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.