JIM PAREDES - LARO

                The saying “you  only realize the value of something when it’s gone,” was in my mind when I wasn’t able to find a copy of Apo Hiking Society’s  final studio album (The Apo: Jim, Buboy and Danny), released in 2009. Apo Hiking Society retired as a group in 2010. 

                 Well it was not something that I have had and had lost; but the  feeling is the same because that CD was in and out of  my mind ever since it was announced during  Apo’s concert in Araneta  Coliseum  in 2008 . Countless times I had   gazed at that CD when I’m in my favorite music store in Cubao  but did not have  enough motivation to purchase it.  Tsk.Tsk. I have not been listening intently to  OPM classics these past years but…   

                Lately,  I don’t exactly remember what triggered it  , I have been listening to a lot of  OPMs and enjoying them again  immensely. This is the reason why that final APO album entered my mind... but  it’s no longer available or is now out of print, when I wanted it. Whew! I hate that feeling. Unexpectedly, I came across a CD that bares a familiar name on the cover.  Jim Paredes’  Laro to the rescue…

             

                I’ve read this is actually his second solo album. The first entitled, Ako Lang,  was released in 1996.   He stated that for this release he  wanted to do an album of pure joy and fun,  oblivious of what type of music  people listen to nowadays.  No wonder the title of cd is  Laro.  If I will judge this CD with enjoyability  and fun as  the  criteria, this will definitely get a  perfect score as I have absolutely enjoyed listening to this  in its entirety.  It even gets better  with repeated listens.  

                The style  is diverse. From the surprising opening  'mild' rap to   bossa, lounge music, funk  and  pop.  The themes are varied. He exhorts us to patronize  OPM music in "OPM Rap."  "Butong Pakwan," a delightful song  is  about how important this dried seed is in our Filipino culture during infanticipation.  There are serious topics presented in playful and lighthearted manner like, "Feeling Guilty," about a possible mutual marital indiscretion. In "Sinungaling," he laments that the world seems to be  populated by liars. He sings about being used  in  "May Araw Ka Rin." 

               Although, I think the best tracks  are the love songs which are all very radio friendly  such as “Ang ganda mo,” “Lumisan na siya," “Sumpa” and “Palagi-lagi,"’ my favorites are "Live Your Own Life" and track no.7. The former, for personal reasons I find the positive message to be encouraging and  soothing. "Live your own life, hold on to your own truth,  decide your own faith, make your own mark,  all you got to do is start. Everything you'll ever need is inside of you." The latter, during my initial listening, made me put down  the newspaper I was reading in surprise  when I heard the chorus. Did I hear it  right?  ”Libog Lang Yan?”  Yes, it’s  “Libog lang yan."  Checking   the print on the   inlay and the back cover,  the first word of the title is not clear enough to read( hahaha). This simple and straightforward song is hilarious and very memorable.  

               To those who like Apo or misses Apo or is hungry for a new and refreshing Apo-like music or a fan of Jim Paredes whether as a singer or a writer or both or  anyone who likes OPM but have not heard about this cd and fortunately stumbled upon this blog, I will emphatically state this is a must-buy and a treasure. 

                Sure this is not Apo but it has the Apo-vibe in it minus the voice of Buboy and of course Danny Javier. It has the  humor , the wit, the beautiful ballads, the mushiness, the inspirational, the simple and hummable great tunes.  After all Jim Paredes wrote many of the Apo Hiking Society's classics such as “Mahirap magmahal ng syota ng iba”, “Panalangin”, Batang-bata ka pa”, “Yakap sa dilim”and “When I met you” among many others.

