AUDIOJUNKIE: The excuse for vinyl

BY PUNCH LIWANAG

Dec 9, 2024 09:19 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• It’s the warm fuzzy feeling one gets when listening to vinyl records. 

The Music of Cecile Azarcon and Wolfgang official vinyl covers 

Vinyl record aficionados are a passionate lot. How else can one explain those lunatics who are so deep into this dated, cumbersome music format? These circular plastics take up so much space when gathered in one place, and for what? So, one can manually browse piles of records to find one song that currently tickles one’s fancy? Have you not heard of Alexa? Just ask, ‘Hey Alexa, play..’ And don’t get me started with the actual hardware needed to play these vinyl records. A Marantz audio receiver goes from the lowest 10k (used and, if you're lucky) to highs of 70k upwards for brand new. And that’s just one of several pieces of equipment needed to play those damned vinyls. You do know there’s a smartphone device and an app called Spotify, right? 

And yet, it is for these exact reasons that a significant lot remains enamored with vinyl. Ask any music curator if he’d cede to Alexa the joy of searching for a particular album or single amidst boxes of records, and the former would tell that bitch AI to get lost. Ditto for those audiophiles who waited years to complete the perfect stereo setup and would laugh at your face (or at least in their minds, they will) if you told them all you need is your smartphone to get your music fixed. Nope, that won’t fly with this lot.

Those who love records are a special breed. I saw one enthusiast explain, “Why vinyl?” And went on to say it’s “the intentionality of choosing a record. And listening to the album in the order the artist intended. And the tangibility of holding the vinyl and admiring the cover, the insert, and the pressing. It’s all about the experience." 

And I concur. Aside from being an aural experience, listening to vinyl is also tactile, involving other senses such as sight, smell, and taste. There’s something about pulling a record from its sleeve, placing it on the platter of a turntable, and twiddling with stereo controls that’s almost ceremonial-like. Light a candle (or a joint where it's legal) or have a cold beer as you gloss over the album cover, and you get the other senses part checked out. Could one do that with streaming?  Not the same.

It’s the warm fuzzy feeling one gets when listening to vinyl records. If you have your stereo set-up just right, and I had mine using my 1989 Sony turntable, pre-loved Pioneer A-125 receiver, and Bose 101 monitors-a configuration 30 years in the making—matched with the correct record. I swear, the sound feels like Bob Dylan’s beside you, singing just for you.    

Here’s a new record worth checking out: For the first time, “The Music Of Cecile Azarcon” collects the hits of the storied songwriter-pianist. Fans of OPM know that Azarcon penned some of the most memorable hits of the 80’s and 90’s. Martin Nievera’s “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin,” Raymond Lauchengco’s “So It’s You,” “Even If” by Jam Morales, “Reaching Out” by Gary V., and “How Did You Know” by Chiqui Pineda are just some of the gems that Azarcon wrote and composed for these marquee acts. Also included here is the first ever song Cecile Azarcon wrote, which was “Lift Up Your Hands” for the great Sir Basil Valdez.

Also, Wolfgang and their self-titled debut were recently released on vinyl by Ivory Records. Stereo heads would appreciate “Halik Ni Hudas,” “Arise,” “As Oceans,” and “Darkness Fell” on vinyl because they sound better now than they did on cassette way back in ’95.

The Christmas countdown starts

BY PUNCH LIWANAG

Dec 2, 2024 07:22 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• And because Yule season is in full bloom, here are some season-inspired tunes.

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Clockwise: Ed Sheeran, The Dawn and Lisa

It’s the first day of December 2024 as I write this. And just like that, It’s the last month of the year. And with it comes a feeling of “wrapping things up,” literally and figuratively. Those in a holiday mood are busy crossing out things from their lists. Usually, this involves buying stuff to give away as gifts, or if one feels inclined to reward oneself for a year-round job well done, giving a present to oneself to keep the wonder going as a form of pampering and self-love. I see myself giving myself a new electric guitar because I’ve been so loyal to my old guitars that they deserve the company of a new six-string. But do I need a new one when I already have enough of them? Well, that’s debatable. 

