Fun times in the rain!
The one thing I feared most during my viewing of the episode was that the series will end up having shōnen-ai as a side element. I'm seriously hoping it stops at "bromance" and doesn't go any further. Other than that, the first episode was very soothing, just like I had expected. The melancholic life of Nishimi Kaoru takes an unexpected twist when he befriends a delinquent and the "beautiful" (I personally don't agree with that, but whatever) class representative. Through music (though at this point there's a conflict between jazz and classical), the three are tied together. And thus, Kaoru's new life unfolds; a great set up for the upcoming episodes.
Of the three main characters, we only get to know a bit about Kaoru. First off, his family situation is horrid; a not-so-pleasant aunt, a bratty sister, no father (not sure if he's dead or just overseas) or mother (she apparently ran away). It's no wonder he constantly looks depressed at school. Also, his unfortunate condition of feeling nauseous whenever stress builds up adds to his misfortune. Lastly, having to change schools constantly ever since he was a child is probably the cause for his inability to socialize well. Thus, classical music became his escape, a style of music which jazz-enthusiast and delinquent, Sentarō, does not appreciate. Ironically, I believe that their different tastes in music is what will bring them closer together. Learning to accept and enjoy each other's preferences can make for a good, slice-of-life story, as well as lots of character development.
On a more personal note, Sentarō made me feel incompetent as a drummer. While the drum sounds weren't really realistic in the anime, his passion and skill made me realize that I've still got a lot (and I mean a lot) to learn, despite having almost played for almost two years. Nonetheless, it was nice to see the instrument that I play being shown in anime (last time this happened was in K-ON!!). I wouldn't necessarily say the first episode was "excellent", but I do like the story's atmosphere so I'll be continuing to watch it.
Finally, it's song analysis time!
OP: I felt the OP fit really well with the overall theme of the anime. It definitely wasn't your typical J-Pop song and, although I don't listen to jazz, I'm assuming it can pass as a jazz piece with vocals. And even though I didn't really like it, I do admit it was slightly catchy. It may possibly grow on me as the episodes go by.
ED: Eh... not really my type of music. Lyrics are that of a typical love song and music is soft and soothing. However, I didn't really like the melody nor the vocals, with the former being more of a deciding factor in my overall preference. At least it fits the mood of the show.
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