Album Review- Ayumi Hamasaki- Duty

So, I finally got to listen to Duty- Ayumi Hamasaki's best selling studio album.
Here's a breakdown of the tracks

Starting over- Something like an instrumental intro. It is dance/ rock influenced but doesn't stand out much especially compared to the track that follows.

Duty- The title track and easily the best one on this album. Duty has a mysterious 'Paris Thief' kind of atmosphere that Mirrorcle world had but is much more melodic. Ayumi manages the song pretty well but there are some shrill notes. The instrumental arrangement is fabulous. The enigmatic guitar and lush strings create a great atmosphere.
4.7/5

Vogue- The song is kind of high pitched and too sugary but the arrangement balances its negative traits well. It has an oriental vibe with lots of shamisen/koto kind of sounds in the background. It is quite pleasant to listen to.
3.5/5

End of the world- A good ballad/pop mix. This again faces the same problem as Starting over. Its fails to impress in comparison to the previous and next track.
3.5/5


Scar- Another great track comparable to Duty on this album. It is a poignant ballad that Ayumi puts lots of emotion into singing. Again, no very high notes so, it is pleasant. It seems very sophisticated like Duty, an atmosphere which many tracks in the album don't share. There is a feeling of pain that is very absorbing. Ayumi did a live of this one recently (2 years-3 years back in Next level tour, I think).
4.5/5

Far Away- I can't believe this was a single track when SCAR and Duty weren't. The arrangement can be a little distracting. Typical Ayumi stuff. It is fine to carry the album forward and manages some decent climax. Better than Surreal.

4/5

Surreal- I tend to get confused between this and audience. Starts well and heads straight for ruin. Not one of my favourite tracks. Ayumi sings it fine but it just didn't catch my attention. Has a heavy rock atmosphere  with guitar solos.
3/5

Audience- Again, a heavy rock track but with high pitched and cheerful vocals. Not Ayumi's strength really. She tries to sound too cute. Didn't impress me. Sounds too distracted(all over the place) sometimes.
2.8/5


Seasons- Despite the substandard mv, this track stands out. Seasons has a good climax and balanced back vocals. The arrangement compliments it well. Ayumi manages to sing it well too. It's genre would be pop. I hear some DAI pop vibe in it.
4.3/5

Teddy Bear- A wonderful ballad. It fades out the previous track beautifully. Ayumi's emotive singing is evident in the track. Instead of distracting with electric guitars, this track leaves Ayumi to display her powerful vocals. The simple arrangement enhances the beauty of this track. It's simplicity is what stands out among the other heavily arranged tracks in this album. Ayumi did a good live of this one.
4.5/5

Key~eternal tie version~- If you ask me, Teddy bear should have been the last track. It has a nice fade out effect. This track is slow paced and pleasant to listen to. The chorus is powerful and convincing. I liked this a lot but the placing was not the best.
4.1/5

Girlish- Not such a great ending for the album. It sounds like something an idol group would sing, not Ayumi Hamasaki. That nasal opening sounds a lot like Yaida Hitomi's style. The back vocals salvage the song (la la and claps, which is most of it). Ayumi manages this one fine. Not the greatest ending to the album but has a pleasant vibe.
3.8/5

Conclusion: Overall, Duty is a nice album. All the songs were pleasant and have replay value (something that other albums from Ayumi lack). It is much better than the Best 2 Black I bought. I haven't heard her other studio albums to compare but this one is very good, a lot better than her recent ones. Her vocals were not fully polished but after this album, her ability to hit high notes diminished. So, in a way, this is a good combination of skill and control. I would recommend this album.

Pros

Some really god tracks (Duty, scar, teddy bear)
Most tracks are pleasant and have a nice sound.
Replay Value
Vocals are better than preceding albums

Cons

Not-so-good single tracks
Vocals get shrill and harsh on the ears sometimes

Book review- I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

I've Got Your number is a brand new book by chick-lit author Sophie Kinsella.

