Blunt Void Prototype

“When the world keeps spinning around,

my world’s upside down,

and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I got nothing else to lose,

I lost it all when I found you

and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

 - Lifehouse, Spin

The music of Lifehouse is a continuing monotony of romantic and existentialist drivel. That’s precisely what makes it uniquely good to the ears. The band constantly delivers music that softly punctures the senses and thoughts without the overbearing overkill of emotions. 

Jason Wade’s voice is something to behold. All throughout the concert, the timbre never faltered. It sounded faithful to the albums that they have released; the only difference is it was infinitely more powerful live. His ten-minute acoustic solo wherein he performed certain parts of Storm, Everything, Blind, Breathing and Sick Cycle Carousel among others just broke through the arena’s calm. Other songs I remember from last night’s gig: Hanging by a Moment, Spin, Wash, All In, Take Me Away, First Time and for the finale, Everything (which damn near killed me, haha).

Kudos to Lifehouse, one of the few bands that can make great music with the use of the simplest words, rhymes and melodies! Most pleased to have been part of their gig in Manila (even from afar). 

Lifehouse: Smoke and Mirrors
May 26, 2012
SMART Araneta Coliseum

Hanson. Go ahead and say “Mmmbop”. 

I tell you, from an objective point of view, you’re the one missing out. 

Whatever, right?

Listen to Shout It Out. It is one of the most well-composed albums I chanced upon in a long time, highly commendable for the band’s effort to stay away from the cliched “rock” band cycle — the heavy (heavier,heaviest) guitar riffs, the melancholic mid-life blabbers, the superstar sparkle, the pseudo-poetic approach. 
By itself, Shout It Out is full of inventive tunes— the lively concoction of beats and melodies. The lyrics were kept simple, yet neatly resounding. But the most remarkable in it is the soul — the soul reflected in their music. 
Try The Walk. Or Underneath. Or This Time Around. Heck, I’ll even recommend Middle of Nowhere (the acoustic version, in particular).

The truth is I didn’t grow up listening to Hanson. As much as I played their cassette tape on loop when I was seven or eight, I didn’t really follow their tracks as I finished my last years in grade school, attended high school and definitely not when I was scraping through college. The sudden curiosity sprang up from my interest in Tinted Windows, the supposed supergroup made up of James Iha (I remember him as A Perfect Circle’s guitarist, but most know him from Smashing Pumpkins.), the bassist of Fountains of Wayne, the drummer of Cheap Trick and yes, the keyboard/lead vocals/all-around musician: Taylor Hanson. Tinted Windows was alright. Their music sounds simple, clean; yet the tunes stick. It might be because of their old-school sounds, might be because the band is an odd combination, might be because of Taylor’s vocal trademark—any of those things— but they sounded great to my ears and I was in dire need of new music to tune into. 

I figured why not pick the slack off from there and give Hanson a try. After all, their songs were favorable to my taste. “If Only”, although I never admitted it, was playing at the back of my head even when I wasn’t trying to remember it. Until now, I can shut my eyes and remember the little details of the music video. “I Will Come to You” was a song I kept going back to even when I started going for music in the other end of the spectrum. Even “Penny and Me” was nice to listen to.

So I started researching and researching their music and who would have known, I was in for a grand, grand musical ride.

That was less than 6 months ago. 

Look where I am right now. 

I regret nothing.

Hanson 

Shout It Out World Tour

Smart Araneta Coliseum

in B&W

(March 30, 2012)

Of all the cassette tapes I had completely owned and overplayed during the 90s until the early 2000’s, this is one of the rarities that remains intact.

Believe me, it could have been a lot of things: Christmas albums, the Titanic soundtrack, Chapter I of some kid band, poppy pop divas, saturated boybands, Silverchair’s Freakshow, alternative music for the choosy, early birds of what is now tagged as “emo” — any of those could have been taking that pedestal in my room as what now presents itself to be a replica from the Dinosaur Era. It could have been anything. 

But this one takes the cake, so to speak. This one is the cake. 

Hanson’s Middle of Nowhere. In cassette. Freshly preserved by a kid who took pride in writing her name in every little thing she owns.

Released in 1997, a time when people thought it was cool to tuck their deadly colorful, loose shirts in; when PlayStation and WWF plagued every household; when MTV was still in the serious business of showcasing music; when Mmmbop seemed to be the song of the decade. 

The three blonde long-haired brothers (one I’ve confused as a sister, haha) were difficult to miss during those times. Whether you hated or loved how viral Mmmbop was, the fact is you can still hum the tune without bothering your brain cells. (Admit it.)

It’s a miracle this cassette tape lived through my abusive playing-rewinding-playing hobby as a kid. The tape inside never once got tangled nor tampered with. 

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Well, it’s 2012 now. Mmmbop didn’t continue to be the song of the century after all. Every Hanson brother is now somebody’s husband and father. The fact is, the band has now developed a more mature and distinct musicality. 

This Time Around, Underneath, The Walk and their latest, Shout It Out are albums worthy of recognition and high commendations. Heck, even Middle of Nowhere is every bit as worthy. I believe so, even at this point. 

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Imagine my surprise when I heard about their Shout it Out Tour in Manila. Some higher force might have read my mind when I wasn’t aware of it. The way concerts like these just fall into place these days. Seriously.

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March 30.

Araneta Coliseum, we meet again.