"OPM noon dakila't magaling, OPM ngayon dapat lang buhayin". Iisa lamang ang tuwid na paraan. OPM ang dapat tangkilikin ni Juan" -  Jim Paredes (from "OPM Rap")

Tracks:
OPM RAP
BUTONG PAKWAN
ANG GANDA MO
MAY ARAW KA RIN
SINUNGALING
FEELING GUILTY
LIBOG LANG YAN
LUMISAN NA SYA
IN MY HEART
BASIC LOVE
SUMPA
LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE
MANAGRAP AT MANAGINIP
PALAGI-LAGI

December 15, 2012
Addendum: 4 tracks from Laro were actually taken from his 1996 album Ako Lang" "Libog Lang Yan,"" Lumisan Na Sya," "Basic Love" and "Live Your Own Life".  "In My Heart",  is a new version of an Apo Hiking Society song which appeared in their 1986 album, Direksyon.

STING BACK TO BASS TOUR: LIVE IN MANILA, DECEMBER 9, 2012 - An Absolute Blast

              Clad in a body-fit black long sleeved shirt and leather pants  revealing his fine physical form, the 61 year old acclaimed musical artist, environmental activist and former lead singer of the legendary Punk/New Wave band ,The Police, known by his stage name , Sting , breezed through  the 21- song set list of the Manila leg of his Back To Bass Tour smoothly and masterfully amidst  a S.R.O. audience in the  iconic  Araneta Coliseum.

                Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) delighted the audience by performing his  all-time classic hit songs including those from his days with The Police. The audience was up singing  and bouncing  with “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You,”   “Everything She Does Is Magic,” ”English Man In New York,” “Message In A Bottle,” ”Wrapped Around My Finger,”  DeDoDoDo, DeDaDaDa,” “Roxanne.” “King Of Pain” and of course with his most popular song,  “Every Breath You Take,” Grammy song of the year awarded in 1984.   The excellent rendition of non- radio hit songs such as The Police’s "Driven To Tears,"  “Next To  You” and  “Demolition Man” managed to pump-up the audience just as well.  Other popular Sting songs performed  were the following: “I Hung My Head,” “Seven Days,” “Fields Of Gold,” ”Heavy Cloud, No Rain,”  “Shape Of My Heart,” “The Hounds Of Winter” and “Dessert Rose”.  Curiously,  no track from his debut solo album, Dream Of The Blue Turtles,  was included in the set list.

             Playing bass all night, for the final song Sting switched to guitar ,  rendering  a more personal touch to the song “Fragile.”  A   song about our  very own mortality.  He dedicated the song to the victims of the destructive  typhoon Pablo which ravaged Mindanao, claiming hundreds of lives just few days before the concert .

The  sold-out concert lasted more than two hours  with  Sting’s  superb physical conditioning very evident as he glided through it  seemingly effortless. His powerful voice was in perfect form, soaring easily to the high notes. The band’s  performance was spotless and  though  it was a Sting affair each band members  was  given the  opportunity  to shine and strut their wares on several occasions. Particularly memorable for me was the haunting voice and the   extended wailing  of the female back-up singer in  “The Hounds of Winter” reminiscent of Pinkfloyd's " The Great Gig In The Sky;" and  when the violinist shifted to 'hyper' mode, he really 'rocks'. The band also did a highly  entertaining instrumental jamming  towards the latter part of the concert.            

  All the ingredients for a memorable night of live concert were present last night.  The coliseum was packed to the rafters with more than 10,000  highly enthusiastic  audience. The audio was exceptionally sounding  clean, crisp and very clear... and  most important of all was Sting and his band’s virtuoso performance. The show was an absolute blast, a fitting ending to cap a memorable   year of concerts  in the  Araneta Coliseum.

Set list:

If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police )
Englishman in New York
Seven Days
Demolition Man (The Police )
I Hung My Head
The End of the Game
Fields Of Gold
Driven to Tears (The Police)
Heavy Cloud No Rain
Message in a Bottle (The Police)
Shape of My Heart
The Hounds of Winter
Wrapped Around Your Finger (The Police )
De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (The Police )
Roxanne (The Police)
Encore 1:

Desert Rose
King of Pain (The Police)
Every Breath You Take (The Police)

Encore 2:
Next To You (The Police)

Encore 3:
Fragile

NEW WAVE: Some Good News & Updates On My Favorite 80's New Wave Era Bands

 Several months ago, I was with an acquaintance who is a fellow  New Wave music enthusiast. As we were exchanging some notes regarding our passion, he mentioned about the possibility of New Order coming here for a concert. My immediate reaction was to question that (possibility), since the rift between Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner as I have read   seemed   to be beyond repair (at the moment, I hope ) for them to work together. 

