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THE SEX FILES: Free The Nipple…Please!

By
Ralph Greco
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0

Look, I’m down. I like the female nipple as much as the next hetero guy. But by all accounts, or maybe just because we’ve come to the end of it, the #freethenipple movement seems to have reached a watershed in 2022.

We had Doja Cat baring gold-plated Schiaparelli nipples at the Billboard Music Awards, Kendall Jenner showing off on the Met Ball stairs, and Florence Pugh revealing nipple in Rome through a pink Valentino. Victoria De Angelis hit the VMAs in a Gucci bodysuit, one breast exposed sporting a heart-shaped pasty, Bella Thorne attended a screening of the film Morbius in a Sergio Castaño Peña gown, surely showing lots of her attributes, and Olivia Wilde wore a sheer Alexandre Vauthier at the Academy Museum Gala.

What a year, huh?

It seems this “Free the Nipples” stuff started in 2012, during pre-production on a documentary bearing the same name as the movement. This full-length U.S. film illuminated viewers on “the inequality of the legislation on torso nudity,” of which I surely was not aware there was this inequality, and the movement spread globally from this point.

Ladies began to strip and expose across the world, with more than 200 ladies and men marching shirtless on a beach in the UK, topless activists arrested for indecent exposure during a Bernie Sanders campaign, and the French breastfeeding awareness campaign COPAM amping up their support of mothers feeding children naturally in public. Hey, great, I say. Let the nipples free.

My only takeaway from all of this mammary bruhaha, is…what’s the big deal? We all have nipples, guys as well as girls, mammals in general. Surely, we see more breast-flesh real estate in modern-day music video “drops” or on any of the many “Real Housewives Of”… shows, when nipple and even areola aren’t exposed.

I have held the opinion for years that the nipple, the dent of the booty, and the head of a penis, scare censors, theologians, and just the sexually uninitiated because these parts of the body have the connotation of secretion (nipples=milk, crack of the ass then anus=poopie, penis heads=ejaculate or the worst of all…pee) and we simply can’t offer even a hint of this possibility, of that which makes us human/animals. A body is fine to look at, but don’t dare hint at its smells, or stickiness!

So, we keep the nipples, ass-crack, penis under wraps…or so it seems to have been until this year. Maybe we are on to a better and brighter world?   

Nah….

Paul Lewis and Romeo Rage: Sky’s Rust

By
Ralph Greco
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0

Paul Lewis and Romeo Rage

Sky’s Rust

(Realize Records)

Buy it at Amazon!

On the opening track, “Rips,” the band offers its proto-punk style but the band really gets inventive with their production on the second song, “Send Letters,” delivering a very stark vocal, bass, snare verse into overdrive. The heavy power chord hit of “Black” follows. In both, there are added backing guitar touches and synth lines, respectively, and the big drama that rises on “Black” especially compliments Rage’s low voice.

We get a change up in sound with a loose beat on “Ghost Town,” but the next track “Slip Away“ sounds like the theme from a wild western with its single synth whistling, string hits, and heavy percussion, all behind Rage’s pleading vocal talk. Another great tune from the boys.

Sanders tight snare and Lewis playing acoustic slip us into “The Shift,” another strong, studied, simple tune. The big crashing drums, Lewis not doing much more than keeping up the strumming and again an ever-so-light touch of synth, are the perfect backing for Rage’s emotive vocal.

“The Pines” ends Sky’s Rust, another acoustic-based tune, a pleading love song, featuring more of that whistling (although of a different timbre) and the band’s best use of backing vocals.

Sky’s Rust is killer stuff, really. Perfectly played (and sung), written, produced, and conjuring lots of mind movies across a listening.

Globus: Cinematica 

By
Ralph Greco
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0

Globus

Cinematica 

(Imperativa Records)

Buy it at Amazon!

Some background noise and the hint of a band taking the stage opens us here as we slide into some arpeggio of the first real tune, “Peace In Our Time,” featuring a breathy vocal that flows into a steady beat, horn backing, and rich harmonies, then almost operatic high choir.  Not to mention some spectacular drumming from monster skin man Gregg Bissonette. It’s a strong beginning worthy of Globus titling this collection Cinematica.

