About Universal Records

My photo
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 31, 2009

Music Review: The Japanese Popstars - We Just Are - Blogcritics Music

by: Jordan Richardson

Devastating and gorgeous all at once, The Japanese PopstarsWe Just Are is one of the most enthralling records of t
he year. Much in the same way Bristol’s Fuck Buttons unloaded obliterating noise on one of the best albums of 2008, Street Horrrsing, The Japanese Popstars have similar ferocity in their approach to the ultimate purity of sound.

Based out of Derry, Northern Ireland, The Japanese Popstars are three vastly talented DJs. Gareth Donoghue, Declan McLaughlin, and Gary Curran amassed their skills into one collective after playing together and performing at a variety of music festivals to much critical acclaim.
Part of what makes We Just Are, the trio’s debut, work so superbly is the approach. Every song crackles with a cuff of electronic righteousness and the punctuation of drum-and-bass accents. Noises blast out from beneath the covers, forming thunderous segments of music with mesmerizing production.

“Face Melter” does exactly what the title suggests, providing a skin-liquefying cocktail of clanging clatter, rave beats, and rolling energy. The sound swells, staggeringly stops, and toys with standards of formation with a deformed upper level and serenity-testing synth sure to blow a few speakers.
The broad-shouldered “Sample Whore” rides a wave of scathing white noise into a collapse of orgasmic ecstasy, using malformed delight as a beat and carving out a vital bulge that builds until the unavoidable culmination when everything is washed away in a flourish of speckled sound...

Read the full review here:

http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-the-japanese-popstars-we/

THE LEMONHEADS NEW CD "VARSHONS" OUT NOW!

"Varshons" is the 9th studio album from American indie rock legends The Lemonheads. Produced by The Butthole Surfers frontman Gibby Haynes and mixed by ex-Cornershop guru Anthony Saffrey, the album sees The Lemonheads tackling an odd array of covers from a wide range of artists - punk performance artist G.G. Allin, country mainstay Townes Van Zandt, British post-punks Wire, obscure psychedelicists Sam Gopal, Texan punks Fuckemos, Dutch electronica duo Arling & Cameron, Ex-Byrd and Flying Burrito founder Gram Parsons, influential singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, garage rockers The Green Fuz, British psychedelic act July, pop superstar Christina Aguilera etc. Dando gives each song a new lease of life in his own unique indie-pop style. Guest vocals come from the likes of Liv Tyler and Kate Moss.

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS "THESE FOUR WALLS" CD OUT NOW!

Glaswegian four-piece We Were Promised Jetpacks’ "These Four Walls" signifies a debut album that has the sort of peerlessness and potential to stand as a mainstay and luminary of indie music in the 21st century. Produced by Ken Thomas (Sigur Ros, Cocteau Twins, Suede, Sugarcubes, M83) and mixed by Peter Katis (Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad, The National), the album's mix of jagged guitar lines, emotive lyrics and anthemic songwriting has earned them comparisons to the likes of The Futureheads, Hot Club De Paris and Maximo Park. Includes "Quiet Little Voices", "Roll Up Your Sleeves" and more!

JIM CHAPPELL RELEASES "COMFORT SONGS" CD

With 14 albums to his credit, Jim Chappell has been acknowledged as one of contemporary music’s most engaging composers and performers. "Comfort Songs" is the first release in a new CD series created by Jim for natural healing support. There is a flowing, positive, refreshing quality to every piece that helps create emotional release, balance and comfort for the listener. "Comfort Songs" contains re-recorded Jim Chappell favorites, along with newer material written specifically for this new uplifting CD series.

THE JAPANESE POPSTARS "WE JUST ARE" CD OUT NOW!

The Japanese Popstars are neither Japanese nor pop stars. The British trio exploded onto the scene in 2008, with a debut album that received heavy praise from The Guardian, NME, Popjustice, Mixmag, DJ, Radio 1, XFM, and many more, with critics hailing them as the rightful heirs to Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, and Orbital. Remixes for Beyonce, Depeche Mode, Grand National, Ting Tings, Shinichi Osawa, The Music, Groove Armada, and Tong & Spoon - came thick and fast. Their debut album "We Just Are" has been released as a 2CD edition, which includes another 11 tracks - new tunes, remixes plus 2 tracks from the Japanese edition! Includes "We Just Are (Finalizer)", "Face Melter", "Rise Of Ulysses", "Delboys Revenge", "B.C.T.T." and more!

DAKOTA "THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS" CD OUT NOW!

Dakota is the alter ego of Miami-based German DJ Markus Schulz. Schulz has remixed tracks by Depeche Mode, Madonna, Everything But The Girl, Jewel, Telepopmusik and Fatboy Slim. Founding the Coldharbour and Coldharbour Red labels, running a weekly radioshow that is now listened to by 10 million fans around the world, releasing 2 massive artist albums, winning several awards, including one for 'Best American DJ' in 2009, and ending up in the 8th position of the DJ Mag Top 100 listing, is only just a brief summary of what he's been up to. Dakota returns with a full artist album entitled "Thoughts Become Things". With a flawless, characteristic sound that varies from minimalistic trance, to progressive techno and deep house, "Thoughts Become Things" turns thoughts into motion. Dakota is back in full effect.

ATB "FUTURE MEMORIES" CD OUT NOW!

