again, feels like I’m living
For the very first time in my life.

Every believer of Jesus Christ can relate to this. We were lost and broken beyond repair. We could do nothing on our own, but God reached down from heaven through the Son and transformed us. He made us born again. These are just a few of the highlights on this 13 track album. I have been listening to the album since I downloaded it from Amazon, and I can’t get enough of it. I listened to it at the gym this afternoon and couldn’t help grooving to the beat of these songs. Third Day is coming to the Nebraska State Fair this month and will also be in Kansas City with Switchfoot and Robert Randolph and the Family. I hope to be in attendance to one of those performances to hear these rockin’ new songs. I gladly give this album five stars out five.

Taken From : http://barrydean.wordpress.com



Track List :(with song rating):

1. This is Who I Am - (9.8 of 10)

2. Slow Down - (10 of 10)

3. Call My Name - (9.7 of 10)

4. Run To You – (9.5 of 10)

5. Revelation – (9.8 of 10)

6. Otherside – (9.9 of 10)

7. Let Me Love You – (10 of 10)

8. I Will Always Be True – (10 of 10)

9. Born Again – (9.7 of 10)

10. Give Love – (9.4 of 10)
11. Caught Up In Yourself – (9.6 of 10)

12. Ready – (10 of 10)

13. Take It All– (9.9 of 10)

Third Day - Call My Name (live) HQ



Third Day - Call My Name Lyrics

It's been so long since
You felt like you were loved
So what went wrong
But do you know
There's a place where you belong
Here in My Arms

Chorus:
When you feel like you're alone in your sadness
It seems like no one else in this whole world cares
And you want to get away from the madness
You just call My name and I'll be there
You just call My name and I'll be there

The pain inside
Has erased your hope for love
Soon you will find
That I'll give you all
That your heart could ever want
And so much more

Chorus:
When you feel like you're alone in your sadness
It seems like no one else in this whole world cares
And you want to get away from the madness
You just call My name and I'll be there
You just call My name and I'll be there

You just call My name
You just call My name
Call My name say it now
I want you to never doubt
The love I have for you is so alive
Call My name say it now
I want you to never doubt
The love I have for you is so alive

You just call My name
You just call My name
You just call My name


The love I have for you is so alive
The love I have for you is so alive
You just call My name
You just call My name
You just call My name


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Game : Killzone 2

Game Info :
Published by: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developed by: Guerrilla Games
Release Date: February 2009
Genre: First-Person Shooter

Summary :

Two years after the Helghast assault on Vekta, the ISA is bringing the fight to the enemy’s home world of Helghan. Taking the role of Sev, the battle-hardened veteran of the special forces unit known as the Legion, players will embark upon a mission to the planet Helghan to capture the Helghast leader, Emperor Visari, and bring the enemy’s war machine to a halt. For Sev and his squad, the invasion of Helghan is just the beginning. Tasked with securing Pyrrhus, the Capital City, the team quickly discovers that the Helghast are a formidable enemy on their home planet. Not only have they adjusted to the planet’s hostile conditions, they have also harnessed a source of power from the environment that can be used against the ISA. Sev and his team soon discover the fight is greater than simply addressing the enemy forces; the Legion must also learn how to handle the effects of the fierce enemy planet.



Game Review :

Killzone 2: The Good, the Bad and the Pretty
There's nothing ugly about this game. IGN AU's take.
by Cam Shea, IGN AU

Australia, July 30, 2008 - Killzone 2 is surely one of the most anticipated titles on the horizon for PS3, but the question is – can the team deliver on the hype? We spent some time with the game a couple of days ago to see how it's shaping up. Rather than hit you with another straight-up preview, however, we've broken the experience down into a few points that we think are worth discussing, both good and bad. Take it away, points!

Shades of Grey

The visual tone of Killzone 2 is very muted. This isn't a game with lush tropical jungles or fairy kingdoms with rainbow highways (well, not that we know of) – it's a bad-ass war sim that takes place in gutted environments and through grim concrete bunkers. As a result, this is a game that can come across as a little on the grey side at first. While that may not be to everybody's taste, we love the realistic colour palette. Not only does it create an oppressive mood, it's allowed the development team to very effectively utilise the colour that is in the game.



