Pinoy bands rock with new releases

Mojofly soars high with its new collection titled A Million Stories. One of the most popular among the local alternative bands, Mojofly debuted with the moderately successful album Birthday three years ago. The group took a long time putting together its second release and might have gone the way of most Pinoy groups who tried their hand at recording, that is, down to oblivion. But A Million Stories happened just in time and it is sing-able, listen-able and a totally enjoyable album.

Mojofly sticks to the Pinoy version of the pop alternative dictum with its music. That means driving backbeat, easy vocals and steamroller guitar riffs. The things that make A Million Stories special though are the melodies and Kitchie Nadal’s confident vocals. The album crackles with real songs that remain charming no matter what the beat. The arrangements too are never arty or overblown. It is clear that bassist Ricci Gurango who wrote most of the songs in the album, drummer Junjun Regalado and guitarist Raymond Golamco, who, unfortunately, has since left Mojofly, possess that enviable quality of being in total agreement while performing. The same also goes for Kitchie, whose singing is certainly the group’s most distinguishable trademark.

A Million Stories plays like a dream. It sounds like an album with one single after another, but never incoherent or disjointed. Look out for Confession, Hello and Something Worthwhile as the most radio friendly cuts, then for User Friendly Sexy Star and Pop Fiction Strange as the hardest rocking off them all. The other songs included are Steady, the first single release, Alright Without U, Scooter Boy, Say It, With U, Hello, Stonelady and A Million Stories, whose full title is A Million Stories and All the Promises Left Unsigned.

Get a copy of this one and be pleasantly surprised.

Bent’s sweet rock music

Bent produces sweet rock music, thanks to the vocals of its four hip, young and pretty members. They are songwriter Erna Morcozo on lead guitar, Tinn Naval on drums, Dianne Bolo on vocals and Azelle Mendoza on bass. They were high school students when Erna decided to form a band with cousin Tinn, classmate Dianne and friend Azelle two years ago. It looks like they were more than ready to take the spotlight for it was not long after that that Bent won second place and was named Band of the Crowd in a music competition in their hometown of Taytay. They also won second runner-up in the prestigious RX Band Breakout, now considered one of the main spawning grounds for local bands.

The all-girl group has recently released its debut album titled Fragile. Made up entirely of originals composed by Erna and arranged by the group, the album derives its music from old-fashioned rock and rolls. The girls know their music and perform with a great degree of confidence. The themes dwell on things dear to a young girl’s heart like falling in love, heartbreak, insecurities, owning a car and even the thrill of waking up to each new day. While the beat and the messages are certainly nothing new and mostly predictable, the girls are merely being honest. They have time enough for the heavy stuff later. The singing too has this girlish sweetness rarely encountered in local groups. Sure, it is rock music but there is never any attempt with Bent to be tough or to sound rough.

The first single release is Simple Life, which is about making the effort to be a better person everyday. The other songs included are God’s Hand, Stay, Window Man, How Could You, Sayin’ Goodbye, Transpo, Now I Found You, Hello, Idle World and You Made Me. Nice work but next time, please, a song or two with Filipino lyrics would be nice.

Christmas album

On a Christmassy note: Pasko Naming Hangad, the newest Christmas albums from the Jesuit Communications and the Jesuit Music Ministry will be launched with a Prayer Concert at the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila University on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the evening. The album is a call to return to the simplicity and holiness of that first Christmas night when peace, joy and love are what fill one’s heart. It features performances by Noel Cabangon and the chamber orchestra behind the successful Matins album.