2009 Is Almost Over, Yet...

I know I'm just repeating the sentiment of other people who started liking music consciously in the 90's but then i just can't help it. Back in the 90's i only have like 10 to 15 new cassettes every year and approximately 6 or 8 of them are brand new releases within the year. And when a new cassette would arrive, i actually sit down and savor each songs and played them over and over again and knew the songs by heart...

Fast forward to 2009 and it's different. I now live in a college town with a computer and a high speed internet connection. Buying Cds on record stores is now easier than back then (i live in a small town back then and a trip to the city takes 2 to 3 hours by bus).

The world wide web also offers new ways to horde new music. Either paying for it on itunes or checking some legal sites that offer free downloads like Noisetrade for example. And then sometimes bands would just released their efforts for free through their website like The Damnwells and, two years earlier, Radiohead.

The appetite for musical greediness is now on a higher level and we need careful discernment so we can trash away crap.

Just by this year alone, from January up to today, I managed to own 113 albums, 48 of them are newly released from January to August. And most of them i just listened only once...

Too sad.

By the end of this year I'm gonna list my favorite albums of 2009. Those that i owned. I won't include those i don't.

But right now, here's the whole list of albums i owned that's bein' released from January to August 2009;

1. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN- Working On A Dream
2. THE FRAY- The Fray
3. TAYLOR SWIFT- Fearless (international edition)
4. CATS ON FIRE- Our Temperance Moment
5. BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS 7- White Lies and Dark Times
6. THE DECEMBERISTS- The Hazards of Love
7. TINTED WINDOWS- Tinted Windows
8. MY FAVORITE HIGHWAY- How To Call A Bluff
9. MELODY GARDOT- My One and Only Thrill
10. THE LEMONHEADS- Varsions
11. THE REST- Everyone All At Once
12. MAT KEARNEY- City of Black and White
13. DAVID NAIL- I'm About To Come Alive
14. JACK INGRAM- Big Dreams and High Hopes
15. JOHN WALLER- While I'm Waiting
16. BRANDON RICKMAN- Young Man, Old Soul
17. 10,000 GENERATIONS- Turn Off The Lesser Lights
18. SARA WATKINS- Sara Watkins
19. RHONDA VINCENT AND THE RAGE- Destination Life
20. DAILEY & VINCENT- Brothers From Different Mothers
21. DAVE PERKINS- Pistol City Holiness
22. DEREK TRUCKS BAND- Already Free
23. RUTHIE FOSTER- The Truth According To Ruthie Foster
24. LEVON HELM- Electric Dirt
25. DEREK WEBB- Stockholm Syndrome
26. GRIZZLY BEAR- Veckatimest
27. THE LOW ANTHEM- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
28. GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS- Lost Channels
29. ALICE PEACOCK- Love Remains
30. HOLLY WILLIAMS- Here With Me
31. HANK WILLIAMS III- Damn Right Rebel Proud
32. WILLIE NELSON- Naked Willie
33. THE CIVIL WARS- Live At Eddie's Attic
34. BRENDAN BENSON- My Old Familiar Friend
35. TREVOR HALL- Trevor Hall
36. MATISYAHU- Lights
37. NEEDTOBREATE- The Outsiders
38. COLLECTIVE SOUL- Rabbit
39. SISTER HAZEL- Release
40. WILCO- Wilco (The album)
41. MAE- (m)orning EP
42. THE GLORIOUS UNSEEN- The Hope That Lies In You
43. BEARFOOT- Doors & Windows
44. EILEN JEWELL- Sea of Tears
45. STEVE EARLE- Townes
46. ELVIS COSTELLO- Sacred, Profane, and Sugarcane
47. JARS OF CLAY- Long Fall Back To Earth
48. KINGS OF LEON- Only By The Night

R.I.P. Larry Knechtel, Another Legendary Hero Died...

This year seems to be the year of dead musicians...


He is "The Guitar Man" and bass and keyboard player best known for his work as a session musician with Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys (Pet Sounds, Smile), The Mamas & the Papas, The Doors, Elvis Presley ('68 NBC-TV Special), The Dixie Chicks (Taking The Long Way), and Neil Diamond. He is most popularly known as a member of the 70's soft rock/folk rock band BREAD.

he is perhaps best known for his guitar solo of "The Guitar Man" by Bread and piano works of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

He died on Thursday, August 20.

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/08/you-may-not-know-larry-knechtel-but-you-definitely.html

R.I.P. Les Paul, Vaya Con Dios

I gotta admit I have no idea who Les Paul was prior to my introduction of him through that CD above. I didn't even know what they're music like but i just asked the sales lady if it's ok to play it and see if i'll like it. And because it's a bargain CD (only P200), that was allowed.

So i listened. And I fall in love with it. Since then i wanna grab anything they ever released but only found that CD and the other "pirated" one from DYNA MUSIC PHILIPPINES that's actually being sold in the mall here in the Philippines. and i couldn't found any albums of them in the blogs either. So i instead settled on finding other bands, new bands, that sounds a little closer to Les Paul & Mary Ford. Bands like Hot Club of Cowtown, Patti Page, Pearl Django, etc...

