4 posts tagged “music”
I've been, for a couple of months now, listening to the Apo Hiking Society tribute album "Kami nAPO Muna." Overall pretty good with, for me, a considerable amount of standout tracks enough to be worth buying. Here's a track by track review:
1. Pumapatak na naman ang ulan by Parokya ni Edgar - This track already appeared in an older Parokya song album. It's a clean recording but not very inspiring. I actually prefer Eraserhead's version from the Nescafe Open Up Party CD. It's got a lot more punch. Nice amendment in lyrics about texting though. Overall rating: Bah...
2. Magkayakap sa dilim by Orange and Lemons - I love these guys. Even though their style is 60's - 70's based, they have so much talent and tricks up their sleeve that it makes those retro sounds seem so fresh and new. This recording is pretty straightforward but the vocal delivery makes it fun to listen to. Overall rating: Nice.
3. Doo bi doo by Kamikazee - One of my favorite songs in the album. It's just so much... fun. It's great fun singing along "Eto na... Eto na..." at the top of your lungs. And did I mention "Doobi" is slang for a type of illegal substance in Pinas? Ah so that's why they were so happy... Overall rating: Dooobiiii!!!
4. Awit ng barkada by Itchyworms! - Another favorite. The song starts out pretty straightforward with a dash of funny background talking but at the end it goes into a loony arrangement and a very inspiring climax. Also, I think this is one of those APO songs that just works so well. Whether you're drunk to your senses singing it or not, the feeling of friendship just comes across. To me it just brings out memories of hanging out with friends in the Philippines. Overall rating: Yea... Good times...
5. Nakakapagtataka by Spongecola - A pretty good song. Didn't Sharon Cuneta sing this? Nothing crazy different with the arrangement, just good delivery. Although I have a problem with the guy doing the guitar solos. I just don't like how he plays... Even on the their cover of "Pare Ko" from the Eraserheads tribute album. Also why's the drum sound so thin? Overall rating: Pretty good.
6. Ewan by Imago - Not exactly one of my favorites but one of the fun songs on the album. A great reimagining of one of APO's most popular songs. Aia's so cute too. Now if she'll only stop dancing on stage and start playing guitar again. Overall rating: So cute.
7. Batang-bata ka pa by Sugarfree - Great cover from a great band. I love the the alternate singing part from Ebe and Jal(?) (which APO also did on the original). One of those songs that just makes you reminisce of those lost childhood days. Overall rating: Yea... Good times...
8. Kumot at unan by Boldstar - Eh... for some reason I never got into this song. It's just so lackluster and uninspiring... Overall rating: Bah...
9. When I met you by Barbie A. - Another nice cutesy song from Barbie! Unlike her cover of the Eraserheads' "Overdrive" this one actually fits her stylistically and works very well. It's so nice listening to you just kinda melt with her voice. Overall rating: Sooo cute.
10. Bakit and babae by Sandwich - Another kickass song from Sandwich. Laid back and groovy and fun to sing to. It's so good it should be a single. The arrangement is top notch and you almost wouldn't recognize it listening to the original. I also love the nod(intentionally or not) to the Eraserheads song "Torpedo" with the churoot chut chut... Overall rating: Churoot chut chut! Yes this is good.
11. Kabilugan ng buwan by Drip - Love this song! So groovy and sexy. I love the hip-hop angle. Makes you just wanna bop your head up and down. Overall rating: Sweet!
10. Di na natuto by Sound - Bleh... I think the arrangement's overdone. Overall rating: Bleh...
11. Anna by Top Suzara - Sounds like one of the those songs you hear on American pop radio. Even the voice sounds like that guy who sang "I'll beee.... your crying shoulder... yadda yadda..." Still a nice song to listen to when you feel like listening to those kinds of songs. Overall rating: Ok.
12. Blue Jeans by Rocksteddy - Even though it's one more upbeat tracks on the album, I'm not exactly jumping for joy. For some reason it still feels very restrained. Even when they go "Whoo!" You know who's version I like more? The Eraserheads' (from the Nescafe Open Up Party CD also)!
13. Panalangin by Moonstar88 - Another bleh...
14. Paano by Shamrock - I don't know who these guys are but I think the song pretty much saved them from sucking.
15. Pag-ibig by Kitchie Nadal - Really nice rendition from Kitchie Nadal. I actually expected her to do something in the style of "Wag na wag mong Sasabihin" but then she comes out with something totally different sounding and understated. Overall rating: Love it.
