From the woodwork

The two CDs today come from acts that may not carry much recognition here in the Philippines, but given the chance, music lovers would truly appreciate the quality of the music that’s to be found in them. If you love music that respectfully salutes the past and yet adds something new and unique in its rendering, both Mat Kearney and the Fountains of Wayne will be worth the search. I ordered these CDs on

Amazon.

Mat Kearney — Young Love (Universal Republic Records). Mat is a singer-songwriter who really knows his “chops.” He’ll flit from one genre to the next, and yet excel himself with each type of song that you just end up tapping your feet and smiling. It’s pop-rock but with a lot of personality. At times, it reminds us of Train, and then it can remind us of Coldplay or Snow Patrol in a pared down manner.

Hey Mama is a great opener that has instant sing-along qualities, while Ships in the Night has him doing a semi-rap over a Coldplay type chorus. Count On Me has a group of young kids joining on the refrain, and I just loved the track Down. There’s something different on each track, but consistent in terms of depth.

Fountains of Wayne — Sky Full of Holes (Yep Roc Records). If you ever wondered what bands like Squeeze or Crowded House would sound like today, one good bet would be to listen to Fountains of Wayne. Formed in 1996, this is its fifth studio album, and first since 2007. From power pop, to ballads and Eagles-like country tinged tunes, storytelling is the forte of this band.

Richie and Ruben is one hilarious song about two hip entrepreneurs who are destined for failure — putting up a boutique called Debris, and a club that bombs. Action Hero starts funny but turns poignant, and the CD title comes from the tune Cemetery Guns, the gun salute for a fallen comrade. Its quality rock that shouldn’t be ignored.