The Heavy - How you like me now?

Always exciting to discover new music. If this sounds familiar, its because you heard it on the film 'The Fighter.' These guys are British!

Black Keys - Brothers

The Black Keys have a new album out entitled "Brothers." I.Am.Ecstatic. They don't make the blues as good as this anymore. And these boys make 'em just like how I prefer my ice cream - dirty. Yum.

The Black Keys

Their sound is old, but they're a young band. Its a nice little high when one discovers great music. This two-man band is a rare find amidst all the crap out there. Love love love.

100 Songs on Shuffle

I was compiling this list last Tuesday afternoon before I was rudely interrupted by the shenanigans of our Tongressmen. Anyway, here it is finally!

This hundred song meme is catching on, so I'm cutting you a slice of my musical tastes. I put my eepahd on shuffle and here's my list! I really like the ones I've youtube-linked to. Everytime they come on, my heart luksong-tiniks. Spread the lurve.

1. Drip, “Kabilugan ng Buwan”
2. Bamboo, “Tatsulok”
3. Yann Tiersen, “Frida”
4. Beatles, “Something”
5. Meat Beat Manifesto, “Suicide”
6. Rivermaya, “Table for Two”
7. Lamb, “Learn”
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Maps”
9. Bandabardo, “Non Sarai Mai”
10. The Butterfly Effect, “Gone”
11. Tracy Chapman, “This Time”
12. Maria Taylor, “Clean Getaway”
13. The Roots, “Episodes”
14. Incubus, “Anna Molly”
15. Black Eyed Peas, “My Humps”
16. Janet Jackson, “Got til its Gone”
17. Les Negresses Vertes, “Ignacius”
18. Ten Kens, “Spanish Fly”
19. Jose Gonzalez, “Teardrop”
20. Robin Thicke, “On and On”
21. Buena Vista Social Club, “Dombe, Dombe”
22. Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
23. Feist, “L’amour ne dure pas toujours”
24. Micatone, “Nomad (Radio Citizen Remix)”
25. Jason Mraz, “Bella Luna”
26. Kanye West, “Never let me down”
27. Regina Spektor, “Fidelity”
28. Gare du Nord, “How was it for you”
29. Simon and Garfunkel, “Sound of Silence”
30. The Killers, “Believe me Natalie”
31. Eraserheads, “Magasin”
32. Adele, “Chasing Pavements”
33. Maroon Five, “Through with you”
34. The Cardigans, “Step on me”
35. Amélie OST, “Soir de fête”
36. Polyphonic Spree, “It’s the sun”
37. Keith Sweat, “Twisted”
38. Deerhoof, “Chandelier Searchlight”
39. Lamb, “Sweet”
40. Les Nubians, “Princesse Nubienne”
41. Citizen Cope, “I’ve seen better days”
42. Mario, “Let me love you”
43. Beck, “Pressure Zone”
44. John Legend, “Please Baby Don’t”
45. Red Hot Chilli Peppers, “Scar Tissue”
46. Tori Amos, “Icicle”
47. Pearl Jam, “Alive”
48. Silverchair, “Cicada”
49. U2, “If God will send his angels”
50. Beck, “Asshole”
51. Buffalo Daughter, “Socks, Drugs and Rock and Roll”
52. Kjwan, “Boomerang”
53. Moby, “Run On”
54. U2, “Stay”
55. The Killers, “Smile Like You Mean it”
56. Dicta License, “Demokracy”
57. Radiohead, “House of Cards”
58. 311, “Love Song”
59. Nirvana, “Rape Me”
60. Kapatid, “Hanggang Magdamag”
61. Nyko Maca, “Turn my head”
62. Massive Attack, “What your soul sings”
63. Saian Supa Crew, “Ring my bell”
64. Amy Winehouse, “You know I’m no good”
65. Timbaland, “Way I are”
66. Yann Tiersen, “La Crise”
67. Amparanoia, “Don't Leave Me Now”
68. Air, “Surfing on a Rocket”
69. D’Angelo, “Cruisin”
70. Billie Holiday, “Love for sale”
71. Incubus, “A Crow left of the murder”
72. Susheela Raman, “Mamavatu”
73. Black Gandhi, “Pateras”
74. Dixie Chicks, “Lullaby”
75. Oasis, “I believe in all”
76. Sarah McLachlan, “Blackbird”
77. Usher & Alicia Keys, “My Boo”
78. Urbandub, “Soulsearching”
79. Kamikazee, “Petix”
80. Ilhan Ersahin, “Fly”
81. Sigur Ros, “Salka”
82. Alphawezen, “Speed of Light”
83. The Organ, “Oh what a feeling”
84. Bromheads Jacket, “Turn me on”
85. Beyoncé, “Sweet Dreams”
86. Audioslave, “The Worm”
87. The Mary Onettes, “Lost”
88. Liam Finn, “Better to be”
89. Keysha, “I won’t tell”
90. System of a Down, “Forest”
91. Snow Patrol, “Make this go on forever”
92. Bernard Cantat, “A ton étoile”
93. Wyclef Jean, “Electric Avenue”
94. REM, “I am Superman”
95. Cajun Dance Party “The Hill, the View & the Light”
96. Mazzy Star, “Blue Light”
97. Real Fish, "Tainted Love"
98. Live, “Iris”
99. Fuel, “Shimmer”
100. Anya Marina, “Sociopath”

