Bagong Liwanag

Album Title: Bagong Liwanag
Album Artist: Rivermaya
Content: 5 tracks
Price: 290 bucks at Tower Records (but at some record bars I heard it’s less than 200 bucks)

Review:This is the album after the recent demise of their vocalist Rico Blanco who is also the song writer for the band. What I could say is the theme for the song is Rico, how they cope about what happened and about next chapter to the life of Rivermaya. “Sayang”, is the open letter for the fan. It talks about what they feel what they do after all and tell us what we suppose to do. Although the song says that “Sayang ang luha” for me it has a dipper meaning and its saying si Rico. Why? Sa last part puro Sayang lang ang maririnig mo. “Sayang” is quite sad but kind of uplifting (lalo na kapag fan ka talaga ng band). “Banda ng Bayan” is a song about musicians, reality, enjoying and making music. I like this song because they inject some of their previous hits like “Elisi”, “Isang Bandila”, “Kung Ayaw Mo Huwag Mo”, and “Panahon Nanaman”. I also like kung pano nag blending sina Mark and Mike with the voice of Japs. Then “Olats” is a slang term for talo. Mark wrote this song. I think it’s about the previous vocalists. With this line “kawawa na naman tayo. Ganyan talaga Talo na naman tayo kahit binuhos ko ang lahat talo nanaman tayo” for me kaya talo nanaman tayo because it seems like they are going back to the start. Rico is the heart and soul of the band. No wonder it is such an enormous lost for the band. “Sumigaw” is now Studio 23’s Station I.D. may line dun na “Sumigaw tumingin kung saan ka nanggaling …” for me parang may connection parin si Rico. It’s kind of clear isn’t it? then the last song is “Nawawala” it’s my least favorite song from the album. Mike is the voice behind that song. and parang hindi ata na edit yung voice. Parang playa sa mga notes.
Well, this album is not that great if you compared to their previous album with Rico. I think it’s because parang they came up with an EP para magparamdam sa fans na nandito pa rin sila. Yung mga songs ay parang mag kaka connect lang sa isa’t isa. But a thumbs up for Japs, Mike and lalo na kay Mark na never pa atang kumanta sa album.

Who will like it?The fans who stayed and still willing to support Rivermaya after the demise of their vocalist.

Best among the rest“Banda ng Bayan” for injecting Rivermaya’s old hits and “Sayang”.

Album Sleeve:
It’s ok. Pinaka iba sa mga recent albums nila dahil dati halos puro sila yung nasa cover.

Rating:
2 and a half rock stars!!