Globus founder/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Yoav Goren, who has scored film trailers for Spiderman, X-Men, and Harry Potter, knows the big drama soundscape well. He is joined here by a notable baker’s dozen of musicians.

There is the kinetic running of “False Redeemers,” an early standout impossible to ignore. But we are at a slower pace with strings and swirling backing and vocals on “War.” I like how this one gives us two rap moments, dead center and at the end; unexpected and delightful, to be sure.

Bissonette once again makes his presence known on the almost NIN-like cover of Bowie’s “I’m Afraid Of Americans,” a great cover of a great tune. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is another cover with a standout synth lead.

“Air I Breathe” surprised me, a tight drum smack of an almost 80’s pop-like tune that stands all on its own near the end.

Weird big synth droplets mixed with piano trills start us off at this album’s end, “Golden Dream (Letter from Adi Abe).” With its overly-affected vocal, this sounds very Floydian/Alan Parsons, but it’s a great wrap-up to Cinematic, an album I feel takes a heavy, deep listen all the way through to really appreciate.

The Real J Israel: For the Sake of R&B

By
Ralph Greco
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0

The Real J Israel

For the Sake of R&B

(J.Israel Family Entertainment Inc.)

Buy it at Amazon!

A super sexy “When You Need Love,” with an expert acoustic guitar backing and the fantastic voice of The Real J Israel, certainly gets the blood rising, beginning his new album For the Sake of R&B. Delving into the romance here, we get to the droplet arpeggios of piano on “Mr. Good Good;” with great production on this one, especially. Backing vocals and light percussion perfectly placed, and yes, Israel just having his way vocally, pretty much getting right into your pants with this singing, this early tune is killer.

There’s more of that great acoustic leading the way on “I Love You,” with some piano. “Keep You Comin,” surely of the same stripe lyrically as what has come before (pure sexy), has a thick solid thumping bass backing that I feel separates this one from most of the thirteen here, as does the higher-end wash of keys and the beat on “You Get It.” The mid-tempo snap, flicking acoustic, and low bass drum hit informs “Won’t Go Away,” which really flows into a great full beat, as does the last tune here, “I Love You to Life.” If I had to pick the most commercial tune on For the Sake of R&B, it would be this last one; offering full production, great guitar and bass, and Israel singing his heart out, over lead as well as backing vocal. For the Sake of R&B is solid, sexy, and sweet R&B from an artist who truly delivers.

Populuxe: Uneasy Listening

By
Ralph Greco
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0

Populuxe
Uneasy Listening
(Volume & Tone)

Buy it at Amazon!

A slow swirl of keys gets us into the funky beat of “Learning The Alphabet,” the first tune of Populuxe’s new album Uneasy Listening. Noisy guitar power chords inform the chorus with a slight pop-punk sensibility as Rob Shapiro’s slight Ray Davies/Harry Nilsson-like delivery fits this wry little opener. On the second tune, “American Night,” the band slows things down for a shimmery echo of a sweet surf-like ballad. I love this change-up of styles; only two tunes in.

The band reveals a near jazz mood on the bass and piano heavy “Carry Me” (at least in its verses). Featuring a weird warble (in a good way) Shapiro vocal, the band manages deep metallic slices in the chorus, setting off the heavy for the light as they do often here. The backward guitar effect is a nice touch on this weird yet effective tune that gets really loud as it ends.

There is that wry sensibility on the jumpy punk-like—and surely wonderful—“I’m Not Good At Drugs.” I love the effects used on the bass here, and the backing vocals are especially strong; dare we say Beach Boy’s like?

Employing more of those weird guitar effects, we slide into the electric strumming of “Unknown Town.” This island-like guitar short tune, and the finger-snap bass pop of the next, “The Show Is Closed,” present high points of the band and Shapiro’s singing, and that’s saying a lot on a collection with such outstanding vocals.

The music-hall-like piano of “Give Me A Moment,” reveals another expressive and truly Nilsson-like Shapiro vocal and caps what for me is a truly fantastic album from Populuxe.

