In with the new

Here are two CDs from musical acts that we’re all familiar with. While the music does take its foundation from what we’ve come to recognize and love as their sound, there’s enough new stuff and tweaks to make these CDs truly enjoyable. While it’s always fun to discover new great music, it’s just as fun to see dab hands showing us new tricks up their sleeves.

Red Hot Chili Peppers — I’m With You (Warner Music). They may have been inducted in the industry’s Hall of Fame, but the 10th studio album of Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) shows the band is very much alive and kicking, and we can thank the rock ’n roll gods for that. Much more accessible than their previous double album, Stadium Arcadium, the set of 14 songs is a tight, solid set that bears continued, repeated playing. The infectious single, Rain Dance Maggie, the rap talk verses of Look Around, the somber elegance of Brendan’s Death Song, and the sly, nostalgic humor behind Police Station — they more than make up for the absence of guitarist John Frusciante. Devilish bass work from Flea, a smattering of brass on one number, and the trademark vocals of Mr. Kiedis make this one of the most consistent, high-quality albums of the band — and that it comes this late in their career is testimonial to the unique, singular sound that the band has created and mastered.

Ebe Dancel — Dalawang Mukha ng Pag-ibig (Warner Music). Is there life when you’re no longer Sugarfree? That would seem to be what the first solo album of Ebe Dancel would hope to answer, and there is sweetness involved. In fact, there is much more than sweetness in this set of artfully crafted compositions. The first three to four songs encapsulate what is so impressive about the maturity that can be found here — there are 10 songs on the CD, and a second CD offers stripped down, acoustic versions of all the songs. At times sounding like a Filipino U2 or Sting, creating muscular rock anthems with a chorus a stadium’s audience would readily sing along, too, — Muli and Isang Probinsyano sa Manila, at times, even evoking a vibe and feel that would remind us of APO — as in Wag Na Tayong Mag-away; there is a lot working in Ebe’s favor. If there is a slight criticism, too many moody, slow-paced songs that make the second CD not sound different enough; although I loved Wag Kang Mag-alala.