The Ark - It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane (Extended Dance Mix)

"Wasn't life supposed to be more then this?"

I've been really into remixes this summer. Maybe it's because there hasn't been all that much new music that's struck me the past few months. I especially love remixes that take a song and totally shift it into something else (a dance mix of a dance song is sorta superfluous, right?). Given that I'm a super fan, I've always wished that there were more remixes of songs by the Ark out there. They did just come out with some mixes of Breaking Up With God, but I'd love to hear some new interpretations (or, dare I wish, a megamix?) of their older classics. I'm not even sure if the mix I'm posting today was done by a professional. It's not an official mix, but I've had it in my collection for years now. At first, it's nothing special. Just a basic dance beat. But once that simple piano riff starts, everything kicks into gear. This song may end up being known as the Ark's crowning achievement, so I'm surprised it doesn't have any official mixes. It's such an anthem... there's so much potential for something earth-shattering and floor-filling. For an unreleased mix, though, this is pretty good. And as is always the case with remixes, it all comes down to this: a great song is a great song, no matter how it's presented.



The Ark - It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane (Extended Dance Remix) by alienhits



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy their greatest hits here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Which Skyship Academy Student are you?

Only nine days until the book is released (though you can get it now on Amazon). There will be a music post tomorrow, I promise, but I thought it would be fun to link to this quiz today. Take it and tell me in the comments which character you get! (I got Avery)

SKYSHIP Quiz

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Lady Gaga - Yoü and I (Mark Taylor Remix)

"Sit back down where you belong"

RE: The MTV VMAs. Thank god for Gaga! Seriously, without her brand of craziness, the show last night would have been pretty boring. I found it kind of entertaining to count the number of the show's attendees who tried to dress "crazy" in the mold of Gaga and couldn't pull it off. I mean, I love Katy Perry, but she can't give the weird outfit thing the commitment it requires (the block of cheese... or whatever it was... on her head just looked stupid). Lady Gaga's choice to drag it up throughout the entire show may have been bizarre, but she committed to it fully (so much so, it was kind of scary!). As always, she was a compelling watch. Her performance, too, was utterly captivating in its sheer ambition and balls-to-the-wall nerve. She is IT. A complete star. And the more I hear this song, the more I like it as a single. I was particularly pleased that she decided to segue into what sounded like this remix for the dancing portion. It's an excellent uptempo transformation of the song. Who would have ever thought you could square dance to Lady Gaga? (Oh, and I haven't had a chance to mention it here yet, but the song's video is one of her best)



Lady Gaga - Yoü and I (Mark Taylor remix) by stefanmonster



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Tove Styrke - Call My Name

"I'll be waiting over the border"

I am so proud of Sweden for embracing Tove Styrke. She was so obviously the highlight of her year of Swedish Idol, but my favorites don't always become the country's favorites. In this case, even though she finished third, she's carved out quite a nice little career for herself. Her debut (despite being uneven) spawned three hits, and now we're ready for round two. If this (I'm assuming it's the lead single?) is anything to go by, then I am very excited for the new album. She's gone just a bit rockier with this track. Gone are the icy, experimental electronics that characterized many of the older tracks. Instead, this is pure, BIG pop music. It's built on a repetitive hook but doesn't rest on it. In fact, the verses may be my favorite part. Like most Swedish pop songs, they just get it right.



Tove Styrke - Call My Name by NOiSEiT



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the first album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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The Top Five Movies of Summer 2011 (+1)

Summer is a terrific time for movies. This year, I counted the "summer season" as starting on April 29th with the release of Fast Five. Between then and now, there have been six movies that I've absolutely loved. Of course, there were a handful of disappointments as well (Transformers, Cowboys & Aliens) and train wrecks (Green Lantern), but overall I'd say the quality level was above average in 2011. None of these (except maybe one) could be described as anything but summer tentpole films, but there's nothing wrong with that. The awesome indie movies are waiting just around the corner for Fall. As for Summer entertainment, here were my favorites:



1. Super 8/Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Pt. II

I just couldn't pick between these two. One was the finale of the greatest film series ever made and, because of that, was impossible to separate from the excellent movies that had come before it. The other was the most refreshing, exciting, and nostalgic film of the summer. I'm obsessed with both. Dangerously obsessed.