But what I’m trying to get at is the part about pampering and self-love. Sure, running to the nearest mall to buy stuff is fine. But do yourself a favor and up the ante this time. Instead of just filling a want or the proverbial hole in your life with an item you’re considering getting only because it's on sale, stop. Instead, get what you need. Something that’ll last a little longer. Buy wonder.  

Yes, that’s right. Wonder. That “feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.” Buy a watercolor set because you’ve always had a knack for visuals. Get a nice notebook and a matching pen to write the thoughts and emotions you want off your mind and chest. Maybe it’ll come out as poetry, or maybe lyrics. In the same vein, perhaps a musical instrument, because you’ve always felt you have a knack for melodies, and maybe that’ll lead you to your first ever song.

Whatever interests you: baking, carpentry, dog grooming, sewing, hair-cutting, etc. Get what you need to get yourself on that path of creating because gifts are great. But the best presents leave a sense of awe, admiration, fascination, and amazement. And in the scheme of things, only you can provide yourself with what you really need to lift yourself.      

And because Yule season is in full bloom, here are some season-inspired tunes. Starting with Ed Sheeran with a lovely sounding, piano-decked “Under The Tree,” wherein he croons, “There is nothing under the tree that I wished for / I want you to come back to me and be like before.” Ed Sheeran is established in his career in singing yule tunes with orchestrations. The next stop is an all-covers album of Christmas Carols. Just kidding.     

One of my all-time fave bands, The Dawn, surprisingly pops up for the season with a holiday-themed original in “Maki-Pasko.”  Jett Pangan’s voice, which has mellowed to a rich timbre, sings of de rigueur themes of Christmas, the gist being, can I celebrate the holiday with you? The music would pass for a mellow, atmospheric ‘new wave-inspired’ tune. On-brand for this band who’s seen music fads come and go but has remained true to its core. I know it will be on my playlist. 

LISA brings some holiday vibes into the dance floor with  “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” Santa Baby Remix. It's a vibing track to get you “trippin’” as LISA does with Santa. Does that make sense? I don’t know, but she does manage to interpolate “Kiss Me” into this funky rework. And yes, I think LISA is today's hottest solo female K-pop act.  

AUDIOJUNKIE: The return of the comeback

BY PUNCH LIWANAG

Sep 30, 2024 08:19 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Starting with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid who just released a new single over the weekend with “Someday.” The song, of course, is the early aughts breakthrough hit single for a certain singer named Nina.

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Regine Velasquez Alcasid (Instagram)

Please don’t take this week’s title seriously. Besides being one of those one-liner phrases annoying more than trying-hard funny or pa-cute, it’s grammatically redundant and would exasperate any editor worth their salt.

But it does fall in nicely with this week’s theme as we see some important figures in music releasing new material after some absence from the scene.

Starting with Regine Velasquez-Alcasid who just released a new single over the weekend with “Someday.” The song, of course, is the early aughts breakthrough hit single for a certain singer named Nina. 

Tough song to cover for sure as Nina’s no pushover vocalist-singer-performer. But this is Ate Reg we’re talking about here. And those familiar with her career know that she has a knack for turning songs into her own. And this time around is no different. RVA’s “Someday” still retains its inherent R&B flavor and overall ballad feel. Arrangement-wise, “Someday” added a (faux) string section and a not-in-the-way band arrangement that lends RAV’s version a grander presence compared to Nina’s original soul-baring solo voice and piano take.

And don’t look for vocal histrionics here, as RVA is all about serving the song, wherein she starts almost in whisper mode and gradually builds up. Of course, RAV’s “whisper” packs a few decades' worth of technique and emotion-packed delivery that few of us mortals could ever hope to muster. This is to say that RVA picks her moment, and the most enthusiastic fan would approve and say it’s nothing short of excellent.

Clockwise (from left) Regine Velasquez Alcasid, Just Hush Thyro Alfaro with JP Bacallan (Facebook)

Truth be told, Regine Velasquez has been busy releasing new music for the department lately. Starting last February with the first-rate late 90’s R&B feels “Eyes Only For Me” collaboration with Jay R. A couple more singles followed suit, including the cover of Paramore’s “The Only Exception,” and notables like the must-listen “Ulit Ulit,” the lullaby-like and lifting “Di Sinasadya,” and the Lavender Fields theme “Maskara” duet with Ogie Alcasid released early September.

