Musikang Pinoy

Chicosci

2009-11-09T05:19:00.000-08:00

Miguel Chavez - Vocals
Mong Alcaraz - Guitas, Vocals, Synths
Calde - Bass, Vocals
Ariel Lumanlan - Guitars
Macoy Estacio - Drums

ChicoSci (often spelled as Chicosci) is a 5-piece Filipino rock band based in Manila. The band is composed of Miggy Chavez, Mong Alcaraz, Calde Calderon, Macoy Estacio and Ariel Lumanlan.

What started out as a group of young college kids from the Ateneo de Manila University, ChicoSci (previously Chico Science) was originally composed of, Miguel "Miggy" Chavez, Miguel "Mong" Alcaraz, Carlos "Calde" Calderon and Joel Salvador. The four enjoyed playing together so much that they decided to take their music seriously by recruiting guitarist Sonny Baquisal and long-time friend Eugene Esquivias to solidify the songwriting process. The band won an inter school Battle of the Bands and spent the prize money in recording a demo – an investment that landed them a two-album record deal with EMI Philippines. The band released the albums Revenge of the Giant Robot and Method of Breathing.

The highly-successful debut record established Chico Science as one of the forerunners of the new generation of rock. Revenge of the Giant Robot spawned hits such as Amen, Soopafly, and the MTV hit, Sink or Swim. This album was also nominated to the prestigious Awit Awards for Best Rock Recording. Their first-ever music video Sink or Swim, directed by Lyle Sacris, also won as the Best Directed Video for the 2001 MTV Pilipinas Awards. Later on, they decided to change the name Chico Science to ChicoSci, in order not to be confused with the Brazilian singer.

Never satisfied and always trying out new things, the band continued to work on redefining their sound. Shifting their musical direction to a more melodic style, they sought Raimund Marasigan for guidance in working with their second album. True enough, both audiences and critics embraced the new sound of ChicoSci. Method Of Breathing included several hits such as Glass is Broken, Rolento, and the highly-infectious Paris. Interestingly, Paris holds the record for the most number of weeks a song (foreign or local) has stayed in a countdown. It stayed in the NU107 Midnight Countdown for more than 52 weeks and giving Chicosci the Song of the Year award at the 2002 NU 107 Rock Awards.

In 2004, the band released their third album, Icarus, under Viva Records. The band again enlisted the help of Raimund Marasigan, who tagged along Buddy Zabala, to produce the bands most experimental album. In May 2004, the band gained media recognition by becoming MTVs Lokal Artist of the Month. The songs Theme from Conversation with Fire, Shallow Graves, and An Argument, enjoyed media airtime, also went into the NU 107 Midnight and Year-end Countdown.

On June 6, 2006, ChicoSci released and launched their self-titled 4th album. Having been in the studio for more than a year, the band boasts it as being their best work to date. A self-produced effort, the band again attempts to give listeners something new to look forward to. The self titled album features catchier melodies and more synth playing from Alcaraz. At the same time, there is minimal screaming and more focus on Chavez's singing, the most obvious change on the self titled album.

With the release of their carrier single A Promise, ChicoSci gained more popularity as their market grew. ChicoSci went on to play in Malaysia and Singapore as well as local hot spots like Cafe Saguijo. The album has spawned four singles, A Promise, Seven Black Roses, ChicoSci Vampire Social Club and Last Look. The music video for ChicoSci Vampire Social Club won the Favorite Rock Video at the 2008 Myx Music Awards. The band released their fifth outing, Fly Black Hearts in 2009.

