If you consider that it was done almost a decade ago and still an up to date content, it is a great story. Probably would be great if you could see the anime first, because it is based on the band not the girl as the manga is. Shinjo Mayu makes a good job drawing and not giving the image of an decade old manga. The problem notice for all is around the heroine, who is too naive and yes, too many times plain dumb, making the story tiring in certain moments. She is too much medieval woman, always depending on her knight to tell her what to do or waiting to be saved, never learning with her bad experiences. Not considering these details, I love this manga, and have the complete series, some volumes first edition, and never get tired of re-reading the great ones. I only wish that Shinjo-san could have explored more the other characters' life stories as the anime did a little. Anyways it is worth reading and meeting a gorgeous rock-star-knight: Sakuya Ookoshi and his yummy band mates.

I started this story, and things were fine for around the first 5 volumes, and then I just started getting tired of the heroine, who never seems to learn anything or gain any confidence. I'm tired of seeing: girl does something stupid, guy saves her, she has confidence issues, he reassures her, repeat ad nauseum. If they'd stopped around chapter 35, it probably would've been OK, but I don't think I can take another 10 volumes of this! I moved it to my unfinished list. Some day when I'm feeling masochistic, I'll pick it up again.

I must say that even though I do not like smut mangas (except for Red River) much, this is one of the better smut mangas. It's better than Haou Airen if that means anything to you.
Typical school girl.
Typical famous guy.
Shinjo however tells this tale in a way that isn't bitter sweet, nor is it disgusting,
but just right. But still smutty. I hope that provides enough information so you can decide whether or not to read it.

Rating: 5/10

Well, I suppose in Kaikan Phrase's defense, it could have been worst. If you are a fan of smut, well, you'll get plenty. I actually like the artwork here, it's not horrible, not my favorite, but definitely on the good side of my preferences. I admire the eyes, which I think are the best parts. Smut scenes are done decently enough because I have seen worst.

The plot, however, was cliche, typical, and rather bland. Alright, musicians, with erotic music, wonderful...but why must the girl always be victimized? I like the concept of the band of Lucifer, it wasn't a horrible idea, but every chapter seems to revolve around the female protagonist in some way. I kind of stopped caring about must of the characters very early on the series. It's always boy meets girl, fall in love, and everyone is suddenly out for the female. Le typical of shoujo. >_>;

And as for the characters, if you dislike weak female leading characters, turn away now, or just enjoy the smut. Aine, well, she was better than the girl from Love Celeb, I'll give her that much, but other than that she was rather two-dimensional for my taste. I understand that she loves Sakuya but the fact that she often waits for him to save her, all those times she cried, I don't know, I just wish she would grow a backbone sometime soon. Some of the male characters were decent characters. Funny what a background can do for a character! Anyhow, it seemed to me that the characters I learned more about, their pasts, their families, not just their love interests, the more I liked them. However, the deeper glimpses into the other characters were very brief before going back to Aine and Sakuya.

All in all, if you crave smut, read it. If you crave a good storyline with smut, go read something else, like Midnight Secretary.

Although this might not be to everyone's taste I think is Shinjo Mayu's best works so far. There is smut, but it fits in with the storyline and is not just constant meaningless assaults like some of Shinjo's other works *cough*

Aine is a weak character, so don't read if that annoys you too much, but she is famous in her own right for her song writing which gives her a crediable reason to be with Sakuya.
The ending is really sweet though and shows Aine growing as a stronger person which is great!

If you prefer to focus on the band members I'd watch the anime as it's more general and Aine is not even introduced till halfway through the series.

It does become a little repetetive like many shoujo's and I would stay away if you hate weak heroines with posessive men but I would recommend it if you like a light hearted smut series!!

I would have to agree with some negative comments regarding this specific manga and other works by Shinjo Mayu. Her works were one of the first mangas I've read and I thought greatly of them but after having read so many mangas of the same genre, I finally realized the difference between a manga that contains actual entertaining stories and mangas that just exists for the sake of entertaining perverted thoughts.

Most of Shinju Mayu's works, including this manga, are just all about dim witted, weak, female protagonists who are easily seduced, molested, raped by male characters who are handsome and powerful. Most of the time, the story just evolves around the female protagonist being bullied or victimized by "fans" of the handsome, perverted male character or she's being raped or doing some perverted acts with the male character.

My personal advice, stay away from this manga, it's not worth it. It lacks substance, unless of course you just want to see smutty scenes and female characters being victimized, then go ahead, feel free to read it, it has alot of that.

Update:

Recently I saw an update on this manga. I don't know what I was thinking or hoping for but the story has just turned much much worst. I don't know why the mangaka is so fascinated by female characters being raped, seriously. Is it really that fun writing about stories where women are made into objects and forcefully used over and over. Chapter 74 where the lead female character was totally violated has scarred me for life. I shall never ever read this manga again or even hope that it will ever improve.

... Last updated on April 17th, 2009, 6:29pm

Uh, not the best in the manga world! ;O hahaha I don't like the art, and yeah...The girls are all fools in her stories! so...I PASS THIS ONE! (:

good luck if you wanna read it! ;D

I think if I want to sum up all my thoughts and emotions during reading this manga in one word, the result word could be this: CHEAP.

yes, you heard me. this manga is a cheap product coming from a cheap artist who still doesn't know how to tell a story without making a complete fool out of her protagonist. and god, how she is using of cliches over and over again until all the charm and beauty of her original plot line is getting ruined like this.

if you are looking for a beautiful story which has been written seriously and professionally, then this manga is not for you. otherwise, you may enjoy the stupid and illogical romance between Sakuya and Anie, especially when they are fighting over her VIRGINTY!! ....I have to admit it, mangaka really made me laugh there.

And before I finish this: her drawing style sucks! I have seen worse works around but Mayu's style is really some thing! >_< like her obsession with drawing long fingers which is kind of creepy, lol.

Hello people? Do you not get that this is one of the best work of Mayu Shinjo EVER? Kaikan Phrase is awesome! And come on! With out smut, this is nothing, well, without it, it still would be awesome, but adding the smut to it makes it even better, smut is always good. Mayu Shinjo's work without smut would be not as appealing. Anyways, Kaikan Phrase is awesome, the songs are perfect and alluring, the anime is awesome except for the end, they need to extend it and not end it. The Manga is amazing! It's romantic, it's sexy, it's out right amazing! Sakuya and Aine romance, number one. It does not matter if the theme is kind of like other mangas, it's still unique and that is what counts. Different characters, storyline and all of that. This is a worthy manga to read, it will blow your mind! Really, do you not see or notice a good manga when you read one? Or maybe people are too picky of a critique, open your eyes and see the true depth of meaning to these works of Mayu Shinjo! Sigh...people these days don't appreciate good work!

I usually don't read any mangas pre 2000 since the style of the 90s are to old fashion for me thus I dont like anything drawn before 2000, but this was an exception since it was by shinjo mayu. Her work is awsome down from storyline to drawing. Although I can not vouch for anything she drew before this one this is the only manga I like because of plot and not because of the drawing. Otherwise I'm in love with her other current works with better drawings. This one has a great plot very cute.