Well as it turned out, New Order at that time was actually  touring Australia and Asia. I haven’t been doing my homework,  especially among  my favorite 80's New Wave era  bands. In short, I wasn’t up to date with the latest information.  And so, for my sake and for some who might find it  interesting, I thought of writing these  short notes on the current status and some activities of  my favorite New Wave bands. My sources are almost entirely Wikipedia and the bands website.


My  all-time favorite New Wave band list:  1. New Order 2. The Cure  3. Depeche Mode 4. OMD   5. China Crisis 6. Aztec Camera 7. Tears for Fears 8. Echo and the Bunnymen 9. The Lotus Eaters 10. The Church

1.  New Order: New Order subsequently disbanded (for the second time) after Peter Hook’s bitter departure in 2007. 
         
Peter Hook of course is sorely missed. His contributions as '1/3' of New Order’s sound and success cannot be disputed. His legacy will forever be intact but personally , I  prefer to see New Order soldier on,,  despite Peter Hook’s absence. For me, New Order without Peter Hook is better than no New Order at all. Especially considering the strong quality of their last two albums, as well as Bernard Sumner’s Bad Lieutenant release. Peter Hook’s band, The Light, has been performing Joy Division’s albums in various tours and shows  .
                              
New Order   formally announced their reformation in September 2011 and has been active on  tours since then.  New line-up includes: the returning Gillian Gilbert, Tom Chapman as their new bass player(replacing Peter Hook)   and mainstays  Phil Cunningham, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner.

The new line-up released a live album, Live at the London Troxy in December 2011. A  seven - track album entitled , The Lost Sirens, based on unreleased studio outtakes in their Waiting for the Siren’s Call  sessions in 2005 is up for release pending negotiations among band members(and Peter Hook) on how to release it . 

                   . 

 2.  The Cure:  In 2011, The Cure, played their first three albums live in their  entirety in two shows in Sydney, Australia.  Dubbed as, Reflections, the two shows featured founding  member , fan- favorite-- and much-missed, Lol Tolhurst and one time member, Matthieu Harley , as well as returning long time keyboardist Roger O’Donell . The DVD of the show is intended to be released in December 2012. A new album is also in the works.  

 Bad news though is, another  fan-favorite, Porl Thompson, had again departed from the band  and was replaced by  Reeves  Gabriels.  

3. Depeche Mode:   A new album (their 13^th) and a worldwide tour are slated in 2013. According to their record company Depeche Mode had sold over 100 million albums and singles worldwide.  They are regarded as the most successful electronic  band in music history and is still going strong.  

4. OMD:  English Electric, the follow-up to their successful comeback album in 2010, History of Modern, is in the works.

5.  China Crisis:  A  new live CD/DVD is now available for order in various websites such as Ebay  and Amazon among others  and  is slated for release in December. 2012.  Still no news regarding a  remastered or reissue of their back-catalogue.         

                           

Live Greatest Hits CD and DVD

1.Singing The Praises
2.Stranger By Nature
3.You Did Cut Me
4.It's Everything
5.Strength And Character
6.Gift Of Freedom
7.Black Man Ray
8.Wishful Thinking
9.African And White
10.King In A Catholic Style
11.Arizona Sky
12.Thank You
13.Christian
14.Diary Of A Hollow Horse
15.Song For Andre (Demo)
16.Too Blind To See (Demo)
17.Making It (Demo)
18.Real Tears And How That Feels (Demo)

6.  Roddy Frame/Aztec Camera:   You can  obtain a copy of his latest studio and live album releases in his website:  http://www.roddyframe.com/shop

7. Tear for Fears:  Still actively touring but no news  regarding  a new album.

8.  Echo and the Bunnymen:  Current Live Ep releases are available in their website. No news regarding  a new album.

9.  Lotus Eaters: No word about the unreleased album, A Plug-In  Called Nostalgia.

10.  The Church:   Starfish, Gold Afternoon Fix, Priest=Aura and  Sometime Anywhere had been reissued in 2CD format in 2011. Active in tours and shows in recent years  as well this year but no news regarding a follow-up to their 2009 album, Untitled #23.

