Carlo Aquino’s other love

Local fans do not seem to have any objection to actors turning singers and great examples abound with the likes of Nora Aunor, Sharon Cuneta, Gary V, Regine Velasquez, etc., etc. Being part of a rock band though is something else. Integrity as a rocker plays a big part in market acceptance. Rock is not just music, it is a lifestyle. So when an actor wants to rock, he has to convince fans he is serious with the music and is not merely using it as a way to pass the time between movie or TV roles.

That is the problem with Carlo Aquino. He sings and plays the guitar with the rock band Kollide and has been doing so for five years now. But that is not how his fans know him. He is in the news as an award-winning child actor, the bad guy of the soap series Sinasamba Kita, the star of the internationally acclaimed Tuli, ex-boyfriend of Angelica Panganiban, the almost but never was boyfriend of Maja Salvador and the guy with the dishy LJ Reyes in the music video for the song Ala-ala.

Now Ala-ala, a light rock ballad, is one of the cuts in the self-titled album Kollide. This is Carlo’s first attempt as a rocker and I am glad to say that it is made of better stuff than what we usually get these days. We get a lot of bad ones and I am sure that a lot of people out there who allowed themselves to be conned into buying those albums want to scream out with an exasperated “How could you?” to those artists. But that is not the case with Kollide. The band actually knows the music. It may not be an instant classic but you can listen to Kollide and actually enjoy what it has to offer.

The album has an all-original line-up of new works by the band members. Aside from Ala-ala, these are Basehan, Bolero, Salvation, Habang Nasa Lupa, Panaginip, Kayong Dalawa, Amag, Doubts in My Sky, Para Sa ‘yo, Isip and Make You Stay, which should make a good second single. Kollide is made up of Aldwin on drums, Aldo on bass, Edward on guitars, Wai on keyboards and Carlo on vocals and guitars. The album is produced by Sancho Sanchez and mixed and mastered by Shinji Tanaka of Sound Creations.

Now, if only listeners would listen to the music instead of thinking of LJ Reyes, Angelica, Tuli and all those other things about Carlo. Then everything would be okay with Kollide.

Jericho rocks

Speaking of actors who want to be singers and in this case, who want to front a band, Jericho Rosales now also has his Jeans. Now I would much rather have Jericho, the teleserye leading man than anything else but there is nothing I can do about his singing because the guy likes to rock. Fortunately for Jericho, it was not at all difficult for him to get a record deal and he is now a bonafide rock recording artist.

Jeans has released its first album. It is titled Loose Fit like great jeans. Cuts included are Nightsky, What are We Doin’, Kasama Ka, Mr. Mart, Ngayong Gabi, Comin’ Out, Swim, Flyin’ In Flyin’ Out, Tuwing Nakikita Ka, She’s the Dream, Keep off the Grass, Panday, which I guess is the theme from his former TV series and You’re So Beautiful which features his real life leading lady, actress and MYX video jock Heart Evangelista.

Top videos

Speaking of MYX, the Pinoy MYX Countdown of top videos for the week is as follows: Pasan by Callalily; Alam ng Ating Mga Puso by Rachelle Ann Go; Tuloy Pa Rin by Sponge Cola; Upside Down by 6Cyclemind; Crazy Love by Kim Chiu; Tadhana by Moonstar88; Break na Tayo by Rocksteddy; Radio by Amber; Love is All I Need by Yasmien Kurdi; Only Reminds Me of You by M.Y.M.P.; Wag Ka Nang Umiyak by Sugarfree; Probinsiyana by Bamboo; Catch Me I’m Fallin’ by Toni Gonzaga; Ang Katulad Mong Walang Katulad by Orange & Lemons; You’re the Inspiration by Dianne Elise; Aking Hiling by 3rd Avenue; Bro by Blue Ketchup; Charing by 1017; Ale by The Bloomfields; and Shai by Kjwan.