Radiohead - Videotape

Its almost embarassing to see an artist stripped naked in each performance.

Yann Tiersen - Déjà Loin

I recently downloaded all of Yann Tiersen’s albums. You might remember him for the Amélie OST. This song does funny things to my chest. :-)

Tori Amos - Putting the Damage On

When I was thinking of a name for this blog over six years ago I was drinking coffee and listening to Tori Amos' Spark. So simple yes?

From the gem of an album Boys for Pele, one of my favourites.

Abre Los Ojos

Emancipation is a well-trodden theme in pop culture. Off the top of my head I think of classic cult hit "The Matrix." Neo, having glimpsed the truth behind the human condition, had the choice to down the blue pill which would make him forget what he saw and revert to his life of habit. He would forget his encounter with Morpheus and his crew, forget the sinister Mr. Anderson and go on with living out his life.

Morpheus: This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.

But Neo chose to swallow the red pill - in pursuit of truth. He later on found out that he, and all of humanity, have been living simulated, fantasy lives as their bodies served to power the world created by machines. Later on another character Cypher, expressed deep regret in forgoing the blue pill. Knowing what he knew then, he would have gladly reverted to his simulated life - back in the blissful arms of ignorance.

This same choice was offered to David in "Vanilla Sky." Near the end of the film he finds out that in grief for losing a loved one, he chose to be cryogenically preserved, living his simulated perfect life indefinitely. Upon learning the truth, he chose to jump off the building and wake up to face his painful reality.

I remember these pop culture references as I read this article entitled "Barrel of worms" by Rene Azurin. In it he depicts the hesitance of officialdom in digging too deep:

If nothing else, congressional zarzuelas on the World Bank’s findings of bid rigging and "kickbacking" in public works projects highlight the fact that no agency in this government — not the Department of Public Works and Highways (obviously), not the Senate, not the House of Representatives, not the Department of Justice, not the Ombudsman — is interested in opening up the whole barrel of worms. A logical conclusion is that everyone has an interest in keeping this barrel sealed.

Thieves guarding the bank can be expected to deflect attention from the intricate ways in which wealth is siphoned off the bank.

But what of the depositors?

It is probably in their interest to believe in the credibility of the institution which houses their fortune, their hopes, their fate. Believing otherwise would trigger a crisis. Given a choice between reality and the comfort of ignorance or even the relative discomfort of innuendo - do we take the blue pill or the red?

We go about our daily lives in varying levels of consciousness. Most of us probably prefer to sleepwalk. Reality may be too much to take. For those who see a glimmer of light behind closed eyelids, I dedicate "Anino" by Wolfgang.

RH Rocks!

Come one come all! If the free concert doesn't hook you, I bet the free condoms will :)

Post-Mortem

Over three thousand blogposts about the Eraserheads in the last month. Boy, the Pinoyblogosphere has been busy. I thought this was a thoughtful post by Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down (my favourite band of the moment):

On the way to the gig, Keith, Glenn and I talked about how it would uplift the spirits of the Filipinos if the guys decide to get back together after the concert. I guess got ahead of myself there, but I’m sure this was no taboo because majority of us did not see this coming despite secretly wishing for it, the time the rumours started circulating the industry and out.