THE SEX FILES: Awards, Awards, Awards

By
Ralph Greco
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0
Photo taken by @kthing_imagery
Whether they have already happened or are coming up, I think it is well within my responsibility to tell you about some naughty fun awards you might have missed, or you might still want to vote on and get out to see. From fan gatherings to industry networking parties to the fetish faithful coming together in London to canoodle, watch some performances, and throw some awards around, what follows is just some of what I feel you should be aware of. First, my friends at the UK Fetish Awards reported that their event, which happened just a month ago, went off swimmingly. For those not in the know, these specific kink and naughty awards are given to content creators from around the globe, as voted on by fans. Riri Images and Zara Rose hosted the red-carpet event held at the Proud Embankment in London. Among the winners Sabien Demonia, “Latex24/7,” and Miss Ruby Alexia. Among the sponsors include Vivishine, Live Gemini, and Darkside Magazine, to name but a few. I can personally attest that the UK Fetish Awards event was created and each year rendered by a group of dedicated people who truly know about the fetishes they represent. You can go here to find out more about the UK Fetish Awards. Two granddaddy, ‘mainstream’ porn award events, are coming very soon (at the start of the New Year, actually). One is the much-heralded, and even slightly mainstream now, AVN Awards and the events that happen around it and also the round of stuff their competitor XBIZ has planned. The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo begins January 4th and runs through the 7th. This last date is when the infamous AVN Awards are held. Go to AVN Adult Entertainment Expo January 4 – 7, 2023, Tickets, Wed, Jan 4, 2023, at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite for more info. Happening just after AVN, XBIZ is holding their awards and gathering of what they call their “XBIZ week,” which includes the X3Expo and their award show, on January 15th. You can go here XBIZ Awards – Adult Industry’s Biggest Night to find the list of noms and to vote. Since this column appears on both the New York and L.A. shortandsweet websites, it is very possible one of my west coast readers might be able to make it or is already going to XBIZ, AVN, or both. Or maybe you are jetting in for either or both from your home base on the east coast. I pretty much get press passes every year for AVN, but I never have yet been able to manage a trip out. If you do get to either or both, have a great time in both L.A. and Las Vegas, respectively. AVN and XBIZ, like the UK Fetish Awards, surely know how to do their gatherings right.

THE SEX FILES: How A N.J. Porn Convention Restored My Faith In Humanity Post Covid’s ‘New Normal’

