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Nick Rhodes recommended Off the Wall by Michael Jackson in Music (curated)

 
Off the Wall by Michael Jackson
Off the Wall by Michael Jackson
1979 | Rhythm And Blues
8.0 (4 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This was a difficult choice. I did want something that was a disco album and could have gone for The Bee Gees’ Saturday Night Fever - you don’t get much better than the songs on that particular album. But then I thought about Michael Jackson and what he did and how he changed things. Off The Wall is Quincy [Jones] at the height of his powers producing Michael Jackson as he is coming of age. Michael had the most amazing voice and a sense of rhythm that no-one had ever heard before. It’s really something. I listened to it about two or three months ago for the first time in quite a while and it is flawless. Off The Wall was the sound of [New York super-club] Studio 54. I was too young to go to Studio 54 when it first opened but I did go later when they reopened it briefly at the beginning of the eighties. I stood in the same room just imagining what it would have been like - it would have been a lot more fun in 1977. So, that album, which to me is a more interesting album than Thriller (although again another really great album), captured the spirit of a generation and moved dance music somewhere. This discussion could go on for hours if we had time, about what happened with disco and funk, bands like Chic and Sister Sledge who I’m obviously a huge fan of, but, for me, Off The Wall was the album that defined that period."

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Cassandra Files: Genesis
Cassandra Files: Genesis
Rod Pennington | 2021 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Rod Pennington's latest novel, Cassandra Files: Genesis, is a quick and enjoyable read.

A third-generation and well-respected Naval combat pilot, Lt. Cassandra Morse, is performing a test of a prototype fighter jet with her co-pilot grandfather when they are attacked. Missing for weeks after the accident, she has no memory of the lost time. Stranger still, she can see and talk with her grandfather, who died in the accident. No one believes her even when she begins having prophetic dreams. That is, no one believes her until her dreams come true, and her latest dream is the scariest yet.

While I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed Pennington's writing, use of strong women characters, and humor more. The story wraps everything up at the end, but he left room for a sequel too.

Some reviewers had a difficult time keeping track of the numerous characters involved. I do not think that should prevent readers from enjoying this book. It is worth taking the time to read, and since it is a quick read, it will not take much time. I think it is best described as a cozy for the fantasy genre.

Pennington is best known for The Fourth Awakening Series.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com.
  
Halo (Fallen Angel, #1)
Halo (Fallen Angel, #1)
Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank | 2019 | LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I got this from the Kindle Unlimited library after being a bit of a geek and going through the story on Chapters - the interactive story app? - and getting intrigued by these two guys and how their relationship would progress.

This starts with the successful rock band TBD looking for another front-man after their old one walked out several months ago and never came back. In walks Halo, a talented guy with the voice they're looking for and decide to make him their frontman. Viper, an original member of TBD, feels an intense attraction to Halo from the moment he walks in the room and it only grows when he hears him sing - the only issue is Halo claims he's straight.

Since I'd read through the story on Chapters, I pretty much knew everything that was going to happen although in the app we only see Halo's POV and in this book we get alternating POV's between both Halo and Viper and i thought it was great to see what was going on in Viper's head.

I love the progression of this thing that sparks between them and Viper's innuendo and single mindedness when it comes to wanting to get in Halo's pants. That's why I've called it a thing because Viper isn't exactly the romantic type but the care and attention he's shown Halo makes me believe he truly cares about him and I cannot wait to read the next book to see where their relationship goes next.