2. X-Men: First Class

I'm a massive fan of this franchise, and this reboot/prequel ranks among the best in the series. The cast was wonderful, the story was gripping, and the choice to set the action in the 60's was inspired.



3. The Help

The only genuinely triumphant "serious" picture of the summer, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time (funny, since this is the only film on my list that couldn't be described as an "action" movie). Best acting of the summer, and very powerful.



4. Fast Five

I've never been a fan of this series, but I took a chance on this one and was so glad that I did. The action sequences... my god the action sequences! Forget the acting, forget the storytelling. This was one of the best "popcorn movies" I've ever seen. That scene at the end? Craaaazy.



5. Captain America

It actually shocked me how much I liked this one. I wouldn't have pegged it as having a chance to be on my list, but good old fashioned adventure storytelling made this something very special. Great cast, too.

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Le Kid - Escape

"I gotta undo the damage done"

After what seems like forever (and a million push-backs in release date), Swedish pop band Le Kid's debut is about to be released. I've heard it (honestly, I had heard most of the tracks months ago) and it's Swedish pop the way Swedish pop should be done. Big, glossy, sassy. It's really, really good. One of my favorite tracks that I haven't highlighted yet (fav tracks will always be America and We Should Go Home Together) is the gorgeous Escape. It really represents everything I love about Le Kid. It's lush, melodic and the perfect mixture of uplift and bittersweet. In other words, it's a model in Scandinavian pop writing and production. I can't tell you how much you've gotta get this album. Oh, and check out the new single We Are The Drums. It's pretty awesome, too.



Escape by roxyrecordings



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Skyship Academy: Available Online NOW!

As of this morning, a number of online retailers received SKYSHIP ACADEMY: THE PEARL WARS (my debut YA sci-fi/adventure novel, if you're a new reader) and are ready to ship it. Online purchasers should receive it before it's even in stores. Aaaghh, it's a real book now!



Here are a few of the places it's available today:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble (still displaying an old cover)

And around the world, for preorder:

Amazon (UK)

Amazon (Canada)



And here's the back cover summary again. Also, don't forget to read the first three chapters online for free!



A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.



Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.



Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.



"A definite must-read!"—JAMES DASHNER, New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner

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Movie Review: Fright Night

Fright Night



Fright Night was not a movie I was planning to see a few weeks ago. But then I started hearing such great things from critics and others that I had to give it a whirl. Plus, each year around this time there seems to be a supernatural-type film that makes no money at the box office but becomes a personal favorite (last year it was the brilliant Let Me In, still one of my favorite movies of the past few years, and before that it was Jennifer's Body). I was hoping this would follow suit, even though I knew nothing about the original. I was going into this one cold. Honestly, that's kind of how I left the theater, too.



The main frustration I had with the film is that it kept reeling me in only to let me down. It was like the peaks on a roller coaster. One moment I'd be all excited, the next I'd be slouched back in my seat, daydreaming. To compare similar movies, in 2007 Disturbia managed to keep me hooked throughout. It's a hard thing to do. The problem with this one is that tension isn't allowed to build because the big reveal/mystery is pretty much spoiled in scene one. We know the creepy neighbor's a vampire, so what follows is basically your standard teen suspense film.



However, the action sequences are frequently inspired, particularly an encounter on a dark Vegas highway and a scene in the middle of the film that, without giving too much away, subverts audience expectations and ends with a wonderfully sick surprise (and I'm not easily surprised). Colin Farrell makes an incredibly unnerving villain, and when he--and others--vamp up, they look pretty damn awesome. These aren't your friendly, sparkly vamps. There's a constant danger surrounding the film. The supporting cast, filled with familiar faces, is pretty strong too.



I was less impressed with the casting of the lead. I've liked Anton Yelchin in Star Trek, Charlie Bartlett and Terminator: Salvation, but for me he was totally miscast in this role. I don't feel like he carried the film the way that he needed to, and I felt no connection to his character. It's crazy, because I really like this actor. Something just didn't click. David Tennant (of Doctor Who fame) is much more effective.



