Music Review: Growing in the Cold by Jess Penner

Year: 2010
Tracks: 12
Genre: Indie Pop / Pop / Singer-Songwriter
Similar Artists: Jenny Owen Youngs, Katie Costello, Elina (aka Elina Wells)
Jess Penner Online: Official Website, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Youtube, iTunes (US)

Jess Penner is yet another aurally-appealing artist I discovered via Noisetrade. She is a singer-songwriter that produces songs that offer hope in the face of hardships and heartbreak. We need positive songs in a time where a lot of the music produced today is filled with lyrics that encourage trash-talk and bitterness. Growing in the Cold is the more recent of her two album releases, containing twelve rather cute yet mature tracks that are a great mix of rock and pop with an electro music box feel to them. The lyrics are backed up by flawless instrumentation and high quality mixing.

I really enjoyed this album. Though it is a slightly older release, it is a collection of beautifully written and thoughtful tracks that I find myself listening to on a regular basis. The lyrical aspects offer some rather cool storytelling aspects that never fail to get my creative side churning over. Interested in giving some of Jess Penner’s music a listen before making a purchase? You can find a stream of her two albums via the soundcloud widgets on the music page of her website.

Book Review: Steam Powered Passion

Steam Powered Passion by Corinne Davies

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven’t read an Erotic Romance novel in a while and my experience with Steampunk is quite limited. So, when I saw a Siren title offered both as well as a touch of Regency and the rather curious menage element, I jumped at the chance to read it. I was pleasantly surprised, but think that my criteria for future books and perception of quality may have stepped up in recent months.
GIST
When Lady Viktorya Trenton’s husband Lord Alexander Trenton decides to chose his ship over her, she is given over to some pirates on The Seahawk. On the ship is her former beloved Sean, believed long-dead, who is now the lover of the ship’s captain Malcolm Dygannon. Their relationship cooling, the captain sees the arrival of Viktorya (who Sean is clearly still in love with) as an opportunity to bring a long-term female lover to their bedroom. And while this is going on, Viktorya is looking for a way to pass on secret information to some rebels she has stolen from her scuzzy husband.
THOUGHTS
The opening scene shows Viktorya being given away without hesitation by her husband. It also introduces Jacko, Gareth, Mal and the two rather likable bisexual ladies (Caroline and Tabitha) that occasionally service the sailors on-board the ship. Sean is mentioned but isn’t introduced until the second chapter. This works well as it is clear from the beginning that Mal has sought out Trenton’s ship in order to save the girl whilst also giving the opportunity for Sean and to Tori meet. Why go to all of that trouble? It is obvious that Lord Trenton is a horrible guy that not only an adulterer but is a mongrel slaver as well.
Corinne Davies does a wonderful job of pacing the novel, careful not to heap information on the reader from the outset. This gives the reader the opportunity to learn about the characters over time, with a desire to learn more about each of the main characters because they are somewhat likable. This also lets us learn more about the plans enacted by the villains as seen by how it effects the heroes.
The Steampunk Regency world-building is also somewhat interesting as they play such an important role on our characters. This is not something considered rather than simply slapped together in ten minutes. Though we don’t get to see some of the technology, we get to experience some of it through mild sensory info such as the sound of the engines.
Given that this is a menage Erotic Romance, we have a few sex scenes. It establishes the attraction of the three main characters from the outset, even if Tori feels somewhat troubled by her circumstances. The story does have a few of them, each having a strong emotional touch to them. The emotional element adds a lot to the story, as well as making the sex scenes more titillating. We also learn from a bit of the commentary some of the reasoning for the various hangups for these three troubled characters. One is fearful of hurting others, one of fearful of being hurt, the other is fearful of being betrayed. And all are fighting for some semblance of control over their lives.
CONCLUSION
As you can see from my 4 out of 5 rating, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, the plot had lots of drama and intrigue, and the sex scenes were emotionally charged. My only gripe about the story related to some scenes dragging out a little too long and some of the dialogue of Sean and Malcolm using modern-ish terminology. However, these didn’t take away heavily from the entertainment value of the story.

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Music Review: We Are Poetry by Robert Kelly

Genre: Indie / Folk / Pop-rock

Tracks: 10

Similar Artists: Mikey Wax, Sara Bareilles, Ben Rector, The Fray, Damien Rice, Brett Dennen, Andrew Belle

I’ve discovered a lot of great artists since the Noisetrade website went live several years ago and singer/songwriter Robert Kelly (Twitter, Facebook, Noisetrade) is no exception. His unique voice and folksy pop-rock tracks set himself apart from a marketplace bloated by bubble-wrapped tunes. They have a strong emotional element to them without being oppressive, with even the sadder songs offering hope to the heartbroken. You’ll also note a strong emphasis on the acoustic throughout.

We Are Poetry consists of 10 tracks that start with the rather smooth Be Here Now. This is followed by the playful title song We Are Poetry. The third track Standing Still is an gorgeous duet with the always awesome Gillian Edwards. (Yes, I am also a fan of her music.) The fifth track is the anthem Wild, a song that I can imagine a large crowd singing along to. The sixth track Only the Start reminds me oddly of Mikey Wax‘s Tell Me What To Say. And the 10th and final track is the passionate Pages.

