BAND CRUSH: Quiet Lights

Check out this Brooklyn-based band called Quiet Lights which is appropriately named to describe their sound. It's dreamy, airy and all that shoegazer appeal. We Live In Balloons is one of their strongest tracks from the upcoming debut which is being mixed by John Congleton (St Vincent, Explosions in the Sky). I have so much to say about this band but I'd rather let their songs speak for themselves. You can check out their tracks and download them for free here.

Here's their first video Twice Today

MUST LISTEN: All Summer by Best Coast, Rostam & Kid Cudi

La Niña Phenomenon might just pester our country soon but it's not going to stop me in posting some sweet summery song to make my gloomy days sunny. Converse commissioned Kid Cudi, Rostam Batmanglij and my super favorite as of the moment, Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino in a collaboration in this summer anthem. I like All Summer better than last year's My Drive Thru by Santigold, Julian Casablancas and Pharrell. You can download the track from Converse.com

 

NEW MUSIC: Repercussions by Lauryn Hill

I found this demo track from Lauryn Hill online that could possibly be a new material for her follow up to the successful album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill after 12 years. It still sounds like from the Miseducation album and I kind of missed it. So, let's have our fingers crossed and let's enjoy this teaser for now from Ms Hill.

MUST LISTEN: Me & My Bicycle by Populardays

When Toti Dalmacion tweeted about his new Terno babies called Populardays, I didnt second guess that these guys would sound awesome! I dont know why they call themselves "super group" on their MySpace page (probably they are a bunch of losers by day and super heroes by night, we dont know) But what I am sure of is they make beautiful music with that indiepop shoegaze charm that's a major ear fuck. It's melodic, dreamy, airy, sunny, gloomy all rolled in one.

Me & My Bicycle is an instant favorite! Intro pa lang, I fell in love na. (Yes, Love at first hear). I can hear Keith Girdler of Blueboy in Charles Manjares' voice. I hope to catch these guys live soon and I would like to hear more of them. Go! Go! Super Shoegzers! (ang pangit lang)

You can check their MySpace to hear some of their tracks.

BAND CRUSH: The Gentle Isolation

This one's for your sweet tooth!

I wonder why most of indie-pop bands are from Bulacan. Maybe because of the abundance of sweet delicacies in that place that makes the people create some delicious candy-coated melodies. The Gentle Isolation is one of those treats.Their sound is typically twee. What I like about this band is the way they perform live. Ness Urian(vocals) is as shy as makahiya but when you hear her charming voice, it will send you away out on the field of flowers on a spring time. (She just gotta work on her sense of fashion, though) But nonetheless, The Gentle Isolation is one of those bands that will make the Philippine indie-pop scene thriving.

Their It Started With An April Shower EP will be launched on August 18, 2010 and you can check their website for more info.

Here's their first single Let's Go Slow

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO Faust! ?

For the past days I've been singing in my head this song from this unknown band from the 90's called Faust.  They were the youngest all girl band that was signed in a major label that era. I was in grade school when they first released their album Toons From an Alien Broadcast which contained sweet, melodic and dreamy songs mixed with avant-garde live performances. The follow-up was a self-produced, experimental double-CD collection called My Secret Identity released in 1998. Fool's Song is the only song that I remembered from Faust! and I am intrigued to hear more. I hope Mickey Syjuco, the vocalist, reads this post and give me a copy of their albums (kahit burned ok na).

Take a listen...

 

MUST LISTEN: Hang With Me (single version) by Robyn

Hang With Me was probably one of my favorite tracks from Robyn's Body Talk Pt. 1. With its stripped out and heart pouring melody, it's an unexpected ballad track to close an electro-dance filled album. The new version of it appears in Body Talk Pt.2 which is totally different from the earlier version. It's dancey and synth-full, electropop jam close to everybody's fave With Every Heartbeat. I don't know which one's better but it goes well to any mood you have.

Here's the first version from Body Talk Pt. 1:


and here's the single version from Body Talk Pt. 2

MUST WATCH: Echoes by Klaxons

Watch the latest video from Klaxons, the band that started the New Rave or Nu Rave movement back in 2007. Echoes is part of their sophomore album Surfing The Void out next month. The melody of the song sounds like Delphic's Doubt especially the chorus part but it's just me. It's a catchy, mid-tempo dance track which draws you in up to the last beat of it.

ALBUM STREAM: Crazy For You by Best Coast

Boyfriend was one of the best tracks I've heard through out summer and Best Coast's Crazy For You might just be the best album of the season. You can stream the whole album from Urban Outfitter's website but i managed to find the tracks so you can enjoy the whole album streaming in my site. I must say, Bethany Cosentino is my new Zooey Deschanel. 

NEW MUSIC: Where I’m Going by Cut Copy

I have enjoyed Cut Copy's past two albums that are filled with synthpop, club-worthy anthems and this new song is somewhat promising. Where I'm Going might appear in their forthcoming untitled album third album to be released January of 2011. It doesn't sound like any other of their previous tracks and this could be the new direction of the new album. Where I'm Going is leaning towards to psychedelia rather than 80's disco club nostalgia which they usually sound. You can download this new track below.

image from whothehell.net

RETROSPECT: Over and Over Again (Lost & Found) by Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah

Oh yes! Buzz bands do exist way before MGMT.

I missed college days every time i hear this song from Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah. I totally love Over and Over Again (Lost & Found). I really don't understand until now the lyrics of this song but it doesn't matter really. The first time i heard it, i was hooked. Just listen to it.
 

MIXTAPE FRIDAYS # 5: The Lost Generation

"To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable." - Oscar Wilde



When We Were Young - Dolores O'Riordan
The Youth - MGMT
So Young - The Corrs 17
Again - Eurythmics
Grade 9 - Barenaked Ladies
Younger Us. - Japandroids
No Such Thing - John Mayer
Popular - Nada Surf
Teenage Dirt Bag - Wheatus
At Seventeen - Janis Ian
Freshmen - The Verve Pipe
Forever Young - Youth Group
Boy Lilikoi - Jonsi
Every Single Child - Luminous Orange
Young Adult Friction - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Teen Lovers - The Virgins
When I Grow Up - Garbage
The Boy Done Wrong Again - Belle and Sebastian
Teenage Life - Club 8
High School Poem - The Knife
Young Folks (Feat. Victoria Be - Peter Bjorn and John
Daddy's Car - The Cardigans
Untutored Youth - The Hives
Campus - Vampire Weekend
And I Was a Boy From School - Hot Chip

image from The Cobrasnake

MUST WATCH: Crossfire by Brandon Flowers

Brandon Flowers maybe brave to release an album without the help of his fellow Killers but sissy enough to battle some ninja assassins...at least in this music video for his solo single Crossfire.

You might want to check this music video and see how Charlize Theron kick some ninja ass. Yes, the Oscar-winning actress is the heroine in this video.

Feeding the tabloid nation with some controversy

Here's a sneak peak for Monday Magazine Edition II covers. The theme line for this issue is The Economics of Controversy.Check out these nicely done covers featuring the cover star Sheena, the big fat diva. Oh and by the way, Sheena is a male pig.

This controversial issue is out on the market real soon...

Photography Diego Lorenzo Jose @lotsboys.ph

Assistant Photographer Chris Yuhico

Models:  Gwendoline Ruais, Marx Topacio

Stylists Mike de Guzman + George Palmiano @MGP

Hair+Make up Fred Penales @ Hairshaft