Then i went to a guitar shop to look for an acoustic guitar and then i noticed something on this particular electric guitar. It has a name i'm familiar with on it's top, Les Paul. It was then i realized that Les Paul is more famous as a guitar maker and player than a singer and producer.

Then later found out that rock icons like Jimmy Page, Steve Howe, and Pete Townsend all made Les Paul their six-string trademark...

Les Paul also helped developed the over-dubbing technique during his time with Mary Ford.

And today is a sad day for all of us music lover because the great inventor, innovator, producer, arranger, and guitar player died yesterday, August 13, 2009. "According to Gibson Guitar, Paul died at White Plains Hospital. His family and friends were by his side."

Here's the yahoo article about his death:

http://new.music.yahoo.com/les-paul/news/guitar-legend-inventor-les-paul-dies-at-age-94--61992735

The Record Store Breakdown

Back when i was a kid, i used to jumped with glee and delight every time my mama would take me to the city because it means i can be able to spend time hanging around the record store browsing countless cassette tapes and CDs and blowing all my weekly allowance on some obscure (or i thought it was) cassettes which was, as always is the case, on sale.

And if i don't have money i would just hang around looking at the covers and imagining and wishing i have a collection as large as those.

Well, now i have a little "not that large but large enough" CDs and cassette tapes collection. But going to a record store, especially those in the malls, is not as exciting as it was back then. No longer are they selling different genres and different music. Country was phased out and Jazz is slowly dying. Alternative rock is gone. Metal section? No more. Instead the racks been replaced with the Lady GaGas and the Chris Brownes and countless videoke VCDs and compilation albums not even sang by the original artists (mostly this is done by Philippine based label like Dyna, Galaxy, Synergy, etc). Or they may release an "unoriginal unauthorized album" by the original artists. Dyna and Galaxy did this with Elvis Presley and Les Paul & Mary Ford. They're selling it on all major record stores across every mall here in the Philippines and i wonder if RCA records knows about this. To top it all, it has a really ridiculous uninspired stupid artworks. My personal CD mixes are way better looking than those put out by Galaxy and Dyna.

But the blissful experience of hangin' on a record store and browing at those CD and cassette artworks is not lost at all. It only shifted to a different place.

The cyberspace.

That's right. What was once enjoyable outside can now be experienced in the comfort of my little room. Now you have itunes, amazon, barnes and noble,etc. And if like me you like the physical product than the digital, you can just order from Amazon at the tip of your fingertips or you can order directly from your favorite independent artists (Jason Gray and Robby Hecht are the two people i know who are doing this).

And if your tastes go deeper to the roots of it all, or if you really like those obscure out of print records, the blogosphere is there to the rescue.

Thanks Google for including "The Blogs" on their search options.

And what's nice is they're offering these out of prints vinyl rip for free and the label and the artists even approved it!

I spent my whole evening last night browsing different blogs that offers free downloads of really out of print folk, bluegrass, jazz, soul, and reggae music mostly from the 1920s to the 1970s. These records are no longer available physically except for some idiot on ebay selling his collection for way way beyond the threshold of this economy. And I don't care. I'm not really like those people who made their collections a sort of an idol a.k.a. an object of worship (whether you're aware or not). I don't go that far spending millions just for a single 45 RPM or a scratchy CD or vinyl. I buy music because i love music. I wanna enjoy and savor it. It's one of God's beautiful creation.

... And the experienced i had on that record store when i was a kid was there again...

Oh such a nice feeling...

But then if you ask me which of the two i prefer the most, the cyberspace or the real space? I choose the latter because regardless how cool it is to just order an LP or CD from amazon or download that obscure stuff from a blog, it still nice to get out of you comfy chair and ride a jeepney to a record store that sells the kind of record you want.

But then that record store don't exist no more.

Religion

Religion is an insult to God. It's just politics masked as something else. That's why Jesus don't like religion. But then the religious people ended up using Jesus for their own purposes and giving Jesus a bad name...

- Michael Anthony Curan-

Qoute of the Day

I just finished reading this thriller from W.G. Griffiths called Driven (warner books) about a serial killer who uses cars as his weapon of choice and a detective who'll do anything to take him down.

