mentalNoise

DISCLAIMER: This is not a great, professional, awe-inducing, orgasmic review. You have been warned.

A friend gave me a copy of APO Hiking Society’s “Best of APO Volumes 1 and 2″. After two straight days of listening to the 29(?) songs in both volumes without getting the urge to switch back to my rock/metal songs, I have come to the realization that I can appreciate their music. This is NOT what I am going to comment on.

What I am going to blabber about is the tribute album to the group - appropriately named “Kami nAPO Muna”. 18 local artists made revivals of an APO Hiking Society song. I don’t know who was tasked for the song assignment to which artist (they probably had to draw lots) and I don’t want to know. All I care about is how well the songs were revived.

The three best revived songs in the album (IMHO):

1. “Kabilugan Ng Buwan” by Drip. This is, for me, the best revival in the album. It maintains the “classic” feel of the song and yet with improvements such as the turntable scratches and the 16-beat drum patterns resulting to a cool and jazzy song. I haven’t heard of this Drip band until this song. I wonder if their songs are of similar style.
2. “Nakapagtataka” by Sponge Cola. Main reason why this song comes in second: I like the band. Although at some parts the vocals seem off key. But that’s Yael Yuzon for you.
3. “Batang-bata Ka Pa” by Sugarfree. This comes in third. As opposed to my reason in item 2 above, I don’t personally like this band. What I do like about their revival is that they put their own touch to the song. Listen to the original and then the revival and you will probably understand what I’m talking about.

Since there are three top songs that I thought were great revivals, there are, of course, three songs that sucked. They are as follows.

1. “Di Na Natuto” by Sound. First of all, who are included in this band? Or is he a solo singer? Either way, this is the worst revival off of the album. I mean, c’mon man, APO Hiking Society made OPM music. You didn’t have to go and make it sound like an R&B song with an artist trying too hard. Sheesh, the influence of western R&B music nowadays.
2. “When I Met You” by Barbie Almalbis. WTF is wrong with you Barbie? Why did you revive such a wonderful song like it was some toothpaste advertisement. Your rendition of the song just sucked big time…c’mon, I know you can do better than that.
3. “Pag-ibig” by Kitchie Nadal. What the hell happened to you, Miss Kitchie? Was your talent sucked out of you when you made that shitty soundtrack for the local show Majika (or is it Mahika? Whatever!). You could’ve done better too.

So that’s about as good as my review gets. Too bad for those who expected better. My final verdict? Buy the album if you’re into OPM music. It would make a great addition to your OPM collection. You still do listen to OPM music, right (for those who are Pinoy)?

This post is way overdue. I thought that I posted it already about 2 weeks ago. I guess I have my lapses. Especially now that I’m on a high.