Personally, I loved the entire album that will no doubt be played over and over again. The obvious storytelling elements work for me, with the acoustic adding that little bit extra. And its all delivered seamlessly with high quality recording. We Are Poetry is a must-have!

You can snag a digital copy via iTunes or a physical copy via the website along with merchandise such as T-Shirts.

Anime Review: Sukitte Ii no yo

Other Name: Say I Love You!

Genre: Shoujo / Romance / Drama / Comedy (Light) / School Life

Language: Japanese Language: Japanese (English sub on Crunchyroll)

Episodes: 13

I first became familiar with the series by way of the manga. Though the two variations are somewhat close storyline-wise, the anime adaptation does have a few minor differences here and there. However, this doesn’t take away from the entertainment value of the series.

GIST

After being mistreated by children at her school when she was young, Mei Tachibana has become a loner that lacks the ability to trust other people. When a misunderstanding ends in her assaulting high school hunk and all-round nice guy Yamato Kurosawa, she is put on his radar. Sick of girls that are shallow and self-centered, he finds himself struck by the shy and socially scarred Mei. The series tells the story of their often drama-ridden romance filled with its share of at-times comical misunderstandings.

THOUGHTS

As some of you already know, I have a fascination with shoujo romance. There are quite a few poor examples, but thankfully Sukitte Ii no yo was a joy to watch. I genuinely cared about the characters, with some of them starting out as competition for Yamato’s affections to eventually become one of Mei’s friend. e.g. Aiko Mutou

That being said, some folks might find the drama a bit tedious due to low attention spans. No, you won’t get immediate gratification with this one because it does try to reflect human relationships. Some of this is effected by misunderstandings on the part of Mei, who has absolutely no experience with real friendship let alone the rather romantic relationship she finds herself in with the rather persistent Yamato.

The dialogue had enough chaos to give it authenticity and give the cast definitive personalities. Don’t expect kind-hearted Yamato to let folks mess with his girlfriend either. A few scenes made me chuckle as he put one supposed friend in his place for hitting on Mei, and told a potential competitor to back off. Yep, he is a freaking awesome male lead. There was plenty of character growth on the part of Mei and some of the other characters, though Yamato has already fleshed out what sort of person he wants to be.

The issue of intimacy is something that came up numerous times during the series. In this series, it was touched on in a rather delicate but cute way. Unlike some other series I’ve prematurely stopped watching of late, this is not a soap opera nor does it contain rather bizarre out-of-leftfield assholery such as attempted rape to spur on the storyline. Nope the drama is affected with circumstances that are closer to real life than say a series such as Honey X Drops. (Yes, I did find the latter rather amusing, but for reason of the camp value)

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Sukitte Ii no yo is a rather gentle shoujo romance. I loved the characters, each having traits that made them worthy of my time. I loved how well the chemistry between Mei Tachibana and Yamato Kurosawa played out as well, with the drama making sense because of who the characters were. The storyline played out nicely, delivering an ending that made me smile for pure joy. Did I mention that the series also has some really cute feline side characters in it as well? <3

Book Review: Infinity by Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff

INFINITY by Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

GIST
All that stands between a Demon invasion and a world abandoned by Heaven is the Church of Infinity. With their numbers being slaughtered by the Demon Vengeance it will take a miracle to save the Earth. So begins this bloody tale.
CONCLUSION
Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff weaves an action-packed supernatural thriller that pits the forces of Hell against a man that has sacrificed so much for the Church of Infinity. And they use it by way of a pure husk (provided courtesy of Heaven) possessed by a powerful Demon Assassin named Vengeance. We get to learn about the world by way of a figure with artificially-induced amnesia as well, allowing the reader to understand more about the rather f*cked up situation that the realm of Heaven has effectively left the Earth in.
Most folks will probably brush over the world-building elements, but these building blocks were essential to making the first installment in the is series as successful as it is. We see a Demonic magic system in place, a Demonic hierarchy, as well as two factions duking it out in what is deemed the inevitable war between the invading force that has manipulated a human race reliant upon the technology the Demons have strategically (and covertly) made available. We also get to meet Miki, the obedient angel that is stuck with the horrible job of perhaps bringing about the apocalypse by assisting the Demons in certain regards.
The language that the author uses has such character, each description with a tone and personality of its own. Each character has a unique voice, the spoken and non-spoken dialogue giving us plenty of insight into the motivations of each character in a timely fashion. The action sequences are at once chaotic and expertly played out, the idea that the combatant acts and reacts to their environment is shown time and time again. But don’t get too attached to the characters as the death toll in this sucker is quite high.
If you are looking for an action-packed supernatural thriller, then look no further than this first book in the Infinity series. This addictive book deliberately leaves a lot of stuff unresolved, making the second book a must-buy and I am perfectly fine with that because it is a bloody awesome read. With the world-building, descriptive, plot twists, poetic clues, dialogue, characterization and kick-ass action scenes make this book one hell of a read!