Publisher's Weekly describes it better;

Highly original touches and an impressive flair for atmosphere make this spooky supernatural thriller one that nudges readers to examine spiritual matters while delivering an outstanding level of suspense. Lobster fisherman Karl Dengler is inhabited by the demon Krogan, and partners with other demon-possessed people to commit horrific acts of violence. When Krogan destroys the New York Aquarium's tanks of whales and dolphins, Det. Gavin Pierce's grandfather is one of the spectators killed. In his quest for vengeance, Gavin joins forces with Amy Kirsch, a sassy, drop-dead gorgeous computer hacker who has a homespun "fortune cookie" saying for almost every occasion. Recovering alcoholic Karianne Stordal suffers from her own demon and is commandeered by Krogan to help him commit vehicular homicide. Under hypnosis, she provides clues that help unlock the murders. As Krogan continues his reign of terror, Gavin and Amy turn to a reluctant exorcist-turned-dairy farmer (Buck) who has been victimized by Krogan in the past. The novel features a skillful mix of passages that entertain and frighten, and the plot is fast-paced and drenched in evil. Although the themes are strongly Christian, this is a solid crossover novel that should appeal to many readers of suspense and paranormal fiction. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

And from that novel, here's a qoute i like. This was spoken by Buck, the reverend-turned-farmer when asked about Krogan:

"A demon's favorite home is furnished with weakness and perversions that match its own individual tastes. Anger, fear, depression, confusion, violence, power, wealth, fame...Our own vanities can make a demon's work very easy. And they don't like it when someone messes up their house. Or worst, evicts them."

Hence, every demon will do anything to bring a prayerful christian down.

"Guaranteed to give you goose bumps. W.G. Griffiths enters the world of King, Rice, and Straub."
- Nelson DeMille-
author of The General's Daughter (which was made into a movie starring John Travolta)

Dusty Road

a poem/song just written now @ 4 a.m. July 29,2009

Dusty Road
(curan)

Avenue
of shattered emotions
spilling
across every corner.

As far
as my eyes can wander,
broken souls
here
and
up yonder.

Wind
of bitterness
carry me up high.
Take me away.
Join me
with the birds
up
in the sky

Can't take
the loneliness
that's
engrossing me.
I'm
drowning
in vain
agony.

I
see
shadows.

But ,
are they my friends?

Are they here to hurt me?
take my soul?

This
empty place
gives me
no peace.

Voices.
Voices.
Please.
Let me rest.

Drive me off this dusty road.
Take the speck
off my heart.

Let me see the beauty
in every misery.
Let me hear the music
in every agony.

But first
take me off this dusty road.
Take me
to the spring of life.
So i'll
be refreshed
and might see
the light
in every....

...dusty road
i may roam.
No more speck
like
when
i
was
in
Rome.

2009 michael anthony curan

Raise From The Dead

Haven't done a lot of blogging lately simply because of time constraint and lack of anything worthy to say or share. But now sweats of ideas are spilling over me once again as i devoured most of my time reading anything from books to magazines to blogs. And so in the following days and weeks, i will try to take a fraction of my time writing something in this blog.

Waking Up To A Controversial Email

I am supposed to be up and running early today but something caught my eyes as i was scanning my inbox. It's an email from Derek Webb explaining something sad,...... his new record Stockholm Syndrome has been delayed. Sad indeed knowing how interesting this guy's intellect and insight could be. I have all his records on physical CD except for Mockingbird which was offered as a free download on his website so i only have a CD-R copy of it. Still. Anyways here's the email,

friends-
i haven’t sent many personal emails to this email list but we’re in a situation that has gotten a little out of control and it’s time to fill you in. as some of you may know, i’ve been working for months on my new record, ‘stockholm syndrome’, which i’ve recently finished and turned in to the record label. they’ve been very supportive over the years, but this time we didn’t get the response we expected. it seems i’ve finally found the line beyond which my label can support me, and apparently i’ve crossed it.

i consider this my most important record and am adamant about all of you hearing it. we had originally hoped to have ‘stockholm syndrome’ out this month (next week even), but at this point we’re not sure when the record will come out and in what form. the majority of the controversy is surrounding one song, which i consider to be among the most important songs on the record. so we’ve decided it’s an appropriate time to break the rules.

but because of various legal/publishing issues we’re having to be rather careful with how we do what we’re going to do next. that’s really all i can say for now and i’ve probably said too much.

we have a plan and we’re moving ahead, but we’re not sure what kind of trouble we might be getting into. we’ll let you know as soon as we know our next move-
derek

What delayed me from my supposedly chore is the phrase "controversy surrounding one song". Derek Webb is different from other christian artists. He is not afraid to tackle topics evangelical christians are too afraid to even utter from their mouth. Derek's theology is well founded in Scriptures and because of that, he is not afraid to preach it. And most people don't know this, but majority of the "christian tv and music" you saw and heard are not even theologically sound. Most of them are either based on emotions, feeling good gospel, prosperity gospel, or whatever.

Buttom line: Most of them only preach a 180 degree gospel. So someone must stand up and preach the other half. And thanks to guys like John Piper, Jared Wilson and Mark Driscoll, we now have the opportunity to hear the gospel in its unadulterated 360 degrees form. And thanks to Derek Webb, Caedmon's Call,Andrew Peterson, and Red Mountain Music, we may able to hear it as well.

Then Derek crossed the line.

What line exactly did he crosses?