11. Naked Eyes:  Although not among my all time favorite New Wave band list; however,  their album, Burning Bridges,  is one of my favorite New Wave albums  and among the few ( New Wave albums) I was able to buy as a young teenager in the 80's.  

Released in 1983, Burning Bridges, was their debut album. Finally, after many years, it was reissued. Now available for purchase in Cherry Records, this is the first time  this album is being released in CD format.  Before,  I actually had  to purchased their two overlapping greatest hits CD releases just to complete all the 12 tracks of Burning Bridges in CD format.    

A picture of their two 'greatest hits '  cd  releases  and my homemade Burning Bridges cd.

        

TEARS FOR FEARS LIVE IN MANILA, AUGUST 10, 2012 - SOME THOUGHTS AND AFTERTHOUGHTS

          The last time the Smart Araneta Coliseum was filled by a New Wave or an 80's  band concert, it was May 2, 2010, courtesy of the English duo Tears for Fears. Couple of  years later, although not as overflowing as their initial visit,  they did it again.
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          Unlike (the currently hot)  Maroon 5's  upcoming concert here this September, ticket  did not "sell like hotcakes" but all indications pointed  to   another sold-out concert. About  a month prior to the concert , tickets at the Lower Box and the Upper Box-A were almost sold-out with only the seats at the extreme sides available.   The strong demand for tickets   prompted the organizers to add another date. Tears for Fears indisputably has a deep-rooted fan base here.   

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            Among their contemporaries  and several famous 60's, 70's and 90's acts who have recently visited and performed in the Araneta Coliseum it is only them who have managed to fill that huge cavernous and iconic venue and what is even more remarkable is that they were able to do this   more than two decades removed from their heyday. Filipino fans  just love Tears for Fears timeless music.

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            Aside from the rain and the usual 'hold-up' prices of the food inside the venue, many fans had to brave some discomforts before seeing their idols perform. One is the heavy traffic jam at the Araneta Center created by the event  itself.  Many were still looking for a parking space even after the front act's set ended. For a person  who lives nearby, I know what to expect so I parked my car near the venue eight hours before concert time. Viewing the traffic jam  on the way to the coliseum,  it was like a festive atmosphere ( a  Fiesta in Cubao). Another one was the sweltering temperature and humidity at the lobby leading to the Upper Box's entrance caused by the collective body heat from the huge crowd waiting for the doors to open. They let the fans in at about 7:30,   which is quite late considering that the concert time as advertised was 8.   Anyway, I'm sure all the discomforts evaporated once they entered the arena.

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            The large volume of female fans at the venue was highly  noticeable.
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            With the excellent show provided by the front act,  Per Sorensen, lead singer of the  Filipino favorite  Norwegian band, Fra Lippo Lippi, a band responsible for sold-out concerts in Manila during the 80's, the event lived up to its advertising slogan "it doesn't get better than this." I've read some Facebook postings by fans saying that the front act alone was already worth the price. 

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             Before beginning his set, Per Sorensen asked for  a minute of silence or prayer for the victims of the  recent catastrophic flooding caused by the  heavy and continuous monsoon rains in the country. 