Myspace URL:
www.myspace.com/chicoscikills

Chicosci - Revenge Of The Giant Robot

01 - My Sickness
02 - Amen
03 - Liar
04 - Sink Or Swim
05 - Some Place Nice
06 - Dim
07 - Soopafly
08 - Soy
09 - Cold [Subzero]
10 - Pimpstyle
11 - Lolidus
12 - Infect

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Watch Their Video "Sink Or Swim"

Chicosci - Self Titled Album

01 - A Promise
02 - Vampire Social Club
03 - 7 Black Roses
04 - Sweet Maria
05 - The Devil Made Me Do It
06 - Knives
07 - Manila Teenage Death Squad
08 - You're Killing Me
09 - Last Look
10 - Matinee
11 - Pink Heart, Yellow Stars
12 - January Days

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Watch Their Video "A Promise"

Kapatid - Self Titled Album

2009-11-09T00:54:00.001-08:00

Karl Roy - Vocals
J-hoon Balbuena - Drums
Louie Talan - Bass
Anjones Elemos - Guitar

In existence for over four years, Kapatid has always been influential in the music scene with their ever-evolving yet likeable tunes. Their sound has educated the audience with a new perspective far from the traditional and stereotypical style. It was, in a sense, a whole new genre of music.

Through the years, the band has tackled major trials and events. But this never stopped them from writing and playing what they want. Now with new material, Kapatid is ready to take the scene to even newer heights. Entitled "Luha". This sophomore release contains the band's most intimate and personal experiences. Twelve new tracks containing coherent concepts that span a wide reach. The carrier single - spearheads the album release with an aggressive groove but positive message. And the song speaks more melancholic with a tune and lyrics that compliment. The funky hanging out sets a laid-back atmosphere with an R&B feel to it. And there with very heavy emotion that sticks out for both its sound and words. It is these songs (as well as others in the album) that you grow more and more fond of after each listening. And it is these songs that define Kapatid today.

New material, new band line-up: Original members Karl Roy (vocals) and J-hoon Balbuena (drums) are joined by Louie Talan and Anjones Elemos on bass and guitar respectively. Both are accomplished musicians in their own right, having come from well-known bands. They have gained recognition both from fellow musicians and their audience that has earned them stellar reputations in the music scene.

Taking four diverse individuals and combining their musical talents make up a band writing and playing sublime music. That is Kapatid.

Myspace URL:
www.myspace.com/kapatidrocks

Kapatid - Self Titled Album

1. Sonic Assault
2. The Time
3. Pagbabalik Ng Kuwago
4. Destination
5. No Help
6. I Like It
7. Fade Away
8. Prayer
9. Visions
10. Bleed
11. Slow
12. EDSA 524

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Watch Their Video "Visions"

Queso - Self Titled Album

2009-11-07T20:33:00.001-08:00

Ian Tayao: Vocals
Paolo "8" Toleran: Guitars
Enzo Ruidera: Guitars
Biboy Garcia: DJ
Tuts Calinawan: Bass
CJ Olaguera: Percussions
robert de la cruz

Formerly known as Cheese. Queso is a seven-piece group born, raised and proud to be based in Pilipinas (Philippines). Formed in 1994, the band is widely considered locally as the most creative, innovative, experimental, unpredictable and uncompromising group to hit the Philippine music scene.

1996
Breaking out into the scene carrying a shared attitude of not caring
about whatever anybody thinks or say they "should" do, whats wrong and whats right, proper and improper , etc...

Declaring and calling every move they made to go against the norm,
challenging standards and making ashes of boundaries set by whoever.

An approach evident with every song they release or piece together,
Crafting a sound and general feel or vibe all their own. Claiming the
stage as their own, performing with energy and a prescence (unique
enough to also claim) all their own. Seemingly demanded that you watch, listen and go crazy yourself everytime they had the stage.

1998
Released their co-produced (Angee Rozul and Maly Andres), self-titled
debut album "Cheese" under Warner Music Philippines which took the radio airwaves by surprise, earning them critical acclaim and various awards. Earning the respect of peers and contemporaries alike, not to mention solidifying their following.

2000
They went on to spread what they had to offer, travelling and ripping
the stage in almost every city in the country. Topping it all off at the Pusan Rock Festival 2000, held in Korea. A three-day music festival with groups from every country in Asia. They played a set worthy an event opener. Making sure that whoever saw them were now up to date as to how Filipinos jump around, make noise, own and kill a stage.

