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#Throwback2014: The year in Pinoy indie music


As always, the independent Filipino music scene has been the go-to place for discerning music lovers looking for diverse new records. Whether you're into electronic, folk, jazz, pop, or rock music, one thing is for sure: the Filipino independent scene has got audiophiles covered with hard-to-find but never hidden gems that made 2014 a great year for Filipino music lovers.

"Ang Itlog at Ang Demonyo" - Radioactive Sago Project
July 2014
 
 
There is no question that Radioactive Sago Project has mastered fusing jazz and rock music with dry humor and social commentary. The result has always been quirky. It also makes you question your purpose in life for two reasons: Lourd de Vera's spoken words may strike a chord with you, while the band's musical sense may make you scratch your head and wonder how their tracks were created.
 
"Bullet Dumas" - Bullet Dumas
May 2014
 
 
Bullet Dumas stands out in an industry saturated with electronic music, alt rock, and English-speaking Pinoy songwriters. His music is raw and earthy yet refreshing, and his songwriting reminds you why Filipino is such a beautiful language. Hearing him do it mainly with just two instruments — his voice and his guitar — is always jaw-dropping. Tip: Watch him live.
 
His self-titled EP contains only three tracks but his song called "Tugtog" released earlier this year is worth the price of the record. Prepare to cut open your chest and give your beating heart to The One and sing "puso mo ang puno't dulo ko..."
 
"Haláng" - The Purplechickens
July 2014
 
 
Consistency is what makes Haláng one of the most well-made albums of the year. Each track has depth and that expert touch; it's not some debutante's album that is eager to be heard or show off its skill. Instead, Haláng has confidence without being flashy. The Philippine music scene deserves to listen to an album like this.
 
"Flirting with the Universe" - Loop
July 2014
 
 
Although Loop just debuted last year, their single "Peppermint Mocha" charmed indie music lovers and managed to be one of the favorite tracks of 2013. Their album "Flirting with the Universe" is easily one of the most awaited independent albums of the year. Their music — a clash of Kim Trinidad's sweet and clean vocals and the rest of the band's gritty rock sensibilities — was so well-received that Loop travelled to Manila from their hometown Iligan City to headline a series of gigs a few weeks before Christmas.
 
"Foreign Languages" - tide/edit
June 2014
 
 
Music is a language that has no borders, and tide/edit's "Foreign Languages" proves that. The album takes you on an emotional, intimate music trip. It is an album that you'd want to be quiet with, perhaps filling those voids you never knew existed. Personally speaking, tide/edit deserves to get the best Filipino independent album of 2014 crown.
 
"Pastilan Dong!" - Pastilan Dong!
January 2014
 
 
Bands that go beyond the usual verse-chorus-verse kind of songwriting structure are always a breath of fresh air. Pastilan Dong!'s self-titled album is one of those records that satisfies your craving for the unexpected.
 
"Pelota Court" - Maude
June 2014
 
 
Smooth and suave are the two words that describe Maude's "Pelota Court," an album obviously influenced by the famed Manila Sound of the '70s. This record gives you the good vibes without sounding twee. Pelota Court is the perfect pick-me-up music for those bad hair days.
 
"Story of Us" - Three.!
May 2014
 
 
"Story of Us" stays true to Three.!'s brand of dream pop music. With lyrics like, "Are you there? Darling, can you hear from there? All these wandering nights I waited, did I get to you this time," Three.! has managed to create music that reminds us why love is often connected to the great unknown that is the rest of the universe.
 
"The Call of Booty" - Halik Ni Gringo
February 2014
 
 
Halik ni Gringo never takes itself seriously. The Call of Booty is a record you need to listen to when you need a break from daily annoyances like the long MRT line, hours spent traversing EDSA, your slow Internet, etc. It's an album that could help you channel your anger and even put a smirk on your face.
 
"The Gentle Sound of Chaos" - Peso Movement
September 2014
 
 
In a year filled with experimentation and fusing genres, Peso Movement stayed true to the unadulterated spirit of rock 'n roll with "The Gentle Sound of Chaos." The band's no-nonsense attack is a reminder that good music does not have to be over-embellished. With members that have been part of different rock bands in the past, Peso Movement's debut album has that certain abrasive touch that only hands of master craftsmen can achieve.
 
"We Are Autotelic" - Autotelic
September 2014
 
Autotelic wanted to produce songs that are meant for dancing. They made a seven-track album just to achieve that and more. They have even managed to get crowds to sing to their tracks at gigs. Autotelic is no doubt appealing, and their album "We Are Autotelic" is just a glimpse of all the other dancey pop-rock songs they can create. —JST, GMA News

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