When you see the red eyes of a Helghast soldier as he takes cover, or the red blaze from an incoming rocket, for instance, they really stand out. Colour in this world is very much symbolic, so if you see a tank with blue lights, you know that it's on your side. The muted approach to the visual design also allows for excellent use of contrast. That rocket we mentioned, for instance, may be blazing red at the tip, but it leaves a thick, jet black smoke trail that really stands out in the environment… all of which leads us nicely into our next point…

Art Direction

Killzone 2's visual design is definitely one of its strongest elements. The Helghast helmets, with their striking red goggles, are nothing short of iconic, as are the infantry transport vehicles. The environments have quite distinctive architecture; full of imposing concrete bunkers and industrial warehouses that reflect the military focus of the world, while the effects of war are also clearly visible in the destruction of the player's surroundings.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that the game's tech is pretty special, but even so, the way it's been implemented in most areas is excellent. The explosions and smoke trails in this game, for instance, have real character, so when there's a pitched battle being fought and rockets are flying around and explosions are going off, the jet black trails of smoke crisscrossing the area and spikes of smoke blasted out from explosions just look cool, plain and simple.



Special mention also needs to go to the cutscenes, as they're pretty special. Delivered using the in-game engine, the transition from gameplay to cutscene is really smooth, and they're used sparingly enough (from what we've seen) to retain punch. The demo's opening cutscene, in particular, recalls the original announcement 'target footage', with a number of infantry transport craft bringing troops into battle under heavy AA fire. Explosions rock the air all around as the player's craft swoops in, taking out a nearby shuttle, and almost taking out yours, which ends up skidding off the water as it comes in to land. The camera switches to a first person bumpy cam as the soldiers hold on for dear life while it bounces across the ground. Moments like those make the conflict feel huge and dynamic. We like.


Destructible Environments… Sometimes

Killzone 2 can do some pretty nifty destructible terrain when it wants to. One section we played (and which you can see in the LiveWire Demo from E3) was essentially a Helghast shooting gallery. You hop behind a gun emplacement facing a building that's had the front wall sheared away to reveal the floors inside. Helghast run out on multiple storeys to try and take you down, but they're no match for the awesome power of your heavy weaponry. Not only do you mow the Helghast down, you mow the barricades they try to hide behind, you chunk out cement from the walls, and eventually you bring huge sections of the structure to the ground. It's awesome, but sadly not reflective of the wider game, where most structures are impenetrable.



Now for the gameplay... Do you remember what it felt like to first play Call of Duty, with bullets flying everywhere and feeling like safety or even pause was nowhere to be found? That's Killzone 2 in a nutshell. The bullets only stopped when a hallway was cleared and you haven't gotten to the next corner yet. And that didn't happen very often.

Taking place in the streets of the city, inside its alley-flanking buildings, on second- and third-story balconies and on a rooftop or two, there were always Helghast about and bullets were always in the air. One theme is clear - you'll never stay put. The demo-er rarely stopped moving, and when he did it was only to take out a single soldier. As soon as that one was dead, he was on the move again.



A cover system looks to be in place in some fashion, though it's a little unclear as to how "deep" it is. You're able to lean around the sides of cover or corners to take out enemies, and you can blind fire around and over it (with your soldier holding his weapon sideways as it kicks bullets into uncertain territory). It didn't kick you out to a third-person view ala Rainbow Six: Vegas however, so we're not sure how much you're intended to rely on it.

Speaking of not switching views, there were only two points in the demo where the view was not in first-person. One was at the very end of the level to show off a nice explosion, and another when the level's mini-boss appeared. When the player approached one of the alleyways, the camera pulled away and zoomed in on a massive, chaingun-wielding Helghast soldier, replete with nearly a tanks-worth of armor. He took down a number of AI soldiers before the Guerilla rep was able to stun him with some bullets to the face and then take him out by shooting some energy packs on his back. We expect the rest of the game to play out in a similar manner where most cutscenes leave you in a first-person view, while specific scenes or characters of importance are highlighted.