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              The first thing I did when I got home was to google the name of the unexpected and unknown(here) but very impressive solo middle-act performer, Carina Round. She sang four acoustic numbers. Her singing was so great that you can consider her voice as a secondary or a primary instrument. This English lady as I have read, turned out to have already more than ten albums tucked under her belt.. She did an excellent job backing up Tears For Fears especially in singing Oleta Adam's parts in "Woman In Chains" and Badman's Song."
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             Tears for Fears' set  was a well- balanced of  hits and album cuts. They started and ended their concert with a bang by bookending  their two chart toppers, "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Shout", respectively.  In between, they covered all their well- known hits such as,"Sowing The Seeds Of Love," " Mad World," "Pale Shelter," "Break It Down Again," "Woman In Chains" and included  both "Change" and "Advice For The Young At Heart" which were absent the last time they were here. Only "Mother's Talk" was left out among their hits. Cuts from their  albums plus the non-album song  "Floating Down The River(Once Again)" were sandwiched between the  hits. The  longest stretch of songs without the radio hits was only three, occurring only once thus ensuring no  prolonged  mid-part drop in energy level usually seen among audiences in concerts. Towards the end, they delivered  a string of hits,  beginning with "Pale Shelter" followed by "Break It Down Again" and "Head Over Heels."
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           I think, the  songs from their 2004 comeback  album, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, such as "Secret World" and "Call me Mellow" among others, would have been one of their most popular tunes had it been released in the 80's. How I wish the audience sang these songs as enthusiastically as their popular hits.
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            Mr. Orzabal in person has a strong and commanding stage presence while Mr. Smith's cool and calm  demeanor has its  own appeal. Both looked  fit and their  voices  are great, blending perfectly well.
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             After their third number, Roland Orzabal greeted and  thanked the audience for turning up even at a  difficult time. He stressed that their last visit here had become sort of a  legend in the "world of  Tears for Fears" and   shared an anecdote: Back home in England in a supermarket a guy once tapped him on the shoulder and asked him, " are you the guy from Tears for Fears?"  When he answered "yes", the guy asked him,"so what are you doing nowadays? Orzabal replied, "go to YouTube and search Tears for Fears in Manila. It doesn't get any better than that". This drew a loud appreciative cheers from the audience. After their sixth number it was Curt Smith turn to greet the audience. Afterwards, he mentioned that the proceeds from the Tears For Fears merchandise will be donated to the Red Cross for the benefit of the flood victims.
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             According to Curt Smith, he feels he has more Filipino fans in twitter than anyone else. Judging by the packed attendance in their shows here, I'm not surprised.
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             The high level of  intensity of the crowd's singing, screaming, shrieking, and cheering every time Tears for Fears sing  their hits was amazing. It was among the loudest if not the loudest I have ever heard  in a concert here at the Araneta Coliseum. To think that the energy level in their first visit was even much higher. Wow!
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             I noted  that the  peak of the audience's  high-intensity  responses was during the opening chords of "Head Over Heels" wherein they suddenly exploded in an ear- numbing level.
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           You can literally feel the vibrations of the venue as the crowd was chanting and stomping for more when  Tears for Fears left the stage after their 16th number "Head Over Heels."
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          With all the ingredients for a perfect concert present, such as:  a nice venue, great audio,  full  house  attendance, highly responsive and spontaneous audience, terrific opening act and  an inspired and excellent performance by the main act, I would describe the concert as more than awesome...the  best I have ever seen.
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           On my way out of the venue,  I will never forget the ecstatic look in a  guy's face  as he shouted in   vernacular " HAYOP ANG GALING!"
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          Set List:1. EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD 2. SECRET WORLD 3. SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE 4. CHANGE5. CALL ME MELLOW 6. EVERYBODY LOVE A HAPPY ENDING 7. MAD WORLD 8. MEMORIES FADE 9. CLOSEST THING TO HEAVEN 10. FALLING DOWN 11. ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART 12. FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER(ONCE AGAIN) 13. BADMAN'S SONG 14. PALE SHELTER 15. BREAK IT DOWN AGAIN 16. HEAD OVER HEELS ENCORE: 17. WOMAN IN CHAINS 18 SHOUT

TEARS FOR FEARS LIVE IN MANILA , AUGUST 10, 2012 - SETLIST

 SETLIST:

PER SORENSEN:

