New Pinoy sounds - SOUNDS FAMILIAR by Baby A. Gil

It has been my practice to gauge the merits of every new Filipino album that comes along by the mixture of laughing gas and adrenalin rush I got while listening to the first Eraserheads album. The times since when I reacted on the same level have been few and far between but I plod on, eternally hopeful that one of these days I will find an exciting new sound to rave about. I admit that the search is starting to take on desperate proportions. We are at the point when the hit potentials of local compositions are being measured by the songwriters’ ability to put sexual meaning in the most harmless of words. Filipino pop music must be in very dire straits indeed.

Here are two new albums with songs that don’t. I mean, the songs are not verbal acrobatics of the double-entendre sort. I did not get the Eraserheads rush either but these ones are certainly superior to most releases we get these days.

Wanted: Bedspacer by Ely Buendia; The E-head member does the solo bit with this album. I do not know if this means the death of the Eraserheads, since all four members are now busy with separate pursuits. It is understandable that people would want to do other things and that includes time off from even something as successful as the E-heads but I would definitely welcome another E-head album anytime and so would many others.

As for Ely as solo artist, he overdid the Beatles bit with this one and is showing a serious streak. But this lack of fun and originality is more than made up for by the romantic lyricism in his music. Ely is in love and not afraid to show it. She must be the girl in the picture frame on the cover. She must be the one referred to as "d" and she is driving Buendia nuts, at least while he was working on this album.

Take a look at what he is singing about. "Kakaiba talaga hugis ng ‘yong mukha/nakaka-paralyze ang iyong bionic eyes" in Kakaiba. ". . . kapag kausap ka mundo’y nag-iiba/sana’y nandito ka. . ." in Over 18. "Please, huwag mong sabihing tapos na/hindi ko kaya ang wala ka/ayoko pa sa iba. . .," in Tapos Na. Or Pwede ba huwag ka nang magtampo/dahil malapit nang magunaw ang mundo/halika na, halika na/takasan natin ang umaga. . .," in Oras.

Ely is singing about stages in a romantic relationship. I admit that these affirmations of his lovelorn state do get yucky after a few cuts and have softened his usual edge. But a man who can be so open about his feelings deserve admiration. He must really be in love so let’s give the guy a break.

Other cuts in the album are Monday Mundane, Santo, Acid Tongue, Shallow Breathing and Hotchik.

Pop Fiction by Color It Red: Although we do hear news about soloist Cooky Chua occasionally, it has also been quite a while since we last heard from the group Color It Red. Many doubtless remember them for the albums Hand-Painted Sky in 1994 and Fools Circle in 1997 and hits like Paglisan and Pagguhit ng Bilog.

The band has since had a change of membership. Only Cooky and rhythm guitarist Barbi Cristi remain of the original group. Bassist Bopip Paraguya who came in with Fool’s Circle is still around while the new recruits who are making their recording debuts as Color It Red in Pop Fiction are Sam Salazar on keyboards, Ariel Policarpio on lead guitar and JV Torres on drums.

As usual, it is Cooky’s wonderful singing that gives Color It Red its distinctive sound. But maybe because of the change of personnel there is now a bluesier bent in the songs included. This could open up an entirely new market and reinforce the loyalty of devoted CIR fans. Remember that because of the success of the soft ballad Paglisan, there were people who formed the idea that songs like that are what Color It Red is about. Well, say goodbye to that. The CIR sound in Pop Fiction is more soulful and the songs are grittier and sexier.

Great work went into this album. Halika by Barbie, who incidentally composed most of the songs, is the first single out. But for something more substantial you might want to consider Upside Down, Reverie, and Lullaby. The other cuts are Icarus, Perfect Thing, Ginuhit ng Langit, Sumigaw Ka, All You Got to Do and Una’t Huli.