What keeps rock alive

This is not a good time for rock music. Sales is said to be floundering in most parts of the world and there have been no big star releases to counteract the downtrend. Everybody wants to go hip-hop. And that includes Pinoys who not only sound awful rapping in English, they also look ridiculous dressing up and dancing hip-hop. This type of music starts in the blood and you have to live the life to get the right feel. Maybe someday OPM will finally find its hip-hop direction, but for the moment, I think we are better off rocking. Here are three examples of what still keeps the light of rock burning brightly nowadays.

Danger Days, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance (MCR). It has been four years since the blockbuster Welcome To The Black Parade, so you can bet that this is indeed one of the most awaited albums of recent times. Surprise! The boys are in a bright mood in this one. The beat invites dancing as in the first single Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) and Planetary (GO!) and singing as in the ballads Bulletproof Heart and Sing. Better yet, this is also not an all systems go, rock epic like Black Parade. This is a tight stripped down production.

The boys of MCR have not been sitting on their laurels. They have spent time learning the intricacies of rock and this shows in the way they have fused assorted beats in the album. Gerard Way’s vocals soar in every cut, the writing flows and the arrangements, solid. The way they go from fun punk to the catchy, lyrical choruses of ’80s rockers is utterly mind-blowing. Other cuts included are The Only Hope For Me Is You; Party Poison; Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back; S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W; Summertime; Destroya; The Kids From Yesterday; and Vampire Money.

Good Charlotte, Greatest Hits. This is 15 years’ worth of Good Charlotte hits. That is how long these guys have been around and also how long they had been in the center of the pop or punk controversy. Is Good Charlotte pop? I think so if their appeal to the tween market is to be considered. Kids just love this band. Is Good Charlotte rock? They started out doing punk but this music somehow evolved into a pop rock style that is now the band’s very own. But who cares about labels. I like Good Charlotte because the band makes solid recordings with strong melodies and lyrics that capture the growing-up experience spot on. Besides, these guys look really good. Clean up the hairstyles and remove the eye make-up and Good Charlotte will be one of the cutest, wholesome looking bands around. Good Charlotte is Joel Madden on vocals, his brother Benj on guitar; Billy Martin, guitar; Paul Thomas, bass; and Dean Butterworth, drums.

I do not know why the big hit Hold On, is not included but everything else is pretty much here. Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous; The Anthem; Little Things; The Motivation Proclamation; Festival Song; Girls & Boys; The Young And The Hopeless; Hold On; Predictable; I Just Wanna Live; The Chronicles Of Life And Death; We Believe; The River featuring Mr. Shadows and Synyster Gates; I Don’t Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem); and Misery.

Between The Lungs by Florence & The Machine. This is actually a “reloaded” edition of Lungs, the acclaimed debut album by the hot British band. Fronted by the incredible Florence Welch with Rob Ackroyd on guitar; Chris Hayden, drums; Isabella Summers, keyboards; and Tom Monger, drums, the band has a unique sound. There are the usual musical instruments but there are also stomping, wailing, metal clanging and all sorts of noises you can think of. It has been said that the truly gifted can create music out of anything and Florence & the Machine is one good example. And they even go beyond that because of the fairytale imagery in the songwriting. I do not agree with all they say like I can never accept being kissed with a fist but these guys make the masochistic idea seem attractive.

Between Two Lungs has the complete Lungs album in Disc 1. That means Dog Days Are Over; Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up); I’m Not Calling You A Liar; Howl; Kiss With A Fist; Girl With One Eye, etc. Then there is Disc 2 which has remixes and live recordings plus two new songs, Heavy In Your Arms and You’ve Got The Dirtee Love. Other cuts are Hurricane Drunk (The Horrors Remix); Strangeness & Charm (Live); Swimming (Live); Dog Days Are Over; and recorded live from the iTunes Festival 2010, Drumming Song; Girl With One Eye; Hurricane Drunk; Dog Days Are Over; My Boy Builds Coffins; and Hospital Beds.