NEW YORK– On March 3, U2 released their much-awaited album since 2004’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
The new album, No Line on the Horizon, was intended to be an experimental album, because of the band’s collaboration with musical innovators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and their location recording sessions in exotic Morocco. However, after many passes, one could determine that it is not. Instead, the new album could be volume two of their previous one and volume three of their second to the last one  ad infinitum.
By the middle of the record, The Edge’s riffs would have sounded familiar already, of course it would, after all, it is the same pair of hands that built the sound. But for the band to claim that this new record departs from their ‘usual’ sound is a mistake. It is the same U2 after all these years.
But like other U2 releases, this one would definitely sell big and perhaps even get a Grammy.

Track List:
1.     "No Line on the Horizon"       
2.     "Magnificent"       
3.     "Moment of Surrender"       
4.     "Unknown Caller"       
5.     "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"       
6.     "Get on Your Boots"       
7.     "Stand Up Comedy"       
8.     "Fez – Being Born"       
9.     "White as Snow"       
10.     "Breathe"       
11.     "Cedars of Lebanon"

The verdict: Three and a half stars out of Five (3.5) – A good record with false claims.

Artist: Markus Highway
Album: MARKUS HIGHWAY Behold! Rejoice! Surfernando is Here Nah
Label: Warner Music Philippines

This solo debut from ex-Eraserheads guitarist Marcus Adoro is a master class in Tagalog songwriting. One can now imagine, after listening to this album, that it was Marcus who gave the ‘Heads their funny side. Do you remember the Punk Zappa bits in Circus? We are certain that ideas like such were brewed inside this surfer's cranium.

Artist: Charmaine Clamor
Album: My Harana, a Filipino Serenade
Label: Freeham Records

CHARMAINE Clamor is perhaps the leading Fil-Am Jazz singer today. She is among the very few Asian Jazz artists to capture the meticulous sensibilities of Americans. Her landmark record, Flippin’ Out appeared on the JazzWeek World Music Charts for seven straight weeks, remarkable achievement for a mixed language release.

Charmaine’s latest work, My Harana, a Filipino Serenade is not a Jazz record but a traditional Filipino Kundiman record released here in the US.
The 12-track album is Charmaine’s homage to the roots of Filipino music.
She compiled her favorite regional serenade songs of the home country and sang it in her trademark warm and sultry vocal style.

Among the songs she recorded in this collection are:
O, Ilaw (Tagalog), Mekeni King Siping Ku (Kapampangan), Pamulinawen (Ilocano), Ay Kalisud (Ilonggo), Malinac Lay Labi (Pangasinan), Matud Nila (Visayan), and an English track, Labis (Too much).

Artist: Rico Blanco
Album: Your Universe
Label: Warner Music Philippines

Tracklist:

1. Antukin
2. Ayuz
3. Helpless
4. Metropolis
5. Outta This
6. Para Hindi Mawala
7. Say Forever
8. Start Again
9. Your Universe
10. Yugto

AFTER his dramatic departure from Rivermaya, RIco Blanco comes out of the shadows with his debut solo album entitled "Your Universe."
The 10-song album under Warner Philippines is currently being buoyed by his carrier single, "Yugto" and the newly-released follow up single which bears the album's title.
Rather than coming up with a totally different sonic approach, Blanco opted to stay safe and trekked the road that his former band used to rule.

Although "Yugto" is a worthwhile attempt to break new musical grounds with its progressive arrangements and meaty power chords, it is the lone flower in a world resonating with Rivermaya's echoes.

All the songs in this album sound like they were intended for Blanco's estranged bandmates. Hell, yeah, they all sound like Rivermaya songs because whether we accept it or deny it, Rico was the sound of Rivermaya. He wrote almost all the Rivermaya songs, sang most of it, and produced all of it.

Notable tracks are:
Say Forever– A clear salute to Rico's adherence to 80's New Wave.
Start Again
Yugto
Your Universe

Rico should have waited a little longer before coming up with this effort. It would have separated him fully from his Maya work, and thus give credibility to his solo work.
Instead, Rico decided to release "Your Universe" in haste and failed to carve a new road for his solo career. He wasted his chance to do some work he's never tried before. Though we are all glad that Rico is back making new music, his solo album falls short in making his return a kick ass one.

Rico is a great songwriter and we expect more from him than another 'Rivermaya' album.

Rating: •••

Rating System:

• Forget it

•• Points for effort

••• Borrow the album and rip it

•••• Skip lunch and buy the album

••••• Sell Everything and Buy this album.