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COMPILATION albums abound: from tributes to the APO
Hiking Society and the Eraserheads to the just-released guitar album
of various artists. With the local rock scene in full bloom, these
collaborative efforts give reason for today’s rockers to learn,
pay tribute and interact with their mentors. And besides, it’s a
chance for up-and-coming bands to work with their more famous peers
and perhaps create a hit song with a remake of a well-loved classic.
Bagong Banda . . . Awit ni
Sampaguita features Session Road, Paramita, Sugar Hiccup, Zelle,
Fuseboxx, The Amanda, Cherry Cornflakes, Childstar, Chubibo,
Paraluman and Rockaby singing classics such as “Tao,”
“Laguna,” “Bonggahan,” “Nosi Balasi” and many others.
Bagong Banda . . . Awit ni
Sampaguita, released by Ballyhoo records, was created with the full
consent and approval of Sampaguita herself. It’s quite the
opposite of the recent cover album by Bamboo, We Stand Alone
Together, which created much controversy with its unauthorized and
uncredited remake of “Probinsyana,” an original composition of
the late Edmund Fortuno, legendary drummer of Anak Bayan. With
Sampaguita, the young artists not only pay their dues; they win her
approval.
But because Sampaguita had the
final say on what versions would make the cut (and perhaps because
she was too precious with her work), the entire album carefully
adheres to the original 1970s classic Pinoy rock sound Sampaguita
was known for. As they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix
it.” But you won’t find the tantalizing experimentations such as
those in the Kami nAPO Muna album where artists reinterpreted the
original pop sound into thrash metal, jazz, rock or reggae. What the
Sampaguita tribute album captures is the essence of 1970s jeprox
rock. Sige lang, babe.
Listening to Session Road rock
“Nosi Balasi,” you know they’ve been covering the song long
before the idea for this album came about. Paramita, better known
for sophisticated angst, shines with a balls-out cover of “Bonggahan.”
Fuseboxx transforms “Easy Pare” into progressive rock. Sugar
Hiccup shines with soaring vocals and violins in their rendition of
the sublime “Tao.”
Buy Bagong Banda . . . Awit ni
Sampaguita. Let it be your introduction into 1970s classic Pinoy
rock. Then buy the originals of Sampaguita, Juan dela Cruz, and Asin.
--Rome Jorge
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