In the R&B and Pinoy rap music front, Just Hush released the slow-grooving and ambient “LONTA.” Just Hush fans aching for a return to “Maikee’s Letter” era type of sounds but have to support Just Hush’s predilection for airy, trippy, almost contrapuntal melodies and beats that he has been churning out of late, “LONTA” included. Soft-spoken and reserved, Just Hush has always been R&B’s most eccentric; naturally, he comes out in his music.

Speaking of R&B, not long ago, Thyro Alfaro was writing (on his own or co-writing) hits such as “Kilometro,” “Randomantic,” “Para-Paraan” and “Triangulo.” So it’s a big deal that Thyro is back with his first single since 2021’s “Bagong Buhay Vol.1” album. Thyro returns with upbeat and swinging “Fighting For You,” a perky R&B tune and chill grooving new song that sees Thyro back to basics, writing catchy lyrics about love and holding on, and incorporating the words ‘I do” as a melodic riff like only Thyro can within the context of a catchy R&B tune. Produced by Thyro for his Diwang Records label, “Fighting For You” also includes JP Bacallan, heard here at the kickoff, grooving and sharing verses with the ace songwriter.

Also back is KZ Tandingan with a superb pop-rocker in “Toyo” (a’la Pink), Shanti Dope with “Di Iniwanan,” as well as The Juans, SunKissed Lola, Dilaw, and more came out with new music just this past week.

So yeah, call it anything you want, but don’t label it a comeback. They never went away anyway.

AUDIOJUNKIE: Who run the world

BY Punch Liwanag

Sep 16, 2024 07:12 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Taylor Swift and the rest of the ladies who dominated the recent MTV VMA’s is just further proof that today's world of pop is theirs.

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From left: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan (Images courtesy of Facebook)

If the recent VMAs are any indication, the current vista of pop music is dominated by the ladies. While the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards had its share of top male performers, one only needs to see the caliber of talent and fame on the female side to know that girls are the dominating force in the world of pop today.

Sure, performances by the one and only Eminem and younger acts Benson Boone, Teddy Swims (a favorite), Shawn Mendes, Rauw Alejandro, and OG’s Lenny Kravitz and LL Cool J were notable. Still, it’s the ladies that turned heads. It’s the performances by the likes of Best New Artist Chappell Roan, Halsey (who reinvented with a pop-tinged garage-rock aesthetic), ‘New Woman/Rockstar’ Lisa, Camila Cabello’s “Godspeed” and Artist of the Year Sabrina Carpenter’s Madonna-inspired moment is what brought the house down.  

Add the mighty Katy Perry and her robust greatest hits medley to mark her Michael Jackson Vanguard Award for contributions to pop music via her decade-plus run and still on-going career (she plugged a forthcoming album). Katy Perry was presented the trophy by husband Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and was also recognized by MTV on their 40th year anniversary, the Iconic Performance award for her rendering of “Roar” on the 2013 VMA’s. 

Host Megan Thee Stallion took home best art direction (for “BOA”) as the rapper-singer also crushed the Trending Video award with “Mamushi” with a performance featuring Japan’s Yuki Chiba.  Winners also include Billie Eilish, who won with “What Was I Made For?” for (quite the interesting category of) Video For Good, A.K.A. best song with a message. Tyla bagged the Afrobeat category via her club hit “Water.” Anitta for Latin Video OTY for “Mil Veces,” and over in the world of K-pop, Blackpink’s top girl Lisa won the nod for her “Rockstar” video. Dua Lipa’s  “Houdini” is Best Choreography and Arianna Grande got Best Cinematography for “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)”. K-pop act all-female group Le Sserafim took the Push performance category with their single “Easy,” as SZA won the Best R&B category for her song “Snooze.”

And while she’s in active audience mode (but had the camera cutting to her vicinity the whole evening), Taylor Swift still took home the biggest moon-man trophy of the night for acing the Video Of The Year Awards for “Fortnight” with Post Malone as well as Best Editing, the Song Of The Summer nod, and the Best Collaboration for said video. Taylor Swift, who was in the headlines just this past week for endorsing US presidential candidate Kamala Harris, is recognized by MTV this year as Artist Of the Year.