The big explosion at the end that we referred to has to do with the destruction of an electrical canon, the end-goal of the level. Throughout the mission, the sky lit up repeatedly with lightning that lit up the environment. We originally thought this was solely the work of mother nature and unrelated to the battle, but once we finally got a view of the city from a few stories up we saw that some of the electricity was coming from something man-made, or Helghast-made, to be precise.

The Helghast are capable of utilizing, and perhaps even controlling, the weather. This level has you seek out an electrical canon that first absorbs lightning, and then re-use the energy as an offensive weapon. We're not sure how much weather will play out in the rest of the game, but at the end of the demo Guerilla noted that weather will indeed play a part in actual gameplay, and that the Helghast will certainly make use of it.



Aside from the very nice use of lighting and polygons, Killzone 2 has a few more tricks up its proverbial sleeve. The animation system looks to be blend of pre-canned and ragdoll animation. Helghast would fly back up against a wall, roll down stairs and the like, but we also witnessed one dying soldier crawl on his hands and knees for a bit while breathing his last breath, and another seemingly attempt to catch himself with his arms as the rest of his body went limp. The animation system was mind-blowing in any way, but it also fit nicely into the world.

Physics on objects look to be what you'd expect these days. Chairs and boxes kicked, moved and would spin as you would expect, but they don't dent or deform or anything of that nature. There are destructible segments of the environment, though they look predefined and not dynamic. Planks of wood, a number of which were nicely placed for effects-value, would break and splinter when shot, but they look set up to do so. Pillars and other solid but breakable objects were similar. You can chip away at them, but don't expect to write your name in the rubble.



Though the demo was so action-packed that it was hard to pick up on a number of details, we did notice a few more subtleties. For one, the health system works like what you'll find in a number of shooters these days - that is, there is no finite health meter, but rather if you take enough fire over a short period of time you'll perish, while taking cover and waiting it out for a bit will bring you back up to speed. Also, at one point during the demo we noticed that you're able to sprint. It's unclear how far or often you can, though your weapon is lowered and moved to your side, so we're assuming that the inability to fire is your reason for not sprinting constantly.

The demo we lasted was the extent of an entire level and lasted over 15 minutes in length by our count, but remember that it was played by a Guerilla rep and that it'll take a newcomer a good bit longer to get through. Though there were a few pauses for loading at certain spots, Guerilla says that it'll have its streaming tech implemented by ship time and that you won't see any loads mid-level. When you see just how much stuff is here, you'll understand why this may not be an easy task.

If you would like a number to go with that, try 2GB. That's how big the single level was on disc, to which the Guerilla rep noted that the game's level of detail would not have been possible without Blu-ray.

As for multiplayer, the only details that we saw were part of a short PowerPoint presentation at the end, but Guerilla promises an "extensive multiplayer component", one that will make use of Home in some fashion. Sounds good to us.

Want to see the game for yourself? Head to the PlayStation Network at 3pm PST on Wednesday and you'll find a brand-spanking-new trailer waiting there for you. But for now, check out a Killzone Q&A right here.

Taken From : http://www.ign.com/

NEW Killzone 2 PS3 Gameplay







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Game : Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Game Info :

Published by: Activision
Developed by: Shaba Games
Release Date: October 21, 2008
Genre: Action

Summary:

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows immerse players in an all-new action-adventure saga that gives them unprecedented control, never before seen in a Spider-Man game. Armed throughout the battle and confronted by an unrecognizable New York City, players choose to play as a heroic web-slinger or a volatile, destructive anti-hero, fighting with or against a vast number of fan-favorite Marvel heroes and villains, switching instantly between sides, and deciding which missions to undertake to save mankind. An all-new combat system combines web slinging and customizable superpowers to give gamers the freedom to fight and explore in a free-roaming, open-ended environment. Battles blend Spider-Man's speed and agility with the landscape, challenging players to master fast moving acrobatic combat, powerful new web-slinging moves and destructive combo attacks, as they take the fight from the streets, up the sides of buildings and onto rooftops.

