Alanis Morissette

One of my all-time favorites...

Alanis Morissette is among the most dominant female vocals that hit it big and whose songs soared the charts throughout the nineties. Together with counterparts--Tori Amos, Jewel and Fiona Apple; she brought female rock up an ante.

Though as a teenager she already has released a couple of albums, what got Alanis Morissette international fame was her debut album Jagged Little Pill. In fact, Jagged Little Pill remains the U.S. best-selling debut album by a female artist and worldwide, the highest selling debut album which has already sold over 30 million units worldwide and counting.

Once a child pop and television star, Alanis Morissette repackaged her teeny bop dance tunes that made it well in her native Canada evolving into an edgier version that melodiously screams of the angst of an introspective and temperamental young woman. Her songs that really got the pulse of the crowd of the 90' emanate with a delightful blend of blunt sexuality, raw pain, and obsession.

In 1998, Alanis Morissette followed her rock-influenced debut with another smashing album--Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie.

With age, her music tended towards more mature musings of love and life, without losing that edginess that what got many fans to fall in love with the voice and her songs. After the follow up, Alanis Morissette took on producing which she managed to do for her subsequent albums including Under Rug Swept, So-Called Chaos and Flavors of Entanglement.

The Cranberries

The release of the album, Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can't We? marked the International success of Cranberries that boosted their career from the humble pre-Britpop U.K. indie scene beginnings. Thanks to MTV that played their music videos in heavy rotation, many soon took notice of their unique melodic cacophony. Though mostly associated with rock alternative, The Cranberries' music resonates with the elements of Indie guitar pop, post-Punk, Rock, and the hypnotic sonic melodies if the late 80's. The powerful and lush vocals of Dolores O'Riordan makes their music all the more dreamy.

Originally formed as the Irish band - Cranberry Saw Us by Mike and Noel Hogan, brothers from Limerick with drummer Fergal Lawler; the band became just The Cranberries as changed by popularized lead vocals O'Riordan who joined them later after having hired by the rest of the band.

The music of the Cranberries is what I call timeless. I have loved them ever since I was a kid, and now that I have a couple thier music 'Lingers'...

People from all walks of life, from whatever generation would surely have a hard time resisting the delightful trance they are put into as soon as the Cranberries blast off of the radio.

It was even Dolores O'Riordan that inspired me to go and have a skinhead...

I just love everything about The Cranberries...

Cranberries

Francis Magalona

The Master Rapper, The Man From Manila, FrancisM, or simply Kiko; everything boils down to one of the most brilliant artist slash musician that has ever made waves in the Philippine music industry. His beat was one that boasts of his color, of nationalism, and political consciousness inspiring the youth and each and every Filipino.

Just now, I am listening to “Mga Kababayan Ko”. It’s amazing how he had made that mark of Pinoy pride in the hearts of our kababayans from that generation decades back up until the young un’s of today.

Francis M was among the pioneers that successfully merged rap with Pinoy Rock. This genre also gave birth to a band he led named “Hardware Syndrome”.

Throughout his career in music, he has collaborated with numerous big names like Ryan Cayabyab, Joey Ayala, Mike Hanopol of Juan Dela Cruz Band, Heber Bartolome of Banyuhay, Andrew E., Michael V., Parokya ni Edgar, Gloc 9 and the Eraserheads.

Even in his fight with cancer, he never failed to extend an unsurpassed artistry through his music and photographs- a new found passion. And with his death, he left a legacy that continues to inspire…

Francis M

Eraserheads

Also known as just E-Heads, the Eraserheads is among the rock bands that dominated the Pinoy Rock scene in the 90’s. The Eraserheads mania was borne through the release of their first album Ultraelectromagneticpop! in 1992, which by the end of the year turned sextuple platinum. After their debut chart toppers: "Pare Ko", "Tindahan Ni Aling Nena" and "Toyang"; successive hits were made with their follow up circus and the rest of their album lineup.

The music of Eraserheads, which falls under the OPM rock genre is uniquely fused with various musical styles such as synthpop, alternative, reggae, and pop. The wide variety that their sound offers made it a fave in both the mainstream and underground music scenes. Other than opening the doors to other local bands’ rise to fame, their music also revolutionized Pinoy rock.

Their huge success in the Philippines has even paved its way into the International market from them invading and being recognized by MTV Awards to their becoming a part of the US tour: "The Pop Machine Tour - USA2000".

