OPM

  • #ListenTo The Ransom Collective

    ,
    With The Ransom Collective
    Amiciness with The Ransom Collective at Indayog

    The Ransom Collective is a six-piece indie folk band composed of Kian Ransom (vocals, guitar, and owner of an awesome name), Lily Gonzales (keys), Muriel Gonzales (violin), Leah Halili (bass),  Jermaine Choa Peck (vocals and percussion), and Redd Claudio (drums). I got to see them live in St. Paul College Pasig’s concert event Indayog: An OPM Music Festival during their school fair. That was the first time I heard of them, and I immediately fell in love with their sound. I loved it so much that I even bought their self-titled EP, which of course I got the band to sign. Their music reminds me of a lot of bands (and I confess to not listening to a lot), so I’m just going to drop their names here: Stars, The Lumineers, a folkier Bombay Bicycle Club (it makes sense in my head, okay). Other blogs have also made the Mumford & Sons connection, but I contest that it’s only because they’re both in the indie folk sphere that accounts for the similar sound.

    The Ransom Collective EP Signed
    My own copy of the band’s EP. Also available digitally on iTunes

    The best track on the EP is Run. It starts with just the keyboard and guitar, then 30 seconds in, the drums kick in, then a short violin solo, and it just soars from that moment. Perfect to blast in your car and sing along to on a road trip. Although, I’ve got to say, The Ransom Collective is a much better experience to behold live. Their recorded stuff doesn’t do their sound justice. I heartily recommend watching them in concert and in gigs.

    Follow the band on social media:

    Buy their self-titled EP on iTunes, or stream it here:

  • Filipina quartet sings ‘Let It Go’ on Korean singing competition

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvcPkq_EfdI

    Philippine talent is on the spotlight once again as the beautiful harmony of four Filipina sisters captivate hearts all over the world. MICA (a name made up of the first letters of their names) auditioned on the 6th and current season of popular Korean reality-singing competition show, Superstar K.

    (more…)

  • #PhilPop2014 Top 12 Finalists

    This is the Philippines’ annual songwriting contest that started in 2012. It is open to both amateur and professional songwriters and composers. Judging by this Top 12, it’s evident that the professional writers seem to be at an advantage to qualify.

    Anyway, my favorite would have to be Love on a Broken String written by Jude Gitamondoc and Therese Marie Villarante as it is the most current-sounding of all the entries, and the one with the most decent lyrics (seriously, listen [or not] to Qrush on You for product placement, or Hangout Lang for a booty call in song form and references to one of the most unproductive showbiz issues of the year). The only negative is the weak middle eight relative to the very strong chorus. (Jungee Marcelo’s Salbabida has the best middle eight.)

    I also like Toto Sorioso’s Awit Mo’y Nandito Pa which sounds like a pleasant inspirational, hopeful hymn. I also love the syncopation in the chorus — if you listen closely there’s an extra beat that throws you off at first, but then falls back into place. I have to note though: I think I’ve heard this melody before, it’s super familiar.

    My least favorite would have to be Hangout Lang penned by Allan Feliciano and Isaac Joseph Garcia. According to their biography on the website, they wrote the song in half an hour… and it shows. Production is dated, and the lyrics, no comment na lang.

    Generally, there still isn’t much diversity to the songs in the final. This year is filled with a lot of R&B/urban artists (to list: Kyla [though she sings a power ballad here], Jay-R, Kris, Thor, Q-York), so is R&B up for a comeback in the Philippine music scene? Honestly, I don’t think so, but at least these artists are getting experience and exposure.

    The grand finals night will be held on July 26, Saturday. Who do you think will win this year? What do you think about the entries?

  • Mabuhay ang OPM?

    image

    OPM is dead. OPM is not dead.

    Whatever your opinion may be, you’d agree with me that the “Original” in OPM has long gone… at the very least, for mainstream Philippine music. You know, the songs you hear on the radio, as TV show themes, or as movie soundtracks.

    (more…)