Game Preview :

SDCC 08: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows Hands-on
Dress for the occasion.
by Nate Ahearn

July 24, 2008 - Being a superhero should be cool. It's something that little tykes fantasize about, and videogames are the perfect outlet to bring that fantasy into reality. That's the goal that Shaba Games (the developer) is bringing to Web of Shadows, the latest game to star everyone's favorite wall-crawler.



Being Spider-Man should make players feel like they're a super-agile, super-strong wrecking ball that can bounce off walls, cars and enemies' heads in order to bring justice to the world. I recently got my hands on an early build of Web of Shadows and can say that Shaba is on its way to delivering the true world of Spider-Man to fans.

We've talked before about how Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is going to bring new styles of combat -- in-air, off-the-wall and ground-- to players, but San Diego Comic-Con was my first chance to see how well it's coming together.



First, let me start by saying that the character that I was playing with was massively powered up. I had a developer sitting there feeding me development codes every so often so I could experience everything that Spidey had to offer. My can of whoop-ass might have been a little different than the one you'll experience later this year. Still, the few missions that I got to run through were fun and reasonably accessible given the complexity of the moves.

The first level I got to play was a seek-and-destroy mission with several symbiote hives stationed around the city. I had to find them, stop the nomadic villains from capturing citizens and tossing them into the symbiote spawning mechanism, and then take out the mechanism itself. Luckily I had both the red and black suits at my disposal with a click of the left stick.



Switching between the traditional Spider-Man suit and the black, more-hated Spidey outfit is as simple as clicking the left thumbstick. Granted this did produce a few unintentional switches during heated portions, but it worked when it had to. The repertoire of moves, while similar between suits, was varied enough. Black Suit Spider-Man was much more vicious. Particle effects spew out after almost every hit, increasing in prominence as you launch more devastating moves. My most powerful assault was a tendril attack that saw Spidey swirl 360 degrees as his arms turned into rampaging tentacles, whipping those who stood in their path.

Making use of both the red and the black suit (black more than red) I was able to take down the symbiotes and their host.



My next goal was to take down a group of Kingpin's hooligans who decided to surround a group of civilians. They were a bit tougher than the symbiote-controlled minions, but Spidey was able to dispatch of them without much worry.

The combat in Web of Shadows relies heavily on the use of the Y button (Triangle on PS3) as a means of connecting combos to one another. Tapping Y (Triangle) launches Spider-Man away from his target then automatically tethers our hero to them with his trusty web. He then pulls them back in and it's up to the player to time pressing Y again to perform the attack. Successfully doing so devastates their health bar and Spidey kicks himself back into the air, thus giving him plenty of time to pick his next target and continue the combo move.



When I wasn't planting enemies into the ground with the Y button (Triangle) I was doing the usual hand-to-hand combat moves. I was able to stun them for a time by ensnaring them in my web and then stick them onto the wall with a swift kick to the mid-section. Moving from the ground to wall to the air gives you a significant XP multiplier which can then be used to upgrade a huge assortment of fighting moves, supposing you can pull it off.

The best portion of Web of Shadows that I saw from San Diego Comic-Con actually wasn't while I had the controller in my hand, but instead it was during a guided demo. I saw Wolverine team up with Spider-Man and try to bring the fight to the symbiote-possessed population of New York, only to be possessed by that same symbiote himself. That's right, Wolverine, of X-Men fame, was taken over by the symbiote and I got to see him try to take down Spider-Man. After a short battle, he made his way to one of the symbiote spawn points and actually leveled up into a massive heap of pulsing adamantium spikes; but, before they could finish the fight, my demonstration was over.



The coolest part of all of this was the fact that the Shaba developer on-hand said that the heroes Spidey fights against depends on his actions in-game. I'm guessing that means that if Spider-Man is evil to some characters and nice to others that will affect who he goes up against. There's no telling how dynamic this will be, but from a design standpoint there's no doubting that it's a cool idea.