Words on the blogosphere is that the record is supposedly about "race and sexuality" discussed in the filter of the Scripture. And that one song contains a word that INO/COLUMBIA thinks might offend a lot of christian music fans.

And the word starts with letter "S". As in "shit".

Now the nature of that word is not evil. It only describe that thing that comes out in our rear after we eat or if we ate to much...

But then the culture started using it as a cuss word and then the rest is history.

But hearing Derek from the past, i know he knows what he's doing and saying. I know he's using that word in contect. Heck, even The Bible uses strong words that the Pharisees (translation in modern times: self righteous Catholic and Evangelical Born Againers) coined inappropriate during their time.

But like i said, Derek is an intellectual man and his label is not stupid either. INO/COLUMBIA/SONY-BMG knows who are Derek's fans, mostly consist of Bible believing Christians(360 degrees not 180) and agnostic non believers who find Derek's insights interesting. Enough to sell a record.

So i was wondering, is there really a controversial word/words on his album or is this another one of those marketing scheme they got people talking to an album not even released nor leaked yet?

hmmm...

But then again given the name of his yet inactive charity/organization, you could reckon there might be that word in it.

Here's DEREK singing Blood of the Lamb;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unqlyz4irnI

Tsinelas Girl, Another Corny Song I Made (yet to be finished)

Went with my friend to a bar somewhere last Sunday and then went home early dawn and wrote this draft...

TSINELAS GIRL (1st draft)
written by michael anthony curan
May 11, 2009 3:05 A.M.

radiant beauty from across the floor
dimples grinning ready to allure
eyes from the door staring straight at her
oh that smile makes me wanna dare

me in the corner with my ice cream cone
i don't drink beer cause it makes me drone
staring obliquely to your peripheral view
cause i can't stand looking straight at you

CHORUS:
tsinelas girl- my feet aboard
in your vessel- i take refuge
i'll take you anywhere- wherever i go
and you with me- protecting my feet below

you come to the stage with a guitar man
singin' "barbie's cradle" dancing with his strum
the melody your tongue creates
like a kiss that whips me to eternal bliss

lucky must be the guy who shares your song
for the rhythm of your soul will abide him long
filling up the air taking his breath away
of you singing lullaby makes him frenzy all day

too bad
she's taken already
wish it was me
but we got different destiny




Why the title? Who cares. I like the title hahaha...

The Difficult Stranger's Crazy Bio

The Difficult Stranger.

How difficult are they really?


It started off with a single guy writing and recording songs on his bedroom as a means of passing out the time.


Then his girlfriend, Michelle, dumped him for another guy. And he became depressed and wrote tons of songs about her (some of them you can actually hear on this MySpace).


Then a friend told him to check out this forum site (istorya.net) where fellow Cebuanos (technically he's a Boholano) gathered and converged. He then post a bulletin that he wanted to form a band, a band that blends country, power pop, punk, folk, and plain rock 'n roll.


Then he met Andy Calope and Andy was looking for a singer/songwriter who would perform on his show at Handuraw.


He grabbed the opportunity.


Then in that same show he met Jundel, a long haired guy who can play the cajon and the drums like there's no yesterday. Only tomorrow.


And the two clicked. And they started performing together, mostly on the spot performance and jam sessions without proper rehearsal and practice.


Then a guy named Dizzy_Boy posted on Istorya that he's looking for a band.


And to make the short story much shorter, he joined the band. He even convinced his bassist friend to join in.


And so the legendary quartet and the first Pinoy Cowpunk band was formed!


Ladies, Girls, and Women, please welcome THE DIFFICULT STRANGER!!!!


Wrong grammar? Nope. Its "STRANGER" not "STRANGERS" because this is a collective unit therefore it ain't plural baby.


Heck this band doesn't even limit themselves. What that means is if you're tired of being alone and banging your bedroom, then get out of your crib and join us. Just bring your instrument of choice and if you write songs, that's a big plus. If you're a Christian, even better!.:-).


The songs you're hearing in this page are all demos, recorded in the bedroom for structuring purposes or just as samples of the real thing. To hear the real thing, wait 'till we got enough money to record a proper records at House of Indies.


Meanwhile just enjoy these and have a good laugh. Remember, laughter is better than drugs!


And before I forgot, head over to House of Indies and go to the video vault and check out our video of Hoping For Nothing filmed during the Sinulog IndieFest (is that the name of the event?).

