Music Review: Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

Dream Theater recently released their tenth studio album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Just like most of their studio albums, this is a much-anticipated album from this generation's benchmark of progressive metal music.

The album artwork, which was created by renowned graphic artist Hugh Syme (who made memorable album art for notable bands such as Rush, Queensrÿche, and Megadeth) is impressive, as expected from any Dream Theater production.

Black Clouds & Silver Linings features six new tracks; four tracks are in the 12-to-19-minute range, and the shortest track is about five and a half minutes. There are several box sets and packages available for the die-hard DT fan and memorabilia collector. The 3-cd Limited Edition Set includes a second disc that features 6 covers, and a third cd that features instrumental mixes of the new materials. In this review, I would focus on the main/standard cd.

On a drummer's perspective, Mike Portnoy's performance on the new album is what most Portnoy disciples and fanatics would expect from the 2004 Modern Drummer Hall of Famer - the usual Portnoy licks, grooves, polyrhythms, dominant double bass footwork, and unison playing with bandmates, plus his uncanny ability to play for the song in spite of the technical, over-the-top, "more is more" nature of Dream Theater's music. His drumming seems to become more aggressive with age, with no signs of mellowing nor slowing down. Portnoy is burning in this album!

The tracks that blew me away the most are A Nightmare To Remember (Track 1, 16:10), The Best Of Times (Track 5, 13:07), and The Count Of Tuscany (Track 6, 19:16).

Portnoy's thrash-inspired double kick grooves are the major drumming highlights of the opening track A Nightmare To Remember, a song about guitarist and co-producer John Petrucci's childhood car accident experience. His aggressive double bass attacks are like an unstoppable train, shifting from straight-ahead triplets to sixteenths to sextuplets, and back. Plus, watch out for the round of blast beats near the end of the tune for the win! Despite all that heavy drumming, my most favorite part of the song is the scene change at the 4:56 mark, which I thought was appropriately done. The changes in mood and dynamics fit the story and emotions being told in the song.

The Best Of Times is written by Portnoy in memory of his father Howard Portnoy, who passed away early this year. Obviously, this is a heartfelt and very personal song, which the drummer presented to his father before the latter's death. I can sense that Portnoy's personality and emotions are well-reflected in this piece. The track opens with a melancholic piano and violin section, then a guitar riff at the 2:46 mark signals the rocking 7/4 entry, which has this old-school-prog feel that reminds me of early 80's Rush works such as Red Barchetta.

The Count Of Tuscany has the most interesting instrumental intro I've ever heard from Dream Theater in the longest time. Dream Theater seems to be leaning more on their shred-heavy, thrash/metal side in the last few albums, so it's quite refreshing for me to hear an opening part which represents more of Dream Theater's progressive rock side. I notice several old-school progressive rock influences in this track, mostly from the school of Rush. It's also interesting to note that this song is about an actual encounter Petrucci had in Tuscany.

As for the other tracks... Dream Theater is in their "Metallica mode" on A Rite To Passage (Track 2, 8:35), the album's carrier single. Wither (Track 3, 5:25), a Petrucci song about writer's block, is the shortest track on the album, and has the simplest musical arrangement (based on Dream Theater standards). Portnoy just lays it down and adds just enough embellishments. The Shattered Fortress (Track 4, 12:49) completes Portnoy's Twelve-Step Suite, and is one of the heaviest tracks on the album.

Overall, I am digging Black Clouds & Silver Linings. It's the archetypal Dream Theater album; a balance of old-school progressive and heavy metal/thrash influences. This is a strong effort from the progressive metal supergroup, and probably one of their best studio works. Plus, it is testament to Mike Portnoy's pursuit to defy age and his status of being the current flagbearer of progressive metal drumming. This album is steadily rising to become one of my personal favorite Dream Theater albums.

*****

Special thanks to my sister Karen Dio for getting me a copy of this album, which she bought from her recent Singapore trip.

The Jeff Porcaro Influence

Today is the death anniversary of Jeff Porcaro, one of my favorite drummers. Seventeen years ago, he succumbed to a heart attack, shocking the entire drumming and music community. He was only 39 when he passed away.

I would occasionally imagine how drumming and music would be right now if Jeff is still alive up to this day. I'm sure there would be plenty more incredible drumming performances from the master. And how I wish he's still around, because today's kids can learn so much from him. His groove, his great feel, his sense of emotion, his impeccable taste, his genuine musicality... Jeff made the modern music world a much better place. Though he may be gone, his spirit is still very much alive.