Everything else performed as you'd expect from an early build of a new Spider-Man game. Swinging around the city was fun if not a bit clunky and made use of the same right trigger mechanic as we've seen. Transitioning from climbing to running on walls (done with a press of the left shoulder button) was a bit problematic, with odd collision detection, but that will hopefully be corrected in time.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is clearly taking steps to feel different from the previous three games in the lineage. Some of it feels familiar (like traveling around the city) but the combat and moving on different pieces of terrain felt just as fluid as you'd expect. Now if Shaba Games can bring the movement, combat and camera system together to create a truly cinematic and altogether "cool" experience, then Spider-Man fans will have something to truly look forward to later this year.

For more details on Spider-Man: Web of Shadows be sure to check out our in-depth interview with the head of Shaba Games.

Taken From : http://www.ign.com/



Spider-Man: Web of Shadows Wallpaper Pack
This wallpaper pack contains three wallpapers in widescreen and standard sizes for the game Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. Download »

Size: 1.0MB Downloads: 149

Spiderman: Web of Shadows - DS/Wii/X360/PS3/PS2




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Game : DC Universe Online

Game Info :
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment
Genre: RPG / Massively Multiplayer
Release Date: 07/08/2009
ESRB Rating: Rating Pending
Developer: Sony Online Entertainment

Game Preview :

SDCC 08: DC Universe Online Hands-on
Lex Luthor just knocked me out -- awesome.
by Greg Miller



July 24, 2008 - For DC fanboys, it seems like forever ago that prolific comic book artist Jim Lee announced that he'd be stepping in to help guide a Sony Online Entertainment MMO based on the DC Universe. In the two and a half years since the announcement, Jason Todd returned from the dead, Marvel announced a similar MMO project, Batman discovered he had a son, Marvel cancelled its MMO project, and The Dark Knight made a batmobile-load of cash -- but no one ever played DC Universe Online.

At least, no one ever played it until today.



As far as first impressions on a crowed show floor go, DCUO seems to have a lot going for it. In the final version of the title, you'll choose whether you want to be a hero or a villain and build the character from scratch -- powers, capes, etc. -- and unleash the creation on an online world of similar good guys and bad guys created by other players. For the purposes of its San Diego Comic-Con debut, DCUO limited players to a few pre-created heroes and the abilities that each had but let them play eachother. My play session had me behind the controls of an energy-wielding lady and earth-flinging speedster.



Each character will have a base from which his or her abilities spring from -- hence why I pointed out the woman was using energy powers and the dude was earth-based. Each character will have the standard light/heavy attacks, jump, ability to weaponize the environment, block, and lock-on, but when you combine the face buttons of your PS3 controller with R2 (or the keyboard and mouse for the PC folks in the audience), you get character-specific attacks based on those abilities.



When my time in Metropolis began, a Justice League of America communicator popped up on the left side of the screen and a video message from Superman played. It seemed Brainiac was attacking the city -- giant, floating green fortresses could be seen along the skyline -- and some of the citizens had fallen under the evil AI's control. I had to get to street level and save the people. My first crack at the mission started me as Light Stream, the blonde femme fatale whose powers sprung from energy. Operating like most third-person action games, to get Light Stream from the starting park to the battle came down to moving her with the left stick and rotating the camera with the right. However -- unlike most third-person action games -- I could press L3 and toggle flight on. Once she was in the air, I could easily glide the heroine to the fights happening on the street and unleash her specific attacks.

See, the people Brainiac has overtaken need to be beaten into submission, and then you have to remove the infecting nanomachines. To do this, I made use of Light Stream's super-Square attack that created a buzzsaw out of energy to slash opponents with, her super-Triangle move encased baddies in a energy orb that could be thrown at other foes, and her standard light/heavy attacks hurled energy orbs at anyone in her path. The infected citizens -- who looked almost zombie-ish with vacant eyes and gray flesh -- fired rainbow rays from the Brainiac triangles on the center of their foreheads, but the moves were little trouble for the world's newest superheroine. When the citizens went down from the power moves, I had to tap circle to get Light Stream to remove the nanomachines and save the day.



