CLAPCLAPCLAP for IV of Spades

CLAPCLAPCLAP everybody, IV of Spades is now fully ready to face the future without Unique. Note that the talented singer, songwriter and guitarist suddenly upped and left the country’s hottest band early last year for solo pastures. Admittedly, it did seem shaky for the group for a while. Everybody could not help but ask, how will they fare without Unique? 

After all, how can you top something like the phenomenal Mundo, one of Unique’s last compositions for IV of Spades, which became the most streamed song hereabouts last year. There may have been only three of them in their recent shows but the band had no choice but to continue riding on Unique’s coat-tails as there was no way they could survive a gig without performing Mundo.

But CLAPCLAPCLAP everybody, the threesome still called the IV of Spades has survived the Unique crisis and has now released its first album ever. It is titled CLAPCLAPCLAP and just as CLAPCLAPCLAP means approval of a job well done, here is a hearty, palm-reddening, palm-painful CLAPCLAPCLAP for these boys for what they accomplished. 

The trio of Zildjan Benitez on bass and vocals, Blaster Silonga on lead guitar and Badjao de Castro on drums have created music that will now always be known as the sound of the IV of Spades. They experimented, pushed the envelope, found their groove and emerged rocking with flying colors.

What I like best about CLAPCLAPCLAP is that a bright ambience radiates from the album. Sure these guys have their quirks, as in the power ballad, I Would Rather Live Alone I’m Not Who I’m Today, and can be supercilious of themselves as in I Ain’t Perfect. But whether they are rocking hard as in Take That Man or feeling romantic as in My Julianna, the mood is always light and breezy. 

Filled with sweet harmonies and very good instrumental work, the 15-track package is a fun ride throughout. Equally great for dancing, long drives or simply hanging out. Which I think is how it should be for a young band. Stay in this zone boys. Lots of time for the angst later.

CLAPCLAPCLAP includes Sweet Shadow, Bata Dahan Dahan, Bawat Kaluluwa, Not My Energy, The Novel Of My Mind, Dulo Ng Hangganan, In My Prison, My Juliana, I’m A Butterfly, I Ain’t Perfect, Take That Man, I Would Rather Live Alone (I’m Not Who I’m Today) and my two top cuts, the engaging Come Inside Of My Heart and the charming Captivated.

No, I did not forget any title. The 15th cut is CLAPCLAPCLAP which is literally that CLAPCLAPCLAP and which opens the album. How apt indeed. Let us hear it one more time for IV of Spades, CLAPCLAPCLAP.

Here as per data collected by the Philippine Music Charts from various local hit lists are the 40 top-selling songs of the moment. And boy oh boy, am I glad that the Top 5 songs are all original works by Pinoy artists. Can I start dreaming now of an all-Pinoy Top 10? Why not? Anyway, here are today’s hits: 

Juan Karlos, Buwan; This Band, Kahit Ayaw Mo Na; December Avenue, Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-ibig; December Avenue, Kung ‘Di Rin Lang Ikaw ft. Moira dela Torre; Ben&Ben, Kathang Isip; Lukas Graham, Love Someone; Ariana Grande, thank u, next; Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B, Girls Like You; Post Malone and Swae Lee, Sunflower; December Avenue, Bulong.

December Avenue, Kahit Di Mo Alam; Marshmello ft. Bastille, Happier; DJ Snake ft. Cardi B, Ozuna and Selena Gomez, Taki Taki; Calum Scott, You Are The Reason; I Belong To The Zoo, Sana; Lavaado, Switch It Up; LANY, Malibu Nights; Halsey, Without Me; Ben&Ben, Maybe The Night; IV of Spades, Mundo.

JENNIE, SOLO; Anne Marie, 2002; Moira dela Torre, Tagpuan; Ed Sheeran, Perfect; BLACKPINK, DDU DU DDU DU; MOMOLAND, Baam; MOMOLAND, Bboom Bboom; This Band, Hindi Na Nga; Chris Brown, Undecided; LANY, Thru These Tears.

Bazzi ft. Camila Cabello, Beautiful; James Arthur and Anne-Marie, Rewrite The Stars; ALLMOST, Dalaga; GFRIEND, Sunrise; benny blanco, Eastside; Caleb Santos, I Need You More Today; Ex Battalion, Nandiyan Agad Ako; Ariana Grande, imagine; Skylar Grey, Everything I Need; Lauv, I Like Me Better.