I consider Jeff Porcaro as one of my major drumming and musical influences. I learned to love grooving and how to make the song more heartfelt. In fact, when we were recording Pangako, I was thinking of Jeff a lot. He was my drumming inspiration for that song. When I was figuring out my drum parts for that song, I was often thinking, "If I were Jeff, how would I approach this tune?" If I didn't have that spirit of Jeff in me, I wouldn't have played Pangako like how you hear it right now.

Jeff's influence on me is so strong that some of his principles have already been instilled in me. Nowadays, I prefer to simply groove, play for the song, and make it feel good. I aim to make the music beautiful and more meaningful. Unlike before, I was finding ways to highlight my technique and chops. I guess most of us musicians have gone through that phase, where in we are trying to prove something and impress our audience. I may have already matured as an artist (though I'm still growing). Now, I'm not looking for a solo spot or any kind of drumming highlight reel. I'm no longer playing to impress people in a technical sense. It's no longer about how much chops I can do. I'm now trying to make a connection; I want listeners to feel the music. That's the magic of Jeff. His heart and soul are infused within the songs he played on. That's the most significant thing I've picked up from Jeff.

Toto members have stories about how Jeff was burning behind the drumkit on certain rehearsals and studio sessions. They would tell him that he should have a solo spot during their shows, but Jeff was like, "No. That's not me! I just want to groove." Jeff actually had the chops and the technique to stretch out. But he was quite vocal in how he hates doing drum solos. Seeing and hearing Jeff perform a drum solo may be a thrilling thought. But to listen to his drumming on numerous recordings is such a musical bliss! He may have had the tools to solo, but for me, he doesn't need to. His drumming speaks for itself. Jeff had so much personality and class.

I discovered Jeff back in college, when I was with the DLSU Pops Orchestra. Thanks to my friend, the great drummer Junjun Regalado, I became more familiar with Jeff's works. Like most drummers, it was with Toto where I first heard Jeff. We all know the obvious - Africa, Hold The Line, 99, I'll Be Over You... But like most drummers too, it was Rosanna which made its very huge mark. That signature rolling shuffle, inspired by Bernard Purdie & John Bonham... Oh it feels so good, no matter how many times you listen to it over and over. And oh how I felt the agony when I was still learning how to play it! Thanks to Junjun, he taught me Jeff's Rosanna shuffle groove, and encouraged me a lot. From that moment on, shuffles weren't the same again for me. Shuffle grooves are now amongst my favorite things to play on the drumkit.

Another thing I dig so much about Jeff's playing is his way of interpreting love songs. Through careful listening, we can really feel the expression on Jeff's drumming, which complements the song with so much sincerity. As far as I'm concerned, Jeff Porcaro is the best drummer for love songs. I can recall love songs which not only made me cry because of its message or what it's expressing, but also because of how Jeff interpreted it. It proved to me how powerful drums can be in expressing emotions.

For me, as a drummer, playing and understanding love songs are essential. It is key to a more convincing sense of feel. It unleashes emotions. It makes one a more sensitive human being. No matter how cheesy some love songs can be, try playing along to it. It's no joke. Get into your Jeff Porcaro mode. That must be the secret; well, at least for me.

I was recently doing some Jeff Porcaro research on the web, and I found this site which lists and updates Jeff's discography (see links below). Check it out. You'll be surprised with some of the songs Jeff played drums on. It's unbelievable.

Here is a list of selected Jeff Porcaro recordings, and some of my thoughts about it.

With Toto:

Child's Anthem (from Toto I, 1978) - I remember playing this song with the DLSU Pops Orchestra. It's one of the first pieces I ever played with Pops. The rock shuffle is gorgeous.

I'll Supply The Love (from Toto I, 1978) - This is a fine example of a groovy rock song, which best represts Jeff's style and personality. Quarter notes on the snare, disco-esque grooves on the verses and instrumental section, tasteful fill-ins, perfectly-placed crash cymbal accents, and the exciting drumming on the outro for the win!

Hold The Line (from Toto I, 1978) - Tight, tight, TIGHT! We can't play this tune in any other way. A rock-solid 12/8 groove, and it feels so SO good!

Mama (from Hydra, 1979) - This is another fine example of Jeff's mastery of the shuffle groove and feel.

White Sister (from Hydra, 1979) - Check out what Jeff did at the fade-out ending of this song, beginning at the 5:20 mark... Bonham's influence on Jeff is strong.

Goodbye Elenore (from Turn Back, 1981) - Look for this track's music video on YouTube. Jeff is ripping here!