Still, for the action sequences and a few clever little plot points, I'm going to give this a very mild "go." A good one to rent around Halloween, maybe. C+



QUICK VERDICT: (mild) Go

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Nero - My Eyes

"My eyes follow you around the room"

I've been trying to get into this whole dubstep thing. I'm all for it in theory. I love the heavy, sleazy nature of the electronics and I find it very interesting how the genre has worked its way into the pop world (I mean, when Selena Gomez is using elements of it, you know it's gone mainstream). My biggest issue with straight-up dubstep, though, is the lack of melody. Melody is the biggest thing for me, even before lyrics. That being said, I've found myself interested in the new Nero album. The singles are all amazing (and get better the more you hear them), but apart from the brilliant Promises, the music seems to favor production over melody. Still, I'm delving in and willing to be won over. My Eyes is a step in the right direction, a moody--almost cinematic--track that offers the first vocals on the album. It's not on par with the singles, but it's a nice track to ease into Nero's sound.



Nero - My Eyes by azurochka



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Pop Blitz 8/19/11

Nero - Promises

This is by far my favorite single they've released. It's got the poppiest song structure yet, but an indie edge reminiscent of La Roux. This just screams "crossover hit" to me. A-



Joe Jonas - Love Slayer

Well, it's certainly a jump into the dance/r&b genre for him, but like the first solo track, this has a gaping hole where melody should be. Listen to Darin's Love Killer instead. You won't be missing anything here. D+



JLS - She Makes Me Wanna

This is actually a lot better than most of the stuff they've released. It's nowhere near classic, and is completely trendy/derivative, but for what it is, it's alright. I wouldn't switch the radio if this was on. It's very similar to the Wanted's new single, though (and that one's better). B



Lil' Wayne (ft. Drake) - She Will

I've never really had any interest in Lil' Wayne. I honestly don't even know how to review this, since it's really not my thing at all. I guess it's alright? Pretty dirgy, though, for a rap song that's #1 on itunes. C-



Olly Murs (ft. Rizzle Kicks) - Heart Skips A Beat

Another artist I don't like (he's annoying). But, I've got to admit that I sort of like this song. You really can't tell it's Olly Murs. I wish it wasn't, because then I'd probably love it. As it stands, it's still quite enjoyable. Although I do find it really strange that Rizzle Kicks agreed to be featured on this. B+



Jessie J - Who's Laughing Now

I definitely like this better than her last single, which I hated, but there's still something totally missing in this popstar package for me. The laughing parts are so freaking scary sounding. I feel like the chorus slightly lets down the verses, too. But I do like the video. C+



Example - Stay Awake

Well, it's not as epic as his last single (one of the best of the summer), but this is still very good. I'm obsessed with Example's sound, and really believe that it could be as popular over here as it is in the UK. This is growing on me with each listen. A-

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Sirius/XM yanks BBC Radio 1 - I've got a big problem, here

Ok, I have a bone to pick. It's a rather important bone (!), at least to me, so I figured I'd nix a music post today to talk about it. I'm not sure if any of you are Sirius/XM Satellite Radio subscribers in North America, but if you are--and if your tastes are anything like mine--you've probably realized that the company yanked BBC Radio 1 from their service last week without warning. It's been replaced by some lame disco station. This simply isn't gonna do.



You Brits may scoff, but Radio 1 is very important to me. In fact, it's why I bought the service in the first place. Having lived in England for awhile, it recalls pleasant memories. More than that, though, it makes all the European music I post on this blog real. What I mean by that is, it places it in a real-life context. I don't only like to listen to music for music's sake. I like to understand where it's popular and why. I'm a chart junky and (surprise, surprise) like to know what people are thinking about the latest songs. Given that my taste tends to tilt very heavily towards European stuff, Radio 1 is really the best way to do that. And even though I'm very well-versed in music from around the world, I've made more than one discovery from the channel.



Now, the company's striving to pacify its customers by offering the channel for streaming on their website (a bit laughable, since you can already stream it for free on the Radio 1 website and Sirius charges $2.99 for the privilege), but I don't listen to radio on the internet. I listen to it in my car. I want Radio 1 in my car. End of. I'm paying for it, after all.