2001
Original turntablist RT de Ano was replaced with Bboy Garcia of then
Chicosci and a short stint with Greyhoundz before joining Queso.

After a two-year hiatus, the group released their again, co-produced
(Angee Rozul) sophomore effort entitled "Pilipinas" under Warner Music Philippines.

The release was recieved with much acclaim and warm praises from fans, fellow artists and the entire music scene/industry. The release garnered collective and individual awards for both technical and artistic aspects of the album followed by a tour of the country, sharing what they had to say this time around.

2003
Robert dela Cruz of Skychurch took over drumming duties from Pow Rosal. He jumped onboard in the middle of touring.

The name change to Queso from Cheese was a means to end any future legal disputes or hold that their previous label had on the groups name, intelectual rights and all that. Matters that did not really matter to
the group. Besides, "Queso" was what their followers have been calling them for quite some time now, even before the idea of changing names was laid on the table, it was just logical.

The move was seen as a tribute of sorts to the only ones who really mattered, the kids who go it or "Ang mga Daga" as they were endearingly called, translated; "The Rats".

That same year the group released the DVD home video, "Buhay Queso" on the black market, gave it away, almost not earning a cent from it, save from the seldom cost return of blank dvds if someone asked to have a copy burned. The move commercially speaking,
was suicide and they considered that and even probably laughed about it. Both the name change, how they released Buhay Queso and each member of the group still proudly standing, heads up smiling are strong statements on what the group is all about.

2006
The independently, co-produced (Eric Perlas) self-titled third effort "Queso" was released. During the tour for the latest album, Queso won
the local World Battle of the Bands and earned them a chance to win the World title that was held in Hong Kong.

The competition that it was never really mattered to the group as they
just played the way they always did, time after time all the way to Hong
Kong. Although they did not win, not even ranking among the top three.
It was sweet enough to hear the World champions during their acceptance speach to offer the title to Queso as they felt the group was more deserving the title. But as far as the boys of Queso were concerned, the only accomplishment there was playing a set that no award, title and not even words could ever give justice to.

Now without corporate resources, Queso is still currently touring the
latest release and has slowly gained momentum by word of mouth alone. Song writing still continues but still no solid plans as to when they'll be heading back to the studios to record new materials.

Myspace URL:
http://www.myspace.com/quesopilipinas

Queso - Self Titled Album

1. Insekta
2. Tiamat
3. Katchatore
4. Furlan
5. Balana
6. Gila E'te
7. Billy Boy
8. Unyo
9. Manila Ice
10. Sta. Maria
11. Wara
12. Inkdah

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Watch Their Video "Insekta"

Urbandub

2009-11-07T03:19:00.000-08:00

Gabby Alipe (vocals, guitars)
John Dinopol (guitars)
Lalay Lim (bass, back-up vocals)
JanJan Mendoza (drums)

The Sound Of The Giant South is gaining more recognition around the nation like never before. At the forefront of the whole movement is a band that has a record that surpasses most bands than that of the bands that have come out of the Queen City of Cebu. They are none other than Urbandub.

From the very first day that this band was formed (in the year 2000), they were destined to be something more than the ordinary. Forced to be independent due to the lack of support coming from major record companies, Urbandub released their debut album called BIRTH. Off of this album, the hit tracks "Come", "Give" and "Would You Go" launched and took their world by storm. Unique, timely and yet experimental, it was something that entertainment scenes around the Philippines needed: a kick start into the future of original music.

With the release of their sophomore effort, INFLUENCE (Lighter Records), Urbandub took on a new form, changing their sound with a new drummer (From Jed Honrado to Jerros Dolino). It was the sound in this album that clearly defined the steps that Urbandub would start to take. The track "Soul Searching" later won the award as Song of the Year in the NU107 Rock Awards 2003. Pushing the sound further, the collection bagged the Album Of The Year Award in the NU107 Rock Awards 2004.

