Artwork by Val Guevarra


Album: Beautiful Machines
Artist: Pupil
Sony BMG Philippines 2005


LIKE dogs waiting for crumbs falling from the master’s dining table, fans of disbanded super groups are left to pick up the pieces of what once was.

Often, these pieces hardly resemble the glory days of these bands that used to rule the airwaves, and commanded astronomical talent fees for their shows. But for their staunch supporters, these are better than nothing at all.

The Eraserheads is perhaps the best example.

Since their disintegration in 2001, Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Raimund Marasigan, and Buddy Zabala – the Fab Four of Pinoy rock, have tried other things that they hoped would continue, or even surpass the ‘greatest circus in Pinoy music history’.

After Ely left, the three remaining members tried to go on with Kris Gorra, the female singer and guitarist of Fatal Posporos, but the ominous signs of a sinking ship began to unravel. When Marcus left for the Northern Philippines to pursue a ‘surfing career’, the Eraserheads were no more.

Drummer Raimund started several bands; most successful of them is Sandwich, who managed to generate a hype that resulted in a multitude of followers. Respected and loved as Sandwich had become, it never got close to his former band.

Buddy Zabala, joined some underground acts like ‘Twisted Halo’, but his most noteworthy move was when he joined legendary group ‘The Dawn’ a couple of years ago.

Ely Buendia, the eHeads’ front man and chief tunesmith, formed ‘The Mongols’ and even released an album, which sadly, stalled and was proclaimed D.O.A.

When things did not work out with ‘The Mongols’, the music landscape has changed dramatically. Bands are back in style, and major labels signed rock groups left and right to catch up with the increasing demand.

In this scenario, Ely formed ‘Pupil’.

Sony BMG, the Eraserheads’ home record company, patched things up with their prodigal son and signed the group for some albums. And after months of production, Ely Buendia, Yan Yuzon, Dok Sergio and Boks Jugo debut record came out: ‘Beautiful Machines.’

As I juiced up my iPod to listen to the songs, I could not help but wonder why Ely hasn’t come up with any significant material since the eHeads album ‘Sticker Happy’. Has he really lost the gift? I am not in any way asking for Ehead-like material from Ely, just great tunes from a composer, who everyone knows can do much better.

His songs with the Mongols, were quite forgettable and self-indulgent to tell you the truth, but I can’t help but ask, will it be the same for this ‘Pupil’ debut? I guess there’s only one way to find out. Hence, after repeated playbacks, here’s my take: 14 tracks. Good album, but nothing out of this world, yet.

Beautiful Machines could be Carbon Monoxide volume three, with The Mongols album as its second installment.

It is undeniable that there are moments in Beautiful Machines that give the listeners a peek at Ely’s genius. But come on now, we have seen the full view years ago, haven’t we? Mere peeks won’t be acceptable anymore.

‘Different Worlds’ perhaps is the best track here, followed by ‘Blow Your House Down’ and the ‘Smashing Pumpkinesque’ – ‘She Talks to Trees’.

The Filipino tracks did not quite take off. They were more like the band’s ‘other English songs translated to Tagalog for mass appeal.’ Except maybe for the Rivermaya-like ‘Dulo ng Dila’, which will probably be embraced by the general listening public. But aside from that, even the carrier single, ‘Nasan Ka Na’, fell short considering Ely’s knack for writing sticky material.

It is really tough for ex-members of super bands to rise up from the shadows of the past. Paul McCartney made ‘Wings’ take off, but this feat is more of the exception than the general rule.

Moreover, it is tremendously hard for the new band mates of these ex-members of super groups, like Ely, to avoid being compared to his old pals. And to write material for an album with probably one of the most successful songwriters in recent OPM history is yet another wall to climb.

Five years after the Eraserhead cookie crumbled, we are still licking the crumbs scattered under the master’s table.

So far, the best tasting crumb yet is the one that turned out to be a ‘Sandwich’.

In the tradition of the Alpha Numeric Pinoy Rock samplers, Silver Shiny Jeepney is the latest band compilation to come from Alpha Music
Corporation, whose recent Pinoy Rock releases include Pepe Smith's Idosyncrasies and Session Road's Suntok Sa Buwan. Inspired by Fil-Am group
Bobby Bandurias's EP, Shiny Silver Jeepney, album boast of 20 (12 previously unreleased) well-selected songs by Philippines and US base bands
showcasing their song writing & studio skills.

The opening track, Coffe Break Island's "Party Song," pumps enough fury to excite the listener throughout the album. It is followed up by
"You Make Me," showing the legendary Eheads electropop styling, Imago's "Bihag," follows, crunchy guitar, great arrangement and an infectious cut cut from Las Vegas based Melancholics ("Inaasahan") leads us to Bridge's "Kahit Na," a very good acoustic guitar-based rock song. This is the process.

Particularly noteworthy are "Di Ko Na Alam" by ADD whose members are former Wolfgang ang Razorback members Wolf Gemora & Dave Aguirre, "For The Moment" by Sqyuall, "Palm Of My Hand" by Cattski and the Beatleesque "Hello My Friends, Hello" From Bleud. In the same vein is Fat Elephant's "Jive," with crosses swords with "Brownskin People" (18th Issue), both fine examples of Funk based Rock.

Songs like "Hey Body Rock" by Hemp Republic, "Traffic" by Bobby Balingit, "Kusina" by Narda, "Damn" by Centerfold, "High" by Matilda,
"I Wanna Know" by Brownbeat All Stars, "Fried Brain" by Moyg, "You're Always Right" by Monsterbot and "Come On" by Neighbors complete this grade-A compilation with some of the best Pinoy indie rock you've probably never heard.

The Filipino artist featured in this compilation are mostly unsigned although some have already had some experience with record labels like
Eheads and Imago. Fil-Am bands like Bleud, Melancholics and ADD can write and sing songs in both English and Filipino with equal ease, hinting at an uncanny ability to merge the best of both worlds. But what they all share is a fiercely independent ethric and passionate love on thier own music which translate into a delirious electrical charge felt throughout the abum.

The album Silver Shiny Jeepney (now available in high grade cassette and CD) will definitely take you for a good spin here and there. Where? To the every shifting landscapes of the Pinoy sound!

Reviewed By: Pearlsha Abubakar