1.   BEAUTY AND MADNESS
2.   ANGEL
3.   SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT
4.   LONELINESS (FROM HIS NEW ALBUM "MASTER OF IMPERFECTION")
5.   LIGHT AND SHADE
6.   LATER
7.   THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US
8.   SOME PEOPLE
9.   STITCHES AND BURNS
10. EVERYTIME I SEE YOU


TEARS FOR FEARS:

1.  EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD
2.  SECRET WORLD
3.  SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE
4.  CHANGE
5.  CALL ME MELLOW
6.  EVERYBODY LOVE A HAPPY ENDING
7.  MAD WORLD
8.  MEMORIES FADE
9.  CLOSEST THING TO HEAVEN
10. FALLING DOWN
11. ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART
12. FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER(ONCE AGAIN)
13. BADMAN'S  SONG
14. PALE SHELTER
15. BREAK IT DOWN AGAIN
16. HEAD OVER HEELS

ENCORE:
17. WOMAN IN CHAINS
18 SHOUT


.

The Beach Boys: That’s Why God Made The Radio – Stunning!

The Beach Boys founding members

L-R Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson,Mike Love,Al Jardine& Brian Wilson

                     Thank God this much anticipated record reached  our shores-- fresh and  up to date.

                To coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the influential and legendary band, The Beach Boys, one of the  greatest and one of America’s best-selling bands of all time,  founding members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine with long time member Bruce Johnston and 1962-63 member David Marks reunited and released their 29^th studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio, last June 5, 2012.

With David Marks ( center).

Late 60's

L-R - Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, Carl Wilson, Mike Love & Dennis Wilson

1980's

L-R- Carl Wilson, Bruce Johnston,Brian Wilson, Mike Love &Al Jardine

The Beach Boys today

L-R  Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, Brain Wilson, Mike Love& David Marks

                This is their first studio album since 1996 and can be considered as their first 'real' album of new materials  since the self-titled , The Beach Boys, in 1985. The self-titled album was their first release after  the accidental death of founding member Dennis Wilson in 1983  and subsequent albums  were either admixed with their old hits or just a different versions  of their old songs or without the involvement of the beloved, Brian Wilson.

                Late  2010, as their 50^th anniversary was approaching, rumors of a reunion and a new album began  circulating.  In November 2011, the  aborted and mythical,  The  Smile Sessions, finally saw its official release. On December 16, 2011, it was announced that Brian Wilson, Mike Love,  Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks will reunite for  a new album and a tour for the band’s 50^th anniversary in 2012.

The reunion was quite  surprising and was viewed with skepticism by some critics , considering that  several years back,  Mike Love and Brian Wilson engaged each other in court litigations involving royalties and the right to the use of The Beach Boys brand. Since 1998, after  the death of another founding member Carl Wilson, the band had been touring in three different factions:  Brian Wilson’s; Mike Love’s and Bruce Johnston; and  Al Jardine’s.

                Mike Love and Bruce Johnston's touring Beach Boys band actually visited Manila twice, in 2005 and in 2010.  Even without Brian Wilson(the heart and soul of The Beach Boys) and Al Jardine,  I made it a point not to miss their concert  in 2010  at the Araneta Coliseum.  After all , Mike Love co-wrote and sang lead in many of their popular hits including one of my  favorite  Beach Boys songs, “California Girls." He also co-wrote and sang lead on the two popular Beach Boys songs  in the 80's: the U.S. billboard chart-topper “Kokomo” in 1988 and  “Getcha Back” in 1985.   Bruce Johnston is famous as the man who penned the Barry Manilow classic, ”I Write The Song.” He also wrote the underrated beautiful song “Disney Girls(1957)” whose cover by  Captain and Tennille is the one I usually hear on local radio. I remember the concert was fun,  had a   good  attendance  and the  band gave  a spirited  performance; spearheaded  of course by  Mike Love. The drummer I would say did justice to my no. 1  favorite  Beach Boys song “Don’t Worry Baby.”

                                   The reunion  as expected drew  positive  response from  fans and their new album shot to number 3 in the U.S. Billboard chart, their highest charting album since 1965. 