Today, Urbandub now offers yet a third helping of what they are capable of. With the 2005 release of the album EMBRACE, Urbandub has proven that there is hope for the struggling artist. With help from their community and the noise they have created, they were able to grab the attention of EMI Music Philippines. Not one to take chances, the band has kept Lighter Records as their management arm and guide. In line with their ideals, EMI allowed them the creative freedom to record their album on their home soil of Cebu. Added to that, they have been able to maintain their independent principles while taking major steps into the scene that has awaited their new sound.

Urbandub is Gabby Alipe (Vocalist / Guitarist), Lalay Lim (Bassist), John Mendoza (Drummer) and John Dinopol (Lead Guitarist).

Urbandubs career thus far has given much inspiration and support to upcoming acts, most of which fall under the Lighter Records stable such as Faspitch, The Ambassadors, Still, Nuncyspungen (Cagayan) and Point Click Kill (Ilo-Ilo). Each of them now aspire to take their own roads in music, paving their own way and modeling some of their steps after the success of Urbandub.

Myspace URL:
www.myspace.com/urbandub

Urbandub - Birth

1. Boy
2. Breakdown
3. Would You Go
4. Dissect
5. Eating Me
6. Picture
7. Give
8. Come
9. It's Over
10. Apart
11. 2 Things
12. Give (Acoustic)

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Watch Their Video "Come"

Urbandub - Influence

1. Fallen On Deaf Ears
2. Under Crisis
3. Soul Searching
4. Runaway
5. Versus
6. Gone
7. Sailing
8. Quiet Poetic
9. A New Tattoo
10. Lover Among Ruins

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Watch Their Video "A New Tattoo"

Urbandub - Embrace

Alert The Armory
Frailty
First Of Summer
When Heroes Die
Reveal The Remedy
The Arsonist
Endless, A Silent Whisper
Safety In Number
A City Of Sleeping Hearts
The End Of Something

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Watch Their Video "Frailty"

Urbandub - Under Southern Lights

1. An Invitation
2. Anthem
3. The Fight Is Over
4. Guillotine
5. Cebuana
6. Life Is Easy
7. Evidence
8. A Method To Chaos
9. Inside The Mind Of A Killer
10. She Keeps Me Warm

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Watch Their Video "Evidence"

Typecast

2009-11-06T21:19:00.000-08:00

Steve Badiola - Guitars, Vocals
Pakoy Fletchero - Guitars
Chi Resurreccion - Bass
Melvin Macatiag - Drums

Typecast is an emo band from the Philippines. Being one of the most popular bands online, Typecast pioneered the uprising of Myspace, Purevolume and other online marketing/social/networking sites for rock bands all over Asia. Pioneered the sub-culture genre in the Philippines and is now being copied by many Filipino bands.

Sta. Rosa City, Laguna Philippines was home to New York style Hardcore bands since the early 90's. Brought up in a DIY community, the emotional punk outfit came together in 1999 and quickly began filling houses with their unique brand of aching sincerity and arresting melodies. Thanks to rampant buzz and devoted fan base, the band began touring outside their hometown and making their way in to the main cities of Manila and was soon on the rock radio airwaves all over Philippines. 2 years prior to that, they released their first debut CD - The Infatuation Is Always There. With their relentless DIY ethics, the band paved their path to be one of the most influential rock bands in Asia. With the release of their 2nd studio album - Every Moss and Cobweb in 2007, the band swept the country by storm with their single - "Will You Ever Learn" which won Best Song of the Year at a prestigious annual Rock Award Show of NU107 FM. Almost 10 years have passed since they've spearheaded this brand of musical genre with massively tight arrangements and soaring melodic passages. This success eventually led to the opportunity to open for US-based bands such as Thursday, Shadows Fall, Darkest Hour, etc.