German DJ/producer ATB's debut single "9pm (Till I Come)" topped the U.K. chart in 1999 and is widely regarded as the U.K.'s first trance number one! "Future Memories" is his seventh studio album and just like his previous albums "Two Worlds" (2000) and "Trilogy" (2007) , "Future Memories" also features 2 CDs and has 26 tracks in total. Disc one consists of dance songs, while the Disc 2 features chill-out tunes. Many singers and artists collaborated with ATB on this album, including Josh Gallahan, Haley Gibby (from Summer of Space), Betsie Larkin, Aruna, Tiff Lacey, Roberta Carter Harrison (from Wild Strawberries), Apple & Stone, Jades and Flanders. Includes "What About Us", "L.A. Nights", ""My Everything", "Summervibes with 9PM" and a remake of Everything But The Girl's "Missing".

July 30, 2009

We Were Promised Jetpacks music video "Roll up your Sleeves"



Second single of the band We Were Promised Jetpacks from their album "These Four Walls."

Placebo "Battle For The Sun" advertisement



Advert for Placebo's new album "Battle For The Sun."

THE PRODIGY Live Photos (Japan, February 2009)

Here are a few photos from The Prodigy:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=288811&id=214540185413&ref=mf

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.



-------------------------

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

Dingdong Dantes Article on Manila Bulletin

Celebrity World
"The Dingdong Dantes Experience"
by: Crispina Martinez-Belen
July 28, 2009, 3:04pm

The Dingdong Dantes Experience is an audio-visual project and not Dingdong’s compilation of his personal exploits (as with ladylove Marian Rivera!) or career developments as would be expected by movie fans. It is actually an album, conceived and released by Universal Records for the “Ultimate Hunk,” matinee idol, most sought-after commercial model and leading man.

It is indeed a very exciting concept, and we thought when we first heard of the project that Dingdong has finally acceded to offers that would have him record an album. But then, he has said in the past that singing wasn’t his cup of tea. So the album concept truly intrigued and interest us. So how could we miss the album’s launch last week at the Circa Club in Eastwood City.

Dingdong came as excited as can be, after all it’s his very first project of this kind, and with a record label at that!

The visual side of “The Dingdong Dantes Experience” contains the mini-Coffee Table Book/Scrapbook that contains exclusive Dingdong Dantes images that couldn’t be found elsewhere. They were photographs never used before but taken just for the project. Also included are behind-the-scene pictures, taken during his music video shoots. The mini-Coffee Table Book/Scrapbook showcases the serious, playful and sexy side of Dingdong.

“The Dingdong Dantes Experience” features four Dingdong Dantes music videos shot by leading music video and commercial directors exclusively for the project: Louie Ignacio for the “Cucu (Oh Yeah)” Rico Gutierrez and Shoto Benares, “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho),” Adrian Calumpang (“Shining Star”), and Treb Monteros (“Tender Love”). These noted directors worked closely with Dingdong in conceptualizing the look and feel of each music video.

Dingdong is definitely in his heyday as an actor and he is out to conquer more worlds. He is truly talented and seriously focused in his career. And now the music industry welcomes him to its confines, and with much pride.

He has gone a long way indeed, and to think that he started out just as a dancer, a member of the all-male group called Abztract. When he was 17, he became a heartthrob via his Inaki role in GMA-7’s youth-oriented show “T.G.I.S.” But he reached the peak of popularity when he played King Ybrahim in the toprated telefantasya “Encantadia,” also a GMA-7 show. And then, he went on to achieve more fame via the megahit “Marimar” where he first played leading man to Marian Rivera, the special woman in his life.

After “Marimar,” the tandem was featured once more in “Dysebel,” which turned out to be another phenomenal hit. His role here re-affirmed Dingdong’s stronghold as one of the country’s favorite matinee idols. This led to his becoming a sought-after commercial endorser for products such as Bench, Goldilocks, Medical, Touch Mobile, San Mig Light Beer, and Ponds among others.

And last year, Dingdong was included in “E! Entertainment’s 25 Sexiest Men in the World” list, the only Filipino who made it to the honor roll. “E! Entertainment” is one of the largest and most popular networks in Hollywood and the most subscribed network around the world, which is available to 88 million subscribers in the USA, and 600 million homes worldwide.

By the way, “The Dingdong Dantes Experience” is now available in leading record bars nationwide.

Here's the link:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/213145/the-dingdong-dantes-experience

Dingdong Dantes is MYX Guest VJ for August

Click here to see the photos taken from the July 27th taping of Dingdong Dantes for MYX:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=289192&id=214540185413&ref=mf



PEP.ph | Dingdong Dantes makes a visit to ABS-CBN for MYX taping

by: Rose Garcia July 29, 2009

Muling tumapak sa bakuran ng ABS-CBN ang isa sa top leading man ng Kapuso network na si Dingdong Dantes noong July 27. Bago paman isipin ng marami nalilipat na ang aktor ng TV network, pumunta siya sa ABS-CBN para sa taping niya for MYX. Siya kasi ang Guest VJ ng naturang music channel, na affiliated sa Kapamilya network, for the month of August.

From August 9 to August 22 ay mapapanood nga si Dingdong sa MYX, na may connection na rin sa promotion ng kanyang The Dingdong Dantes Experience music-video album.

