backwards

Lull… I am currently reading Vikram Seth’s An Equal Music (at least it is still related to music) and I can’t wait to finish it. However, I am taking it slow because I don’t want to finish it this week. I sound like I am not making sense no? Basta…

I cant wait for the final kris kringle… because I know Ill get a CD since that’s what I asked for. Today was the weekly kris kringle thingie and I got a pack of flat tops and a book under the addictive category. I wish I got my baby something really addictive… illegally addictive just for fun. Haha.

One of my officemates got a bottle of rugby… o di ba addictive nga? Next week, it would be something fake… They were kidding my co-worker who got the rugby that she’ll get a fake “sira” shoes to pair up with what she got today. Haha…

On Heavy Rotation:
1) A New Tattoo by Urbandub (wah, this song stings my heart)
2) Rapid Loss Hope by Dashboard Confessional (yesh…)
3) Inside of Love by Nada Surf
4) Saturn Return by E-heads
5) Sailing by Urbandub (i wish I am killing time in a beach…)

I was able to see Urbandub live again… well, thanks to ate Riza because kung wala sya, I am sure mawawala ako papuntang Guijo.

We were just in time for the first band - Menaya. They sound okay… One of their songs has been played on the radio, i forgot the title… Basta tagalog sya.

Hale played before Urbandub… Surge of girls came in to watch the band, whose members looked so tired. I could tell that they were just playing, it’s like they are probably thinking - ok, let’s just get this get over with…

Good thing though, they played songs that haven’t been enjoying constant airplays. One of which was a cover of a 90’s hit… I dont know the title but I am sure i heard it when I was in HS.

When Urbandub took the stage… the place was pretty packed already. They played a couple of songs from their new album as well as from their old one. First, the songs from their new album - Embrace… It sounded different from the other songs they waxed before. I didnt get the title of those I liked… at least, I now know what to get for xmas… (that reminds me of making my wishlist for the office kris kringle)

They could have ended their gig with "gone," but the crowd asked for one more song. And what do you know, they did an encore and the best thing is they sang "A New Tattoo." That was great…

As for my kris kringle wishlist, the five things I want my parent to get me this year are:

1) winning lotto ticket, joke… Sandwich’s latest album (i forgot the title)
2) Daydream Cycle’s Kites (i am not sure if tama ung title)
3) Hale
4) Ultraelectromagneticjam, an e-heads tribute album
5) Cynthia Alexander’s first album - insomnias and lullabies ba title nun… i forgot…

well, it really is true - the news that Jam 88.3 will release an E-heads tribute album. The Ultraelectromagneticjam album will hit record stores on November 25 (what’s with this date? everything seems to fall on this date…).

I scooped the info from this http://lastdodobird.blogspot.com/ (worth checking out if u want an overview on albums released by local bands). The album’s only PHP 300.

Quoting the lastdodobird blog, Here’s the buzz on the track list:

With A Smile - South Border
Ligaya - Kitchie Nadal
Overdrive - Barbie Almalbis
Huwag Mo Ng Itanong - MYMP
Magasin - Paolo Santos
Alcohol - Radioactive Sago Project
Torpedo - Isha
Spoliarium - Imago
Hard To Believe - Cueshe
Maling Akala - Brownman Revival
Superproxy - FrancisM
Alapaap - 6Cyclemind
Pare ko - Sponge Cola
Ang Huling El Bimbo - Rico J. Puno
Tikman Ang Langit - Sugarfree
Huwag Kang Matakot - Orange & Lemons
Para Sa Masa - All Star

Now really, why they did tap Paolo Santos, MYMP, and Rico J Puno for the album? No offense meant to Paolo Santos and MYMP (i do listen to them… honestly) but it seems so out of place. To think Magasin is one of my fave e-heads songs. Huwag Mo Nang Itanong by MYMP? I hope it doesnt sound like “Tell Me Where It Hurts.” I am interested to hear Orange and Lemons doing Huwag Kang Matakot and Isha’s Torpedo. Isha is a jazz singer so that would be very interesting… Torpedo with a jazz feel…

Anyway, additional news, along with the album launch, Jam 88.3 will hold a concert at UP Theater on Nov. 29 ( a Tuesday) featuring the artists who did the eheads covers.

