Album Review: All My Friends

The thought of writing a review for a post-rock/math rock or 'instrumental rock' album can be overwhelming, especially when a portion of my album reviews focus on lyrics. 

So that's immediately scratched off. 

Its also daunting as I am in no way a musician and lack the background and technical know how to have the credibility to actually talk about music (I have a Nursing degree and don't play any sort of musical instrument whatsoever and have been working in the BPO industry for more than ten years) let alone one which relies on music-alone. 

I just like to listen to a lot of different kinds of music and like everything else am really, really passionate about it. 

Then I realized music isn't always about the technical details, sure being educated about genres will help you navigate through the many material out there and having general knowledge about musical terms is essential so your audience knows what you're talking about but in truth, its actually how the music makes you feel that really matters. 

And tide/edit's "All my friends" made me feel a lot of things. 

"All My Friends" is a positive and inspiring musical experience that doesn't even require words or lyrics to express this. I was actually working on another album review when I gave the album a quick listen and I immediately went on "writer mode" scribbling away on an open notebook in my chicken scrawl of a handwriting. 

You can check out the band's video for "Twelve" which is also part of "All my friends". 

Paul and I influence each other when it comes to music (he's actually sleeping when I listened to the album and I can't wait to share this with him when he wakes up) -our love for post rock / math rock definitely comes from him. If you have no idea what "instrumental rock" is all about - tide / edit 's "All my friends" is a great introduction to the genre. 

The album is made up of 12 tracks and once you listen to the first track "Pelagic" it just keeps on going from one track to the next with its steady drum rolls, sensual bass lines, harmonic guitars; playing and teasing, soothing and calling- it calls to you to move, to sway, to dance, to feel, (or in my case to write) -its the music that is the star. 

"Lakeshore" highlights an acoustic guitar with some subtle percussion and its just glorious and its abrupt end will leave you wanting for more.

"White Flag" which features the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Dee Cruz is the only track in the album with lyrics and as if by some sort of genius is the last track and makes you realize you did not miss the traditional lyrics with music accompaniment and it is as if the entire album is a prologue to this satisfying end. It creates this unique experience that you have to listen to the entire album that all of its tracks are pieces that make up one beautiful puzzle. 

4/5. "All My Friends" is now streaming on Spotify and is available for pre-order on the Spur of the Moment website. Click here. 

Album Review: JCON Mixtape

R&B has never really been considered mainstream in the local music scene but Filipino-Irish singer/songwriter Jess Connelly is changing that and redefining the genre with her impressive 13 track album "JCON Mixtape". Her sophomore effort after an EP release in 2015 entitled "How I Love". 

Connelly has been building up to this release, dropping tracks like “Turn Me Down,” “deep + involved,” “Mine,” and “On My Way Up”before leading up to "Call Me" which she released last week. This is my favorite from the album, from the moment I first heard it. I was in love and listened to it on loop. 

She sings: 

“Call me when you’re lonely / I need someone to hold me 
 Call me when you’re lonely / I could make you want me” 

-and you know that she means it, in a subtle confidence where she knows she's going to get that call. Now, I'm pretty much your punk-rock chick but there's just something about Connelly's sensual vocal tone that draws me to her and besides, good music is good music no matter the genre. 

JCON opens with "Awake" which quickly sets the tone and mood for the entire album with the smooth beats and perfectly timed keys, making you just want to kick back in your most comfortable ensemble. 

"Turn Me Down" follows, I remember when the MV of this was released my admiration for Connelly was cemented. She was an artist to watch out for sure. Giving any pretty teen pop act with their godforsaken covers a run for their money. 

You know she is the real deal. 

Check out her video for "Turn Me Down" which feature a unique look and aesthetic that Connelly owns and in translates for the perfect audiovisual experience. 

Throughout the album, Connelly works with local producers such as Eyedress, Similarobjects and CRWN her tracks also feature collaborations with artists such as Awhich and P.Lo, further strengthening the growing hold of RnB in the local scene. 

In "deep + involved" she paints a picture of a love that wasn't supposed to happen but she now finds herself too "deep and involved" she says: 

Never planned to get personal
Never meant to stay now I wanna put you first and all
Now you taking up my day, never knew I'd be the first to fall
Don't know what to say cos you the only one that I wait for

"Process" (feat. Awhich) is a fun danceable track with a touch of Janet Jackson here and there and we also get to see her rap skills, where she drops rhyme and beat effortlessly. You know that she's in her element, she's not even trying, its all natural for her.  

Prior to the release of JCON, Connelly also opened for Chance the Rapper and hosted an intimate listening party for JCON. (Would have loved to have been there). I have yet to see her perform live and its definitely on my list of things to do and I know that there will definitely be more opportunities for that, you get the sense that Connelly is serious about her craft and that she is only beginning. (5/5). 

JCON Mixtape is now available on all streaming platforms. 

Music: Album Review: Pray for the Wicked

I haven't written much music content lately, mostly because we haven't been going to gigs since Luke was born, actually since I got pregnant. Luke is 10 months now but we still haven't been able to sneak to a local gig, we were supposed to go to Satchmi's Vinyl day, however there was a death in the family and so that didn't push through. 

While writing about local music is still on the hold, I was inspired to write an album review for Panic! At the Disco's latest album release, "Pray for the Wicked". Now, I don't usually write album reviews for foreign acts, since I choose to focus my efforts on local acts, to help get their music around but I am feeling a bit rusty when it comes to writing about music so I'll just go with this stroke of inspiration, just to keep the edge of the sword sharp. 