I’ve lost it. :( The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day! Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive :) !!


Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life. (from randomhouse)

Style wise, this book is similar to Kinsella's other books with a good dose of humour and a clumsy female lead. Poppy is a very interesting character who never gets annyoing or whiny. Even despite losing the ring, she seems to be in control of her life (mostly).

Sam is a very interesting male lead. His personality is very distinct from usual male leads. He is high-flying and has no time for anything except his job. The texts Sam and Poppy send each other are very interesting and the realtionship is built very realistically. They encounters are always humorous and I wanted to see them together more often. The scene in which Sam takes Poppy to get a fake engagement ring to replace the one she's lost is funny.

This book is a great book and I would definitrly recommend it to both Sophie Kinsella fans and people who are reading her for the first time.

Ratings
Plot-7/10
Style-10/10
Humour-9/10
Dialogue-10/10

Pros
Interesting characters
Funny

Cons
Real interaction of the main characters could have been increased
There were some parts of the story that seemed a bit over the top

NOTE- Pictures do not belong to me and have been taken from Google image search.

Author interview- Kersten Kelly

Kersten Kelly is a new author. Her first book is Economics- a simple twist on normalcy. The premise of the book is to incorporate economic theory into social media, pop culture, business, education, and history to help determine why certain things happen.

Here is the link to the book's website The economics book

Here is the interview

TRIVIA


Favorite color-Yellow
Place of your dreams-Amsterdam, I've been there once for New Years Eve, and it was so incredible that I felt like I was in a dream. The people I met were incredible, and there were fireworks and celebrations everywhere. It was unbelievable.
Favorite author-Steven Levitt
Favorite books-Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics, Blink, The Tipping Point, A Million Little Pieces, My Friend Leonard

Zodiac sign-Taurus

LONG QUESTIONS



1. These days there is a lot of talk about economic problems and economists are often criticized for their inability to provide lasting solutions to the world's problems. What do you feel about this?


Knowledge is power in the topic of economics. Economists might be able to provide the solutions, but when more people are educated on the subject, there is a more cohesive binding of people to move world problems forward. By researching, reading, and educating oneself on economics and how the theories come together to explain many of the world's issues, ordinary people can contribute to solving these problems. The problems are much larger than just a simple economic solution from one person. We need everyone to buy in to the solutions and work together to implement them.

2. How is the knowledge of economics helpful to an author in promoting their books?


The knowledge of economics is helpful in promoting my book because opportunity costs are so high. When a book comes out, an author only has a certain amount of time for the initial marketing of the book to choose the most effective places to advertise the book. Because I am only one person, I use economics to determine which mediums will yield the highest return on my investment. In other words, if I have a choice between 5 book reviews or 10 author interviews on different websites, what is my most impactful option? Using economic theory helps to determine how my time should be spent in the promotion process.



3. What was your motivation behind writing this book?

I love economics, and I majored in it during my undergraduate work at Indiana University. As a student, many of the examples in my textbooks were irrelevant and made the subject one that many students did not enjoy. I wanted to change the negative connotations associated with the topic. I wanted to make it something that people understood and relished learning about. Hopefully anyone who reads this will have a better appreciation for such an intricate subject of material.



4. Tell us about your life and an author/economist.


I try to balance being an author with my full-time job as a salesperson based out of Chicago, Illinois. Although I only spend a portion of my time as an author writing, I am always an economist. I think about economic theory (and I challenge readers to do the same in the book) and how it influences my daily life all the time. Each time I have to make a decision or analyze the best way to conquer a situation, I consider my options through an economic lens. As an economist, I am always looking to be better off in my choices. Everything I do in my life is pretty much a blend of both "hats" that I wear.

5. What message would you like to give your readers.



I would like my readers to know that economics can be an interesting, informative way to look at the world. It is not just useless theories that can only be applied to textbooks. If a person purchases gas or follows theilocal sports team, economics is intertwined in both of those activities in a multitude of ways. By reading the book, people can understand this better. Economics is a tool that can help people make better decisions for themselves. I sincerely enjoyed writing this book, and I hope that people enjoy reading it. In addition, believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. With passion and dedication, anything is achievable.