Rosanna (from Toto IV, 1982) - Jeff's signature song, featuring his signature shuffle groove. Only Jeff!

Lion (from Isolation, 1984) - The opening track of the album. This rocks hard and grooves so tight!

Till The End, Without Your Love, I'll Be Over You, and Somewhere Tonight (from Fahrenheit, 1986) - Fahrenheit is a fine album, and these 4 tracks feature incredible drumming performances from Jeff.

Anna (from The Seventh One, 1988) - One of my favorite Toto ballads. Jeff hit the spot.
Stop Loving You (from The Seventh One, 1988) - I used to play this song with my bandmates from the DLSU Pops Orchestra. One of my favorite Toto songs to play drums on.

Jake To The Bone (from Kingdom Of Desire, 1992) - Kingdom Of Desire is probably my favorite Toto album, and the heaviest during the Porcaro era. Jeff was able to finish recording this album before he died. The band's music in this album seems to be heading towards a heavier and more progressive musical direction. The instrumental track Jake To The Bone may be Jeff's best drumming performance in the album, with its amazing chops and odd-time signature grooves. Could this be the new musical direction where Jeff was headed? Could this be Jeff taking his already-established drumming prowess to greater heights? Only God knows what might have been...


With other artists:

Take This Love (Sergio Mendez) - Those fill-ins! I'm sold.

When A Man Loves A Woman (Michael Bolton) - Jeff's drumming on this love song is PERFECT. The big-fill in on the song's climax? What a beauty.

Is There Something (Christopher Cross) - That big fill at the end of the last chorus is a signature Porcaro fill, and I love how it complemented the "'coz part of me will always be with you" line. I cry to this song.

Arthur's Theme (Christopher Cross) - Yes, Jeff played on this...

Only Love (Stephen Bishop) - ...and this...

We're All Alone, Look What You've Done To Me (Boz Scaggs) - ...and these...

Love Is All That Matters (Eric Carmen) - ...and this! We all thought some love songs are cheesy... Until we found out who played in it.

I Keep Forgetting (Michael McDonald) - Grooooovy!! Warren G. used this groove on his rap hit Regulate.

Light and Shade (Fra Lippo Lippi) - I thought Jeff had some Steve Gadd vibe in this track. Elegant.

The Girl Is Mine, Beat It, Human Nature, The Lady In My Life, and Heal The World (Michael Jackson) - These are the MJ tracks Jeff played drums on. The Girl Is Mine and The Lady In My Life are tight!

Jeff Porcaro on the web:

An online reproduction of Modern Drummer's tribute to Jeff Porcaro, December 1992
Jeff Porcaro's Discography - Toto's Website
Jeff Porcaro Session Tracks list
Wikipidea
Drummerworld.com
MySpace tribute sites - jeffporcarotribute, jeffporcarototo

Plus, I highly recommend that you look for Jeff Porcaro's instructional video.

Note: I may update or add items to this list when necessary.




Jeff Porcaro photos from drummerworld.com.

My Reflections on Michael Jackson

It's been a month since Michael Jackson's sudden death; the sad news swiftly heard and spread around the world, shocking virtually everybody, from state leaders to die-hard fans. We've seen the media coverages and a lot has been said, in tribute to this legendary artist. We've exchanged our MJ stories through blogs, social networks, and various forms of media. Our tears rolled down during the memorial service. His music and videos are being played everywhere. A month later, we are still heavily mourning over this great loss. The King of Pop may have already passed away, yet he's still very alive and relevant. I agree that Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer who ever lived. For me, he's one of the most significant human beings who ever stepped in this planet. He's left his huge mark; his legacy - in music, dance, entertainment, philanthropy, pop culture... An eccentric, a megalomaniac, a true artist, a genius. I can't imagine life without MJ; at least, for my generation.

I belong to the MTV Generation. My sisters and I grew up listening to his music and watching his videos. When I was a kid during the early 80's, music videos were a new art form, and I vaguely remember the first time I saw MJ's early music videos (in particular, Billie Jean & Thriller). We all know now how MJ revolutionized music videos. And somehow, our generation witnessed and followed its evolution. From mini-movies to mega-budget masterpieces, plus his showcase of unbelievable dance moves and unique vocal abilities, I was an instant fan.

I grew older, and I became a musician. Later on in my career, when I became the drummer of K24/7, that's when I began further appreciating the music of MJ, his contributions to modern music, and his genius as a musician, a dancer, and a performer. One cool thing about MJ is the fact that he worked with some of the most brilliant musicians, songwriters, and producers of our time.