Bagamat dumiretso na si Dingdong sa studio ng MYX sa 4th floor ng Talent Center Building, marami pa rin ang nagulat nang makita si Dingdong sa bakuran ng ABS-CBN. Although, bawat makasalubong na kakilala niya ay humihinto at bumabati naman ang Kapuso star.

Kasalukuyang nakapila noon ang gustong maging contestants for Wowowee sa mismong daan papuntang elevator ng Talent Center Building kaya nagulat ang mga ito nang makita si Dingdong sa loob ng Kapamilya network. Nangiti si Dingdong na kumaway na lang nang may sumigaw at tila hindi nakatiis na contestant: "Dingdong, bakit ka nandito? Lilipat ka na ba?"

Go to this link to read the full story:
http://www.pep.ph/news/22628/Dingdong-Dantes-makes-a-visit-to-ABS-CBN-for-MYX-taping

Jed Madela LIVE in Cebu!


What : Jed Madela: The Voice Concert
Where : Pacific Grand Ballroom, Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Lahug, Cebu City
When : August 15, 2009, 8PM

Kapamilya Chat With World Champion Jed Madela


July 29, 2009 (Wednesday), 4pm - 5pm Philippine time

Log on to www.myxph.com

PEP.ph | The Dingdong Dantes Experience reaches Gold just one week after release

by: Rose Garcia July 27, 2009

Exactly one week after its release, nakatanggap na ng Gold Record Award ang album ni Dingdong Dantes, The Dingdong Dantes Experience, as certified by Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc. (PARI).

Kahapon, July 26, sa SOP ay iginawad kay Dingdong ang kanyang Gold Record Award ng mismong producer ng album na si Kathleen Dy-Go ng Universal Records. Kung matatandaan, isang linggo bago ang pagtanggap ng aktor ng Gold Record Award ay ni-launch niya sa SOP ang kanyang album.

First attempt ni Dingdong na magkaroon ng album. At the same time, first of its kind din na mag-produce ng katulad ng ginawa niyang MTV album sa Pilipinas, kaya malaking bagay na sa maikling panahon na umabot na ito agad sa Gold.

Sa panayam ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kay Dingdong pagkatapos ng awarding, tila hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang aktor na nakakuha na siya ng Gold Record Award.

Visit this link to read the full write-up:
http://www.pep.ph/news/22604/%3Cem%3EThe-Dingdong-Dantes-Experience%3C-em%3E-reaches-Gold-just-one-week-after-release

Ronnie Liang Article on PEP.ph

PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | News | Singer-actor Ronnie Liang joins VOIZboys

Shared via AddThis

"Singer-actor Ronnie Liang joins VOIZboys"
by: Rommel Placente | July 27, 2009

Solo artist Ronnie Liang is the latest member of the all-boys group VOIZboys. Kasama ni Ronnie sa grupo sina Jay-R Siaboc, Nico Antonio, Guji Lorenza, at Nico Antonio.

Nang makausap siya ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) kahapon, July 26, after ASAP 09 kung saan ay regular mainstay siya rito, tinanong namin kung anong dahilan at napapayag pa siyang mapabilang sa VOIZboys, na ang dalawang kasama pa niya rito ay pawang baguhan pa lang sa larangan ng pagkanta.

"Well, yung sa akin naman, kung ano ang ibigay sa akin, actually, masaya na ako. Kung ano ang iutos sa akin ng Star Magic at ni Kuya George Roca [personal manager], kung ano ang ipagawa nila sa akin, I really love to do it," sabi ni Ronnie...

Go to this link to read the full article:
http://www.pep.ph/news/22609/Singer-actor-Ronnie-Liang-joins-VOIZboys

Please Support & Vote for Silent Sanctuary's New Single "Hiling"


Text NUVOTE HILING and send to 29107

JOIN REGINE VELASQUEZ FACEBOOK FAN PAGE


Just click:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/REGINE-VELASQUEZ/67546862136

Dingdong Dantes Article on Philstar.com

"Dingdong out of his comfort zone"
by: Maridol Rañoa-Bismark


Marian Rivera doesn’t appear in any of the videos in his new VCD-DVD: The Dingdong Dantes Experience. Other ladies are. But the apple of Dingdong’s eyes doesn’t mind. She knows that when it comes to showbiz, Dingdong has been there, done that. But he has never released an album of his own. Having one is a dream come true for him.


So when Universal Records approached him with an offer to make his first audio-visual project via the album, he didn’t have second thoughts. He said yes, yes, yes!


“I never pass up an opportunity,” says Dingdong. “And in all my years in showbiz, I never thought there would still be things about it that could really surprise me. Making this album definitely did!”

Like a boy agog over his new toy, Dingdong can’t get over “the new chapter in my life”, which allows him step into the shoes of performers for whom music is as natural as breathing.


“I don’t sing,” Dingdong admits. “That’s why I have a high respect for those who do.”


Besides, the project is not your typical album. It also contains a mini-coffee table book/scrapbook which shows Dingdong’s playful, sexy side. What’s more, it has behind-the-scene pictures taken during the music video shots...


