D.V.O.’s Neighborhood

わぁーいo(*´∀｀)o゛。。I couldn't believe that this was on auctions for only $6?!! (・o・) How could someone part with Nacchi♥ for only $6?...wait, *lucky~*!! っo(*´∀｀)o!

Hmm..even the towel was unopened~!..also in the box were a postcard, heart♥ keychain, clear photo protector, two 5"x7" UFA photos and very cute* cute~* stickers! I especially love the Santa~Hello!Project logo..*kawaii~*  o(*´∀｀)o゛！

I wonder if I spend way too much time in auctions??...(._.;) Maybe I need help (*´艸`)。。。

While watching "Nitellegenic 2009 no ana" you realize amongst all of the strange games and events~(・o・) just how dazzling Koike Yui's eyes~* are! ………(゜∀゜)………。(um..the example to the left may not be the best example (^q^)!) but her eyes~* really light up quite uniquely ne~ (*´∀｀*)

Winning Miss Magazine as well as 2009's Nitellegenic has pushed this already popular idol♥ into an even larger spotlight~* as she's already released quite a few image DVDs, shashinshuu as well as a calendar for 2010~.

Just below is a short little clip~ of Yuachan♥ playing reporter and her getting Yuichan to give the camera a most cute~* charm♥moment o(*´∀｀)o゛and even after crying so much (;´□｀) her eyes~* are still so dazzling!

It's really those eyes~!! * 目～目＊目～＊………(゜∀゜)………。More on Koike Yui a bit later ＾　＾。。。

BRETT ANDERSON
brettanderson.co.uk ♥ myspace.com

Those who follows our W♥M Podcast, you'll know that between Sally, Kristen, and I, that we really, really love our Britpop music. When Suede burst on the scene, with all their hype*, I was a bit, what's the word? Resistant.

I eventually got over it when I heard Metal Mickey, a nice rock n roll glammy track with aggressive Butler guitars and Anderson's unique voice. The songwriting duo of Anderson/Butler did not last for long, and Butler's replacement, Richard Oakes, seems only a pale copy of the original. I think everyone knew that, and eventually, Bernard Butler and Brett Anderson got over their differences and re-united - but not as Suede... they were then The Tears. I think everyone was confused on how to interpret it at first (personally I think it's like tears/crying, not ripped/tear).

The Tears didn't live for very long, and by 2007, Brett Anderson releases his inevitable solo self-titled album. I never bought his solo stuff, because I don't think his music post-Suede's Head Music** were ever re-release or re-marketed to the US audience, so the few promo downloads that he's made available for free, I wasn't so impressed with. I remember thinking his debut solo album was trying to be orchestral (based on what I've heard).

Imagine my surprise when I got a chance to listen to a few tracks from his latest album, Slow Attack, officially via We7.com. It was all very operatic, almost minimalistic in its approach of piano and percussions. I did like that it brings out Anderson's voice loud and clear, but it generally made all of his music to be on the sadder end of the scale.

While I think one or two slow songs would be OK for a full length, all of the tracks I sampled were in that very similar tone. Kind of ballady and depressing.  I kind of miss the old Suede stuff. The only redeeming value is that at least, his voice isn't altered/over-produced as with Suede's Head Music and Coming Up.

I suppose, Anderson's much older now, wow you can see his cheek bones sticking out of his face... such a difference of imagery, from a time when mean-spirited fans were calling him "fatty" (we all kind of knew it was the getting off the drugs that was causing the weight thing... allegedly).

Anyway, if you were looking for the glory rock days, don't bother looking into Slow Attack. If you're a hardcore fan, chances are you probably own the limited edition anyway. The album will probably not be released in the US, as were all his previous releases. Import costs are generally cheaper these days, but expect to pay about $20 for an import album (Amazon is listing $19).

Brett Anderson is touring in 2010, so if you live in the UK, you can relive your youth days. If he were touring the US, I might leave my hibernation to see him. As you know, I've met the band before at a special "after-party", I'm sure he'll have no idea who I am.

* "Best Band in Britain" before releasing their album? Really, Melody Maker, really??)
** Suede's last album, A New Morning was never released in the US.

