MY TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

I have made the resolution of keeping this blog updated. So here I am, off to another fresh start. I know I promised you a list, didn't I? Well here it is.

My Top 5 Albums of 2010.

The truth is, I wrote this post in early December. Before posting this article, I just had to make sure that this did not appear elsewhere. Having confirmed this yesterday, I now post where I think this article should be most appropriate: HERE. JUST HERE.

Please read on, and tell me what you think.

My Top 5 Albums for 2010

Selecting my Top 5 for this year has been trickier than difficult. I can easily spew out titles of albums whose songs stuck to memory and made an impression, but the process is trying, to say to the least. One of the things that I loathe doing is to leave out equally deserving works. There are clearly many bands worth a listen whose works remain lurking in blog sites, unearthed only by a few persistent music lovers who are on a constant quest for novel stuff.

My choice is definitely reflective of the year that has been. But shouldn’t music serve to be reflective of the times? My list is made up entirely of Pinoy artists: all have been around for quite sometime (the youngest of them being Goodleaf). Their albums contain songs that bespeak of the political and economic times: the turn-over of political power, the society’s persistent ills, and such. It is almost like reading the editorial section of the newspaper.

So here is my list.

1. “Believe” – Throw

Throw, as every self-respecting punk and underground music scenester may have known by now, is a powerhouse band made up of Al Dimalanta, Dennis Maniego, and son Spyk. This album came out in January, paying tribute to late hardcore luminaries Jay Dimalanta (Dead Ends), Luis Guiang (G.I. and the Idiots, Put3Ska), and Je Bautista (Betrayed, Music Front, Beatdown Boombox). Albert Ascona of The Beauty of Doubt and Bad Omen played guitars on this one. This album is definitely a group effort and not an Al Dimalanta show at all, which I feel is what Al had been quite conscious about throughout Throw’s existence. The title track and “Choose” (which happens to be my favorite), for instance, are written by Spyk and Al: both songs are riveting melodic paeans of hope and of deciding wisely. This one is probably Throw’s more melodic outputs.

2. “’Wag Kalimutan Ang Ingay” – Throw

Sadly, Throw disbanded last month after ten years in the hardcore scene. While Al has assured that he will continue with the acoustic gigs, I will certainly miss Throw. The band left us with this effort, “’Wag Kalimutan Ang Ingay”, dedicated to the memory of Al’s parents Ernesto and Ophelia (who both passed away this year) and his brother Jay. For this album, Against Man guitarist Alan Roldan plays for the band.“’Wag Kalimutan…” is clearly angrier than its predecessor, a reaction to the recent political changes. My favorite track will have to be “Karapatan”, which is part spoken word and all aggression that has always been Al’s trademark.

3. “ No Hero” – Coffee Break Island

Coffee Break Island is one of the most hardworking bands around. “No Hero” is their long-overdue sophomore album. While there is no clear stand-out song in the mold of their very popular song “Party Song”, the tracks are more cohesive. CBI is just as politicized in their own way, if you manage to get past the strong groove of their songs and give the lyrics a listen. I like “No Hero” and “Walang Hanggan”

4. “Dubpilipinas” – Goodleaf

Their gigs do not come all too often, leaving a good number of people wondering what exactly these guys play, except for the genre generally termed dub. People who have seen this band perform live swear that they know their dub pretty well and that they are able to incorporate numerous musical elements in their works. Goodleaf has, finally, come up with an album that showcases their skills. Listen to the title track, “Digital Roots”, and “Solusyon Ka Ba o Problema?”

5.  “Back To Kindergarten” – T.S.A.

T.S.A. is a bunch of Bulacan kids who grew up playing hardcore. All three members are now in Singapore, continuing to wreck hardcore havoc on our Southeast Asian friends who seem more pleased that offended about this fact. Ojie, Bimboi, and Pedro, as far as I know, have long been raring to make a tribute album, their own interpretation of punk and hardcore tunes that have largely influenced them. The body count can easily be guessed: Dead Ends, Urban Bandits, Betrayed, R.D.A...mostly from the Twisted Red Cross era. Some may have criticized their album as “too clean”: maybe so, but it is not a problem with me as we speak of eras that are decades and technologies apart. My favorite may well be reflective of my bias towards the band that they have covered, in this case: Urban Bandits’ “Hoy!”

I know that I have missed a lot, as my disclaimer states. Either I did not get to hear them yet (like Juan Isip's new EP) or I just ran out of slots.  There are bands whose works I await (calling The GoSigmals, Tsunami Tsunami ... ) and more bands to unearth. It is all a learning experience, and all we have to do is open our ears and minds.