THE DIFFICULT STRANGER is:

Eboi Oca- guitars, vocals, songwriting

Jundel “ The Beat Master” Viscayno- drums, cajon, anything that needs banging

Michael Anthony Curan- out of tune guitars. keys. vocals, songwriting

?- bass, vocals, songwriting

Mary Anne Alicaba- vocals, charm



Previous Strangers:

Ian Ray Cruz- bass (on Honey)

Manong Benben- drums (on Honey)

Steven Cinco- vocals

Oscar Leo Aton- guitars, vocals, high school buddies


so go ahead and don't be afraid. check them out:

http://www.myspace.com/thedifficultstranger

An Interesting Qoute From Singer/Songwriter/Producer Butch Walker

Butch Walker is known to pop rock music fan as the guy who fronted the band Marvelous 3 back in the mid 90's who had a hit song titled Freak of the Week (c'mon i was elementary back then and that song was like everywhere!) and as an "A" producer and songwriter for artists like Avril Lavigne, Pink, Fall Out Boy, and just about any other pseudo punk and pop rock bands you can imagine. But do Butch love the music his making in his day job? Here's what he has to say,
"Don't get me wrong. My day job pays me well for making records for those kinds of folks, but I don't wanna listen to it. I mean, would you wanna eat donuts for dinner, if you made them all day in a factory? Nope. Same with music. thanks Eric...."

source: http://www.recordstoreday.com/CustomPage/381

You decide then.

iTunes Is A Wonderful Thing, Sometimes...

I'm not much of a digital junkie. I even burn to Cd all those important albums i downloaded, and i only download an album if it isn't available here, and in my unique taste, sadly most of my favorites aren't available here (Todd Snider, Dave Barnes, Cherryholmes, Reckless Kelly, Chatham County Line, etc).

But over the course of years since my elementary days, i have over 800 plus of original CDs now and 500 plus cassettes and some 200 plus vinyl i inhereted from my aunties and parents.

All of them babies neatly piled and arranged in my bedroom.

But here in my boarding house i only have 473 original Cds and 10 CD Wallets of those "important albums" i downloaded that weren't available here (not even in Music One).

And i am mostly familiar of those original Cds and Cassettes that i have simply because i listened to them over and over again when it was newly purchased.

But now with digital music the experience is kinda lost. Most Americana/Folk/Alt. Country bands offer their singles or sometimes their CDs for free legally, like The Damnwells and The Only Sons for example.

Plus there's this website co-created by singer/songwriter Derek Webb of Caedmon's Call where you can just download any albums the artists uploaded there for free. Yes you read it right. the artists themselves uploaded them. And majority of the music offered are gems.

And so my iTunes is full of these digital albums i wish i owned in either CDs or Vinyl.

i also have some music from my original CDs uploaded in iTunes so i could play them here in my boarding house without bringing my entire collection, which is to me one of the "plus' of having an iTunes.

This afternoon i am bored. Got nothing to do so i just sit here in my chair and read the blogosphere while setting my iTunes on Shuffle mode.

And girl, whatta delight! My iTunes does really know what i like. It isn't even on "smart shuffle". It's just the regular shuffle and so far it's all good. Here's the forty recently played songs;

1. THE BOTTLE ROCKETS- Early In The Morning
2. BOB DYLAN- I Believe In You
3. DANIELSON- Body English
4. SOLOMON BURKE- Beautiful Brown Eyes
5. MY MORNING JACKET- Thank You Too
6. SLAID CLEAVES- I Feel The Blues Moving In
7. PATTY LOVELESS & TRAVIS TRITT- Out of Control Raging Fire
8. DAVE BARNES- Everybody But You
9. WILLIE NELSON- The Way You See Me
10. TYLER LYLE- A Baptism (Why We Don't Float)
11. TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS- You Got Lucky
12. FICTION FAMILY- Not Sure if I'll Get Over You (I'm not Sure If I Want To)
13. BUDDY MILLER- I Can't Help It
14. LOVE SONG- Joyous Lament
15. WHISKEYTOWN- Breathe
16. RESCUE A HERO- To My Dearest
17. SARA WATKINS- Where Will You Be
18. MILES DAVIS- So What?
19. FM STATIC- The Shindig (Off To College)
20. THE DIFFICULT STRANGER- Abac
21. JACK INGRAM- What Makes You Say
22. UNDERCOVER GRASSHOPPERS- Frantic Static
23. SLIMFIT- Pony Up
24. BO BICE- You Can't Take The Country Outta Me
25. MATTHEW PERRYMAN JONES- Breaking Out The Windows
26. CATTSKI- Hero
27. NICKEL CREEK- When In Rome
28. SON VOLT- Picking Up The Signal
29. TODD SNIDER- Can't Complain
30. BECK- Guess I'm Doing Fine
31. RAY CHARLES- It Makes No Difference Now
32. OLD 97's- Am I Too Late
33. GASLIGHT ANTHEM- 59 Sound
34. THE LOST TRAILERS- Holler Back
35. ELI YOUNG BAND- When It Rains
36. LEVON HELMS- Calvary
37. CHERRYHOLMES- You Don't Know What Love Is
38. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIES- Little Bribes
39. ARETHA FRANKLIN- Respect
40. DERYL DODD- Only Cause You're Lonely


Out of the forty, four of 'em are local filipino talents. They are Rescue A Hero, Undercover Grasshoppers, The Difficult Stranger (more of craziness than talent), and Cattski.

And yes i set my iTunes not to repeat an artist unless all the artirts' been played...

Whatever Happened To Those Boybands???