So here goes. 

After being robbed of the Grammy for "Best Rock Album" for their 2016 record "Death of a Bachelor" - Panic! At the Disco is out with a new gem, "Pray for the Wicked" which continue to showcase Brendon Urie's high pitched vocal prowess, amid an array of zesty melodic and theatrical tracks.   

Who would have thought that from the emo roots, dazed music videos and signature eyeliner looks, Brendon Urie would rise to become a debonair master of reinvention, shedding the top hats and make up for a smooth bachelor, so comfortable with his sexuality that he can portray a play boy and also sing and dance in high heeled red boots. 

Urie has survived the change of band members over the years to become the last man standing and in "Pray for the Wicked" tells the story of ambition and the price that comes with it.

"Cause I'm a hooker sellin' songs 

And my pimp's a record label" 

              

                         -Hey Look Ma, I made it 

From the high-octane and indulgent opener "(Fuck) a Silver Lining" -my personal favorite in the album by the way, to the easy going humble brag in "Hey look Ma, I made it" the optimistic narcissist tells what his Mama told him in "High Hopes"  -thus justifying his overreaching ambitions, the songs then take a darker turn, reflecting what comes after success. 

"This is what it feels like when you become one of the drunks

Searching for a new high, high as the sun"

-One of the drunks

The genius of the reinvented Panic! At the Disco is that it can pen songs such as "The Overpass" -which open like a score from a movie, you would think it was one of Micheal Galachino's musical scores, complete with brass sections and the big chase scene music, yet the lyrics that accompany it, tell of a lover who reminisces about "the perfume that lingers in  your hair" and tells of a "shirt that keeps your smell"  as Urie sings of "troubled love and high speed noise". 

The album closes with "Dying in LA" -a ballad which relies on Urie's raw vocal power as he paints a vivid picture of the dark side of the City of Angels.  

"-Nobody knows you now, when you're dying in L.A.

And nobody owes you now, when you're dying in L.A.

Oh, the power, the power, the power of L.A." 

-Dying in L.A.

"Pray for the Wicked" was written after Urie's stint on Brodway's "Kinky Boots" and you cannot deny its theatrical influences and as he continues to reinvent himself while creating music and telling stories, you can tell that Brendon Urie is still having a good time. (3.5 / 5).

I already have a few ideas where to get a physical copy of the album as unfortunately the local distributor no longer supplies CDs in record stores. Yes, I still buy CDs (I recently purchased Lorde's "Melodrama") since the husband and I prefer playing CDs in the car. I also have a steady yet humble collection at home. Of course these copies will be more expensive (twice the price around at P800.00) as they will be ordered from the US but that's okay. 

I think part of my inspiration for writing this review comes with the news that Panic! At the Disco is coming to perform in Manila (October 20, 2018) for their "Pray for the Wicked" tour. Now, I wasn't able to score tickets to Paramore's sold out show in August, which is really a blow to me, since I haven't missed any of their Manila shows, still hoping against hope though -Hey! Stranger things have happened. I will definitely try to score tickets to PATD's show. It will be a challenge, seeing as milk is so expensive (about P4,000 a month!) but hey what are you going to do right? Ticket selling is on July 8 at 10 AM, by the way. 

For the meantime I will continue to enjoy the album and stream it on Spotify (Premium), probably the cheapest way to legally support your favorite music acts and writing reviews and features ? Well that's priceless. :P  

         

MUSIC: Loop Talks About Their "Reality And Dreams" (Album)

Last 2014, Paul and I were on a "Loop" craze, we were just mad for the four-piece Iligan based band. We loved their sophomore album "Flirting with the Universe" -with such a passion that its still one of our favorite go-to CDs to play, whether in the car or at home. 

So just imagine our excitement that the band is coming out with their third album "Reality and Dreams" (?!) -we were able to catch the band when they were in Manila last December. We saw (and enjoyed their set) for Paramore Night 23 and got to talk about the upcoming album. I promised to send a set a questions for them to answer and here it is! 

Sorry it took some time, you know it is. Holidays, baby news. Lazy preggy hormones. Hahaha -but not too lazy to show our continuing love and support for this awesome band! 


*Photos taken during Paramore Night 23*

Do you remember your first recording experience? How has your recording process changed in the years? How has the creative process been since then?

• We remember it as if it was yesterday! Hahaha. We were just starting out (2013) and we thought it would be awesome to record some demos with no plans of release. Good thing, Kim’s dad was out of town so we took it as an opportunity to record at her house. We didn’t even have interfaces back then. Just a mixer and an electronic kit. Halfway thru recording, we received an invite to play in Davao. That’s when we decided to use the demos and make it an EP.
• I’m also used to working alone on the mixing/mastering process.
• The creative process was raw and exciting. Kim had a number of acoustic demos and we just jam thru all of em in the studio that we rented. Took a while to cook up the songs to what it is right now.

Why "Reality and Dreams" ? And how much of the title influenced the record?

• Reality and Dreams is part of the song “31”’s lyrics. After listening to all of our songs, we just thought that it’s definitely what this is all about. The title came after the recording. We had a number of titles but RnD is just too perfect for it. The record influenced the title hahaha. The songs deal with our realities as well as our dreams.