I realize this rant won't apply to all of you, but if it does, there's a movement afoot to get the channel back on satellite radio in North America. Heck, even if you're a listener in England and believe us Americans/Canadians deserve access, visit the following link and join the campaign. Email them. Call. I'm serious! >:)



http://www.facebook.com/SaveRadio1inNorthAmerica

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Frankmusik - Struck By Lightning

"I'd rather be struck by lightning"

The sampler for Frankmusik's upcoming album is out there and, while I haven't given it more than the most casual of listens so far, there is one track that definitely stands out to me. As you know, I'm all about the big anthemic pop hooks, and this song definitely has them. The verses surge, the chorus explodes, and the retro electro beat keeps it all going. I love songs like this. Frankmusik is extremely hit or miss for me, and as such I haven't been able to get completely jazzed about him like I wish I would. But I do love the new single, and this is just fantastic. I hope the album follows suit. It really hits that sweet spot between indie and mainstream dance pop.



Frankmusik - Struck By Lightning by projectDRK



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Tyson - Fight

"I will fight"

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday! It was one of those days where I left home at seven-thirty in the morning and got back at eleven-thirty at night. Not a lot of time to write anything up! But I think today's song makes up for it. If you'll remember, I mentioned electropop artist Tyson (of Unklejam fame) earlier this year. He's got quite a few nice songs uploaded on his soundcloud, and here's a new one. Fight continues the 80's inspired (the first little bit reminds me of Maniac) soul inflected dance pop that Tyson does so well. This is what I wish Cee-Lo would sound like. His voice is quite similar, but the entire sound experience feels way cooler. Despite the cheesy guitar solos and simple electronic beats, this doesn't sound like a novelty track. It's just an effortless, slightly anthemic pop track. It's all over too soon, though.



Fight by TYSON



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Studio Killers - Ode To The Bouncer

"Let me in or I'll get physical with you"

This is one of those songs that's been on my "needs to be posted on alienhits" list for a long time. I absolutely love it, but for whatever reason haven't come around to sharing it until today. While the trio's various webpages shroud their whereabouts in mystery, I believe this is a Danish/Scandinavian band. Correct me if I'm wrong, but even if they're actually from "London" and "Hawaii" as we're meant to believe, they have an extremely Danish sound. In fact, this track takes equal parts from two of my favorite Danish bands, Oh No Ono and Private. It's an incredibly catchy mix of plastic pop and dance, with influences both retro and futuristic. I don't think a better song has been written about bouncers. And if you haven't watched the video (below) yet, it's a must see. So creative/clever/funny/cool! Now if they'd only release a follow-up single. I want more.







(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars - First Three Chapters

Just a quick note to let you know that you can now read the first three chapters of my debut YA novel, on sale September 8th or available for presale here. If you like sci-fi/adventure/action, this one's for you!



Click to read the chapters here.

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Movie Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes



Okay, so I went from "why did this movie need to be made?" to "this actually looks pretty good" in the past few weeks, but now after seeing it I'm leaning more towards my initial impressions.



A lot of critics and viewers have seemed surprised that Rise of the Apes is as good as it is. That was part of the reason I started getting excited to watch it. And I think it is that good... for awhile. The first third is totally solid, setting up an ethical conflict with a lot of potential. Even more than that, the special effects are to be applauded. They're easily the best thing about the film. The motion capture technology (and acting work of Andy Serkis, who helped bring the apes alive) is nothing short of astounding. These creatures definitely don't feel digital, particularly the main ape, Cesar. In fact, he gives the central, most memorable performance in the film.



The problems start to appear in the sluggish second act. To me, at least, the inciting incident came a little too late and the aftermath (involving a horrible animal "shelter") eats up much of the movie (too much, imo). Sidenote: If you're a Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy) fan, it's kind of fun to watch him attempt an American accent (which he sort of succeeds with). Then we get to the conclusion, which is where I finally made up my mind about the movie. The problem is, it's so inevitable that you're just waiting for it to come. And when it finally does, I was left a little underwhelmed. I mean, once you see the movie, you'll understand why Cesar was so angry that he needed to lash out at the humans (you'll be right there with him, trust me), but the whole "ape uprising" seemed a little drastic and out-of-nowhere to me. I don't know, maybe it was just me.



