Ely Buendia, Rico Blanco, Bamboo & Dong Abay: My thoughts on their recent CD releases.

              It was election day yesterday, a holiday,   in a  sweltering hot summer afternoon with nothing much to do at home but to relax and chill out.  I was listening to the latest project of Ely Buendia via his new band (or his other band), the Oktaves. When I   listen to Ely Buendia's music whether as an Eraserheads or as a Pupil, it comes natural that I  follow it up with that of  Rico Blanco, Bamboo ,  and Dong Abay. Like many others , these guys are also my favorites among local artists of recent years. They  (with  their respective former bands)  litted the OPM airwaves in the 90s and thankfully so, are still around making music. I would like to share my thoughts on  their latest releases.

           

BAMBOO - NO WATER, NO MOON

RICO BLANCO- GALACTIK FIESTAMATIK,  DONG ABAY: REBULTO, &  THE OKTAVES: THE OKTAVES

Bamboo: No Water, No Moon (November 2011)

               
                     As far as local bands  frontmen are concerned, I think he is unique. He  has the x-factors that others do not or barely possesses: the looks,  the charisma, the energy and the moves of an ideal rockstar. After going AWOL  in the late 90s, his return to the music scene around 2003 , as well as the establishment of a new band then  that bares his name (Bamboo) with fellow ex-Rivermaya Nathan Azarcon, is credited for reigniting the flame in  the local band scene which has been in doldrums since the disbandment of its prime mover, the  Eraserheads in 2002 . Three successful albums (of original materials) with the Bamboo band later,  producing classic anthemic rock songs such as "Pinoy," "Hallelujah," and "Kailan," in 2011 the band  called it quits. Now for the first time Bamboo the person, made a solo album. While songwriting is not known to be his forte, for this album he wrote it in its entirety.   

                     First, I have an issue with this album. I have been accustomed  to seeing Bamboo as the quintessential Pinoy rocker both in Rivermaya and in Bamboo but  here , there is  hardly any rocking going on. Left to his own devices (judging from this CD) ,  Bamboo turned out to be anything other  than a rocker. Second, with its very personal and serious nature , I have to be in a really receptive mood to pull this one out of the shelve.   

                 However, taking the issues aside, this album (  best heard as a whole),  is a great release. It was described   as "grand," "arty," and  "approaching a film-score type of music" by reviewers like Tony Maghirang of Yahoo. Among the many nice songs, my favorites are the lead single, "Questions," "Back On My Feet" and the Bambooish (Band) "The Only Way." Great album as it is, it will surely alienate many of his rock fans .  

Dong Abay: Rebulto (June  2012)

                  
                   It took  six years for  ex-Yano frontman to follow-up his  excellent first solo album Flipino released in 2006.  Despite the long gap and coming on the heels of his highly-acclaimed debut album, he released an equally remarkable and  highly enjoyable  mini-album (7-track).  I enjoyed this concept CD about Jose Rizal on my first listen. I enjoyed this CD after many listens. I will enjoy this cd  for a lifetime. It was the best money (at only 200 pesos!) I spent for OPM music in 2012.  

Rico Blanco: Galactik Fiestamatic (September  2012)

                    
                     Rico Blanco belongs in the higher echelons of great local pop/rock singer/songwriters with the likes of Mike Hanopol, Ely Buendia, Rey Valera , Danny and Jim of Apo Hiking amongst others, but the  last two CDs  he made with Rivermaya ( Tuloy ang Ligaya and Between the Stars and the Waves), although  producing  several classic  songs such as  "Balisong" and 'Sunday Driving",  were  forgettable.  Definitely  inspired for his first solo release, he made an outstanding and a keeper of an  album in Your Universe in 2008. 

                     This latest release by Rico Blanco seems to continue where he left off  in his debut album. The title itself  Galactik Fiestamatic  has an obvious corelation with  Your Universe. The songs  which were all composed and produced by him in his own personal studio at home  are  also  awashed with the techno sounds  of synths, drum machine and  tribal rhythms. 

                  The problem is, whereas his outstanding debut album is filled with great melodies and excellent singing, this one doesn't.   If Your Universe  is the A-side, this one sounds like the B-side or the left-over tracks so to speak. It's like  either he was trying to beat a deadline or he is so busy with his many other activites, he just wants to release  music to remind people he is still around.  Afterall,  it has been four years since his debut album.

                    Nevertheless, despite falling below par as compared with his debut, this cd is by no means a dud.  "Burado" (which reminded me of the "control, alt, delete" line in "Ayuz"from his debut album) is easily a sing-along tune   and the witty "Lipat Bahay" will definetly draw a smile amongst those of the 80s  and 90s generation. 

                 At best this is a good album but  far from a  landmark release that I have read in many reviews.   

The Oktaves:The Oktaves ( February  2013)

                 First,  I'm confused with what I have been reading. Is Oktaves  the new band of  Ely Buendia ?  Or is it just a side project? Born out of sheer enjoyment in sharing  a common musical interest (60's and Beatles, I've read)  with his Oktaves bandmates. I hope it's the latter because Pupil, Ely Buendia's  principal band  has been making exceptional music.
                
                    If I would describe this much-hyped album in one word , it would  surely be  and  plainly be, 'fun.' It  has  a mixed bag of   rock styles in it such as straight rock , 60s rock, and even rockabilly.  That the band members seem to enjoy playing with each other are  very evident in the jam-like fashion (of some songs )  and the   positive vibes exuded in the songs. This is a totally  enjoyable album, with many  fine tunes like  the opener "Gone, Gone , Gone,"  "K.U.P.A.L.," "Walang Magawa," the bluesy "Ikot"  and  "Detox"; however,  there is really nothing truly  remarkable in it.

             

Although these CDs are very different in their approaches, styles and substances, if I may rank  them  in terms of what I find to be  more recommendable, it will be as follows:

1. Dong Abay: Rebulto -- Runaway winner. Highly recommendable
2. Bamboo: No Water, No Moon
3. The Oktaves: The Oktaves
4. Rico Blanco: Galactik Fiestamatic

But don't take my word for it. If you have not purchased the albums yet, buy it and find out  for yourself.





P.S.
           I also did listen to  the 4-track E.P.  Slow Rock Volume 1/2 of Hijo, the band formed by the other three ex- Bamboo  members led by Nathan Azarcon.  If Nathan Azarcon was part of the topic, I  would have placed their  E.P.  just below Dong Abay's Rebulto. That E.P. is amazing.