MANILA, Philippines ? Good bands and great songs never last. If you miss the lyrical romanticism, unabashed sentimentality and OPM-pop sensibility of the Side A band, you have reason to rejoice: With the all-original album, ?Only 1,? Joey Generoso, Ernie Severino and Naldy Gonzales are back in the musical spotlight, with new members, Lee Von Cailao and Ned Esguerra.
The talented quintet?s refurbished sound isn?t as cohesive and homogeneous as their past efforts, but their latest album?s new elements?multigenre sensibility, different members doing lead vocals, etc.?certainly add vim and vitality to the group?s musical identity.
Soaring vocals
Surprisingly, the new album begins with the rock-tinged title track, ?Only 1,? which is as anthemic as anything you?ll find on Billboard?s current pop-rock listing. True, the band is no stranger to pop-rock (?That?s Okay,? ?Fallin?,? ?Save Me?), but these guys are more known for their middle-of-the-road ballads and Generoso?s soaring vocals.
But, the band doesn?t rest on its ?90s laurels. The radio-friendly carrier single, ?Just Wanna Be With You,? doesn?t even feature Generoso on lead vocals?which isn?t really a bad thing, because the velvety-voiced Cailao sings the tune like a loving caress.
Most notable cuts
The inimitable Joey G displays an uneven grasp of the notes in ?Kung Wala Ka Na,? but is in top vocal shape in the collection?s most notable and vocally demanding cuts, ?Die Just A Little,? ?Can?t You See?? and ?Tila,? where his voice blends beautifully with the song?s instrumentation.
If you loved Noel Cabangon?s indelible ballad, ?Nag-iisa, Wala Ka Na? (from the ?Batanes? soundtrack), there?s more to be had in his 13-track album, ?Byahe,? where he delivers lusciously rendered covers of OPM classics.
Choice cuts includes Cabangon?s covers of Sharon Cuneta?s ?Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko,? Asin?s ?Pagbabalik,? the Rainmakers? ?Binibini,? Hajji Alejandro?s ?Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,? Vic Sotto and Janno Gibbs? ?Ipagpatawad Mo,? and his self-penned ballad, the melodically sumptuous ?Ang Buhay Nga Naman.?
