Sooner or later, they will all end up like this. Alongside the economic and political crisis we have in our country, people (musicians) are in desperation to explore and aim for an easy-pay, easy-way, lucrative job. What would it then be? Form a rock group with attitude and be saved. That's what a lot of people think.

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"I'd rather be hated for who I am than be loved for who I am not" - Kurt Cobain

If only I can resurrect him to harangue and bawl out the imbecilic and the doltish people of rock and droll of our times. But I guess I can't. Let them all be crucified. It's going to be Lenten season soon anyway.

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How I treasure the days when you adore an unknown great band, try to act cool and different because you're the only person or one of the few who knows their music and existence! Sometimes, you gotta savor the perks of learning indie. I wish pinoy indierock could last forever. But that would be pitiful for those who deservedly needs to be heard.

But there comes the risk of getting heard when you are not supposed to get heard. And that is what's happening these days. Too many bands. Too many to mention. Too many to name. Is that something good? If we are trying to build up Filipino music and most especially exalt the name of rock and roll, do we need to flock in random musicians or do we need to be limiting? Always a dilemma.

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Have "musicians" gotten to be courageous to emerge because they're not anymore against the flow? Is it because competition is not acknowledged in the pinoyrock industry? Yeah, I agree. "Nagtutulungan ang maliit na mundo ng mga musikero lalo na ang mga rakista." Look at the credits and shout-outs of artists in their album covers/pages, look at the names of back-up and additional music/vocals/production/engineer. "Sila-sila rin." I salute them for that. But is it time to close the doors and start to screen who's coming in and who needs to go out? I know I am being aristocratic. But we need to drain ourselves from thinking that pinoyrock is always good music. Plus, isn't rock being deliberately aristocratic these days? Sino ba yung mga nagkakaroon at napapakinggan na banda? Di ba yung mga mayayaman at yung may perang pambili ng magagarang gitara at iba pa? Sino ba yung nakakadikit sa mga sikat na musikero? Sila-sila nga rin. Literal na pamilya o di kaya'y parang Friendster.

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But why the need to set a standard for good music? Who needs to make a criteria? Music is art. Art is freedom of expression. Same old story, same old debate.

I just fear for pinoyrock music. It's becoming a circus. I've mentioned new bands sprouting like mushrooms. What's the point of all the rock challenge? What's the use of the garage phase of juvenile bands?

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Artists aim to be prolific. What is their definition of prolific? Is it to be intellectually productive or monetarily motivated? Artists and composers end up creating fragments of their masterpiece. They fall short of what they can be. On one hand, it's the pressure of living it up for the demands of big time recording companies and the thirst of people for new songs. On the other, it's their magnifying greed to just, you know, show off. Rockstars are cooool people.

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Control in creativity. Before labelled artists could never demand for full-creativity rights. They were confined. But now I don't think it is problem anymore. For as long as you can handle a guitar and come up with drum riffs, you can be signed-up for a label so I don't understand what's going on with those people who were supposed to invigorate essential music.

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Marketing of bands. 2005 until this year has been a period of bandemonium. Bands aspire to be radio-friendly to be heard in radio-friendly stations. They have to front a stereotypical rockstar hunkie to join the popularized "pogi-rock" community. Now I'm beginning to understand why the term boyband can also be applicable to rock posers. Noontime and variety shows have become their regular gig. Their albums are being re-packaged to have the "acoustic version", "sizzlin' videos", free calendar or poster and other extra whatsoever to boost up sales.  

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My last question would be, is it okay to tolerate mediocrity? No one will get hurt anyway. No one. Not even I. It's the times. Everyone wants to be mediocre. It's the only way to survive. Look around and you'll understand why. Consider this entry as part of it. So-so. So what. Who cares? It's just a blog entry to show off. It's just. No more, no less.

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New Review: Chris Cornell's Euphoria Morning (backtrack reviews)