To read the full article, go to this link:

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=490199&publicationSubCategoryId=70

JOIN SILENT SANCTUARY FACEBOOK FAN PAGE


Just click:


http://www.facebook.com/pages/silent-sanctuary/8254084266

Cutiepedia, the encyclopedia of Candy Cuties: Sam Concepcion

Name: Sam Concepcion
Age: 16
Birthdate: 10-17-1992
You've seen him... High School Musical Onstage, Lipgloss
Appeared in Candy: September 2007, May 2008, September 2008


More about Sam here:

http://www.candymag.com/cutiepedia/sam-concepcion

Billy Crawford "Groove" Album Write-up On MB.com.ph

"Billy Crawford’s ‘Groove’ pays tribute to Michael Jackson"
by: Walden Sadiri
| July 1, 2009, 12:46pm

"I can’t do without Michael Jackson songs.”

This was how international pop singer Billy Crawford described his latest album under Universal Records entitled “Groove.” Though he has launched his album weeks before the death of Michael Jackson, he has always been paying tribute to the King of Pop whenever possible in his shows by singing a number of Michael Jackson songs.

Billy, like a lot of popular and successful singers worldwide, was also influenced by Michael Jackson. And in “Groove” are two of his favorite Michael Jackson groove songs entitled “Rock with You” and “Human Nature” plus an acoustic version of the latter song.

Unlike his past albums “Ride,” “Big City” and “It’s Time,” “Groove” is a cover album. It can also be deemed as his tribute album to his musical influences and the music he grew up listening to. “I think one of the reasons I did this was because I know Filipinos love revival songs. You also have to join the flock,” explained Billy.

He admitted though that he needed to be convinced to do a cover album because when he signed up with Universal Records that was one of his requirements – not doing a cover album! “At first I was adamant not to do a cover album. But after they gave me the list of about 80 or more songs, I saw a lot of songs that I'd love to sing. So I told them if they would let me arrange the songs the way I like it, I’d do it. And they asked me to do a sample which was a Billy Crawford sound. So this album was the result of that,” he described the “Groove’s” process.

He added that since he was also recording a new album in the US, some of the songs in “Groove” were recorded abroad and some in the Philippines. It was also a creative collaboration among him, his friend Marcus Davis and Universal Records’ Ito Rapadas. Though “Groove” was released even before his international album, Billy couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about “Groove.” One of the things that excited him about this project was Universal Records’ trust and faith in him as an artist. “I always trust my Universal Records family and we really came up with an album repertoire that suited my kind of music… this album contains songs from singers I idolize like Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Earth Wind and Fire among others. These are songs that I’ve also sung when I was still a kid and was still with Kuya Germs’ ‘That’s Entertainment,’” smiled a nostalgic Billy. Inside “Groove” are “Steal Away,” “Sexy Eyes,” “Mercy, Mercy Me,” “Let’s Groove,” “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” “Lovely Day,” “Never Let Her Slip Away,” “Someone,” “How Sweet It Is,” “One Last Cry” and bonus tracks like a Silverfilter Remix of “Steal Away."

Here's the link to the full write-up:

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/208623/billy-crawford

Kamikazee Article On SPOT.ph

"Kamikazee Explodes With New Album After 3-Year Hiatus"
by: Dyan Zarzuela | Published: July 8, 2009 Known for their LSS-inducing songs like “Narda,” “Chiksilog” and “Tsinelas,” countless bleeps by the censors and half-naked performances, Kamikazee is back with their third album Long Time Noisy after a three-year gap. SPOT.ph catches up with them in a round-table interview where laughter and respectful po’s pepper their answers.

The minute they sit down, vocalist Jay Contreras sets the humorous mood by asking us, “Guwapo po ba kami sa personal? Mukha po ba kaming foreigner? Ay sorry po ah. Palabiro po talaga kami.”

We ask why their new album took so long to make. Jay says they didn’t expect to have so many gigs lined up after their second album Maharot came out. “’Pag bakante po, nagpapahinga na lang po kami. Nu’ng kailangan na naming magsulat ng kanta, hindi na po mapiga. Nakabuntis pa po ako at asawa ko na siya ngayon,” he laughs.

Led Zeppelin Tuyay (his real name; his siblings are named Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Nirvana and Steely Dan) on rhythm guitars recalls that when deadline day came, they only had one song. This led to a lot of fighting. “Minsan silent treatment, hindi kami magpapansinan. May extreme [moments] din na medyo nagsisigawan na kami, nagbabagsakan ng telepono. Pero palaging iniisip namin na hangga’t maaari, madadaan namin sa magandang usapan. Every away naman naaayos namin. Kumbaga, alam na rin namin yung limitasyon sa isa’t isa,” Led explains the group’s tension-taming tactic.

Guitarist and vocalist Jomal Linao says it doesn’t matter how long it takes to make an album as long as it’s good and that they enjoyed making it. The band has learned, though, that they really need to make time for songwriting in between performances.

Long Time Noisy is a collective effort. Out of the album’s 20 tracks, only 13 are songs–the rest are sound bytes: singing in the shower, outtakes and thank yous, but the songs are surefire mosh pit hits. Angry, romantic, flirty and nostalgic with a kick, the album is punk. “Kung ano yung napagdaanan namin sa tatlong taong nawala kami nandun ’yun lahat sa bagong album,” Jomal says...