Brian McFadden and the guys from The Script were formerly from irish boybands Westlife and MyTown respectively. Then all of a sudden they hit their heads on that Celtic stone wall and realized there's more to art than money.

So Brian left Westlife and the guys from MyTown pursued their dreams which is producing records. Then in 2008 they all decided it's time to do what they love. Hence the result; beautiful piece of rock alternative music from Ireland...

but what about those boybands from America? Justin Timberlake of NSYNC is slowly redeeminh himself as an artist. The Backstreet Boys still prefers the money though.

But most people might dismissed this little boyband that got their popularity in 2001. They're called Plus One.

They're manufactured boyband aimed to christian music market as the CCM's answer to Backstreet Boys. And so the hypocracy begins...

But then the guys from Plus One grew up musically and spiritually. They decided bubble gum pop isn't their cup of coffee and they fall inlove and got married too.

But they love playing music... two of the guys left for family reasons. The remaining three continued yet their label don't want them to be rock bands. Their label( Atlantic) was blind.

So they dropped out or rather they're being dropped out. Then the Newsboy guy,Peter Furler, sniffed them up and gave them a chance to record an album of their liking under his label Inpop.

And so Exodus (the CD) was born. It didn't click commercially (although it osunds like 2003 Coldplay). The production isn't that tight and people are still confised what to make of them.

And they completely disappear. Gone. No words.

Then Nathan Walters reappeared with a CD 5 years later (which is 2008).

And then Nate and Gabe convinced their wives that music is art and their passion and decided they'll form a band too.

and so CASTLEDOOR is born.

Who are these guys? What music do they play?

They are the remnants of Plus One but they're no boyband mind you...

Their music falls somewhere between My Morning Jacket and Rooney (infact it was Rooney's Robert who produced their latest CD)

fOr more info, check out this interview here.

And get a taste of their music here.


And in addition to being in an indie rock band, Nate Cole's day job is actually as an office assistant
in Lehrer Architects .

Well, so much to being a full time idol with Plus One. Real band like Castledoor with real music don't really get paid that well. That's the sacrifice you make if you choose art over image..

Free Legal Download: THE DAMNWELLS New Album

My favorite band The Damnwells offers their new album for free!!!

Click Here to grab it.. C'mon. Good music is hard to find these days and this band is generous enough...

Random Musing... A Free Writing Experience Much Like We Did In high School

What happens when you just let yourself type the first thought that crosses your mind without overthinking or underthinking about it? Well I did just that and the result is hilarious. It’s unintelligible but then my friend thought it’s awesome. He thought I think this through. Actually I didn’t. I just type and type…

It was the worst of times, as I figured it out. The leaves are falling from their respective branches and the wind swept all over to the direction to my face. I couldn’t make any of it. No not yet atleast. Time is hard and it’s even harder now that I got life of my own, apart from the confines of the university walls. No, I still ask money from my mom and she still pays the rent of my apartment but I am slowly moving on to the pace of this hectic unpredictable reality world.

I learn to coquet with life as if it’s a buried treasure suddenly unearthed. Learning form every mistakes and vowing never to lie again.

Then I met a stranger and to make a seasoned conversation, I lied about everything and anything under the heat of this awful summer sun. It’s something I gotta overcome someday and I believe by the grace of God I can do so.

See my life is nothing is void and I got no interesting adventures to share. I sucked at women. I suck at socializing. And almost everything I touch turns to dust. Yes I did fall inlove once in a while and matter of factly I did fall two years ago. Then eight months later she left me for selfish reasons.

So I resolved to drinking. Not a good idea and definitely not a smart one. I knew the effect of it and knew how bad getting drunk is, both physically and spiritually. Still I engaged myself with the whiskey bottle just to numb the pain creeping all over my being. It was terrible. Every night as I go to sleep tears would flow from my eyes without apparent reason for the moment. But I know it’s the subversive tears that’s been there waiting to burst.

And so I let myself cry.

Then my room filled with lights. Colorful different lights. I turned my head around and saw beautiful lions roaring and licking each other. Weird. I got up from my bed and walked one step closer to the donkey resting under my table. The donkey turned his head towards me and gave a smile. How awesome! I can smell the fragrance of blue roses and hear the streaming rivers somewhere not far but I haven’t got a vision of it yet.

I went to the bathroom and behold! As I opened it my eyes were greeted with the galleries of mountains and different landscapes. And I saw a horse all alone at the top of the hill on my right side. I ran towards him, stumbled as I ascended. Oh such a beauty! Completely pink! I never saw a pink horse before and this one had blue eyeglasses and had a hat on. He’s like Snoop Dog turned into a horse!

Then I realized I can no longer contain it. My mind is not word-tied and my fingers are not that familiar with keys. And so I stopped.

And stopped.

The end.

Actually it’s not really the end of it but my download is finished and it’s time for me to watch it. And no its not illegal movie or something It’s a videocast from itunes and it’s free of charge. And itunes for all you know is legal!