By
Ralph Greco
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0
Photo credit: J.S.
First, I have to come clean…I’m not, nor am I ever going to be, vaxxed. I’m one of the great unwashed; call me a spreader, inconsiderate, or whatever you like. But I will not get the jab. If you have gone for it and are double or triple-boosted, that’s great. As we say in the adult business all the time…’ you do you, I’ll do me.’ Now, by coming here to read my missives on all things naughty, and mixing in the admission above, you can see why when I attended the Exxxotica N.J. convention, 2022, that recently passed, I was so thrilled to be walking among the crowd down at the New Jersey Expo Center. Porn conventions, boat shows, sporting events, to smaller groupings like three friends meeting at the local Starbucks or receiving the little groupings of kids descending on our front porches for Halloween, being together in all kinds of groups and all kinds of weather, inside or out, is what being human is about. And Exxxotica reminded me of this, after living the past 2-and-half-so years’ of hell that terrified us to touch our mail, kept us from family members, working via Zoom conferences, socializing across iPhone’s “Houseparty” app, binging streaming shows, cleaning out closets, wearing masks…the list just goes on and on how stupid, (albeit necessary sometimes) it all was and made lots of us feel. We wonder why there is an increase in the all-out craziness across the nation with people taking to enacting heinous crimes? If you and I, a seemingly sane member of society, were going a little bug house during the lockdown, is it any wonder those already short of a full loaf of Wonder bread went completely bughouse nuts? Still… During the shutdown, I refused to run scared, and yes, I am better than you because I did not/do not fear. Last year my girl and I visited Nashville and took in the Grand Ole Opry. As with Exxxotica, I have been in and around large groups of people and among parties of friends as much as anyone else. I am not a denier or a conspiracist, not a “Trumper,” or a “Bidener,” have no clear idea or even care about where the disease came from or what it can or can’t do (like even our best scientists, I do not have even a smidgen of the real facts). I just don’t live my life where I give COVID all that much mind. And I did get it; actually, we had it with our Thanksgiving dinner and suffered a four-day flu…then we said bye-bye COVID and returned to the leftovers. I recently came across the term “Still COVIDing,” and I know plenty of folks who are still adhering to strict protocols. But, again, ‘you do you, I’ll do me.’ And I did indeed see some folks masked at the convention. I’ll surely admit this, and I am sure plenty didn’t show this year, whether presenter or fan, because of their assumptions over COVID. But I’d say with no fear of argument that those who did not come were not missed because those who did show were having such a great time and that great time was infectious…if I might use that word. So, who and what did I find? I reconnected with some old friends, Jay and Connor, from the adult business portal YNOT. Pretty much I got into the game/biz back in ’09 at a YNOT convention in San Francisco, which I have mentioned before in this blog space and it was just a tickle and a half (ok, more than a half) to see these great guys again! I also got to meet a whole bunch of clients of the wonderful Erika Icon. These ladies included Lauren Phillips, Lilly Bell, and Kiki Klout. I also met for the first time, my wonderful CEO and editor-in-chief at Kink Queens, an equally wonderful magazine I write for. And my friends Lily Craven and Coralyn Jewel (also featured here previously) gave me hugs and welcomed me into their current doings and a great big hang, pretty much as they always do. I shouldn’t have been surprised by how the folks who work in and are fans of adult content are presently taking the world in stride. We always have. I have worked at kink conventions, B2B adult toy symposiums, interviewed adult stars and movie directors, attended awards ceremonies, and been a guest on industry panels. And I have yet to find a business as filled to the brim with such easygoing people. Sure, there are wacky and bad apples in every bunch, but the warmth I felt at Exxxotica, the damn-well-thrilled to be out and about with each other attitude, the normal-is-the-new-normal, full-frontal way of taking to the day was as emboldening as it was what I expected from my brethren and sister-en. I wish you had been there, or maybe you were. Maybe you have gone to or are planning to attend one of the other Exxxotica conventions that occur in a handful of U.S. cities during the year (although there are no more now until 2023). Or maybe you just want to live vicariously through attendees by looking across the event’s website or reading Twitter feeds. Maybe you are not into adult fare at all and think the whole idea of people gathering in one space where so much flesh is on display, and people are hugging hello, waiting in lines for autographs, and generally enjoy each other’s presence in the light of a pandemic is abhorrent. Again, ‘you do you, I’ll do me.” I just know, and I’ll say it once again as much to end this piece as to make sure you heard me loud and clear from behind your kitchen window where you wait for your weekly supermarket delivery after pausing that new Netflix series: A N.J. Porn Convention Restored My Faith In Humanity In COVID’s ‘New Normal.’  Be safe my friends, but try, best you can, to be out and about. Too many years are passing us by, and COVID sucks.

What Strange Beasts: Starlight’s Castaways

By
Ralph Greco
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0

Starlight’s Castaways
What Strange Beasts
(Starlight’s Castaways)

As the kids say, there is “a lot to unpack” on What Strange Beasts’ new 26-song Starlight’s Castaways album. But it’s worth taking out for a listen…and more than once.

What we get here is tight, sometimes poppy, but certainly well-played and sung prog-rock pop songs interspersed with spacey key interludes between the more traditional songs.

Jonathan Maxwell handles drums, Benjamin Ruby the-ever present synth, Aaron Kremer is a sometimes up front (and in a good way) bass and synth player, while Alley C. wails and subtly adds colorful understated guitar.

It’s important to note that Maxwell, Ruby, and Kremer all sing, and their spot-on harmonies make a powerful mix here along with their strong songwriting and mature playing.