Visit this link to read the full article:
http://www.spot.ph/2009/07/08/kamikazee-explodes-with-new-album-after-3-year-hiatus/

July 29, 2009

Junior Boys "Begone Dull Care" Album Review on No Ripcord

by: Japie Stoppelenburg

As the first decade of a new millennium draws to a close, and many a critic laments the impending death of the album, it’s nice to listen to a band that still looks at a record as a 10 inch vinyl circle of art that moves, lives, breathes and grows. It may seem peculiar and oxymoronic to include Junior Boys in this category, two Canadian audiophiles who with their digital mastery seem alienated from the analogue process, but one listen-through of their latest record, Begone Dull Care, clearly indicates the opposite: it’s a record that takes a little patience and a little effort but when given the proper attention it will become like that one album from when you were young that just won’t leave your iPod.

Unfortunately for Junior Boys, ‘attention’ has never been there in abundance for them. Despite their consistently great output they have been overshadowed by other bands more extravagant, more accessible, more exciting. Sure, they’ve been given their fifteen minutes on the ever so capricious blogosphere, but I have yet to meet someone who calls them his or her favourite band. Which is a shame, but not a surprise: somehow their music is convenient to have around, a nice distraction from all the really thrilling music out there. Would anyone truly miss Junior Boys if they decided to stop making music? It’s a shame nonetheless, because with a larger audience this record would have been heralded as their Kid A, a perfect resurrection of an already-great band.

The best thing about Junior Boys is their ability to play for both teams in the electronic music sport: their songs are catchy and always pleasant while dressed with attention to great technical detail and studio wizardry. With Begone Dull Care they’re leaning a little more on the latter: gone are the obvious synth hooks that So This is Goodbye floated on, while leading junior boy Jeremy Greenspan’s vocals are less ear-grabbing this time around. To stick with the vinyl reference: the best way to describe what the record actually sounds like is to picture a great, up-tempo 45RPM disco record and playing it at 33. What makes the record so fantastic is what the band does with all that extra space and time.


Read the full review here:
http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/junior-boys/begone-dull-care

The Lemonheads "Varshons" Album Review on New Musical Express

by: Leonie Cooper

"No strangers to a cover, here the grunge-pop heroes perfect the art."

It’s fair to say that cover versions have played a pretty large part in the topsy-turvy life of The Lemonheads. Despite crafting some of the most gorgeous guitar-pop songs of the ’90s, the band – or should we say Evan Dando and the rotating cast of musical extras who played in his citrus-flavoured backing group – are, in some parts, still remembered as just those guys who got in the charts with Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson".

It wasn’t the first time The Lemonheads had taken on someone else’s song; they came to prominence in the UK in the late-’80s with an album that included their take on Suzanne Vega's "Luka". Now, two decades down the line, Dando’s at it again, with a whole album full of mix-and-match covers which comfortably sit just on the right side of bizarre.

From ‘I Just Can’t Take It Anymore’, originally by Dando’s idol, Gram Parsons, through to Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful’ and GG Allin’s ‘Layin’ Up With Linda’, each chimes perfectly with the countrified lilt that Dando has always carried with him. Almost everything sounds like it always has been, and always will be, an original Lemonheads track.

Read the full article here:
http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-lemonheads/10563

The Whitest Boy Alive "Rules" Album Review on QRO Magazine

by: Chris Fore

Norwegian singer Erlend Øye has one of the most effortlessly smooth voices in the underground pop world, and any project he's involved with seems to play to that strength. The latest such effort is The Whitest Boy Alive's second album, Rules. It's a well-refined collection of jazz-infused pop with the cool flow of people casually traversing a Scandinavian club's basement.

Rules is a dapper mix of modern electronics and old school lounge jazz, peppered with catchy melodies and mind-tickling instrumentation. Øye delivers chilled vocal performances from melancholy to the cheerful while synths and flickering guitars mingle, like on "High On The Heels". The quartet gels throughout the album, especially on calm jams like "Keep A Secret" and "Courage".

On Rules, the new school meets the old school and they get along fantastically. Mid-twentieth century, black & white lounge jams get a dose of modern European electronics in a sly blend of entertainment and innovation.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.qromag.com/reviews/album_reviews/the_whitest_boy_alive_:_rules

Chickenfoot Album Review on Billboard.com

by: Sven Philipp

It's impossible not to be excited about this ridiculously named super-group, which teams former Van Halen bandmates Sammy Hagar on vocals and Michael Anthony on bass with guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.

Chickenfoot's self-titled debut favors straight-ahead rockers like the single "Oh Yeah" or the blues-fed "Sexy Little Thing," and "Soap on a Rope" sounds like a Led Zep outtake sent back from the year 2019. There are darker, grungy tones on the heavy "Get It Up" and the driving "Runnin' Out," which speak to a nation facing crisis. Co-produced by Andy Johns (Van Halen), the set captures the fun energy of a mind-blowing all-star jam: Satriani's fretwork is surprisingly raw, loose and gritty, while Smith channels John Bonham more than once. But it's Anthony's signature backing vocals—set against Hagar's tequila-rubbed wail—that make these new songs arena-ready."

Here's the link:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-album/chickenfoot-1003980982.story#/bbcom/reviews-album/chickenfoot-1003980982.story


(Above group photo by Bryan Adams)

Ones To Watch: Burn The Negative on Clash Music

by: Tom Spanklin

Big fuck-off dance vocals. They are back for sure. Just look at Chew Lips, who are puffing to keep up with Little Boots, who in turn is sprinting past Ladyhawke faster than you can say ‘glitterball’.