Next in the list of items to update is the playlist. I will get back to you really soon. To keep you company in the meantime is a video from Coffee Break Island's second album launch called "Walang Hanggan".

Mainit!!!

The title says it all. Everything is practically hot. The weather is hot and dry and humid. The political climate is very very hot, with the national elections 11 days away. Many people's heads (and probably their libido) are just as hot.

I am also uncomfortably hot and and not too keen about making a noveletta, so here's the playlist, which is a little of dub, a little of ska, a little of dancehall, and much in between. Check out the two local inclusions: Shuffle Union's crowd pleaser "Batty Boy" live at Mogwai last January 2009 and Goodleaf's "Solusyon Ka Ba O Problema" from their debut album Dubpilipinas released this year.

I wish to thank Hilboy for providing the updates the siderail during my absence (grabe Hil, marami na akong utang sa iyo), and to everyone for checking out the blog in spite of my, ugh, delinquency (ouch). Do check out the upcoming events, posters for which can be found at the siderail.

Tracklist:

1. MEGA BANTON - Sound Boy Killing
2. LAUREL AITKEN - Mad About You
3. SHUFFLE UNION - Batty Boy (live at Mogwai, Jan 2009)
4. ORGANIZED KONFUSION - Open Your Eyes
5. ROOTS RADICS MEETS KING TUBBYS - Low Down
6. GOODLEAF - Solusyon Ka Ba O Problema

The Bing Austria Show Last March 20, Plus Some Words On The Morong 43

Before Hilboy flew to Vietnam for a short business stay, he pulled off his usual "Master Showman" antics and delivered The Bing Austria Show last Saturday, 20 March 2010, at Sazi's Restobar along España Avenue, Manila.

As always, like any other Bisikleta event, the gig was FUN.It was my first time to see The Strayguns (as in the local Cassanova George Estregan), whose members come from Pinkcow, Steady Movin' Beat, and Umble Uno. While Goodleaf was not able to perform, Bad Omen came in for an ambush set. Poisonous Mushrooms (whose new name I had a hard time catching, sorry I forgot to clean my ears) played some originals and powerpop covers. Sadly, their cover of Echobelly's "Great Things" was not to my liking, but hey, everyone has got to start somewhere, yes? As for Steady Movin' Beat ... wow, this band has really gone a long, long way. It makes me smile to think about how the boys have progressed through the years. Nakakatuwa. People were skanking the whole time and some were excitedly reaching out for the mic. Fun, fun indeed. Now all that SMB really need to do is record an album. (Hint, hint.)

Photos for your consumption are in the slideshow. Go check them out.



Outside the bar, I also did a little catching up. I scored Goodleaf's album (I will feature them soon), gobbled up a plateful of cheesesticks, and picked up a copy of the primer on the fate of Morong 43. This is one national issue that I talk about whenever the proper opportunity rises, and I think NOW is a good time to do this.

*****

On 6 February 2010, 43 health workers (thus the monicker "Morong 43") were rounded up by member of the Philippine Army and the Rizal Provincial Police while doing their health training at Morong, Rizal. Two of them were doctors, one was a registered nurse, two more were midwives, and the rest were volunteer health workers. The training is that of the Community First Responders' Health Training sponsored by the Community Medicine Development Foundation (COMMED) and the Council for Health and Development (CHD), essentially aimed at teaching community health workers solutions to various and relatively simple health problems.

In our country where the majority of the population have very little or no access to health care, the role of the community health workers is near invaluable.

The health workers were accused of being bombmakers and members of the left-wing armed group New People's Army. Then again, even if they are, the lack of warrant of arrest, denial of right to counsel, physical and psychological torture sustained by the detainees are not called for. These acts are, in fact, deplorable.

I wrote about my sentiments on the Morong 43 issue from a health worker's point of view in my other blog; please click HERE.

Trash Radio Manila supports the endeavours to increase the awareness of the Morong 43 issue. Our community doctors and health workers are our unsung heroes: they have sacrificed so much for a very noble vision. It is but proper to support their cause even in the littlest ways that we know.

On 31 March 2010, a gig called Band Aid 43 will be held at the Ten02 Bar along Sct. Ybardolaza St., Timog Ave., Quezon City. Take a look at the poster and you will agree that this is one interesting line-up. Gig starts at 7pm. More details on the poster. Your attendance is strongly encouraged if you would like to support or even find out more about the Morong 43.

*****

Is it really Holy Week? So many things happening ... more to come.