The new 'it' band of the young hip set

I have a strong feeling that Secondhand Serenade is set to be the new “it” band among the young hip set. It was already a big campus favorite from last year. You know, the sort of sound that kids held close to their hearts and would prefer not to tell anybody about. It featured just a guitar and a group of voices, but the melodies and the lyrics were the kind to moon about and perhaps use as a personal score while reading Twilight. And when you think of music for something like Twilight, you can bet that more and more people are not becoming familiar with Secondhand Serenade.

Technically, it is not really a band. Secondhand Serenade is actually made up of only one person. He is John Vasely, a singer and guitarist from California who has a sweet explanation about why he calls his group or himself, Secondhand Serenade. All the songs he writes are serenades to his wife. Ergo, what we the public get to hear is only second-hand or used, previously owned, recycled or whatever it is we call things or in this case music we do not get as new.

 Vasely’s first album was Awake two years ago. He recorded it alone by multitracking his voice with an acoustic guitar as accompaniment. Market reaction was good and Secondhand Serenade was hailed as the new big thing in emo rock. Last month, and just in time for the Valentine season came the second CD, A Twist in My Story. And maybe because he can now afford the cost, Vasely recorded his latest with all the works, a full band and an orchestra.

Fans from the early days are howling, foul. Vasely has sold out. Maybe. He now sounds sleek and well-produced. Also, there are old songs included, namely Your Call and Maybe from the first CD. Still, I do not think it wrong for any artist to want to broaden his market and the inclusion of the tunes from Awake is for the benefit of new fans who have not heard the first album. Truth to tell I do not even know if that one is available in the local stores. Besides, those two cuts have been rearranged and re-recorded and are as touching as ever.

The verdict here is there is a lot of great stuff for sentimental Pinoys to enjoy in A Twist In My Story. Vasely writes songs from the heart and his voice, sounding spent and tortured, sings great stories. You might like your emo raw while you are hurting, but I tell you more CDs get moving when you have the orchestra swooning in the background of such meaningful declarations. Best of this lot are Like A Knife, Stay Close Don’t Go, Fall for You and A Twist in My Story.

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No, Secondhand Serenade did not win any of the trophies at stake. One day perhaps. But the Brits, the British version of the American Music Awards, because the public votes for the winners, gave out several last Friday and here is the honor roll.

 British Female Solo Artist, Duffy; British Male Solo Artist, Paul Weller; International Female Solo Artist, Katy Perry; International Male Solo Artist, Kanye West; British Breakthrough Act, Duffy; International Group, Kings of Leon; International Album, Kings of Leon; British Single, The Promise by Girls Aloud; British Album, Rockferry by Duffy; British Group, Elbow; British Live Act, Iron Maiden; Critics Choice, Florence and the Machine; and the Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music went to the Pet Shop Boys.

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Back to the US of A. Here now are the week’s hit list as per Billboard Magazine. The Hot 100 singles is once more dominated by hip-hop acts with only two light rockers and one pop tune in the Top 10: Right Round by Flo Rida; Dead and Gone by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake; Crack a Bottle by Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent; Heartless by Kanye West; Just Dance by Lady GaGa feat. Colby O’Donis; Gives You Hell by The All American Rejects; Love Story by Taylor Swift; My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson; Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) by Beyoncé; and Poker Face also by the season’s sensational newcomer Lady GaGa.

The rockers are doing better in the Top 200 Albums list with only one hip-hop CD and another of assorted genres in the Top 10. Fearless by Taylor Swift; Raising Sand, the Grammy-winning album by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Testimony: Volume 2, Love and Politics by India.Arie; The Fray by The Fray; It’s Not Me, It’s You by Lily Allen; Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen; The Rebirth by Bobby Valentino; Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends by Coldplay; Grammy Nominees 2009 by Various Artists; and 19 by Adele.