                 The Beach Boys stated in interviews few months prior to  the album’s release that it will end in a Pet Sounds-inspired suite and that the title track, “That’s Why God Made The Radio” is  considered by  Brian Wilson as one of their best. Also, just like in Pet Sounds, their 1966 masterpiece  record (and considered as one of the greatest album of all time),  Brian Wilson   was  in  control of the  cockpit for this one.  Aside from producing, he wrote or co-wrote all but one of the songs.

                This  album is a very strong release.  Without counting the opening track,  which is  a  blending of harmonies and piano , it is bookended with what I would consider as the two best songs: the title track, “That Why God Made The Radio” and "Summers Gone." 

            "That's Why God Made The Radio" is a  classic sounding  Beach Boys tune. A throwback to the early  days of “Don’t Worry Baby” and “Warmth Of The Sun.” "Summers Gone" is a  poignant and heartbreaking tearjerker.  

               In between, are  set of songs filled with great  melodies and  nice  harmonies that tackle mostly familiar themes of  summer, cruisin’,  surfin’, beaches, yearning, and reminiscing.  My favorites are “Isn’t It Time,” “Spring Vacation,” “Shelter,”  Mike Love’s ‘Day Break Over  The Ocean” and “Strange World.”

           In a way this is like a concept album about a man looking back in life. The joys of seeing old friends and reliving their glorious past. About still being amaze  on present day phenomenon like reality shows ("Private Life Of Bill And Sue") or life situations ("Strange World"). Reminicing about lost love and opportunities. About aging... and ultimately  coming to terms with the reality that everything is past them now, using  the words summer and sunset among others, as  metaphors. The Beach Boys after all are in their seventies(or late sixties) already. It seems they did not try to be hip. 
         They just  did  what they do best- to be themselves, The  Beach Boys. This is a big factor, I think,  why this album succeeds.  
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          As an introduction, it starts with an overture of vocal harmonies( like in Smile Sessions) and a reflective piano piece,  followed by the classic song, “That Why God Made The Radio” which  immediately will  captivate the listener. ”From the dashboard of my car/ Cruisin’ at 7/Push-button heaven/ Capturing memories from afar/ In my car,” Brian Wilson reminisces.

          The listener’s attention is kept in bright mood by a succession of melodic , bouncy, and  sprightly songs. “Isn’t it time we danced the night away/How about doing it just like yesterday,”  the band muses in "Isn’t It  Time.” “Spring Vacation/Good vibration/Summer weather, We’re back together/, Easy money/Ain’t life funny/Hey what’s it to ya/ Hallelujah,” perhaps a laid-back Brian Wilson  chuckles in “Spring Vacation.” “Daybreak over the ocean/Moonlight still in the sea/Will the waves gentle motion/Bring my babe back to me” sings Mike Love reminiscent of “Kokomo’s” relaxed atmosphere.  

      Towards the end, starting at the 9^th track, “Strange World,” followed by the Pet Sound-inspired suite, the  album descends slowly and elegantly , like an ebb tide, into melancholia.  The suite begins with another classic-sounding tune, "From There To Back Again," a yearning ballad sung beautifully by Al Jardine and  is capped with the  magnificent and heartbreaking but soothing  ”Summer's  Gone,” a song Brian Wilson wrote as a reflection of his mother and brother Carl Wilson’s death and was intended as the last song of the final Beach Boys album. “Summers gone/ Gone like yesterday/The night grow cold/ It’s time to go,” “Summers gone/ it’s finally sinking in.”  

             

                           Many things can be said and had  been said about this album , all in all, this is not Pet Sounds nor Pet Sounds-Lite (as I have read somewhere), this is not a perfect album, it may have flaws both in  music and in  lyrics... but for me, listening to this record is a great emotional experience. It’s absolutely brilliant and stunning. I hope Sir Paul McCartney may have just  found an inspiration to make another memorable album.

