16 melodies to dream by

I still think that every album should have a definite concept and should be listened to from start to finish as a complete production to be appreciated in full. Of course, I know that a lot of releases we get nowadays do not really have any, but I honestly believe that all albums should come with one or at least a motif that will tie in the contents.

If this is how it should be, then what do we get out of compilation albums? Primarily, what you get are hit songs by different artists coming one after the other in one CD, which because of the familiarity of the music, is nice to listen to. I admit, that is really what matters during these budget-busting times when very few among us can afford to buy all the music we want. Then, since these albums do sell a lot and are cheaper to put together, it can also be said that compilations are sales-driving tools for record companies who, thanks to pirates, must contend with diminishing sales every minute.

Occasionally though we get compilations where the contents do tie in together nicely. That is how I see Dreamsounds. Listening to the light rock and R&B collection was a pleasant surprise that eased what was supposed to be another hectic Monday. Maybe it was because it has Keith Martin’s Because of You, which is the love song of the moment. Maybe it was the way tunes by different artists but of a similar bent fused into a relaxing pattern. Whatever the reason, Dreamsounds certainly lives up to its title.

There are 16 dreamy songs in the album, most of them hits like If You’re Not the One by Daniel Bedingfield and others that should be hits like Home, which because his rendition is so simple and heartfelt, is the only song by Brian McKnight that I like, plus Make Me Whole by Amel Larrieux; Don’t Change by Musiq; For You by Kenny Latimore; I Won’t Cry by Profyle; All My Love by Innervoices; I’ll Wait Right Here by Jersey Avenue; Something to See by Glenn Lewis; Missing You a Bedtime Remix; by Case; I’m Sorry by 3rd Storee and others.

Since Dreamsounds turned out to be a joy, I decided I might as well listen to another compilation with a similar line-up, Almostkindaacoustic 2. We are now in danger of drowning from the flood of these so-called acoustic releases and I have started looking at them with a jaundiced eye or like a gift horse in the mouth. In the case of some albums, some of the contents are not even acoustic! But it is the trend and anything with the word "acoustic" on the package has a good chance of making a tidy profit these days.

Please don’t get me wrong. I like acoustic sounds. These recordings are beautiful melodies with sentimental lyrics arranged simply with an acoustic accompaniment. And because it is so pared down, it also requires singers who can truly sing. This is one trend that I hope will go on and on. Although with the way record labels are glutting the market with acoustic music and our so-called stars of the acoustic circuit acquiring inflated egos, it is now also in danger of going the way of the disco or the hot pan de sal.

Anyway back to Almostkindaacoustic 2. This one is every bit as good as Dreamsounds and it has 18 fabulous cuts including the original version of Moonlight Over Paris by Peter Mayer, which local Paolo Santos made into a big hit. Also included are I Could Not Ask for More by Edwin McCain; Officially Missing You by Tamia; Fill Me In by Craig David; You and I Both by Jason Mraz; Do I Need a Reason by D’Sound; Falling in Love Again by Eagle Eye Cherry; So Young by The Corrs; Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer; As I Lay Me Down by Sophie B. Hawkins; Jumper by Third Eye Blind; Cool with You by Jennifer Love Hewitt; You were Meant for Me by Jewel; I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love by Everything But the Girl; Real by Plumb; and others.

To close, here are the sounds that Pinoys currently love to listen to: Forever’s Not Enough by Sarah Geronimo; Bakit Pa Ba by Jay R; Because of You by Keith Martin; Tayo’y Mag Otso-Otso by Bayani Agbayani; Can We Still be Friends by Mandy Moore; Bulaklak by the Hot Babes; Mandy by Westlife; Officially Missing You by Tamiya; Maybe by King; and Shut Up by the Black Eyed Peas.