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Manga Review: Honey X Honey Drops

Other Name: Mitsu X Mitsu DROPS

An anime stylized eye. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Genre: Comedy? / Romance (sort of) / School Life / Shoujo / Smut (Definitely)

Installments: 46 chapters in 8 volumes (English translation at MangaFox)

GIST

Hagino Yuzuru is the 15 year-old daughter of debt-ridden two-child family. Her parents send her to the exclusive Houjou Academy, a school filled with its share of corruption and secrets. When she has an altercation with Renge Kai, a rich kid from her school that happens to attend a place where she works part-time serving drinks She learns the next day that she is his Honey.

Honeys are students picked out to assist certain upper class students to graduate, with school expenses paid and often other financial perks thrown in for the family of the Honey. One of the rules is that a Honey is expelled if they quit. Renge Kai has a long history of sending his “toys” packing in under a week. How will Yuzuru deal with her perverted and arrogant new “Master”?

CONCLUSION

Honey X Honey Drops reads like a soap opera, and I kept reading to see if anyone suffer any comeuppance for hideous behavior towards Yuzuru, the subject of much abuse from various cast members. There was some mild character development throughout, but some characters remained the same, continuing the same cycle of behavior throughout. A good example of this is Yurioka Chihaya, a young man with a HUGE bro crush on Renge Kai. He uses threats of rape and actually does sexually assault Yuzuru on numerous occasions in an attempt to make her leave the position of Kai’s Honey.

There are a lot of things about this manga that bug the hell out of me. The story is rife with plenty of situations of dubious consent, sexual assault, threats of rape and incidents of near-rape for the female lead Yuzuru. There is lots of genuine (non-explicit) consensual sex scenes between Kai and Yuzuru in it as well, but there were so many sequences of this nature that they began to act mostly as filler. And in spite of my want to see some of the cast members be punished or at least make amends for their horrid behavior, this never happens to any degree that I am happy with. I really wanted to see Yuzuru do major harm to Chihaya’s genitalia for all of the pain he put her through.

You are probably wondering why I gave this manga a 3 out of 5 rating with all of the mentioned annoyances. My main reason for this is the fact that even though there is a lot of infuriating things about this manga, the story is still oddly addictive. The soap opera qualities made it oddly entertaining at times. I loved to hate certain characters and the bizarre culture that these rich douche-bags live in. I also found some rather surprising moments on the part of some of the supporting cast. e.g. Two side characters somehow managed to bring out items such as rocket launchers and Jokey Smurf style bombs. This seemed like a bit of a lame attempt to add humor initially, but it did offer numerous WTF?!!! moments as well.

If you are looking for a manga with lots of storyline and likable characters, it is probably best to steer clear of this manga. If you are looking for lots of sex scenes and soap opera style bitchy characters, then this is the one for you. If you are looking for a manga with a moral high ground, then it is no good either. However, if you want a story with a long-suffering yet-persevering and loyal (if naive) female lead, you might find it worth taking a look. Would I read it again? Probably not, but I might have had certain characters got some real comeuppance.

Anime Review: Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun

Other Name: My Little Monster

An anime stylized eye. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Genre: Shoujo / Comedy / Romance / Drama / School Life

Language: Japanese (English sub on Crunchyroll)

Episodes: 12

GIST

Shizuku Mizutani’s existence revolves around study. Her life is put into utter chaos when she agrees to take study materials to a boy that hasn’t gone to school for years. Meet Haru Yoshida, a violent and somewhat naive delinquent with more than his share of mental problems. After a brief misunderstanding is cleared up, he starts following her around and declaring that she is his friend, much to Shizuku’s chagrin. Things get even more complicated when he also indicates that he has feelings for her.

CONCLUSION

I really adored the cast in this anime adaptation of one of my favorite manga series. Shizuku and Haru have a lot of depth to them as well, making it easy for a viewer such as myself to understand some of their bizarre behavior. These two protagonists are often forced into making attachments to other people by circumstance, which offers them chances to grow by slowly making them deal with various issues.  Having two crazy protagonists also makes this story enjoyable because it offers up funny sequences in droves. The writer gives distinct voices for each character, making the dialogue easy to follow.

The supporting cast often help move the story along in a big way. A good example of this is Natsume Asako, a socially-inept student that asks Shizuku to help her study for an exam. This results in an eventual friendship with Haru and Shizuku. This is also an example of an outside force instigating growth on the part of Shizuku and Haru. The story moves along nicely, with numerous detours along the way. Like all anime and manga, it somewhat exaggerates the tendency for people to over-complicate things. However, the writer makes it palatable using humor and rather cool dialogue.

One of the ongoing elements of this story is the question: How do two people in love manage a relationship when they’ve never been in one before? For Shizuku and Haru the road is often rocky, but in spite of the numerous road blocks along the way we can see them growing up slowly but surely. It is easy to adore the characters in Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun, even the arrogant Kenji Yamaguchi because there is always some redeeming factor to give the audience something to connect with.

In conclusion, this series is for anyone that can appreciate a story about relationships starting from scratch, that long road to discovering who we are and what we truly want in life. It is also for anyone that has ever had to negotiate the weird behavior of crazy people. It is silly at times, but well worth watching at least one episode to see if you like the two main characters.