The A List – February 13, 2006

By Alison L. Roberts

The A List went on hiatus back during Spring 2004, when I took time out to deal with varied personal and professional commitments including serving as the marketing/communications director and guest relations director for an anime con, changing day jobs, starting as the publicist for a national Celtic rock act, and getting my own house in order.

The closing of Absolute-Zero and launch of Aligator Pop represent the beginning of a new personal era, and I’m psyched to start it out doing what I might just love to do most -- giving my opinions on the pop culture products with which I am totally obsessed. ;-)

Let’s christen Aligator Pop with its very first installment of The A List!

LISTENING

IN YOUR HONOR, Foo Fighters RCA Records

Plans, Death Cab for Cutie | If you like the radio-friendly singles “Soul Meets Body” and “Crooked Teeth,” you’ll love the rest of this CD: A meditation on love and loss that is just about perfect for cool winter days, even as it offers hope for what may be found during the spring days ahead.

In Your Honor, Foo Fighters | Admittedly, I’ve been stuck on the “loud” CD of this two-disc set, but if you can’t rock out to the titular single or “Best of You” and “End Over End,” I have to question if you are a fan of rock music at all. The second CD, which has been referred by the band as the “not so loud” one, has a softer “pop” sensibility, only in that the lyrics are matched less frequently by the band’s full thunder.

READING

BASARA © Yumi Tamura/ Shogakukan, Inc. © VIZ Media, LLC.

Basara, Vol. 16, story and art by Yumi Tamura (VIZ/ SHOJO) | It says something that this series made frequent appearances on the list two years ago and now finds a place in this inaugural column with its most recent volume.

Although secret identities have been revealed, the story is far from over as Sarasa (our heroine) and Shuri (the anti-hero or villain, depending on whose view you share) deal with the ramifications of their love for one another and the terrible acts each has committed to bring about a new Japan. Tamura has a particular talent for this -- without sacrificing action for brooding or becoming preachy -- which makes Basara a standout among the shoujo (girls') manga currently on the market.

Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango), Vol. 16, story and art by Yoko Kamio (VIZ/ SHOJO) | Say what you will about Tsukasa: He knows what he wants, and that happens to be Tsukushi. If only she’d get it… especially now that his uber-controlling mother is on the scene and ready to spring a surprise that is sure to rock everyone's boat.

TRAMPS LIKE US (KIMI WA PET) © Yayoi Ogawa. English adaptation © TOKYOPOP.

Fables, No. 46, story by Bill Willingham with art by Jim Fern, Jimmy Palmiotti (VERTIGO) | Taking a break from Fabletown, part one of “The Ballad of Rodney and June” details the awkward romance between a wooden soldier in the Adversary’s military and his puppet-like girlfriend. This issue establishes the side story’s characters, but the depiction of the differences between the wooden and “meat” troops and of the military’s structure may be more interesting than the love affair to regular readers of the comic.

Tramps Like Us (Kimi Wa Pet), Vol. 8, story and art by Yayoi Ogawa (TOKYOPOP) | The scenario is clear, at this point: Career-woman Sumire is still trying to balance both a hesitant relationship with her boyfriend and the comfortable (secret!) camaraderie she has with her male roommate/pet. This volume further establishes Takeshi, a.k.a. the pet, as a true contender for Sumire’s affection, while putting her significant other, Hasumi, in an unexpected situation that he certainly wouldn’t have chosen for himself.

WATCHING

BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM © 20th Century Fox.

24 (FOX) | 24’s “non-stop” season is living up to its billing, and it is my sincerest hope that the reintroduction of Jack’s daughter doesn’t affect the pacing of what has been a taut, sustained thriller so far. (No mountain lions!)

SAIYUKI © Kazuya Minekura/ Enix - SAIYUKI PROJECT - TV TOKYO. English adaptation by ADV Films.

American Idol (FOX) | Admit it. The non-winners are almost more fun to watch than the actual contenders.

Bend It Like Beckham (FOX SEARCHLIGHT) | This movie is so full of “girl power” that it makes me really sad that the U.S.’s professional women’s soccer league didn’t take off the way many had hoped it would.

Saiyuki, Vol. 7: The Gods of War; Saiyuki, Vol. 8: Soldiers of Destiny and Saiyuki, Vol. 9: Children of Sacrifice (ADV FILMS) | A second set of enemies and a quartet of heroes that continue to be entertaining make the second half of this long series fun.