TRUE NATURE
truenatureband.com ♥ myspace.com

As you know, I also run a website on artist George Perez, and it's rare when my music and comic website mix. How does True Nature and George Perez cross paths, you ask? The cover artwork for True Nature's EP, Feels Like Centuries, stars actress/model Tonya Kay (with some artwork and directions from Glen Wexler).

Perez, through his associations with Fetish Con, have actually drawn Tonya Kay as a print, for Fetish Con's "Who's the Best Bondage Super Heroine?" contest. The original artwork was auctioned off for charity.

So, there's the connection. As for True Nature's EP, Feels Like Centuries, based on the cover artwork, it looks like they're also marketing themselves as somewhat of a spiritual rock band. I reckon if you like classic American progressive-type rock, you might enjoy this EP. Despite having only five tracks, the EP is "centuries" long (so long that it felt like a chore to get through). It's not that I dislike singer/songwriter, Lou Barlow's vocals, it's just really not the type of music I enjoy.

Their best track is the opening song, "Truth I Have To Steel (Simple Heart)", which started off strong and remain steadily so throughout the song. You can sample the entire track on their official website.

You can pick up Feels Like Centuries at CD Baby or Amazon. Although, not really my thing, I'm glad that there was at least a common connection for me.

Much like how the sweeping epics~ of the beloved Final Fantasy series have grown, so have their musical♪ counterparts...ranging in a variety of emotions~* complementing this series so perfectly..all the while remaining true to its epic form~.

Sugawara Sayuri follows in the footsteps of Faye Wong, Shiratori Emiko, Aoki Mayuko and Angela Aki in laying her vocals to such a beautifully written song which swishes~* in rich and alluring orchestrations and while the Japanese release is just over a week old in its release, the included pv~ with her first press edition provides visuals aplenty to whet the appetite of those earnestly awaiting FFXIII's release in international markets. The first pressing also include a mini FFXIII sticker (photographed to the left)~.

Sugawara Sayuri's "Kimi ga iru kara" LE w/DVD single can be ordered here at Cdjapan.

Sugawara Sayuri's "Kimi ga iru kara" LE w/DVD single can be ordered here at YesAsia.

Sugawara Sayuri's "Kimi ga iru kara" LE w/DVD single can be ordered here at HMV Japan.

While Suguwara Sayuri is a new vocalist to me, you can immediately hear why she was chosen to represent the musical headline for such a prestigious project~ as she possesses a deep and rich voice which resonates characteristics reserved for those of music's upper echelon of fine nuances~. "Kimi ga iru kara" is so so much a *beautiful~* song o(*´∀｀)o゛♥♥♥！！

The accompanying visuals...the CGs...even in~game screen play all work harmoniously together in the music clip which is more of a representation of the game itself as the theme song "Kimi ga iru kara" runs lightly in the background throughout under the narration of the sights and sounds of what looks to be another amazing FF chapter in RPG heaven~♥.

With just a few listens to the new theme song you readily feel a sense of the emotions instilled and what perhaps the new saga will journey us through~ and as with past FF themes after hours upon hours of game~play♥ it becomes inevitable and in the very same sense as with t.v. dramas that these theme songs truly become seamless to the entire experience as their very notes and lyrics begin to take on a life of their very own....reaching deep into your most nostalgic of memories even so, long after the series or game are finished~♥.

The first coupling with track "Eternal Love" is noted to be a "Sounyuu uta" ("insert song") and I imagine its role will be realized deep into the storyline where the character's bonds and story~lines become so intertwined together that its aura will be most prolific~. "Eternal Love"'s slow sweeping R&B lullaby persona very much shows how the series has modernized itself to this point~ that being said I somewhat still long for the styling~s of "Eyes on me" as sweet~* as this track truly is ＾　＾。Another departure from the series' past is the writing of separate theme songs for the English and Japanese releases of FFXIII, whereas in the past and as was such the case with Shiratori Emiko's "Melodies of Life"...both domestic and international releases enjoyed the employment of the very same track with language being the only alteration.....in that of "nihongo" and "eigo" versions both being available~. I do hope that its English counterpart is just as *pretty~*! (*´∀｀*)♥

The second "coupling" with track was such a sweet♥ surprise as it's an absolutely *pretty~* Christmas song~!! I now wish I had received this single just a bit earlier.....although I will be listening to Christmas music♪ at least into the first week of the New Year~*. Shhhh....it's a *secret* ( ﾟ∀(・－・)！