BETRAYED, Betrayed LP
You don’t need anyone else to tell you how Betrayed figures in the general scheme of things loud, fast and furious. Former Jingle Chordbook magazine editor Ces Rodriguez says it all in her liner notes to the latest re-release in vinyl of Betrayed’s debut album. Ces wrote: “Betrayed’s debut album captured it all. The scent and the scene. Slash-and-burn nuggets and a sticky love song. Like the old days but better. Then and now, Because now more than ever, punk’s not dead.”. Damn nostalgia. Pinoy punk’s always meant to be this way.
SPACE DOG SPACE CAT, Fuzz Sounds
This six-piece indie outfit got fuzz box and knows how to use it. They practically extract a veritable rainbow of sounds anchored on the fuzz. “What’s On Your Mind?” is pure mind-melting power pop. “Drawing” draws from ‘60s garage rock to amped up its pop appeal while “Jay Muscis” entertains in its own fuzzy way until it concludes with a mild case of grunge. The tracks in this collection are handsomely produced, with gorgeous hooks placed on top of the cranky fuzz. It makes for, what they call nowadays, an encompassing listening experience.
TNG, GAD
Five-man TNG hails from Bulacan and they traffic in post-hardcore to be technically correct about it. The liner notes of their debut release describe their collective musicality to be “a celebration of life and pain,,.what hearts in synched sounds like.” What comes on surface is savage hardcore attack punk that’s somehow softened by pretty post-rock riffage and literary flair the lyrics. While the vocals tend towards howls and screams, the ‘horror’ gets tempered by lines that seem to seek solace in the din like “Your face is enchanting like reading my favorite book You can always catch me glimpsing for another look.” In TNG, emo has dropped its wimp disguise to unravel a caring, mature character.
THE BIG MOON, Here Is Everything
The London-based all-girl foursome The Big Moon takes on the pregnancy of chief songwriter Juliet Jackson during the pandemic to carve out passionate songs about friendship, relationships and survival. Great guitar strumming is all over the album, starting with the sinuous Velvet Underground-ish slither of opener “2 Times” to the chiming REM-ish mannerism of :This Love” to the pumping power-pop of “Daydreaming” and “Your Wild Eyes” rock and roll sprint. Everything’s held together by steadfast backbeat that keeps up with the emotional zigzag of the music and the singing. The ladies really pull out all the stops on this one.
BROKEN BELLS, Into the Blue
It’s difficult to suspend disbelief that in Broken Bells, you may be listening to an inventive rock band that’s revisiting the pantheon of classic pop and rock sounds. Broken Bells are The Shins’ James Mercer and Danger Mouse aka Brian Burton, two of indie rock’s major prime movers. And yes, don’t let the ‘broken’ in the duo’s name dishearten you. There’s plenty to love in their latest album, essentially various shards of the influences of The Beatles, prog rock and ‘60s RnB,among others. Your ears will love: “We’re Back In Orbit,” “Love On The Run,” “Forgotten” and the supreme titular track.
ALVVAYS, Blue Rev
If initial impressions matter to you, the band name Alvvays should be an instant turn-off at first blush. Your loss actually because the Canadian duo Alvvays has their fingers, pulse, and imagination together to craft one of the year’s best power pop records. Think dream power-pop and “Many Mirrors” will bring a smile. Go-Go’s style punk-pop? There’s “Velveteen!” Synth power pop then. “Very Online Guy” is a cinch. The real deal here is the creative slash on guitars teetering to lush shoegaze territory and vocalist Molly Rankin’s shape-shifting prowess. They conspire for a revved-up pop fest from start to finish.
Image credits: Bernard Testa