Even with all of these nitpicks, I'm still mildly recommending the movie. The opening third (and the effects) are so good that it makes it a solid rental. I don't think I'll ever watch it again, though. B-



QUICK VERDICT: Go

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One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful

"Baby you light up my world like nobody else"

As anyone whose read this blog for awhile knows, I was completely obsessed with last year's season of UK X-Factor. It was reality tv gold in so many ways, and I can't see any season matching it. One of the biggest reasons was the quality (and diversity) of the contestants. I'm glad to see Cher Lloyd doing so well in the charts, even though I despise her debut single. But she wasn't the act I was supporting the most anyway. To preface this, I'm not usually a fan of boybands. Their overly manufactured nature just doesn't appeal to me (I guess they're not really designed to appeal to me, anyway). But you can't deny when something special is happening. The formation of One Direction last season was definitely something special. Rarely has a group fit so well together. Look, personality, sound... it all worked from the beginning and still works now. It's a boyband I'm actually interested in! Today marks the debut of their first single and, like everything else, it works too. In fact, I'd be shocked if this didn't hit number one and stay there. Sometimes you hear a song, so poppy and cheesy and catchy, that just screams "number one single." A track like this is hard not to sing along to, regardless of your taste in music. It's like early Mcfly mixed with Glee mixed with a modernized The Monkees. It's completely ridiculous and cheesy, but don't we all need a bit of that sometime? And it's total boyband in the best way possible.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Fixers - Swimmhaus Johannesburg

"You're running so fast"

I heard this on the radio for the first time over the weekend and was instantly hooked. Researching the band further, it seems that this is a bit of a departure for them, aimed more at the dancefloor than their past work. They've yet to release a full album, and I'm hoping that when they do, it'll veer towards this sound. Swimmhaus Johannesburg might not be the most obvious pop song title, but once you hear this, you'll be unable to pry it from your head. the melody's completely strong and the warped vocals very interesting, but I think it's the touches of guitar that I like the most. The whole thing has an experimental vibe about it, but doesn't sacrifice accessibility. I think this will serve the band well. I can see them pulling a Foster The People and jumping from indie to mainstream pretty quickly.



Fixers - Swimmhaus Johannesburg by cooldelta



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the EP here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Martin Rolinski - Blame It On A Decent Matter

"What makes the wrongs right"

BWO is back! Well, not really, but they might as well be now that we've heard this song from their departing frontman. In a summer where Swedish pop has been more than disappointing, this is just the jolt that I needed. I'm so glad that Martin chose to keep the basic BWO sound for his debut single. His voice, coupled with dancefloor synths, is always unstoppable. It's, without a doubt, one of my favorite pop voices of the last decade. Now the song title... that's a different matter. As is often the case with English songs written in Sweden and performed by Swedish artists, the word choice is a little confusing (no finger pointing here... they do a lot better job than us Americans would probably do in a different language). I'm not sure what Martin's rattling on about in this track, but there are plenty of BWO songs like that, so it's easily overlooked. Besides, it's always interesting to try and decipher what a song's supposed to mean. But what matters here is the sound. And it's exactly what I've been craving.



Martin Rolinski - Blame It On A Decent Matter by alienhits



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy BWO's greatest hits here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

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Skyship Academy: The Music - Day Five

It's the final day for SKYSHIP music! Today I'm focusing on another of Jesse's closest friends aboard the Academy but also one that can often rub him the wrong way:

EVA RODRIGUEZ

Who: fifteen-year-old trainee at the Academy ** highly knowledgeable about training expectations and procedures ** very competitive, and definitely more athletic/aggressive than Jesse

Songs:

Surferosa - The Future
Eva's songs are more in-your-face than anyone else's this week. She's a definite soldier and grade-A student, but also buys into the procedures and hierarchy of the Academy and the government as a whole. Always eager for an opportunity to advance her skills, she is optimistic in the ability of students like her to make a difference. This song, which combines aggression and passion, would be the kind of music to pump Eva up before battle.



