Hey! So you may have seen us showing off the video game called levelHead (http://julianoliver.com/levelhead) at our YC booth this year. Here are some tidbits of information to dispel the fog of mystery surrounding the game for you…
levelHead is a spatial memory game created by Julian Olver.
All the game needs to run is a cube, a webcam, and a computer.
The object of levelHead is to navigate through a maze of rooms to an exit door.
levelHead has won various awards including the “Technical Innovation” award at Indiecade ‘08, the “Jury Reccommended Work, Entertainment Division” at Japan Media Arts Festival ‘08, and the first place prize at Laval Virtual ‘09.
The game isn’t available in stores but can be downloaded and setup for free. However, you need to be a master computer ninja warrior to get it to work properly. If you want to try, check out the instructions at the following link: http://selectparks.net/~julian/levelhead/install.
Here is a video of levelHead at our YC booth:
Here is a video showing all three cubes in action:
Hey everybody come out and support the Tegler Youth Centre’s Rap club (TYC crew). The staff and kids have been recording songs over the past year and are ready to throw down in concert. We will, for the first time, be releasing all the songs on CD, which all the profits will go directly into furthering the Rap Club for next year. Performances consist of Shortop on the wheels, Mikey Maybe, The Joe, Jonek, and the TYC crew! (too many to name). $3 at the door. There will door prizes and free candy! (why not?) Click (here) or the picture to go to our facebook event page.
Artist Info:Discography Album length: 14 tracks: 59 minutes, 00 seconds Street Date: April 21, 2009
Jars Of Clay has never been the type of band to get too comfortable in one place artistically. Since their ground breaking debut in the mid-90’s, the foursome have explored many different avenues of pop, alternative, indie, and even bluegrass, pulling off each new direction skillfully. Their 2006 release, Good Monsters, took a brave look at more of a rock edge towards the record’s beginning before softening things up later on in the album. It was a strong effort, but it never really felt unified – something that became more evident after hear its successor. For their first self-financed non-seasonal studio album as an independent artist, The Long Fall Back To Earth is a lush collection of pop rock songs with an indie touch that proves to be a well-balanced and solid effort from start to finish.
It’s seldom found that an album not only features strong tracks all the way through, but does it with such style, depth, and diversity without sacrificing continuity. Good Monsters was an album that could be at times playful and poetic – something that Jars Of Clay has often done – but felt more like a compilation of ideas and emotions, while The Long Fall Back To Earth is thread together by a common theme about relationships. Thematically, much of the album deals with their dynamics – particularly romantic ones. From the struggles of being on the road (“Closer,” “Safe To Land”) or the hopelessness and innocence of the pursuit of someone else’s heart (“There Might Be A Light,” “Heart”), explores situations that are familiar and relevant to almost anybody.
Musically, The Long Fall Back To Earth trickles in slowly with a beautiful piano that sort of massages the listener, as the music rolls to a boil when it jumps into the opener, “Weapons” – a modest rocker that aims to disarm the listener of any preconceived thoughts and feelings going into the record. From there, the album’s first single, “Two Hands,” wraps the concept of the human struggle between surrender and our flesh into a catchy and honest pop song. It’s one of those radio-ready tunes that can stir the heart, at the same time as the voice, to sing along. Those concerned that they may be in for a subdued effort will find “Heaven” to be one of the album’s strongest and edgiest moments, as the rock song reflects on finding glimpses of eternity in Christ’s residence in our hearts. “Closer” and “Safe To Land” were not only featured on last year’s unique Closer EP, but they address conflict within romantic relationships. “Closer,” as well as “Heaven,” and the funky pop anthem “Don’t Stop” musically draw heavily from the 80’s for influence, citing artists like Depeche Mode and Tears For Fears (particularly on “Closer”). Even the rumbling intro for the eventually more upbeat rock-based track “Scenic Route” seems to subtly tip its hat to Don Henley’s “Boys Of Summer.”
One of the things that makes The Long Fall Back To Earth such a gem is that its second half is just as good as its first – something that seems to seldom happen on records. Following “Headphones,” an engaging ballad (featuring guest vocals by Katie Herzig) that addresses our common tendency to confine ourselves to our personal space instead of reaching out to others, concludes the album’s first half, as “Don’t Stop” pumps up the second half of The Long Fall. “Boys (Lesson One)” is probably the most subdued moment on the record, maybe feeling the slightest bit out of place in the process (being that it’s book ended by two of the most bold songs on the project), but is a touching love letter from the men of Jars Of Clay to their young sons. The album then shifts back to the upbeat with “Hero,” before the record closes with a powerful collection of pop songs that examine different angles of love. “Scenic Route” encourages taking the time to savor the moments in a relationship, while “There Might Be A Light” is an infectious acoustic-driven anthem for those struggling with unrequited love (“There might be a light / Somewhere in your mind / When you think of you and I / I wait for it to shine / I know it will come on… soon”). The catchy tunes continue almost relentlessly as the album closes on a high note with “Forgive Me,” which explores the ways we can ask for forgiveness, and offers an artistic surprise ending with the electronic leanings of the quirky outside-of-the-box “Heart.”