And then there’s Sabrina Carpenter who is having a great year just had the VMA’s confirming what everybody (at least those who cares about pop music) already knows: that the diminutive pop dynamite has two of today’s biggest hits with “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” Both songs have been popping up everywhere and gave Sabrina Carpenter her newly minted pop star status. The “Short n’ Sweet” singer released a full-length album late last month that is chock full of tasty songs that run the gamut, from pop, synthpop, to country and back.

Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Taylor Swift and the rest of the ladies who dominated the recent MTV VMA’s is just further proof that today's world of pop is theirs. 

And we’re all just living in it.

AUDIOJUNKIE: The ladies bring it

BY PUNCH LIWANAG

Jul 8, 2024 07:49 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• A solo music act that we really want to hear more about is Shanne Dandan.

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FROM LEFT: mrld, Shane Dandan, Dyessa Garcia and Yennybooo (Facebook)

This week’s listing features some very talented ladies whose music style runs the gamut: from art-y alt-pop to glitzy R&B, vibing hiphop to power ballads.

A solo music act that we really want to hear more about is Shanne Dandan. A solid songwriter as she is a powerhouse vocalist, her music stands out for its artistic leanings. Her recently released tune, the ethereal sounding “Iyakin,” sees Shane Dandan dabbling in alt-pop-tinged drama with traces of prog fusion thrown in the mix. Ditto, Shane likes her song, which is heavy on imagery. 

I wouldn’t even attempt to interpret exactly what the song is about except that it's about the passage of the day measured by the light that escapes and eventually turns to dusk, which all seems like a dream. Talk about mood and vibe. This is Shane Dandan’s default and should be required listening for alt-rock aficionados and listeners of pop to get a measure of depth in their listening diet. 

In case you missed it, “An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You” & “Ligaya” singer mrld returned with the new single “Sandali.” Whereas her previous singles were modern-sounding soft ballads that resounded with Gen Z’ers, her latest makes a 180-degree turn to Hip-hop and R&B-inflected sounds. The singer shares that her new song is inspired by the BTS song “Lowkey,” sure enough, this mid-tempo bop feels like mold is going to bust a dance move anytime within its pop-and-lockin’ 3-minute plus runtime. I guess this is mrld (real name Meriel de Jesus) showing there is more to her than just her ode ballads.  

Newly-minted R&B and Hip-hop solo act Yennyboo, a.k.a. Yen Durano, drops a tuneful R&B-inflected ditty in “Sayo.” Chilling is the order of the day for Yennybooo, who finds time to drop some cool tunes in-between roles in her Vivamax movies. Listen to Yennyboo’s previous tracks, such as the moody and vibing “Sativa” and the sexy R&B grind of “On the Low,” to know that she’s not just playing music on the side when she’s not acting. If anything, it’s the other way around.  

Speaking of Vivamax actresses, Dyessa Garcia also makes a decent try for pop music on her Vicor debut titled “Tanggap Ko Na.” Dyessa goes for a piano-decked ballad that rises and climaxes in all the right places. And wouldn’t you know, Dyessa Garcia can render this power ballad with all the apropos heart-rending emotion that make “Tanggap Ko Na” the hugot song we didn’t think we needed.

And on the side of Pinoy rap, Juan Caoile and Kyleswish are at it again, keeping the momentum going with their new single, "SA’YO LANG.” The ‘Marikit Sa Dilim’ architects have a new sonic vehicle to cruise on in this bouncy banger about a beautiful distraction they can’t get their minds out of. Featured here is rapper Jawz, who provides the motor mouth rap break that runs counter to Kyleswish's own breaks and Juan Caoile’s melodies. 

ALLMO$T members are all in for brand-new track titled “boyfriend.” This is the latest upbeat banger from hook singers Clien and Jom and main rappers Crakky and Russell, a fast-paced affair that just screams for its own dance challenge on TikTok.

Catchy melodies are Ace Cirera’s main weapon of choice in his song titled “Takip Silim.” Ace has always distinguished himself as a rap artist who goes for catchy tunes with throwback themes to easier days and is so good at crafting little bubblegum pop with a hint of rap flair like this one.

