The two musical acts today have come out with albums that primarily delve on the more mellow side of life. In the case of The Script, it refers to those moments spent between concerts and performances, while new pop songster Chlara, a Filipina, comes up with a CD of songs she composed that mine the mainstream category of acoustic pop.
The Script — No Sound Without Silence (Columbia/Sony Records). Perennial Manila visitor The Script comes up with its fourth studio album, and it would be the Irish band’s most contemplative set of songs to date. It’s also the CD with tracks that very much carry the band’s Irish heart on its collective sleeves — listen to Paint the Town Green. And for those who live on the gossip sidelines, they’ll be trying to connect a song or two to frontman Danny O’Donoghue’s flirtation with a local beauty queen which headlined The Script’s last visit here. Superheroes is the first single off the album, and songs like The Energy Never Dies, Flares and Without These Songs have piqued my interest. It’s very consistent, but if I have to register a complaint, it’s that no single track stands out.
Chlara — Unstoppable (Evolution Ltd.). Produced by a media company based in Hong Kong and Manila, Chlara is a singer/songwriter who stakes her claim on a niche in the acoustic-pop territory with this album of self-penned songs. She reminds me of Colbie Caillat, and the pop side of Taylor Swift. The light touches of reggae on You Complete Me with her strong sense of composing ballads and her penchant for adding little flourishes on her choruses, should see her through for mainstream acceptance. What We Have Is Love, Can’t Have Me Now and Do You? are early favorites — polished and well-structured. My only issue would be that this is already an overcrowded arena, and I wonder if she’ll really get a break. Pity, as at least she’s not depending on covers.