Being the No. 1 Top Artist in Myspace.com all over Asia, Typecast pioneered the uprising of the said community website and holds the most number of friends and fans in the said territory. Have always been mistaken as an American band because of the solid accent and diction through their songs which makes the band more interesting to everyone who would check them out. Explosive live performance that even Geoff Rickly (Thursday) said that the band reminds him of Explosions in the Sky in a much detailed perspective.

They've been reviewed as one of the Most Influential Rock bands in Asia according to Asia's Magmug.com, an online zine based in Singapore & Malaysia.

Myspace URL:
www.myspace.com/typecast

Typecast - Last Time

1. Forget
2. Better Off
3. Can I Try My Luck On You
4. Ice
5. Dorothy
6. February
7. Blanket
8. Distance Between Us
9. Last Time
10. Deeper I Fall
11. She Won't Understand

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Watch Their Video "Phoenix"

Typecast - The Infatuation Is Always There

1. Another Minute Until Ten
2. Breathe Through The Glass
3. Escape The Hurt
4. Assertion
5. Clutching
6. The Infatuation is Always There
7. Outcomes The Brave
8. Last Time
9. 21 and Counting
10. Wait
11. Scars of a Failing Heart
12. Guilt Kill

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Watch Their Video "Another Minute Until Ten"

Typecast - Every Moss and Cobweb

1. You Don't Need The Eyes To See
2. In Blindness
3. Bad News Brown
4. My Farewell
5. Bright Eyes
6. Not About You
7. The Conflict
8. The Boston Drama
9. What You Are
10. Will You Ever Learn
11. Emmanuel
12. Open Wound
13. Don't Take Me From Me

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Watch Their Video "Will You Ever Learn"

Kjwan - Self Titled Album

2009-11-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

Marc Abaya - Vocals
J-Hoon Balbuena - Drums / Vocals
Kelley Mangahas - Bass
Boogie Romero - Guitars / Vocals
Jorel Corpus - Guitars / Percussion / Vocals

KJWAN burst onto the Philippine music scene in 2003, when the local rock music scene had forgotten who it was originally and people were almost afraid to listen to anything new. Still, they came down hard, raw, in your face, with the release of their self titled debut album (in 2004) and coined the now-familiar catchphrase, “Bastusan na!” Their hit song, “Daliri,” became an anthem to a new generation of rock listeners and being true to your self became the order of the day. Even the very word, Kjwan, seemed to flamboyantly step in your way and hounded you so that you would never forget the name, the band and the sound

This first album earned them the nominations for Best New Artist, Best Video and Best Album Packaging (along with Balbuena being nominated as Best Drummer) in local rock station NU107’s “Rock Awards.” Favorite New Artist and Best Video at the MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards 2005 and a month long feature on MTV Philippines as the “Rising Star” Artist of the Month (Jan 2005), specifically, for their breakthrough single “Daliri.” The song, which received such a good amount of airplay on the radio and local music channels, appealed mainly to rock listeners who were fans of A Perfect Circle, Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine, and the earlier grunge bands that defined early 90s rock.

The Manila-based quintet is made up of distinct personalities, with individual musical tastes that don’t always overlap, and strong ideals that are often diametrically opposed. The chemistry might have combusted a lesser band before it even started, but the equally passionate friendships and shared hardships that make up Kjwan have held it together.

Long-time friends and former high school band-mates Marc Abaya (vocals) and Kelley Mangahas (bass) got together with fellow Ateneans Jorel Corpus (guitar) and J-hoon Balbuena (drums) to form the band’s initial lineup. They were joined in 2004 by Boogie Romero (guitar), another high school friend and former band-mate of Marc and Kelley, soon after the release of their self-titled debut album.

Three years later, at the height of the new music renaissance, Kjwan braved a second album, 2StepMarv, which promised to be so many things more than their first self-titled album.

If the first album had been a simple matter of coming out, the two-year journey of making 2StepMarv was a more complicated matter of growing up—musically. They were able to craft better songs, hone their individual skills, introduce new musical elements to their primarily rock sound, and in general, just put more thought, heart and soul into the new music. They became comfortable in their new skin.

