SENPAI III

Count me as one of those people who thinks grown men really should have better and more appropriate things to do with their time than consuming or engaging with anime productions and culture, particularly the kind of anime that deals with teenage girl drama in high school, even IF it is meant to be taken tongue- in-cheek. And yet despite my reservations, Sithu Aye's latest musical foray into this uncomfortable territory demanded my attention. Sithu is an immensely talented musician and producer and, from the looks of it, a pretty relatable person as well. If anime is what really tickles his creative bone, then we must leave the master (get it?) to do his thing.

With all this said, on the less than a handful of occasions I engaged with anime material in my youth that wasn't Pokeman, the one element that stuck out to me in a positive way was, indeed, the music. It was undoubtedly commercial but was invested with a seriousness and sincerity that was not shared by the music produced for say American television. Senpai III definitely captures this by utilizing the same jazzy pop chords and memorable hooks you could expect to hear on some anime credit outro. Of course coupled with Sithu's incomparable guitar chops and you really get a very serious and enjoyable piece of art on this record. There is nothing revolutionary or world changing here but worthwhile nevertheless.