Universal Music Group pulls out from TikTok

BY PUNCH LIWANAG

Feb 1, 2024 12:24 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• UMG claimed that an agreement was not reached with TikTok regarding the following issues: “appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.”

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A chunk of the world’s biggest hits and artists won’t be playing on TikTok soon.

This was after Universal Music Group (UMG) pulled out its music catalog from the popular short-form video-sharing platform.

Last Tuesday, UMG posted online that its agreement with TikTok will expire on Jan. 31. 

UMG claimed that an agreement was not reached with TikTok regarding the following issues: “appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.”

The music company, one of the largest in the world today, also said that “TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay.”

“Ultimately, TikTok is trying to build a music-based business without paying fair value for the music,” UMG said.

TikTok, in its announcement on Jan. 30, expressed its disappointment in UMG, saying, " It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put its own greed above the interests of its artists and songwriters.” 

“Despite Universal's false narrative and rhetoric, they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent.”

Universal is home to some of the biggest music artists in the world today, including Taylor Swift, Drake, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Kendrick Lamar, BTS, and Post Malone.

Miley Cyrus: Introspective Barbie

 BY PUNCH LIWANAG

  

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AT A GLANCE

• At 30, Miley is still too young to contemplate her life choices. But 30 is probably 50 for someone thrust into the entertainment world at a young age. And the irony of it is that her wild ride started as a teen actor during her Disney days as Hannah Montana.

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Miley Cyrus (Image courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Philippines)

After breaking big with her previous single, “Flowers,” pop’s favorite wild child, Miley Cyrus, turns introspective on her latest single, “Used To Be Young.”

After her number one hit “Flowers” – a song about staying sane and strong post-breakup – Miley Cyrus is ruminating about life on this rising mid-tempo ballad, the latest single from her most recent album “Endless Summer Days.”

At 30, Miley is still too young to contemplate her life choices. But 30 is probably 50 for someone thrust into the entertainment world at a young age. And the irony of it is that her wild ride started as a teen actor during her Disney days as Hannah Montana.

From “Party In The U.S.A.”  to her eventual one-eighty turn as a twerking wild child in “Wrecking Ball,” Miley’s been around enough to have her fair share of shedding images (to the extreme at that).

And that’s what she’s singing about at the onset as she goes, “The truth is bulletproof, there’s no foolin’ you / I don’t dress the same, me and who you say I was yesterday have gone our separate ways / left my livin’ fast somewhere in the past ‘cause that’s for chasin’ cars.” And what a wild ride it has been so far, but just before the first chorus kicks in as if with a pang of mixed regret realization, she adds: “turns out open bars lead to broken hearts and going way too far.”

So though it may sound as if she’s regretful, it’s not so when she intones at the chorus: “I know I used to be crazy, I know I used to be fun / You say I used to be wild, I say I used to be young.” She says: “It’s fine, I’ve had a good run.”  

She confirms this in her own words when she describes “Used To Be Young” as “honoring who we’ve been and celebrating who we will become.” She goes on to say that she’s learned much from her experience. “I feel proud when reflecting on my past and optimistic about the future.”

With the arrangement starting with an arena-ready piano motif, we’re immediately reminded of similar power ballads of hers that echo that same big-ness. There’s “The Climb” from 2009 and another twerk-era hit in “We Can’t Stop.”

Chime-y keyboard sounds that eventually give way to a full chorus, punctuated here with a prominent, ethereal-sounding slide guitar and an almost hypnotic but steady drum beat.  

Kudos to Miley for writing such heartfelt lyrics, but credit goes to producers Michael Pollack and Shawn Everett for nodding to two big Miley signature tunes in one go.

Miley Cyrus is in her Debbie-Harry and-Joan-Jett-inspired rock and roll phase as deep as her long legs can take her. It’s all so interesting as her other eras were, but “Used To Be Young” is a nice break – and a reminder of what has been and will be – for long-time fans as we all wait for what comes next from this pop chameleon.

By the way, Miley acknowledged her fandom when she said something about being grateful to her loyal fans about dreams being her reality and that she’s sincerely thankful for the steadfast support.

Keep making tunes like these, and you'll always have our ears, Ma'am Miley.