The Eraserheads have been formed by

Ely Buendia - lead vocals, rhythm guitars
Buddy Zabala - bass guitar, back-up vocals
Marcus Adoro - lead guitar, back-up vocals
Raimund Marasigan - drums, samples, percussions, back-up vocals

who each currently working with other bands from the time Ely left for reasons unknown. Each also has proved to be a rocker in his own right, by earning new acclamation as individual musicians from the shadows the long-gone E-heads.

Tomorrow, March 7, 2009 is the date of the “Final Set” of the Eraserheads reunion concert. The first which should have been a “one night only reunion” staged last October 2008 was left unfinished due to the heart problems of Ely.

Here's a video of one of my favorite eHead songs. The Eraserheads in their younger years...

No Doubt

This band, No Doubt, has been among the greatest contributors to the revival of ska in the 1990's. This third wave ska band that originated from the American soils of California made their mark in the music history through their worldwide hit album--The Tragic Kingdom. Though their music was not an instant success with the domination of the grunge movement the time the album was released, it soon penetrated the music industry with a big bang eventually creating a Diamond-certified (with 16,000,000 international sales) out of the album with the third single "Don't Speak" soaring at the topmost of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay for 16 weeks.

No Doubt's long-running career that started out in 1986 as Apple Core, originally formed by John Spence, Eric Stefani, and Gwen Stefani. Tony Kanal soon became bassist eventually the boyfriend of Gwen whose relationship made way to one of their hit singles.

No Doubt revolutionized ska-pop, throughout their career as a band, putting in a bit of other genres to make their music distinctly theirs.

No Doubt is among my all-time favorites. Though they have disbanded some time ago and Gwen Stefani has gotten busy doing solos, but their music is still the first one to come into my mind when I hear "ska".

The unsteady line-up of No Doubt is currently composed of: Gwen on vocals, Tony Kanal on bass, Adrian Young on drums and percussion, and Tom Dumont on guitar and keyboards. When on tour, Stephen Bradley joins in on trumpet and Gabrial McNair on trombone, both also do keyboards.

Honestly it is among my dreams to be able to do No Doubt songs.. Still crossing fingers.. :)

Rammstein

No German band has ever penetrated the metal music industry scene like Rammstein. Wherever they perform people are taken by their heart-pounding tunes in an Industrial metal genre or tanz-metal as they would like to put it. Audiences and fans all over the world chant the lyrics even without understanding as most of their songs are written in German.

Rammstein is a psychedelic concoction of everything that makes up one hell of a metal band. This, taken figuratively and literally. Every concert or live performance is made explosive not only by the overpowering stage presence and voice of their front man, Till Lindermann but also of the pyrotechnics. Rammstein is made popular not only of the pyroworks but also of their outlandish costumes. This led to the fitting description from the fans: "Other bands play, Rammstein burns!" and the New York Times of Rammstein's music as a "powerful strain of brutally intense rock… bring[ing] gale-force music and spectacular theatrics together".

Rammstein comprise of Till Lindemann (lead vocals and licensed pyrotechnician), Oliver "Ollie" Riedel (bass guitar), Richard Z. Kruspe (lead guitar and backing vocals), Christoph "Doom" Schneider (drums and Electronic percussion), Paul H. Landers (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), and Christian "Flake" Lorenz (keyboards).

Here's Rammstein with my favorite song-- Du Hast...




And another fiery performance..

Marty Casey

Also a finalist in the first season Rock Star: INXS, Marty Casey was my favorite among the male competitors.

Born Martin Xavier Casey, Marty started his musical career in 1988 while he was attending Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Illinois. Initially called the Swinging Lovehammers, the Lovehammers comprises of Marty Casey on lead vocals and guitar, Billy Sawilchik on lead guitar, Dino Kourelis on bass, and Bob Kourelis on drums. His good relationship with this circle of original bandmates became one of the key elements that have caused his talent and artistry to evolve to the supernova that it is now. A 2004 Chicago Sun Times interview discloses his feelings on the best thing about being Marty Casey: “Being in a band with my three best friends. Most friendships fall apart after a certain age. Best thing about being in a band: getting to record with amazing people, see different parts of the country and sell out places like the Viper Room in L.A.”

What sets Marty apart from the other performers not just in the competition but in the whole rock industry is his enigmatic stage presence, whatever the tune he’s carrying out from soft ballads to rock classics. He finds his own style within whatever piece interweaving everything to come up with an intense pull. This charisma was remarked on by Dave Navarro, “You are totally relevant in music today...Being a rockstar is not about hitting notes. It’s about having the intangible magnetism that you already have. In my opinion, you’re already a rockstar.”

Here are some of the renditions he made during the performances of Rockstar: INXS with his original "Trees":