Kidding aside, the third album from modern Pinoy rocks most eminent super-group deserves much more than puerile gastronomical wordplay. After three albums these past years, one would think that us music journalists would think up something better but then again we arent that an imaginative a bunch. Thankfully, the music is enough.
Independently produced and released by the band, "Thanks To The Moons Gravitational Pull" sparkles with Sandwichs characteristic energy that many thought wouldve exhausted itself out by now, burdened by age and the Sisyphus-like responsibility of trying to outdo oneself.
Indeed, its previous effort "Four Track Mind" was marred by sluggishness in some spots when it seemed that the band was trying to keep up with the racket of younger contemporaries. Consequently, the band-members find themselves a whale in a pond and sounding somewhat landlocked as a result. Its tempting to call their current offering as a return to form misleading, of course, because the band has never been in finer form.
All the songs arrive (is there a better word?) with a newfound sense of glory and history about them. 2 Trick Pony, an overt nod to the Madchester scene in the late 80s, is also the cousin of the bands anthem Butterfly Carnival from Sandwichs debut, managing the same trick of making the most out of the least number of chords. Surrounded By Dogs, Not This Time and Astroholiday are all great rock numbers that one suspects are killer tracks live. Even the obligatory metal number (the records weakest track by the way) was the new albums first hit and is only a setback in the sense that it hasnt grown up as well as its siblings. However, it demonstrates that the band can still rock out with the young uns. (Remember, Sandwich still has to share billing with them at concerts.)
Yet its the albums more somber moments that manage to linger and depict a sonic portrait of the band as elder statesmen of the scene. (A distinction foisted on them rather unwillingly but a fact nonetheless.) Scared Shitless is as stark and majestic as it is unflinching in its honesty, limpid as a Peter Hook bassline and as lovely. Masilungan is pure pop delight that comes as no surprise as Sandwich has members from at least two of the great pop acts from the band boom of the 90s. The albums centerpiece though is the unassuming but pristine Return To Center that probably shares with Ciudads Call It Flick the recognition of best song released so far this year. (In case, youre still interested, I would name Orange and Lemons A Beginning Of Something Wonderful as a close second.)
These are the albums songs to share your last cigarette with. Played with a mordant sense of maturity, each of them resounds deeply and its resonance lasts longer than a squealing guitar solo. (Not that we dont need a little noise from time to time.) Lines like "And I cant wait to get home/Cant wait to get out of here/Cant wait to be all alone" are rendered poignant by the resignation of the delivery and the sweetness of the music itself. Building on the direction hinted at from their last albums excellent Hairpin, its apparent that one of the countrys best rock bands can now start an alternate career as a pop outfit.
So, will the kids get it? The answer is, of course, they already have.
Another serving? Sorry, couldnt help it.