Another Week of New Music

...with the exception of The Gaslight Anthem which was released last year.

This Week's Playlist...

Another week of LOUD MUSIC in my ROOM !!!

Hoping For Nothing (live @ House of Indies garage)

Thanks to JR of Streets of May, this was taken during the Sinulog Indiefest.



song written by Michael Anthony Curan
video courtesy of House of Indies

It's a little awkward cause i am the only one who did acoustic during this event...

UNO International Corporation.. They're Not Just Salesmen, They are Money Evangelist Preaching and Sharing About How Much Money YOu Can Earn...

"Have you heard about UNO International Corporation? If not let me introduce it.

Unlimited Network of Opportunities International Corporation is the most awaited union of the finest network marketers in the country as they welcome new challenges, new opportunities and new partners in this splendid and yet generous way of extending help to hundreds of thousands of Filipinos here and abroad.

UNO Int'l Corp. is a dynamic marketing company engaged in the distribution of life enhancing natural products for lasting health and wellness and other services that address the needs of modern livingl. It is run by top network industry leaders whose credibility has been years in the making. Forefronted by top caliber professional network marketers with a combined 30 years experience in leverage marketing, UNO Int'l Corp. takes to deliver a performance breakthrough.

It is definite that UNO Int'l Corp. is poised to be among the major players in the industry of network marketing. All the vital elements to drive in a new curve of new markets and technologies are present. It would help out every netwrok marketer about the convenience of simultaneously marketing fast-moving health and wellness product categories and providing educational-services hub in the form of online college review class and mobile phone loading system.

It is very much in the interest of UNO Int'l Corp. leaders that today's challenge be fulfilled without divisions and delays. And that is to SERVE THE NEW CONSUMER."

I have nothing against networking but i just don't like it!

I think it's a sham having your money just goes around the circle.

And i was actually approached by a friend who shared to me her "gospel" of becoming rich... fast... without much sweat than just to invite more people to your network. And she even claimed to be a christian!

The thing about networking is it becomes your little god. You share it, preach it, talks about it... All for the sake of getting rich and earning much..

She was so passionate in sharing it yet when confronted about Jesus, she cant even say a thing straight. And she dare call herself in a relationship with Jesus. No babe, you're in relationship with greed...


Proverbs13:11
"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows."

Proverbs 16:9
"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."

Proverbs 21:5
"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Mind you! nothing's wrong with money or getting rich but if it consumes your heart and everything within you, then that's what God condemns. Remember it is not the never ending lust of things that can make us happy. Lust for riches, power, sex, etc, all makes you miserable. How did i know? I've been there.

True joy comes from serving God and others with the things God has given us.

New Song for Free Download

TWELVE HOURS AWAY (home made demo)
written by michael anthony curan
The Difficult Stranger


sitting in my room
waiting for your call
trying to figure out
this stirring in my soul

when i hear your voice
can't help but leap with joy
this smile i can't suppress
your presence is my bliss

PRE-CHORUS:
is this really love
or just misguided feelings
arising from my soul
or am i just a fool

CHORUS:
is your kindness sign of care for me
does your care means that you love me
will you be willing to wait for me
will you sacrifice your life for me

if i'll push you away will you fight for the love
you have for me
i wanna know what will this be
cause im in your future
and you're twelve hours away

from me

frozen and confused
heart's been abducted
walking above cloud nine
can't wait to make you mine..

2009 michael anthony curan

download it here:
Twelve Hours Away by The Difficult Stranger

Who'z Rockin' @ My Apartment

They are.... on CD atleast...

THE FIRST TAGIK SESSION...

Markuz of Rescue A Hero


Isn't she beautiful?


Master Jude

Alphecca


Michael Anthony Curan w/ Mary Anne Alicaba


Chris Vince Sayson


TAGIK


I didn't have a digital camera yet so i don't have much photos to share other than those i grabbed from friends last night. Anyways, last night was the first TAGIK Session, TAGIK is the name of a union of Cebu's songwriters- may it indie or pop. serious or crazy, for as long as they write tunes and it's unique!

And Andy Calope invited me again. Or I invited Andy Calope to invite me again. Or I invited myself to his show again. Whatever whichever which. And as expected, i did some crazy stuff... Really crazy... Someone should post that in You Tube hahahaha (feeler!).

He opened the show with some Dave Matthewsque type of music. It was fun seeing his hand moved across the fretboard every second while not missing a beat (and notes too) in singing... Plus he wrote that awesome song too. I believe it's a gospel sort of song and its beautiful.

Next was Mr Chris Vince Sayson, lead guitarist and one of the songwriters of one of my favorite local band Undercover Grasshoppers. He graced us with his breezy rendition of some UG songs and it's beachy... Really listening to his voice is like bathing in the sunshine across the ocean on a cruise ship. Awesome indeed!