16. Bawat Bata by The Dawn - I think this could've been a great song given the fact that the Dawn performed it but the recording just sucked. The sound is thin, guitar and bass are barely there. Where's the ringing guitar distortion from "Harapin ang liwanag"? The drums are louder than everything else in this song and they don't even sound that great. Overall rating: Coulda been better.
Today I'll be putting my iPod on shuffle and list down any song that I come across that I really like. This just kinda gives me an idea of what I actually like listening to coz I have thousands of songs on my iPod and I usually find myself hitting the skip button every now on then. This would be a way for me to find out what I'm actually NOT skipping and maybe you (the reader) might find something you want to listen to.
A note: There's gonna be some Filipino music here. If you're interested in checking any of them out most of them will probably have a music video posted in YouTube.
Here we go...
- Mariposa by Sugarfree
- Silly Love Songs by Wings
- F.U. by Bamboo
- Nakakabaliw by Pupil with Barbie Almalbis
- I don't know the title to this one but it's by Lake Trout
- Jet by Macca (Live 2002)
- Huwag Kang Matakot by Orange and Lemons (Eraserheads cover)
- Doo Bidoo by Kamikazee (APO cover)
- Lula by Imago
- Jed's Other Poems by Grandaddy
- 2 Trick Pony (Acoustic) by Sandwich
- Steve the Cat - Dosh
- Just Like Starting Over - John Lennon
- Rragg(?) - Melt Banana
- Roll with It - Oasis
- Rapid Hope Loss - Dashboard Confessional
- You Like Me Too Much - Beatles
- After Forever - Biohazard (almighty Black Sabbath cover)
- Hunger Strike - Temple of the Dog
- seven Caged Tigers - STP
Interesting post from former Eraserheads manager Dr. Day Cabuhat regarding one of the most famous album covers ;-) in Philippine music:
hey guys =)
the cover concept was the guys idea totally...and since joey is my friend, it wasnt hard to hook up....the location was chosen by dino ignacio, album artist designer and its at a place called "second floor" in antipolo. photography was done by john tronco...twas a cloudy day pero game lahat, we picked up joey very early from the shang where she was staying coz she had just graced the opening of fashion cafe the night before and we took the long drive with dino and stylist francis reyes, who brought a whole bunch
of red balloons. the guys themselves hauled the piano onto a truck that bmg sent and even got it up the hill themselves. they even changed locations several times...hehe, but undauntingly they were game to get the perfect shot....and for all the speculations regarding the tights....um....nope. she didnt wear tights, the only thing she had was a hankie, and you could guess where that went. Joey was wonderfully game and accomodating despite the chill of the cloudy day! when the photographer was ready, she just took a deep breath..and disrobed...and the shot turned out beautifully!...no ass double...it was purely joey =)...twas a great shoot...and the guys took some shots with the piano as well, which we later released as a poster....
I remember thinking of it as a very daring cover at the time (late 90's) and that of course, was something only the Eraserheads could have pulled.
Ahh... good times.
The quote was originally posted in the eraserheads mailing list in yahoo groups.
Pupil's just been on a roll lately with releasing videos from their Beautiful Machine's album. The new video single out is Dulo ng Dila (Tip of the tongue) which aside from being their 3rd video (a rarity I think in the Philippine rock scene to have 3 video singles from a single album) is also the first ever Ely Buenida-led band video to not feature an Ely Buendia penned song! The song was primarily written and sung by bass player Dok Sergio. From what I can remember, it's always been Ely's songs (from the Eraserheads to Pupil) that were released as singles and it wasn't always because he had the best songs. I am particularly fond of the non-ely penned songs from Natin99. I always thought songs like May Sumasayaw (There's People Dancing) and Tama Ka (You're Right) were more radio-friendly than his contributions in the album that did become singles like Maselang Bahaghari and Huwag Kang Matakot.
Now it's been said that the Eraserheads back then didn't have the final decision in what songs were released as singles so to see Pupil doing this is I think a welcome change. I just wished this happened in the Eraserheads when they were still together.
Some more background info to what I just talked about for those not in the know :)
Eraserheads entry on Wikipedia
You can also find a lot of Eraserheads and Pupil videos on YouTube.