Interview with romance author Elizabeth Boyle

Elizabeth Boyle is the NY Times bestselling author of eighteen novels and two novellas. Her favorites moments as an author include winning the Dell Diamond Debut, the Romance Writers of America RITA award and falling over backward into Puget Sound during a photo shoot. Having successfully hunted software pirates for a living, Elizabeth feels equally qualified to delve into the antics of rakes, spies and privateers in her writing life.

Review Carnival is  honored to be interviewing such an amazing writer.

Favorite color- Green
Favorite author/s- Laura Lee Guhrke, Laura Joh Rowland, Julia Quinn, Caroline Linden, Candice Hern . . .

Zodiac sign- Capricorn
A quote that inspires you- Show up.

Favorite book- The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery

Dream holiday destination- Anything with a beach and crystal blue water.

QUESTIONS



1. Romance is a very popular genre with many different subgenres and types of characters. What kind of characters do you like the most? I love uptight and straitlaced hero that I can send the most dizzy, wild woman to upend his well-ordered life. And at the same time, I love the overly confident and ultra rakish fellow who meets his match in an unlikely heroine--the bluestocking, the widow, the spinster.

2. A place you've always dreamt of writing about in your novels and why - I love my current time period--The Regency, the era of Jane Austen. So I suppose I am living my dream.



3. What do you think makes historical romances different from other types of romance (other than being set in history when things were different)? I think there is always a romanticism about the past, but the Regency has that added cache of being the last era of manners and abandon, before the advent of trains and machinery. There is still a pastoral elegance to the time period that I think readers find as a perfect antidote to modern life.



4. How does it feel to be an internationally known/published author? I don't know--quite honestly. I just write my stories. That they go out into the world and into so many places that I've never heard of--just astounds me. I sit in my quiet office in the Pacific Northwest and spin stories that I hope readers all over will enjoy.

5. Your dream romance novel.... The one that makes a reader laugh out loud and fall in love at the same time.

Manga writer interview with Queenie Chan

Today I'll be interviewing a great new manga writer at Review Carnival-Queenie Chan. Queenie Chan was born in 1980 in Hong Kong, and migrated to Australia when she was six years old. In 2004, she began drawing a 3-volume mystery-horror series called "The Dreaming" for LA-based manga publisher TOKYOPOP. To date, it has been translated into multiple languages.




She has since collaborated on several single-volume graphic novels with best-selling author Dean Koontz. As prequels to his "Odd Thomas" series of novels, they are called “In Odd We Trust” and “Odd Is On Our Side”, the latter becoming #1 on the New York Times best-seller list the week it came out. A third book, "House of Odd", is coming on March 20th, 2012. In 2009, she also provided art for the "Boys Book of Positive Quotations", by best-selling inspirational author Steve Deger.

Currently, she is working on "Small Shen", a prequel to Kylie Chan's best-selling "White Tiger" fantasy series. Apart from her professional work, she also draws a number of online comic strips on her personal site: http://www.queeniechan.com/


 

TRIVIA

Favorite mangaka- Eichiro Oda
Favorite manga- One Piece
Favorite color- Red
Zodiac sign- Gemini
Place of your dreams- Blue skies, white sand... clear waters. A beautiful untouched tropical paradise.
Favorite character (in book/manga/movie)- Very hard... probably Tyrion from the "Game of Thrones" series of novels. He's such a good person, but the odds are stacked against him, and he has to fight every step of the way just to get any decent treatment.




1. Why did you decide to write manga?

I've always liked to write in high school, and we got plenty of chances to do creative writing in the earlier years. However, as I got to the higher grades, these chances dribbled away, so I was no longer able to write as much since I was too busy studying. When university came along, I found my degree (in Information Systems) very stressful, so I started drawing as a way of escape. I'd been reading manga all the way through my childhood, and one day it occurred to me that I can draw my own manga stories too... just like that, out of the blue. So, my #1 hobby in university was born.

