A foreign band found itself surprised by Pinoys’ good reception to its music. A solo Filipino singer felt the same when he finally heard his album being played at a record bar!
Metro Station, one of those American pop rock bands who didn’t stay long underground, recently dropped by the country and mesmerized their growing legions of fans with a three-day mall show series. The group, which includes the brother of world-famous young star Miley Cyrus, Trace, performed at three Ayala Malls and attracted its cult following and surprised lucky shoppers.
The band behind the hit songs “Seventeen Forever” and “Shake It” is one of today’s musical units making synthesizer and programmed sounds as effective tools in showcasing music. Their 10-track self-titled debut album has successfully delivered that, with the first four numbers managing to reach the market at large as singles. Tracks 2 and 3, “Control” and “Kelsey,” were the first releases while the fourth one, “Shake It” turned out to be the breakout song which peaked in the top 10 of three US charts when it was released in mid-2008. The youth cry “Seventeen Forever” then topped the Unsigned Charts on MySpace Music.
Apart from Trace Cyrus who plays guitar and sings, too, others forming Metro Station are lead vocalist/guitarist Mason Musso, drummer Anthony Improgo, and programmer Blake Healy.
“Surprisingly they sounded good even in acoustic setup,” says a colleague during their meet-the-press moment at Hard Rock Makati last June 10. They performed later that day at the Glorietta Activity Center, then went to Trinoma and Alabang Town Center the next two days.
Other songs in the album are “Wish We Were Older,” “Now That We’re Done,” “True To Me,” “Tell Me What To Do,” “California” and “Disco.”
In the other tale, singer Reuben Laurente recounted how surprised he was to hear his latest album “Heart Blends” being played on a record bar as he was going around looking for CDs to buy. He wasn’t expecting to hear it considering some technicalities that caused delay on the album’s release date which he recorded many months back. Fortunately, MCA Music has agreed to distribute the album.
“Nasa loob ako ng record bar when I heard a familiar track and realized it was from my album. Sa sobrang tuwa ko nilapitan ko ‘yung guwardiya at masaya kong sinabing ako po ang kumanta niyan,” Reuben told the Manila Bulletin, sounding as if he was a newbie recording artist who found out for the first time that his CD is finally on record outlets.
Reuben is not new in the scene. He was lead singer of The CompanY for 14 years and as solo he already put out a fair share of solo CDs. It takes a true dedicated professional to keep that excitement high.
Nevertheless, it is perplexing that no label seemed interested to distribute “Heart Blends” months ago. The covers choices are all classics (originally sung by female singers) while the renditions were properly done and not difficult to admire. The 15-track package was originally 13. “Waiting Game” and “Love Makes No Promises” were add-ons of an album loaded with tuneful love songs like “Out Here On My Own” and “All At Once.”
Reuben did duets with topnotch and rising lady singers in Anna Fegi (“I Honestly Love You”), Diane Elise (“Miss You Like Crazy”), Sabrina (“Love Makes No Promises”) and Bituin Escalante (Words Get In The Way”).
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