The title track is the first real song after an opening synth wash after the first 29 seconds on “A Call To Lights.” I love how the title track moves at a breakneck speed, as well as the nod to super-duper commercial 80’s pop rock with a smidgen of a punk undertone. From the jump here, the strong harmonies of What Strange Beasts are certainly present.

Alley C.’s clean guitar wailing on “Meteor Bath” and “Scattered Skies” with its 180-degree turn from rockin’ full out are standouts here. “One Time Pad” a nice change-up later interlude featuring acoustic guitar and light synth lead, and some far-off voiceover. And Alley’s electric picking, Kremer’s growly bass, and interesting percussion work from Maxwell, fuel “No New Messages.” I’d say you’ll find great music after a deep long listen of Starlight’s Castaways.

For Which Topics is a Dark Presentation Design Appropriate?

By
Short and Sweet NYC
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0

There are many representatives of different professions and directions. Everyone wants to stand out during a presentation of their product, a student story, or a simple thematic speech. A well-designed presentation can help. An unusual solution would be a dark google slides theme, a variety of which can be viewed for a long time. The advantage is that this design is universal, even though it is not used as often as a white background. The site presents options for different topics, so the user can flip through the pages to find the most suitable template and start working on the creation of a full-fledged presentation.

Who would benefit from a dark design in slides?

Now it’s a trend, so you can use it in any theme. The main thing is to customize the template and complement it with your theme. Representatives of the following directions can safely choose a dark background:

  • Business, entrepreneurial activity, presentation of one’s product, service, or work.
  • Designers of different directions: clothing, interior, and even graphic design.
  • Motivational speakers, personal stories.
  • A blogger, a well-known personality.

This list could go on for a long time and include managers, realtors, etc. The point is that a representative of even a very serious profession is not afraid to do something stylish and attract attention. The presentation is an additional tool to help interest a new audience in your topic. 

Not only the design but also the content of the slides will help support the thought and not get confused during the presentation. Fewer and fewer people are going on stage or presenting without preparation. There is a lot of competition in almost every niche, so you should always try to come out on top.

Why can’t you do it without a presentation?

The fact is that in addition to the competition, there are levels of perception. Most people are visual, which means they remember information better with visual examples in a presentation. In darker shades, important nuances can be further emphasized through the contrasting emphasis on the black background.

With artistry and charisma you’ll be able to capture attention for 20-30 minutes at most, so don’t lose the tools to help keep your audience engaged. Go into the editor and fill your slides with useful information without sacrificing stylish design. Every new switch on the screen, at the very least, will make the audience look up. Then it’s up to you. Combine all the features and get maximum effectiveness.

Some will have a harder time if their target audience is more unconventional. That’s why it’s important to determine what kind of audience you’re going to have before you prepare. This will help you be better prepared and get as much attention as possible. For example, for the most intellectually demanding audience, prepare subtexts and options for reflection.

Conclusion

Be sure to design your important points beautifully. Add appropriate pictures or graphics to a black background. Provide information that makes the audience want to take a picture and save it. If the pictures continue to circulate, you’ve done the right thing. An oral story without a visual is less likely to be photographed. Of course, there are exceptions, but if you’re new and just developing, don’t get your hopes up for this outcome.

Download a dark ready-made template for free or choose a premium version for a small fee. Use search or filters to speed up your selection. After your first practice, you’ll notice how easy everything is to do today with ready-made templates. Then, you’ll be able to make presentations not only for work moments, but also for fun, friends, and your other half.

THE SEX FILES: We Talk with SashaBrabuster

By
Ralph Greco
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0

There are surely legends in the adult field, and Sara Brabuster is one. A professional model, feature pole dancer, former BBW XXX film actress, television and radio personality, and at one time the highest paid woman of color working in the adult field, here is a lady who has seen it all…and then some. Reentering the adult world now, after a startling weight transformation and comprehensive years under her G-string, we check in with this icon about what she has been through and what she is looking forward to.

Can you address the most significant changes you have seen come to the adult business over the years?