Look what surfing can do… At dawn on Saturday, I saw this band that sounded like Incubus but with a different twist at 6UG but the thing is I failed to catch their name.

It must be serendipity or what but today while surfing the net, looking up for infos on Gweilos Makati and 6UG, as well as the band called Severo… I bumped into Monkeyspank. Monkeyspank pala pangalan ng banda na nagustuhan ko.

As for Severo - I am listening to samples of their music over soundclick right now and it’s worth checking out. If you want to, log in to this - http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=330646

I have yet to see them perform live, though… Maybe someday…

Recently, I find myself listening to Hale again. Aside from the walang-kamatayang The Day You Said Goodnight, there are three other Hale songs I keep on listening to. These are Underneath the Waves, Life Support, and Runaway.

Life Support

Sarcastic smiles and fake hellos
We try to hide but always
Leave an open door behind
To escape from reality

It felt so sure but we said no
We’re throwing lies at someone
We don’t know, we don’t know
From this reality

Why can’t we risk our lives
For something that we can’t deny
We try to run something
We don’t know, we don’t know
Is this reality

Why are you crying

I feel sorry

I feel so sorry
For me……..

Their songs can be full of emotions but its not as emotional as Dashboard Confessional’s. Myan, a former co-worker, once told me that in one of their songs, DC’s Chris Carraba even sounded like he was crying. As for Hale, though I somewhat identify them as an emo band, the frontman doesn’t sound as emotional as Carraba. Most of DC’s songs are about being abandoned (i.e. Screaming Infidelities, Hands Down…)

Aside from Hale, I find myself listening to Bamboo. One of the good bands around nowadays, I say, for coming up with significant songs (ie Hallelujah).

And ngaun ko lang naappreciate ang kanta ng Rivermaya na "Wag Na Init Ulo Baby." It has a beach feel… Which reminds me, one of APO’s (yes Apo Hiking Society) songs also sounds reggaeish - Lumang Tugtugin.

Hay, I am pissed at how slow the internet connection is when I am just browsing… I wanted to get the lyrics of Chevelle’s Send the Pain Below, this is my current LSS and fave (so that means I am listening to it for over ten times in a day). I rediscovered this song when I returned to Yahoo Launchcast recently. Why I like this song? Not for its lyrics alone (actually this one’s a sad song) but the overall (impact?), everything in it. I am addicted to this song. If only I could listen to it until I fall asleep.

You used to run me away,
All while laughing.
Then cry about the fact,
’til I returned.

Here’s another song worth checking out - Vendetta Red’s Silhouette Serenade

The last thing I wanna do right now is read your stupid poetry
Why cant you just tell me what you really wanna say?
You’d clear your conscience, with words so weak and empty
But something in your eyes gave you away

Cat Power’s He War - another addicting song

I’m not that hot new chick
And if you won’t let me run with it
We’re on to your same old trick
Get up and run away with it

Now I am having second thoughts… I was ready to just let go of that November 25 leave considering that we are still so shorthanded… and just asked ate G to approve my December leaves instead. However, after I checked the gig skeds at Saguijo, I just couldn’t miss the 25th gig. They have posted the other bands lined up for Urbandub’s third album launching and Hale’s playing. This is my chance to see them live again after Fete de la Musique. The Saguijo gig will be more intimate compared to fete since the place is pretty small.

So I am thinking I’ll make arrangements for the 25th so that they’ll approve my leave.