Alphecca grabbed Andy's guitar next and played some jazzy rock tune. She's a member of a band Sefyla which is by the way featured on the Dobbie Nights Cd of Jam FM in Manila.

After some seriousness, i invaded the stage with another seriousness hahaha even brought Mary Anne Alicaba, my boardmate, to sing. Her voice is awesome and she needs more exposure. Then she left me alone and alone indeed i rocked the mic down and almost broke Andy's guitar.

Hahaha i wrote a song the night before and daringly performed it last night to my dismay cause i forgot the lyrics. But no worry. I can handle it. Infact i did. Or thought I did. Or... As long as i enjoyed it hahaha.. ANyways what i did with that song is i break it down like crazy-if-ya-knu-watta-meiean..

It was supposedly a traditional country song but instead it turned out to be a hiphop song at the second half of it with some mouth beatbox and scratching using my tongue and a lot of saliva here and there.... The audience did cheer (or booed hahaha!). I was having fun that night. I dunno 'bout them hehehe.

And next to me is Markus of Rescue A Hero, He's my friend but even friends don't wanna share each others saliva so he wiped the mic with alcohol first before singing on it... hahaha

He did 2 covers and one original (my favorite Simple Song) and really the guy reminds me a lot of Connor Oberst but his kinda unique cause he put his own signature sound to it. Talented and remarkable.

Then Andy came back on stage with a guess singer who will be leaving for Dubai next month.

Then came the great master Jud Gitamondoc with his 3 pop singers (and one of 'em is my crush hahaha. again? muted mouth. im out of her league so im leaguing with myself nalang), LP Pineda (cool voice. must be related to Arnel Pineda of Journey), June Ong (ahem), and Daryl Leong. Jude's love songs make me wanna fall (or already falling) inlove with his female lead singer. "wink" :-)

And for those uninitiated, Jude is actually the guy who wrote Wait Forever and In Another Lifetime by Gary V, Impossible by KC, and the rest of the pop songs you hear on the radio...

Then after the show i met a guy named Roy who also love the modern side of country music (Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood). He really got this deep voice and they said he's a game show host which i'm gonna watch for the first time maybe this weekend on my friend's TV (too bad i don't have one).

And I then i met a drunk guy who gave me a house music CD. Friendly with a great sense of humor. Like the guy.

Then we ate somewhere in Mabolo with some Ngoyong and Cornbeef.

Then I went home.

And as of this moment I'm finishing the draft for my next song simply titled,

" June ".

A Night Of Beautiful Music, Pizza, But Then There's Me So ...

IAN ZAFRA

ANDY CALOPE

THE LINE DIVIDES


THE DIFFICULT STRANGER


RESCUE A HERO




I just finished three Tuesdays in a row playing at Handuraw Pizza in Gorrodo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City with Andy Calope and friends, and by friends means us, his guests. I never played much so this is like heaven for me.



Last March 10 was special. The British Council was there so it was like a party. Plus my favorite Cebu band Rescue A Hero also jammed with us.

Rescue A Hero graced the stage first with their indie folk/rock music, a genre not very common here in Cebu.

Then after them I took over. It was ok until i noticed the large crowd and being serious on stage in a crowd like that is like suicide. I don't wanna be reduced to a background music.

So instead of singing the songs i plotted in my setlist, i sidetracked and sing some beat up country songs instead. I forgot the lyrics to some songs but that didn't matter, i would just make them up as i go along.

And this thing i did mostly in my bedroom i tried it for the first time over there. It's using my mouth as an instrument and that night i imitated the sound of harmonica but instead ended up sounding like a goat looking for his mama...

... which brings delight to the foreign guests. hahahaha. I can see some laughing, some taking pictures (i even stopped in the middle of ta song just to raise my hand and pose to this Chinese lady hehehe. That's how weird i am). And a certain aquafire over at istorya even post that my songs are best played with harmonica..

well...

Then just when you think the craziness is over, a band surprised us all. They are called The Line Divides and they play happy music. I forgot the name of their vocalist but i find him entertaining with his dance moves that makes me wanna join him and dance....

And finally it mellowed down when Andy Calope took over with his guitar and his honest down to earth songs that could stop you from your current endeavor and makes you think of greater things than your past heartache..,

But that night he let me down. Why? Because he didn't play my favorite song Gayle, a song he wrote about... hmmm let him tell it here.

And the night was closed by another surprised guest, Mr. Ian Zafra, better known as the long haired guitar player behind Sheila and the Insects. But this time he got short hair.

And the show is over. We wnet home happy and none of us are exhausted.... Well, atleast i ain't. hahaha

Plus i met a girl. Not the kind of met a girl like get to know, oh no not like that. Ask any of my friends and they knew i am torpe. Tameme. Muted Mouth (according to Undercover Grasshoppers). whatever.

I'll tell you all about it next time.

Meanwhile i am gonna go take a bath cause I'm gonna catch the Ocean Jet this 5:30AM, an hour from now...

I'll be going to Bohol for two days


Till next time,
Mike