2. What kind of characters or plots do you like to create?
I've drawn stories in all kinds of genres, so my interests are quite broad. Generally speaking, I tend to gravitate towards darker stories, because that's the way I am, but I've since learned the importance of a "lighter" outlook. I also like drawing/writing fantastical kinds of stories, probably because of the visual nature of manga. I feel I can create an entire magical universe on the cheap, just by usng pencil and paper. That gives me a lot of freedom, and it gives me a lot of opportunities to look at pretty pictures online (for inspiration).


3. Who are your biggest inspirations?

There's been a lot of artists over the years who have inspired me, but I would say my single biggest influence was probably Tezuka Osamu, the creator of Astro Boy. In the west, he's primarily known as a creator of children's stories, but in truth his work is very diverse, and there isn't a topic under the sun he hasn't tackled. He's also an incredibly dynamic and interesting story-teller - he uses techniques in his own stories that I've not seen used anywhere else. His story "Black Jack", about a rogue doctor (surgeon) who charges people ludicrous fees, but who really has a good heart, blew my teenage mind when I first read it. I didn't know people could write those kind of stories... but he did, and he taught me a lot.

4. What are your other hobbies?

I like to sew. I'm not so talented in the knitting department, but I also like to crochet cute little toys. I'm getting pretty decent at it, and it's always to have a nice relaxing hobby where you produce something cute and worthwhile at the end. When I'm not doing little arts and crafts, I like to read, watch movies, and play video games. I also shouldn't neglect exercise... since I sure surf the internet a lot too.

5. What is the best part of being a manga writer?

Seeing your creations come to life, and getting paid for doing it! Drawing manga is a slow and excruciating process, and there's no way of making that process easier or shorter. The reward is getting it finished, and seeing your characters being enjoyed by other people. There isn't anything else I'd rather do.

Romance novels cover model- Laura Williams interview

The most exciting part of most romance novels are the beautiful covers that take us to an exotic place and time. The models on these covers make our innermost romantic fantasies come true. Since I have reviewed so many romance novels on review carnival, I decided to do an interview with model Laura Williams, who has appeared on more than 1000 romance novel covers. She has modelled for bestselling writers such as Nora Roberts, Lisa Kleypas and others on their most recognizable covers.

Here is the interview.

TRIVIA

Favorite color- Red

Zodiac sign- Scorpio

Favorite country/city- Cape Town, South Africa

One fashion item you can't go without- iPhone

Your prince charming should be- Intelligent, have a sense of humor, and well traveled.

1. You look so different on each and every cover. I couldn't even say that they were all of the same person. How do you manage to be so versatile?

I have found that lighting, make-up and how I style my hair can dramatically change how I look in photographs. I can be modern or from another time period, casual or sophisticated and can even appear to be different nationalities—just by altering those 3 basic factors. Then, of course, there’s the obvious differences due to wardrobe and setting. Also, when I am posing for the covers I take on the mood of the character in the book which can have an important effect on how people perceive me. It’s like being an actress of sorts. The more real my portrayal is then the more intriguing the cover will be.

2. Do you read romance novels? Which are your favorites?

I have read romance novels. I especially like Nora Roberts and Lisa Kleypas. Through the years, I’ve done covers for each of these outstanding authors.

3. You get to wear beautiful dresses on the covers. Please describe how it feels to be wearing them.

Many of the dresses are really gorgeous. It's definitely a perk being able to wear them and feel beautiful and feminine. I'm lucky I am in a profession where I get to do this for a living. But my favorite accessory in a book cover shoot is definitely the hot guy standing next to me :)

4. Do you prefer to model on contemporary romance covers or historical romance covers? Why?

I enjoy both, but I do slightly prefer historical. It's more fun to see the covers when they come out, and it's more of a novelty. It always makes me wonder what people's lives were really like back then.