To our initial dismay, the symbolic return of our pride and hope got cut short. On the other hand, everybody knew it was impossible to get the four back up on stage and it did happen, didn’t it? Above all the factors that sent all of us home, there still is quite a bit of hope. What the entertainment industry wishes to give during these times of absolute low. And sometimes it only happens when a nation is nearly hitting rock bottom, to me at least.

During the first few years of being with this band, I thought that the music was all inward, and that it was all about self-gratification, most definitely not about the money nor fame and thought that it was about making ourselves better people, therapy
for having such an outlet and using up what we had picked up from the bands we looked up to growing up, when in these circumstantial events, there’s that kiss of life that tells us about the impact of music in our lives and what it says about where we are and where we ought to go.

Dear Eraserheads

We, your humble fans, understand how stressful the last few days have been for all of you and especially for Ely.

But having found out that the concert was 'continued' at Saguijo, probably with only a handful of people around you, I think it is only fair that you and the people who manage you consider doing a continuation for all of us too.

Yun lang.

Thank you.

ETA:How many times have I expressed awe for this medium? News just filters through almost on real time. Anyway, here is the latest on the Eraserheads' bitin concert. From the Sandwich mailing list, Raimund writes:

Ely was in no condition emotionally, physically) to play but he did. And he gave it his all which is more than we could ask from him. Given the circumstances he was in.

We all wish him well. We are all confident that he will recover soon.

I promise to give you another Eraserheads show as soon as possible.

Hold on to your tickets...I'm holding onto mine!

The World Can Go Fuck Herself Tomorrow...

I'd been dreaming of this for the longest time. And now it is finally coming true. For one day, I revisit my youth while I look into the future. The voice of an entire generation will string happy songs tomorrow. A generation sheltered by the 1990s, a decade so different from the turbulence of the one before, and the one that would come after.

Here's to the innocence of the past. For one day, we will zone out. For one day we will say the world can go fuck herself. Tomorrow is dedicated to remembering what we have lost. Para sa dekada nobenta, heto'ng sayo!!!

Raving

Carl Ramirez wrote a glowing review and Butch recommended it. Its from the indie cable channel that brought us Weeds and stars one of my favourite characters in Six Feet Under. What's not to like about the sociopath-killer-forensics-specialist Dexter? I've only seen an
episode, but am left with the same impression as when I first saw Weeds. Wow.

Also raving about Luis' new app Guerilla Radio. Its obsure artist friendly too.

And oh. I've been asked to write a privilege speech of a senator. Again, wow.

Mga Pare Ko!

The greatest Pinoy band of all time. Well, at least of my generation. My gawd. It will be historic!

Butch and I were just talking about it the other day.We weren't even aware there have been rumours circulating about an Eraserheads reunion concert! Yesterday this was confirmed by the Philippine Star's Ricky Lo. The concert will be on August 30 at CCP grounds. Tickets are FREE. However you will have to register at the Marlboro website and you'd be lucky if you win tickets! More details here.

Fiona Apple - Paper Bag

Sidestepper - Deja

Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP

I fell in love with Karen O in that MTV performance of Maps. Here is "Isis" from their latest EP Is Is. Enjoy.

Massive Attack

Having wild fun with Bit Torrent, getting reacquainted with oldies but goodies. Short article on Massive Attack's "Collected" album on the Inquirer today. Most of you will know that House MD's opening theme Teardrop is one of MA's biggest hits. Anyway, this video is Angel. Enjoy.

Portishead

Portishead's "Third" album is out. This is the band performing We Carry On on Jools Holland's show.



Beth Gibbons is god.

Brazilian Girls - Me Gusta Cuando Callas

A rough translation care of process junkie:

You please me when you're silent because you seem absent,
and you hear me from a distance, and my voice does not touch you.
It seems as if your eyes had vanished
and a kiss had shut your mouth closed.

As all the things are filled with my soul
you emerge from all the things overrun with that soul of mine.
Butterfly of dreams, you look just like my soul,
and you resemble the word 'melancholy'.

You please me when you're silent because you seem distant;
And you seem like you're whimpering, butterfly in a lullaby
and you hear me from a distance, and my voice does not reach you:
let me become silent with that silence of yours

Let me talk to you with your silence as well
bright like a lamp, simple like a ring.
You are like the night, quiet and starry.
Your silence is that of a star, so distant and simple.

You please me when you're silent because you seem absent.
Distant and painful as if you would have died.
Just one word then, one smile is enough,
and I'm glad, so glad it's not true.