About Universal Records

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Quezon City, Philippines
Universal Records is the NUMBER ONE independent record label in the Philippines. Bringing you quality music for the past 30 years, we are home to artists like: Jose Mari Chan, Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Lani Misalucha, Jed Madela, Christian Bautista, Jay R, Billy Crawford, Kris Aquino, Edu Manzano, Marian Rivera, Mark Herras, Nina, Ronnie Liang, Gail Blanco, Sam Concepcion. Our band roster includes: Parokya Ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Sponge Cola, Imago, Silent Sanctuary, Kenyo, Paraluman. We are equally committed to bring you exciting international releases covering various genres like pop, jazz, new age, classical, alternative, indie pop, rock, electronica, dance, r&b, and hip-hop. Name it, we definitely have it!

July 30, 2009

JUNIOR BOYS & THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE ALBUM REVIEW ON MANILA BULLETIN

by: Cris O. Ramos, Jr. | July 28, 2009

JUNIOR BOYS “Begone Dull Care”

(Domino/Universal)

There’s a double standard in what we want out of the CDs we buy: we want releases with tracks that are cohesive but with variety.

This Junior Boys (comprising Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus) album delivers on the demand in that it balances consistency and innovation.

Much of the lyrics here demonstrate the latter: from relationships (“I see you better when the lights run out”) and solidity (“You can never feel at home/Because you’ve been off and away too long”), to imagination (“I was pacing around…I had nothing to say”)…these are thought-provoking subjects for pop songs.

The music is as good as ever.

It’s a peculiar album. It’s a balancing-act-of-an-album. Something new, something old.



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THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE “Rules”
(Bubbles/Universal)

Erlend Oye supposedly founded The Whitest Boy Alive as a respite from Kings of Convenience's “subdued” electronic dance music.

Yet with “Rules,” the dance aspirations are apparent. Daniel Nentwig's synths and keyboards give a post-disco ethos to the album, even as the rhythm section (Sebastian Maschat on drums and Marcin Oz on bass) exercise a lounge-like restraint throughout.

The result is easy listening with funk sparks. Tracks such as "Timebomb," "Courage," “Gravity,” and "High on the Heels" suggest that the main thing keeping this album together is the gloomy vocals and melodic guitar hooks of its main man, Oye.

The album finale, "Island," is the best track here. With its lengthy but tight build-up thrust, it leaves one wondering why there aren't more dazzlingly danceable songs like it in “Rules.”

Here's the link:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/213263/linkin-park-digs-exclusive-tracks

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