Tracklist:
1. Think About The Days
2. That's Why God Made The Radio

3. Isn't It Time

4. Spring Vacation
5. The Private Life Of Bill And Sue
6. Shelter
7. Daybreak Over The Ocean
8. Beaches In Mind
9. Strange World
10. From There To Back Again
11. Pacific Coast Highway
12. Summer's Gone

PUPIL: LIMITERS OF THE INFINITY POOL – “THEY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD ON THIS ONE”...”WELL, ALMOST “

                  I can’t locate this cd in the place where it should be-- on the P-section of the cd rack,  OPM category,  of my favorite music bar at  Araneta Center in Cubao. It bothered me enough to break the  ongoing chatting of the two salesladies near me . “There is no stock sir.” Really?  I thought to myself , rather incredulously.

                Off to the only other music bar at the Araneta Center, I was relieved that there are several copies in stock. I hate the feeling of not finding the cd you want  when you needed it; and so, I grabbed one,  after taking it for granted for about a year and a half since it was  released.

                   Listening to the first three tracks-- I was euphoric,  sensing I’m into a treat.

                 I was smiling as I put down the newspaper after the 12^th and final track, “The Low End”,  ended. That was great listening; however, it felt short. 

                 It actually clocked a little over forty seven minutes. I enjoyed it immensely  that time seemed to have gone so  swiftly.

        After a few more listens, I came up with my conclusion: In my opinion this is another excellent album by the Pupil and just like their two previous releases, by international standards. It is hands down Pupil’s best album so far. They hit the nail on the head  on this one. Well, almost…

    

I will enumerate my reasons why I think this is their best album so far:  

1.       First, although it doesn’t have the 'classics' found in their two previous releases, Beautiful Machines and Wild Life , such as “Monobloc,” “Dulo ng Dila” and "Disconnection Notice”,  this however, has overall a stronger set of songs. There is no weak track here.  

             As   usual, E. Buendia’s penned songs  provides the backbone. The  opening two English tracks “Let Her Rip” and “Distortion” jives well with his vocals which I’ve always thought is best suited for Filipino songs. The way he sang the angst-laden tune ”Distortion”  made me think of Liam Gallaghers’( of the Oasis) swagger. 

           Although the  best songs  in the album I think are Buendia’s “Let Her Rip,” "Distortion," ”TNT(tago ng tago)"  and "20/20" , other band members also contributed strong tracks such as  Dok Sergio’s downbeat “Pampalakas,” with its interesting lyrics; Y. Yuzon’s fuzzy and heavy  “One Two” reminding me of Jesus and the Mary Chain;  and  W. Garcia’s “Morning Gift."

2.        This  has a better flow of songs compared to their previous albums. It provides listening pleasure from the beginning up to the end.      

3.       The band is sounding  cohesive and very tight. I take notice of the excellent drumming.

4.       Great production. This is  more complex and heavy with lots of 'distortion' but is actually not 'noisy'. I can set the volume of my amplifier higher on this one without blasting my eardrum as compared to their previous releases. Everything is sounding clear and great in my sound system.

5.         This is more accessilble.  Even with a more complex style, instrumentation,  and experimentations the group  not only retained  their melodic sensibilities , they even fine- tuned it.  "Accessibility in the midst of complexity."  

                  My only gripe with this album is the track  “Pikit Bukas.” If I would pretend to be a reviewer,   I could easily give this album  9/10  or even a  10/10 stars for their efforts in making such a superb  and classy album which  I think no local band at the moment can approximate or compete  with; however, “Pikit Bukas” prevents me so.  Although it  is by no means  a clunker, I think, it  could even be  one of the stronger  tracks with its catchy melody and  memorable lines ”hindi porket maitim madumi, hindi porket malakas maingay ,hindi porket mayaman masaya, hindi porket mahirap malungkot ”, but the inclusion of English lines towards the end of the song doesn’t 'fit'; and it seems  out of place with the  album itself.   Well, this is just my opinion anyway, as if  it  matters. Buy it. 

Beautiful Machines, Wild Life and Limiters of the Infinity Pool.