With their momentous effort for this sophomore album came great blessings too! The band won as Favorite Indie Artist in the local music channel MYX’s music awards night along with their video “Pintura” winning “Favorite Guest Appearance” with the help of a seasoned actress Chin-Chin Gutierrez, A month long feature on MTV Pilipinas as “Lokal Artist of the Month” in December 2006, another month long feature as Yahoo Southeast Asia’s band of the month and another month long feature as “Celebrity VJ’s” in MYX for the whole month of April 2006. They also got nominated in 6 categories in the 2007 NU Rock Awards for Artist of the Year, Best Live Act, Album of the Year, Producer of the Year (with Angee Rozul), Vocalist of the Year (Marc Abaya) and Guitarist of the Year (Boogie Romero).

This was also the period where they got to spread their music and play shows outside the country. They headlined HK-Live, in Central, HK last October 2007, HK-Live is a monthly showcase of the Hottest Acts around asia in HK’s Fringe Club. They also got to participate in the Annual Baybeats Music Festival in Singapore.

Their biggest blessing however was winning the grand prize in the Asian and Phlippine leg of the IKON ASEAN competition held in Putrajaya, Malaysia which really made an impact to the regional asian music community since they bested 30 bands from all over southeast asia. The band had such an amazing time promoting their album and meeting new people!

Myspace URL:
www.myspace.com/kjwan

Kjwan - Self Titled Album

1. Surface
2. Boomerang
3. Someday
4. Slip
5. Backbone
6. Set It
7. Moving
8. Daliri
9. Twilight
10. Bracelet
11. Drizzle
12. My Dear

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Watch Their Video "Daliri"

Faspitch - The Future Of Ear Repair

2009-11-02T04:19:00.000-08:00

Henry Allen (vocals)
Russell Manaloto (guitars)
Trick Berganos (guitars)
Trevor Bicknell (bass)
OJ Anonas (drums)

Perhaps it may be too difficult to box them into a particular category but Faspitch is not one to be easily described. The band is oftentimes mistaken to be a bit of everything that falls under the current listener trend. Faspitch, however, is a band to be experienced, not just heard. Off-stage, the guys are constantly hacking over ideas on how to change their sound. On-stage, the experiment takes place, their presence always leaving an audience gaping in wonder about what just happened.

The band released their first single, "Staying This Way" on the airwaves, later following it up with "A Day Before Pisces" that gained more grounds building up their community. The single was included in the compilation FULL VOLUME, which was released by EMI Music and includes tracks from their label mates, Urbandub and The Ambassadors. This is what prompted the band to take a step further in releasing a full-length album. They inked a deal with Lighter Records on April 1, 2005.

Faspitch's goal is as typical as any other band's aim to take music to the next level. They do believe, however, that in order for their crash and grind
formula to work, they have to work hard. Individually, they train themselves to concentrate more on their skills as musicians. This is made clear in their newly released, year-long project and debut album THE FUTURE OF EAR REPAIR which is available in selected music outlets around the Philippines today. The album was launched nationally last September 24, 2006 and their latest single “Dweller” is gaining more airplay on a nationwide scale, very recently making it to 1 on NU107's Stairway to Seven. There are great expectations that the band is going to be something massive and that they are set to rock the scene. This is something that the band knows. And they do know one other thing: Faspitch is ready.

MySpace URL:
www.myspace.com/faspitch

Faspitch - The Future Of Ear Repair

1. Make Love
2. A Day Before Pisces
3. Dweller
4. Breathe
5. Filler Part 1
6. Alone
7. All Under Heaven
8. Filler Part 2
9. Staying This Way
10. Filler Part 3
11. Namesake
12. No Holding Back
13. Filler Part 4
14. Hunger Feat. Gabby Alipe

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Watch Faspitch's Video "A Day Before Pisces"