Set Fire Run - Destroy! Destroy!
Jesse's indecision can drive Eva crazy. More often than not, she's pushing him into action when all he wants to do is hesitate. As brilliant as she is, Eva can sometimes get tunnel vision, especially during training missions. The straightforward battle cry of this track is a perfect representation of her worldview when she gets in a "battle" frame of mind.



Preorder the book here!
And find out more by joining the facebook group

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Skyship Academy: The Music - Day Four

Day Four! Today we're staying at the Academy and focusing on one of Jesse's two closest friends aboard the school:

SKANDAR HARRIS

Who: fifteen-year-old trainee at the Academy ** easygoing, with a love for training scenarios and battles ** speaks with remnants of a British accent - Jesse calls it a "Skandar accent"

Songs:

The Galvatrons - The First Starfighter
Given his obsession with battle (or at least what he thinks battle would be like), this track is definitely something that would appeal to Skandar. It chronicles the plight and eventual victory of the starfighter in the title. But more than that, it does so in such an overblown, epic, romanticized way. This is definitely how Skandar sees war, and deep down he'd love to be like the victorious homecomers in this track. This leads him to some rash decisions.



Battles - Atlas
I include this song because I think it's something that Skandar would totally listen to. It's simple, repetitive and kind of ridiculous. He's not exactly a scholar, but he makes up for it in positivity, loyalty and a bit of a strange side. The lyrics are so unintelligible, yet I can see him being interested in deciphering their meaning in the hope that it would lead him to some sort of glory.



Preorder the book here!
And find out more by joining the facebook group

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Skyship Academy: The Music - Day Three

Day Three is upon us! Today, I'll focus on Avery, the "unattainable" (as he puts it) girl of Jesse's dreams:

AVERY WICKSEN

Who: seventeen-year-old post-grad transferred to Skyship Academy several years ago ** works in the ship's library after failing to attain Pearl agent-status ** known for sneaking around the ship, looking for trouble

Songs:

Pacific! - Break Your Social System
Avery's selections are more laid-back and downtempo to reflect her personality. Her "whatever" attitude to life is the opposite of Jesse's more worried approach. She's also very much the rebel on Skyship Academy, refusing to blindly follow the rules and regulations. The Academy is home to many dark nooks and crannies, perfect for sneaking around. She takes full advantage, sometimes to her and Jesse's detriment. This track highlights that rebellious personality.



Donkeyboy - Sometimes
There's also a darker side to Avery. She's haunted by her past -- a past Jesse knows very little about. This is what initiates their friendship. As pitiful as Jesse can be sometimes, he's the only one on the Academy that can make her laugh. The lyrics in the chorus of this song, especially, describe the essence of this relationship (a relationship Jesse wishes would go further - Avery is a little more vague about her own wishes).



Preorder the book here!
And find out more by joining the facebook group

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Skyship Academy: The Music - Day Two

Time for Day Two of the Skyship Academy character music week! Yesterday I focused on one of the Academy's trainees. Now it's time to journey down to the surface and talk about who's working on the other side of the Pearl Wars:

CASSIUS STEVENSON

Who: fifteen-year-old training with the Unified Party to become a Pearlhound ** the favorite student of head honcho Madame, who considers him an adopted son ** after he comes in contact with Jesse Fisher, something inside him explodes... literally

Songs:

Spleen United - My Tribe
More than anything, the lyrics of this encompass the cold war between the two factions of the book -- Skyshippers and those living on the Surface. Whereas Jesse doesn't completely buy into it, Cassius's world is dominated by military operations, subterfuge and the constant threat of insurgencies from multiple enemies. As the book opens, he definitely has a cocky, us-against-them mentality, which leads him to actions he could very possibly regret later on. The loyalty to his "company" (in this case, his Madame and his fellow Pearlhounds) has been ingrained deeply.

My Tribe by popantipop

Carpark North - Burn It
The complicated relationship between Cassius and his mother figure, the ruthless Madame, forms the crux of his story line and the majority of his motivation throughout the story. Things reach a head as the action progresses, and this song perfectly illustrates his mental space when they do. Also, the title is appropriate, given the events of the third chapter (I'll let you see for yourself when you read the book, though!)



Preorder the book here!
And find out more by joining the facebook group

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