These obese and glammed-up electronics are rife on airwaves and strewn across the dancefloors of house clubs to grimy indie basements, and now are being beamed from places like Carlisle via a band called Burn The Negative, whose sequined manifesto is an antidote to the grim realities painted on every mundane wall of their northern quarter. Singer Mark Baker used to work as one half of Lil’ Devious and has seen every shade of taste pass under his nose.

“We’ve seen it grow and recede then grow again. I LOVE most electronic or dance orientated music with all my heart, the exciting stuff is where you see it cross into other genres, but there’s so much shit around too. As producers and song writers, we’ve seen the music within its formats and its distribution change dramatically, its piracy sadly escalate, its fans grow massively with the mainstream coverage and, most significantly, the accessibility into production, recording and writing through new technology.”

Click on this link to read the full write-up:
http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/burn-the-negative

Placebo "Battle For The Sun" Album Review On Rock Sound

by: Faye Lewis

Placebo have catered to angsty-teens for 15 years now, and have long perfected the knack of weaving catchy melodies alongside notes of histrionic desperation. With this in mind the way Placebo showcase their sixth album Battle For The Sun might seem methodical - churning guitars and anguished lyricism (would we expect anything less?) – but their music conforms less to set boundaries with a new effort that’s both unique and mirred in the clichés of the band. Although mid-90’s guitar rock inveigles its way in, Battle For The Sun is an album of sharply contrasting moods. Opener 'Kitty Litter' is a big chorus hand-clapping affair, while 'Ashtray Heart' (the moniker Placebo first formed under) down tunes, experimenting with synth-related beats. 'Julien' harks back to 00's Black Market Music but 'Bright Lights' and 'For What It's Worth' favour softer sounds. Less electro than 06’s Meds the biggest change is the self-awareness of Molko’s lyrics, which acknowledge and set up a mix of sentiment and irony. The album gives new perspective to past regrets (check out The Never-Ending Why) and looks forward. Nothing is beyond Placebo who continue to break the mould and Battle For The Sun takes them on an Icarus-like ascent - without crashing and burning!


For fans of: Skunk Anansie, Radiohead and classic 90’s rock!

Here's the link to the article:
http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/placebo-battle-for-the-sun

We Were Promised Jetpacks "These Four Walls" Album Review On The Onion

by: Noel Murray | July 7, 2009

Like their friends in The Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit, the members of the Scot-rock act We Were Promised Jetpacks excel at freezing moments. The band’s debut album, These Four Walls, even opens with a precise image—“Right foot followed by your left foot / got to get you home by curfew”—that captures the feeling of stumbling home drunk in the dark of night.

The song, “It’s Thunder And It’s Lightning,” finds frontman Adam Thompson moving from a near-mumble to a howl, as his mates shift from a thick rumble of rapidly strummed guitars to a torrent of distortion and hammering percussion. Yet throughout, the lyrics remain dreamy and impressionistic, built on just-so phrases that gain in impact as Thompson repeats them with mounting anxiety. We Were Promised Jetpacks holds to this formula on aggressive rock songs like “Short Bursts,” “Quiet Little Voices,” and “Roll Up Your Sleeves,” all of which have more in common with the howling emotion and cavernous guitar sound of Big Country than the bright melancholy of Belle And Sebastian or the jagged danceability of Franz Ferdinand...

Click this link to read the full review:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/we-were-promised-jetpacks,30013/

Join Jed Madela Facebook Fan Page


Just click:
http://www.facebook.com/universalrecords.phils?ref=profile#/pages/Jed-Madela/54838224820?ref=search

Gary V At Ease

A tribute to PMA Class '37 - '45

Date: July 31
Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Megatent

SPONGE COLA'S HIT "PUSO" IS THE OFFICIAL THEME SONG OF ABS-CBN'S "AGIMAT: ANG MGA ALAMAT NI RAMON REVILLA"

Sponge Cola's single "Puso", taken from their self-titled third album, has been chosen as the official theme song of ABS-CBN's newest program "Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla".

"Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla" tells the story of four men whose lives have been changed by a fairy who gives them amulets with superpowers. Jolo Revilla will play Pepeng Agimat, Gerald Anderson as Tiagong Akyat, Jake Cuenca as Elias Paniki, and Coco Martin as Tonyong Bayawak. The new show will be filled with suspense, comedy, drama and action and will premiere soon on ABS-CBN's Hapontastic.

Two of Sponge Cola's past hits - "Bitiw" and "Pasubali" also became the theme songs of "Pedro Penduko" and Koreanovela "Lovers" respectively.

Dingdong Dantes Live At Robinsons Place Metro East

Dingdong Dantes LIVE at Robinsons Place Metro East

this Saturday (August 1) at 5:00 PM.

