Whenever I think of UdD, the image of a disoriented Meryl Soriano with smeared mascara running through a deserted hallway always comes to mind. That video of "Maybe" is intense. This indie band with a sound midway between bossa and trip hop impressed me. (I'm starting to sound like I'm giving a music review.. anywho...) There's an originality in their music lacking in the pseudo-rock bands we have today.

OPM is a misnomer. Original Pilipino Music is rarely original (or any music written after the 70's for that matter). Since the decline of rock in the PI by the end of the 90's (The Eraserheads Era), I've staged a personal ban on OPM. We have numerous pop singers reviving the same music over and over and over without an ounce of improvement and in most cases comes out as a futile attempt at an imitation.

Despite the scarcity of originality, the OPM rock scene is excellent though, great rhythms, written lyrics and a plethora of choices. Love the playfulness of Imago, the funkiness of Bamboo, the melancholy of 6cyclemind, the antics of Sandwich and the unabashed honesty of Session Road. Also, there's a cebu-based band, Sheila and the Insects, that released "Quick to Panic" whose video I mistook for a foreign one, their music sounds alot like Bloc Party but very up to par.

The UdD video of "Pag-agos", a girl walking down a deserted Makati Avenue (i think?!) meets a twin/look-alike/clone, is also quite interesting. And their songs, "Oo" and "Hiwaga" are equally great (I'm running out of positive adjectives. blah) Armi Millare has an awesome voice.

etc etc etc...

Labels: music

In a Nutshell

I'm a 26 year old (when I wrote this) architect. I was born and raised in the city atop a plateau, summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio City. (Sounds like a travel guide) I love this city, we have (most times) an "un"-tropical weather unlike most of Southeast Asia, mainly because of the altitude.

I have recently discovered the world of blogging and I'm getting pretty obsessed. I write about anything (or should I say.. will write) that passes through my head. I am one of those Jack of all trades, master of none kind of people who generally take interest in a lot of things but don't have enough of an attention span to pursue it to near perfection.


P.S.

I write better than I talk (which isn't saying much).

I have OCD... (or at least I think I do)

I have Peter Pan Syndrome.

I can be the biggest procrastinator or the most active person... depends on my mood.

I will admit that more than 50% of my general education comes from movies, TV, music, books, and other media. 25% of it from school, 20% from life experience, and the remaining from hearsays and old wives tales.

I am a movie freak. My top three fave movies (not in any particular order) are: Before Sunrise, The Truth About Cats and Dogs and Meet Joe Black.

I will watch any movie directed by Richard Linklater, Woody Allen, and Quentin Tarantino. Or, any movie that star Cate Blanchett, Jude Law, Giovanni Ribisi, Nicole Kidman (sans Tom Cruise), Christina Ricci, Audrey Hepburn and Paul Bettany among others.

I love independent films as much if not more than blockbusters.

I would read more than I would exercise.

I have a wide musical preference but most of my favorite music come from Rock (Alternative, Indie, Hard Rock, American Trad, British Trad, Folk Rock, etc.)

I am the biggest Coldplay fanatic (many may dispute this). I also love The Stereophonics, Lifehouse, The Black Crowes, Incubus, Aqualung, Ben Folds, Air, Radiohead, Evanescence, Switchfoot, Beck, Goo Goo Dolls, Audioslave, M20, The Thrills, The Killers, Keane, Damien Rice, Alanis, Tori Amos, Missy Higgins, Dido, Rufus Wainwright, The Cardigans, Fiona Apple, Bush, No Doubt, the list goes on and on and on.

I also love the classics. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Doors, David Bowie, The Rollin' Stones, Tom Petty, Melissa Etheridge, Queen, Bob Dylan, Carly Simon, etc. etc. etc.

I spend at least 2 hours of TV daily. My favorite shows that have ended (or about to end): Sex and the City, Will and Grace, Wonderfalls, Felicity, Whose Line Is It Anyway, Ed among some. My favorites (still on-air, in the Phil.): Grey's Anatomy, House MD, CSI (the Las vegas one), Amazing Race, Survivor, Six Feet Under, SNL, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Alias, and American Idol (pretend I didn't write that).

I am a smoker and (when I could) sleep until noon. I dunno which is worse.

I have said enough "I's" to last me 2 lifetimes. Ok... I'm done now.

Labels: alternati