Anne told me that last week she caught Isha performing at 6UG, which is just over two blocks away from where I work. I wish she told me so I could have enjoyed her music again. The only time I saw her live was also at the Fete. I like her version of Cherish and I’ll Be Seeing You. It was Mark Santillan, my classmate at PNU, who introduced me to her music. He kept on raving about her one Saturday afternoon and the next weekend he happily lent me his own CD. I miss those Saturdays… well, not the classes, just hanging out with those I have grown close with.

My October is a lull… I was too caught up with the bad luck that I kept on bumping into… and I just wish this month and the next will be better. I also wish I stop procrastinating once and for all.

Lastly, Vendetta Red, Cat Power, and Hot Hot Heat have caught my attention. Back to DL. All of these bands enjoy constant airplays over Yahoo Launchcast.

before I finally hit the sack… NaLSS kasi ako sa kanta ng Sandwich - Masilungan. Hay… Yun lang.

Sigh, I might not be able to watch Urbandub’s album launching gig at Saguijo on the 25th. Naman, kasi kulang sa tao… So my leaves havent been approved yet. Wah, I am looking forward to go somewhere. Sobrang miss ko na magtravel.

Anyway, ate G said we’ll catch the Sugarfree gig on the 26th, still at Saguijo. I can bring anyone daw. Yey! Si ate G actually ang nag-introduce sa akin sa Sugarfree… sya kasi ngupload ng mga kanta nila sa goodies namin sa office. It so happened the band’s frontman is a friend of hers. Sabi nya pa nga daw, muntik na magtrabaho si ebe sa NLP. O di sana may ofcmate akong sikat. Hehe…

Need to hit the bed na.

yellowcard’s "Ocean Avenue" first caught my attention last year. But their other songs are even better, especially Only One and Inside Out. What I like about them, this emo-rock band uses the violin. I love anything with violin…

This one’s from Only One:

Here I go, scream my lungs out and try to get to you
You are my only one
I’d let go, but there’s just no one that gets me like you do
You are my only, my only one

And something’s breaking up (breaking up)
I feel like giving up (like giving up)
I won’t walk out until you know

This one’s from Inside Out:

The two of us we dream like one
The two of us, the two of us
The two of use take breath like one
The two of us, the two of us

So don’t just say goodbye to me
Just turn your back away and leave
And if you’re lucky I will be your last regret, your only friend

A letter to my dearest nephew, Joaquin Gabriel, hours and hours before he officially turns two:

I am sure when you grow up you won’t remember everything when you were a one-year-old kid… So in my little way, I am "freezing" some nice memories as a year-old kid.

Aside from turning the house into a disaster area most of the time because your deconstructed handover toys are sprawling all over, you never fail to make us laugh with your cute antics - my favorite of all - you, pretending to be a rockstar, imitating your "kuyas." Wow, my singing rock "lullabies" to make you sleep when you were still a baby paid off. I am relieved that you didn’t end up liking those novelty songs that your mama used to sing to coax you to clap your hands.

Tonight, while you were standing on a chair, beside your "kuya" Gene Mark, who is busy playing Final Fantasy while listening to White Stripes’ My Doorbell, you suddenly stamped your feet like you were in some rock concert. Then you would nod your head like a headbanger, only slower. I couldn’t stop laughing, watching you dance with "My Doorbell." When "Blue Orchid" (still White Stripes’) played, you went crazy and danced while "headbanging." My, you are turning to be a rockstar wannabe so early.

But we didn’t mind… Your kuyas keep on telling you, "Mabuti yan, huwag mong gayahin si mama mo." (pero in fairness kay geselle, hindi naman sya talaga jologs sa music… haha, peace tayo, ges! ninang ako ni joaqui…)

So, Joaqui, don’t lose that love and affinity for music… and maintain your good taste in music. If ever we hear you singing any Lito Camo’s compositions - wah! I’ll feel disappointed. We love you much, Joaqui…. (even if you broke my eyeglasses, darn… how am I suppose to work?) Happy 2nd Birthday! Be good and dont be a brat!