July 24, 2009

WORLD'S HOTTEST NEW DJ - JOHN O'CALLAGHAN

"Never Fade Away" is the 2nd album from the brightest star in trance - Irish DJ John O'Callaghan. Last year he picked up the ‘Best Producer’ and ‘Best DJ’ trophies at the Irish Dance Music Awards; decisively conquered the notoriously-competitive dance-testing ground of Ibiza and became the first Irishman to play Trance Energy. In 2009 he stands at the threshold of dance superstardom. An immaculately produced album, "Never Fade Away" will soon come to rank among the likes of Paul van Dyk's "Out there and Back", Tiësto’s "In My Memory" & Ferry Corsten’s "Right of Way" as one of the greatest trance albums of it's time. A 12-headed manifest of John’s diverse sound, from the silent surroundings of a chilled masterpiece called "Never Fade Away" to the likes of speaker blasting, techy "Broken". Where different styles fade into unity and notes uncover hidden meanings, the album also supplies in the necessary danceable beats and contagious vocals. For this album, John collaborated with some of the best vocalist and producers around. Josie, Sarah Howells, Lo-Fi Sugar, Jaren and Audrey Gallagher have left their personal mark on several top notch tracks. But producers Aly & Fila, Tom Colontonio and Guiseppe Ottaviani are also part of this musical trip, as John collaborated with them on "Megalithic", "Through The Light’" and "Liquid Fire".

John O'Callaghan feat. Sarah Howells " Find Yourself" Audio Sampler

Armin van Buuren "State Of Trance 2009" Album Preview

SUPERSTAR DJ ARMIN VAN BUUREN RETURNS WITH "A STATE OF TRANCE 2009"

Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren is one of the most popular DJ’s around, Voted #1 DJ in the world twice by DJ Magazine, 30 million listeners to his radio show and worldwide gigs. His three albums -"76", "Shivers" and "Imagine" are award-winning, his Armada Music label is a big success and the amount of fans is still growing fast.

Armin van Buuren could have taken things a little easier in 2009. But once he's on the go, there's no stopping him. His highly anticipated "A State of Trance 2009" album has reached the #1 position in the iTunes Dance Charts of several countries, among which Canada and The Netherlands, within less than 24 hours. The album scores highly on the #1 download portal in the world in countries such as the U.S.A. and the United Kingdom as well. The sixth edition in Armin van Buuren's awarded "A State of Trance" compilation series is Armin's special selection of exclusive, unreleased tracks, new remixes or mash-ups, all qualified with the signature A State Of Trance sound. The "A State of Trance" series is known to be one of the guides in today's trance scene. The previews of the album on Armin's YouTube channel received more than 100.000 views within 3 days.

"A State of Trance 2009" also means the return of Armin's Gaia moniker. With a brand new track, "Tuvan", Armin finally produced a follow-up to the legendary "4 Elements". Besides Armin's own input, you'll also find new tracks by Andy Moor, Sunlounger, The Blizzard, John O'Callaghan, tyDi, Aly & Fila, Signum, Robert Nickson and many more. Divided onto two discs, a total of 29 tracks will provide you all the right sounds to get into that state of trance. The first CD covers the 'On The Beach' theme, with a spellbinding intro and purely melodic oriented sounds, while the second CD, 'In The Club', breaths one of Armin's club sessions, with a distinctive peak-time sound.

Billboard of Billy Crawford "Groove" Album


Located along Edsa near Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong
(north bound)

"The Dingdong Dantes Experience" Press Launch Photos

Click here to see all the photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=285474&id=214540185413&ref=mf

PEP.ph REPORTS ON "THE DINGDONG DANTES EXPERIENCE" ALBUM LAUNCH

PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | News | Dingdong Dantes says it's impossible for his family to say anything against Marian Rivera

Shared via AddThis

The Dingdong Dantes Experience album is now officially out, which means matatawag nang isang multi-media actor si Dingdong Dantes. Bukod sa pagiging aktor, TV host, dancer, at director, ngayon ay pinasok na rin ni Dingdong ang music recording.

Kagabi, July 20, sa Circa resto-bar sa Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City, ay ni-launch ng Universal Records ang album ni Dingdong na naglalaman ng apat na music videos featuring the actor himself. Ang mga kantang nakapaloob sa album, na inawit ng iba't ibang singers, ay "Tender Love," "I Know You Want Me," "Shining Star," at "Cu Cu.

Visit this link to read the full article: http://www.pep.ph/news/22527/Dingdong-Dantes-says-it's-impossible-for-his-family-to-say-anything-against-Marian-Rivera


Placebo "Battle For The Sun" Album Poster

July 21, 2009

ANOTHER DINGDONG DANTES ARTICLE ON PEP.ph

PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | Music | Dingdong Dantes was inspired to do an album

Shared via AddThis


Busy ngayon si Dingdong Dantes sa pagpo-promote ng kanyang kauna-unahang album, ang The Dingdong Dantes Experience kunsaan, apat na music videos ang mapapanood na ginawa ni Dingdong dito. Bukod dito, may kasama pa itong mini-scrapbook of pictures niya na maaaring makuha sa special edition copy ng album.

Noong Linggo, July 19, officially ni-release ang naturang album under Universal Records at bukod sa SOP, personal din ngang nag-promote si Dingdong sa Showbiz Central.

Ayon kay Dingdong, "Ako, I'm very happy that the Universal came up with the idea and in fact, they presented to me an opportunity na lalong mag-enjoy ang mga fans. And through this album, ito ay compilation ng paggawa ko ng four music video. So, itong experience na ginawa ko sa pagsu-shoot ng music videos na ito, na never kong inisip na magiging part ako ng music.