Records like The Long Fall Back To Earth are a rare find. It bares a feel much like a gift that keeps on giving as the listener peels back the vibrant and lush layers of emotion and sonic goodness with each spin through. Jars Of Clay has an exciting pop rock release on their hands here that just might be the first truly satisfying, must-have release of 2009.
- Review date: 4/19/09; PReview date: 3/25/09, written by John DiBiase of Jesusfreakhideout.com
A young boy stands boldly against his enemy, looking small compared to the giant. The boy launches his weapon and with one swift strike, David defeats Goliath. But this time around in NBC’s new show Kings, David is armed with grenades and not smooth stones.
From the directors of the movie I Am Legend, (Francis Lawrence and Erwin Stoff) and hit TV series Heroes, (Michael Green) comes NBC’s Kings, a modern-day twist on the story of King David.
The show is cast with some big name stars including Ian McShane (Deadwood) and Chris Egan (Eragon and Resident Evil: Extinction), and some fresh into the limelight including, Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl) and Allison Miller.
Set in the sci-fi-esque country of Gilboa (think Gotham City), King Silas (McShane) has come into power. Its new capital, Shiloh, has been reclaimed by Silas and turned into a thriving metropolis. But the king must handle the rising tensions with its neighboring nation, Gath.
Several soldiers are taken as hostages, but a row of Goliath tanks prevents Gilboa’s army from rescuing their companions. A young mechanic and now soldier, David Shepherd (get it?), disobeys orders and ventures over into enemy territory to help rescue the hostages. He comes face-to-face with one of the Goliaths, and destroys the tank to save the hostages. In a strange turn of events, one of the hostages David saves turns out to be the royal prince, Jack Benjamin (Sebastian Stan).
For saving the king’s son, David is thrust into the public eye and heralded as a hero. Paparazzi follow him everywhere as he is brought into the royal court. The king shows his gratitude and offers him “half my kingdom” as the biblical saying goes. David doesn’t want money, but he does have his eyes on the king’s activist daughter, Michelle Benjamin.
The king has bigger plans for David, promoting him to captain and forcing him to become the spokesperson for the ongoing war. As a result of poster-boy David’s meteoric climb to the top, many in the palace begin to plot against him, including the king.
When Gath finally offers a peace treaty, the king accepts. But in the king’s blind hunger for power, he decides to continue the war. The war turns for the worst and many soldiers die. Later, the influential Reverend Samuel comes to King Silas with a message from God. Since Silas has chosen war, God has abandoned him and will choose another king.Clearly, the show is chock full of biblical parallels. What’s interesting is the clever way Kings brings well-known biblical tales into a modern setting. For instance, in Samuel’s anointing of David, he bestows a watch upon him rather than pouring oil over his head. The king’s armor becomes an ill-fitting tuxedo, and instead of the harp David is a whiz on the piano.
In spite of all this, the show should have mainstream appeal for those unfamiliar with the biblical story of David. The plot is labyrinthine, seeming a bit like a soap opera at times with affairs, romance and a plot for revenge. Ultimately, though, it is the character development that makes the show worth watching. Between the bravery and honesty of David, the rebel princess, the partying prince, the superficial queen and the conniving king, viewers will be left wondering if the sheep, David, has been thrown to the wolves.
It’s that time of year; the snow starts melting, the birds start singing, the sun starts shining…and we here at HYMN are preparing to yet again rock YC!!
What’s YC you ask?
It’s pretty much the best weekend of the year. May 22-24 will have 17,000 roaring teens pack Rexall Place to rock out to some wicked bands, take part in some sweet workshops and most importantly visit the HYMN booth!!
We’re going to have a huge booth this year so you have to make sure to come by, say hello and enter to win some sweet prizes. Last year we gave away an iPod Touch and at HYMN we are all about one-upping everything, so you can anticipate a wicked giveaway. We will be in the Agricom in Hall A…just look for the best looking booth!
Peep the video below of HYMN @ YC!
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Check ycgeneration.com for all the featured bands, guest speaker’s and how to get tickets.
Tegler + Galaxyland = FUN!!! It was an eventful evening filled with rollercoasters, screaming children, and candied apples. It just doesn’t get much better than that folks. One particular highlight of the evening consisted of a busload of kids breaking out into their own rendition of various TYC anthems, and then a rap Cypher broke out in the back of the bus. I think our bus driver thought we were nuts, perhaps he was right. Nevertheless, we know how to have a good time. Scope some pics from the trip. Most Photogenic Award goes to Gatluak, hands down.
A young boy stands boldly against his enemy, looking small compared to the giant. The boy launches his weapon and with one swift strike, David defeats Goliath. But this time around in NBC’s new show Kings, David is armed with grenades and not smooth stones.