5. Which are your favorite covers till now.

There are many covers that I really like. I work with very talented art directors and illustrators who make all their covers very beautiful . My most recent favorites are: Stranger in My Arms, The Harlequin and Dark Stranger. But my all-time favorite was one of the first covers I did in the beginning of my career. It was called Proud Wolf's Woman by Karen Kay. The author was extremely happy and wrote a letter praising me as a model to the company that had hired me. That was very exciting at the time so I have fond memories this one. It helped start my career to becoming the top female book cover model.

6. How do you feel when you look at covers with pictures of yourself on the shelves of top-tier bookstores?

It's a lot of fun, especially when I travel. I have seen myself on the cover of romance books in Germany, England, Greece, Iceland, Italy, South Africa and the Middle East. It’s always a pleasant surprise to find pictures of myself anywhere, but somehow it’s even more uniquely thrilling when it’s in some remote, exotic place I wasn’t expecting, or I find myself on the cover of a translated version. My family and friends enjoy finding me in their local bookstores and shops, too. My nieces and nephews have a whole book collection of their Aunt Laura.

7. What does beauty and love mean to you.

Having the career that I've had in the modeling business, I've learned that the only beauty and love that is lasting comes from the inside. It comes from loving and taking care of yourself and from being a good person to others. Looks can fade if you don't take care of yourself and no one gives love to someone who doesn't love themselves or give back to others.

Wishing all the best to Laura!

Images used belong to copyright holders. The covers are in order:

A Case for Romance- Katie Rose
Secret Star- Nora Roberts
Stranger in my arms-Lisa Kleypas
The Brahms Deception- Louise Marley

Anime review- Lovely Complex

It's been some time since I have watched anime. But here is one that was really enjoyable.

 Love★Com is a love story between a boy and a girl in Sakai, Osaka. The girl, Risa Koizumi, is 172 centimetres (5 ft 8 in) tall—much taller than the average Japanese girl. The boy, Atsushi Ōtani, is 156 cm (5 ft 1 in)—way below the height of the average Japanese boy. Because of this, the pair are called the "All Hanshin Kyojin" after a popular comedy duo that has a similar height difference.


During summer school, a very tall student named Ryouji Suzuki (from another class) shows up and Risa immediately falls for him because he is tall. There is a girl that Atsushi likes as well, so Risa and Atsushi decide to put aside their differences and help each other get their love interests. But as they get to know each other better, Risa's feelings for Atsushi begin to blossom, and her love life gets complicated from there on. (from wikipedia)

This anime falls in the romantic comedy category. The sentimental moments are interspersed with laughs. Otani is not a typical shojo hero- tall, perfect and good at everything. In fact, he's just the opposite. He is short, ill-tempered (at least with Risa) and not good at academics. Risa herself is not soft spoken and meek but strong and assertive. She is the first one to reveal her feelings.

There are standard shojo plots here, like ex-girlfriend, class trip, summer festival with fireworks, school festival etc. But what makes it stand out is the obscenely long time it takes for Otani to realize Risa's feelings. It drags the story a little, but never seems unbelievable (at least until the end). She makes up her mind in the fifth episode and it almost the fifteenth episode when he comes to realise it. Her attemps at telling him her feelings (and how they backfire) and hilarious. This is an original and unique romantic comedy that I would recommend.

Ratings

Plot-4.5
Characters-4.5
Animation-4.5
Music-3
Overall-4.5

Pros
Unique character personalities
Lots of laughs
Good appearence

Cons
Music is not really good. They should have used some insert song that can captur the characters' feelings.

NOTE- images taken from various sites on google image search.

Koda Kumi JAPONESQUE review

JAPONESQUE is Koda Kumi's tenth studio album. It reached #1 on oricon in its first week and sold 92,000 copies. It has a japanese theme, though hardly any of the tracks sounds japanese. I am only reviewing the tracks not the interludes.