Click here for the full story:
http://www.pep.ph/guide/4313/Dingdong-Dantes-was-inspired-to-do-an-album-because-of-Marian-Rivera

PEP.ph REPORTS ON THE DINGDONG DANTES EXPERIENCE

PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | Music | The Dingdong Dantes Experience

Shared via AddThis



Get the chance to take home The Dingdong Dantes Experience!

This unique album is an audiovisual project conceived by Universal Records for the Ultimate Pinoy Hunk Dingdong Dantes. It's not just the first project Dingdong Dantes has with a record label, but also the first time that any local celebrity will release such an exciting concept.

The 'VISUAL' side includes a mini coffee table book/scrapbook containing exclusive images of the GMA-7 star and a DVD featuring 4 music videos shot by topnotch music video & commercial directors exclusively for this project.

Directors like Louie Ignacio ("Cucu Oh Yeah" music video), Rico Gutierrez & Shoti Benares ("I Know You Want Me" by Calle Ocho music video), Adrian Calumpang ("Shining Star" music video) and Treb Monteros ("Tender Love" music video), worked closely with Dingdong Dantes in conceptualizing the look and feel of each music video. These videos are, after all, Dingdong's babies. The beautifully photographed mini coffee table book/scrapbook showcases the serious, the playful and the sexy sides of Dingdong. These exclusive photos are only available in this book and have never been published elsewhere. Also included are some behind-the-scenes pictures taken during his music video shoots.

Click here for the full story:
http://www.pep.ph/guide/4300/The-Dingdong-Dantes-Experience-to-be-launched-on-SOP,-July-19

More Exclusive Dingdong Dantes Photos!

Click here to see more photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=283298&id=214540185413&ref=mf

LADY SOVEREIGN "JIGSAW" ALBUM REVIEW ON MANILA BULLETIN ONLINE

“JIGSAW”
LADY SOVEREIGN
Midget/Universal
By CRIS O. RAMOS, JR.
July 2, 2009, 9:01pm

Q: How does one go from being the bratty, more marketable female equivalent of Eminem, to becoming Def Jam and Jay-Z’s new persona-non-grata?

A: By dissing New York onstage at a gig in the city itself.

Lady Sovereign could have made the big-time by transcending her musical sub-genre in her breakthrough hit, “Love Me or Hate Me.”

But as she herself said in that song, the self-proclaimed biggest midget in the game doesn’t really give a toot to her critics (just ask Lily Allen).

In “Jigsaw, Lady Sovereign proves she is her own lady through music that is still deliberately lo-fi and grimy.

Robert Smith of The Cure reportedly hates her utilization of that synth line in “Close to Me” for her recent single “So Human”.. It’s perfectly unpleasant the way an awful, shoddy keyboard sound vandalizes the original, as she intones insipidly over the top, “Doesn’t it feel much bettah/When you’ve had a bettah day than yesterday?”

And isn’t that what rock music’s all about: annoying the living hell out of ye old folks?

“Let’s Be Mates” is as droopy. With its no-fuss electronic accompaniments yet tremendous chorus, it appears to gesticulate off its greatness.

“Bang-Bang” has Lady Sovereign channeling that other ‘lady’ (Lady Gaga); save in the part where instead of acting whorish, in an attempt to “reclaim her femininity,” she simply stares down the ogling losers.

“Won’t catch me in a dress, hands off of my b***ts… now who are you to try and rule my world now?” goes the brashness.

“Pennies” is Lady Sovereign’s requisite Lily Allen diss while “Food Play” is messy, a hysterically snobbish lampoon of Barry White bembang records.

Whatever she does, Lady Sovereign desires to suck us into her world by exalting in her underclass, underdog status. Talk about cheek.

Here's the link:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/208998/kasabian-is-quiet-new-loud

July 17, 2009

KAMIKAZEE ALBUM REVIEW ON MANILA BULLETIN ONLINE

Kamikazee, Hilera bring on the noise
By CRIS O. RAMOS, JR.
July 16, 2009, 9:54am

“Long Time Noisy”, Kamikazee, Universal Records

Compared to its predecessor, “Maharot,” the diversions in “Noisy” are not out of place at all.

One of these is promotional single, “Wala,” a cynical social commentary song that is uncharacteristic of the band. Though it has a long way to go from Dong Abaya or Joey Ayala in terms of lyrics, the music is effective with its catchy hook that engages listeners to answer back despite themselves.

The highlight in this song is the political candidate speech satire (“ano kayo hilo? ako muna bago kayo”). The album-only outro shows the band’s fun attempt at vocal harmonizing.

As a tribute to the late Francis Magalona, Kamikazee covers the Master Rapper’s “Meron Akong Ano” (which was used as jingle of a beverage product advertisement in the 80s). “Lalandiin” is a funky, disco-flavored spoken word song that puts a hilarious D.O.M. twist to “Macho Guwapito” and “Mr. Suave” (“Iaahon kita sa putikan”, “gusto mo ba ng load...eh sari sari store?”).

“Ikaw” and “Hanggang Tingin” will suit the fans of “Narda.” “Eschoos Me” will rouse the rakistas. The songs “4:20”, “Unang Tikim” and “Hot Mami” bring on the double entendres.

To read the full article, click on this link:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/211155/kamikazee-hilera-bring-noise

"The Dingdong Dantes Experience" Poster


Exclusive Dingdong Dantes Photos!












Click this link for more exclusive photos of Dingdong Dantes:


http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=282707&id=214540185413