Although this was a pre-alpha build of DCUO, the HUD operates like I bet you would expect it to. Your character's picture, life bar, and super-move juice is displayed in the upper-left corner, and the HUD of any enemy you engage pops up next to it. Moves whittle down the green health portion of whoever is getting hit and using super-moves drains the blue meter. On top of monitoring your blue meter, once you use a super-move (remember, these are the R2 and face button combos), you'll have to wait a second for that move's icon to refill with color before you try to use it again. We're assuming the rate at which you recover your moves will change depending on what level your character is at -- which is displayed next to your hero/villain's name.

At the bottom of the screen is a long bar that slowly fills as you complete objectives and pound on foes. It's an experience meter that is building towards one of your character's abilities -- defense, health, etc. The game cycles through the attributes in order so that you level up in a smart-growth type of way, but you can say to hell with that and choose what aspect of your friend-in-tights you're augmenting.



All this was cool, but the neatest thing DCUO has going for it was how awesome it is to be battle alongside Superman and company. After I dispatched a few of Brainiac's minions, Superman and Lex Luthor brawled into frame. I jumped in and gave chrome dome a few shots while Supes shot around the screen and his cape danced in the wind. Still, my lack of experience got the best of me and Lex knocked Light Stream out -- a "KO" icon pulled from a comic book pops up when you fall. When I got knocked on my kisser in the game, I had the choice of waiting a bit and respawning from where I fell or immediately jumping back into the game but starting at the park.

I chose to quit, take Jim Lee's advice, and try out the speedster.



Named Rock Solid and decked out in black and gold, the speedster was just about everything I could want in a low-level superhero. Clicking L3 put the dude into super-speed mode so that he could scoot around Metropolis with a wicked speed effect at his feet, run up the sides of buildings, and get away from foes, but being earth-based gave him some more nifty powers. One stun move -- similar to Light Stream's encasing energy ball and Superman's freeze breath -- had Rock Solid cause the spikes to shoot from the soil and pin an enemy in place so the good guys could get their shots in. Another had him create a brick on the end of his bow staff that could be slammed into opponents, and a third flung chunks of ground at bad guys from afar.



Although there was a lock-on button, I found the option a bit difficult to use -- same with the ability to pick up environmental objects such as cars and streetlights and use them as weapons. I could grab them just fine, but effectively making contact with them was another story. Still, this is pre-alpha and the game shines in other parts.

One of those parts just happens to be how it looks. I've already talked about Superman's cape movements, but as I watched Bizarro and Supergirl duke it out in front of a café, it was pretty cool to see the smashed cars, rubble in the streets, and random fires that cropped up around them. The city itself looked polished, there were a bunch of different cars and the storefronts with minimal repetition.

As I ran around the city, I'd run into other characters and events. When you see someone on the screen, an icon will appear next to them. A green shield means you need to defend them (like when Superman needs backup with Luthor), a red and yellow impact symbol means you need to knock them out (like an infected citizen), and a set of gears means you can interact with that person or object (like removing the nanomachines). When I turned a corner as Rock Solid, I came across all three of these symbols in a completely new scenario -- a cop was trying to ward off a thug who was coming after a bag of cash. I protected the cop from the initial attack, took out the thug, and collected the money bag. A SOE rep watching me said that with missions like this, it'll be up to you to decide which events you tackle first. If you choose one thing, you might not have time for another -- maybe you'll need to bring in teammates to help.

In the grand scheme of DC Universe Online's journey to retail and the amount of content normally packed into an MMO, today's play session was barely the tip of the iceberg. From what I've seen, I'm excited to get my hands on this down the road and see where it stands. I want to make my own hero, I want to choose my reactive defenses (moves you automatically pull off when you're attacked such as regeneration or dodge), and I want to help Superman save the day.



That looks like it's going to hurt.
No one's willing to talk about when this title will be released, so there's probably still a long wait in front of us. That said, fellow DC fanboys, there's reason to have hope.

Taken From : http://www.ign.com/

DC Universe Online PlayStation 3 Gameplay HD







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