1. So Nice feat Mr. Blistah- Koda starts the album with this interesting and catchy track. It has arabian instruments and sounds like a mix of Amai Wana and Candy ft. Blistah. A strong track, it somehow draws you in. Kumi's voice is sultry on this one, which adds a nice touch. She looks gorgeous in the pv.

Rating-4.5/5

2. Boom Boom boys- A rock track. Not a particularly good one though. It seems to go in no particular direction and appears to have been cut-paste from various sources.

Rating-3/5

3. VIP ft. T-PAIN- There is hardly any difference between the orignal VIP and this one except it includes rapping by T-PAIN. A catchy dance track, thought she has done better ones in the past.

Rating-3/5

4. Slow ft. Omarion- A sleek r&b ballad, the chorus cathes on pretty fast. I found myself humming this song not before long. It is like PASS ON BY  from her Dejavu album. The promotional video features her in a black dress, singing in front of a fountain.

Rating-4/5

5. Brave- A pop ballad, though it sounds more like soft pop. I liked it more when she used to do piano ballads like Yume no uta, ai no uta and moon, crying. It is an above average track, I guess.

Rating-3.5/5

6. Everyday- A below average pop track.

Rating-2/5

7. IN THE AIR- This was on her 4 times single. A slow pop track that really doesn't deserve to be on this album and was a filler in the single, too. The quality of her pop tracks and ballads is really going downhill.

Rating-1/5

8. You are not alone ~acoustic version~- When is she going to stop torturing the listeners with sub-standard poppish ballads? Her powerful voice and amazing vocal delivery are the only things that saves this track from being a filler.

Rating-3/5

9. ESCALATE- Finally! A real dance track. A bit dark sounding and full of electric guitars, this is what Koda kumi does best.

Rating-4/5

10. Love me Back- I heard this first on Nazotoki. The chorus is fine, but when you join in the verse and the 'diamonds and sapphires and you oh my' part, it starts sounding like a disjointed mess. No wonder the single didn't sell. There is a lack of continuity and connection. Still, not really bad and a little funny.

Rating-3.5/5

11. No Man's Land- I'm not really a fan of the rap. Otherwise, a rockish track with strong vocals and a catchy enough melody.

Rating- 3/5

12. Ai wo tomenaide- Her voice is full of emotion, but the tune seems to be a mass manufactured acoustic ballad in the style of suki de, suki de, suki de.

Rating-3/5

13. KO-SO-KO-SO- A really outstanding track. I loved it as a single and love it even more on the album. It has a mysterious tune. It's a mix of rock, pop, r&b and dance. It's really easy to get hooked on to this track.

Rating-4.5/5

14. Lay Down- A eurodance track. More like something you would hear on an album by a western artist. A reasonable good track with catchy beats and electronic sounds.

Rating-3/5

15. Love technique- A pinku-diva type of song. The song sounds sugary and average, but Kumi's vocals sound too artificial. She's trying to be too cute here and it's not working. This is really quite a so-so track which I would skip.

Rating-2/5

16. Poppin Love cocktail ft. TEEDA- A high-energy track. It sounds full of optimism and the upbeat arrangement adds to its energy even more. Her voice is very powerful. A great pop track.

Rating-4/5

17. All for you- This is a song for her fans. She looks simple but stunning in the video. With a simple guitar accompaniment and heartfelt vocals, it is the perfect ending for this album.

Rating-4/5

There were a lot of different genres on this album. It pales in comparison with her earlier works, though. Her quality has been on a downward trend recently, especially the quality of her ballads. There were a few good tracks on this album (mostly single tracks), but overall it is not a great album. The music videos and worth watching.

The tracks sound so manufactured, written without any feeling, just to produce a hit record. The first week sales were pretty low by her standards, so let's see what this album does.


Pros
Amazing cover
Versatility
Catchy dance tracks'

Cons
Quality of songwriting of album tracks is not very high

Overall rating-4/5

NOTE- All images were screenshoted by me from youtube except the covers.