The most significant change I’ve noticed and been made aware of by my colleagues, is how the industry has changed drastically regarding social media, not entertainment, per se. It’s about how many followers or subscribers you have now, not your skills or talent. I know the new generation is all about social media and being engaged in numbers, and that’s what your notoriety and demand for filming are based on today. I’m old school, though; I have an absolutely substantial amazing global fan base of celebrities, professional athletes, religious icons, musicians, politicians, dignitaries, corporate executives, and the like that have been demanding my professional XXX adult film career comeback since I went away on a health sabbatical, clearly stating that they were unhappy with the level of adult porn out there now, that quality was lessened.

Beyond your obvious beauty and skill, humbly, what do you think it was about you that saw you earn the honor (and salary) of being the highest paid lady of color in XXX back when you were making films?

When I was interviewed for the college university reference history book at that time, the professor interviewed all the most prominent names of women of color in the biz. I was one of them entering the field when BBWs were just getting into the industry but really wasn’t that accepted; BBWs weren’t really filming, maybe once or twice a year, not hardly getting paid. I consulted with the famous Cindy Williams, who schooled me when I entered the field in 2004 and told me what to expect as a BBW and what she went through. When I went on a meet-and-greet at the movie companies or studios, they had me get naked and said you’re a BBW, you’re absolutely gorgeous then I’d show them how I was double jointed in my legs, and my contortionist acrobat abilities and I was hired, right then and there! They’d tell me what I was going to be paid because they knew they were going to make big bank off any video I was in, no matter the video’s genre—big butt line (although big butt wasn’t a niche back then), big boob line, pretty girl line, BBW line—every movie I was in made at least $150,000 so I was well worth my money. Frankly, the companies hiring me never saw any big girl look like me do the things I did. And I could shoot a long time, so I shot as many scenes as small girls did, and I quickly became in demand. They kept rereleasing my films, I was a cover girl and centerfold three times over, even when a few movie and magazine companies told me straight up that they didn’t shoot women of color, but they ended up shooting me. I shot for these Caucasian magazine and film companies and made history again.

Reentering the triple x arena now, what might you have to offer that younger women might not have?

I’m reentering with my A-game tight and on point. I’m in good shape with old-school experience, and I can teach some new things as well. I see how the new revolution works, and I’m also willing to learn new things; the same game, new people, and a new approach to doing things. Sure, it’s a lot more work to get back in if you don’t have a lot of followers on social media versus your skills and talents like we mainly relied on in those olden days. But don’t count me short or put me in the nursing home yet (she laughs). I can bring it like any of my young female counterparts on film half my age. I can do a double scene, film for six hours with no break, clap, and drop it like it’s hot!

Digital downloading, social media, the ‘net’ in general…do you see our modern conveniences and communications as good or bad for porn?

Good, bad, or indifferent, it’s here to stay; it’s technology. I hate it in some ways because I’m not of this era or generation for this technology, but nonetheless, I had to jump in with both feet and learn the lingo, get hip and deal with the reality, or drown. Social media is the way of the world; if you’re going to be in the XXX porn film business, you have to constantly engage with your fanbase and your agent, if you have one, your webmaster, everyone. Email, texting, direct message, instant message, personal message, tweet, Facebook, IG, TikTok, Onlyfans…the list goes on. You have to do it to survive and eat, but it’s doable; you just have to keep up and be diligent.

Out of all that you have done, do you have one particular favorite job in the adult field?

Yes, I love XXX adult film work, pole dancing, and performing my double-jointed contortionist acrobat moves the most.

Fill us in on your immediate plans and what you are considering for your future: naughty (or even not naughty) output.

My immediate future entails making a professional XXX adult film career comeback, doing pole and belly dancing, magazine shoots, aerial circus performing again, having fun, and living my best life. The only difference now, is, that I’m petite, small SashaBrabuster ® instead of BBW SashaBrabuster ®

For more information, you can find Sasha here:

https://sashabrabuster.com

https://twitter.sashabrabuster

https://tiktok.sashabrabuster

https://Instagram.officiasashabrabuster

https://www.pornhub.com/pornstar/sashabrabuster

https://sashabrabusterxxxgorgeousexoticadultfilmstar.wordpress.com/



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