Celebrating music

After the heady success of Sinosikat’s first CD, it’s great to give notice that its 2nd Album has finally been released, and it’s a true winner. And there’s the definitive retrospective of Madonna, our musical icon for the ages.

2nd Album: Sinosikat? (Warner Music). If you pushed me to name three local bands that are personal favorites, and have the chops to make a name for themselves abroad, and be champions of a global awareness of what Philippine music can stand for, Sinosikat? would top that list. New studio material is finally here, and the first six tracks had me searching for superlatives. It’s jazz, it’s rock, it’s funk and electronica; and the fundamental beauty is it had me tapping my toes and nodding along in syncopated sympathy. As for Kat’s vocals, she’s beguiling temptress on one number, fey romantic on another, and strutting soulwoman when it’s required. My immediate faves are Look At Me, Patiently, its cover of Sonny Nicolas’ 1981 Metro Manila Music Festival entry, Mr. Musikero, and I’ll Never Say. Heart Break Blues has some Middle Eastern flavor wafting through it, and Acid Funk is reminiscent of the Brand New Heavies and M People. The other cover is a piano-accompanied rendition of Ebe Dancel’s (of Sugarfree) Nung Iniwan Mo Ako, and while good on its own, it lacks the impeccable arranging I associate with Sikat. A second album that solidifies all we’ve loved about the band, and signifies how it has ready to grow and expand its range, defying pat music categorization.

Celebration: Madonna (Warner Music). Thirty-six tracks, of which there are only two new songs (Celebration, and Revolver, which features Lil Wayne), and one knows that this is just what the doctor ordered if one wanted a major Madonna fix. While other compliations have been released, this is the one that the artist herself supervised, remastered and selected with the fans. My only minor complaint is why no True Blue. There’s not much to say about the songlist, you either know them and love them, or didn’t care much for her from the start. And if you’re one of those fans who didn’t religiously love all phases of her career or collected all the albums, this is the perfect CD to get, or give as a gift!