Here's a list of some of my favorite MJ tracks, plus my thoughts on its relevance to me as a drummer, as a musician, and as a person.

I Want You Back (from Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5, 1969) - I first heard The Jackson 5's music later in life. I Want You Back is probably my favorite Jackson 5 tune. K24/7 used to play this song with Aliya Parcs. Though it was a fun song to play, the arrangement is quite tricky. I dig this song because it epitomizes MJ's pure talent, youthful energy, and star quality during his childhood era. If I were to introduce somebody to Jackson 5's music, this will be the first on my playlist.

Got To Be There (from Got To Be There, 1972) - This sweet number is another favorite of mine from MJ's childhood era. The singing skills, dynamics, and interpretation of then-13-year old MJ is convincing.

Rock With You (from Off The Wall, 1979) - This is the first MJ song I ever played live as a drummer. The signature opening fill is instantly recognizable, and the whole song is simply fun to play. I may have played this song thousands of times, but I never get tired of it.

Wanna Be Startin' Something (from Thriller, 1982) - Let's face it... Everytime we hear the intro to this song, with its tight bass lines, quirky beats & brasses, it just instantly makes us wanna groove and dance with it. This should be a fun song to play live. My bandmates and I jam on this tune during soundchecks.

The Girl Is Mine (from Thriller, 1982) - I once played-along to this song at a drumming event, citing it as a drumming reference for great feel, taste, simplicity, sensitivity and musicality. I love Jeff Porcaro's drumming in this song. Beautifully done! Jeff Porcaro was probably MJ's favorite drummer. Thank you God for these two wonderful souls. May they rest in peace.

Thriller (from Thriller, 1982) - When I was little, I was always waiting for this music video on TV. I think I want to have a red jacket like MJ's.

Billie Jean (from Thriller, 1982) - Whenever I hear this song, one thing runs in my imagination - the moonwalk. How in the world did MJ thought of that? Genius. This song is a staple for drummers who need to learn how to play straight-ahead grooves while making it feel good. No big fills and fancy licks here; just pure, solid groove in respect to the music.

Human Nature (from Thriller, 1982) - It's remarkable that Toto members were keys in making this song a part of the Thriller album. Steve Porcaro wrote it (together with John Bettis); David Paich handed the demo to producer Quincy Jones; and Steve Porcaro, David Paich, Steve Lukather, and Jeff Porcaro played on the recording. What a beautifully crafted song! My band and I cover this song. Admittedly, this is a tough song to nail down. It's so smooth, moody and dynamic, so I need to focus on making the groove feel right. The drum parts need to be in good taste, and I can't dare overplay, for I feel like I'll be disrespecting this MJ classic if I do. I focus mostly on the guitar and vocal parts whenever we play this. This is one of my favorite MJ songs.

Pretty Young Thing (PYT) (from Thriller, 1982) - PYT is one of the songs included in my band's Old School Medley (an upbeat medley which features songs from MJ and Earth, Wind & Fire), and it's my favorite part of the medley. It's a gorgeously groovy tune. And what's cool about it are the behind-the-scene credits - keyboardist Greg Phillinganes co-wrote the original demo version with MJ, James Ingram and Quincy Jones re-wrote the song from its slower demo version, and two of its several back-up singers were MJ's sisters Janet and LaToya.

The Way You Make Me Feel (from Bad, 1987) - When this song came out and became a hit, my sister Rica would dance to this tune, then she'll be all over me, and we would dance together during the chorus. Shuffles are sweet.

Man In The Mirror (from Bad, 1987) - Hands down, this is my favorite MJ song. The message is crystal clear, and the music is well-done. I would often get teary-eyed, listening to this classic. I love playing this song with my band.

I Just Can't Stop Loving You (from Bad, 1987) - One of my favorite MJ ballads. Sweet.

Remember The Time (from Dangerous, 1991) - What struck me the most about this track is its music video - the grand production, complicated dance sequences, and its star quality (actor/comedian Eddie Murphy, NBA legend Magic Johnson, model Iman, and actor Tom "Tiny" Lister, Jr.).

Black or White (from Dangerous, 1991) - This is another song from Dangerous where in its music video brought me a lasting impression. During that time, I was crazy with Guns N' Roses, so I was thrilled when I learned that lead guitarist Slash played in this track.

Gone Too Soon (from Dangerous, 1991) - This is another beautiful MJ song that occasionally makes me cry whenever I hear it; one of my favorite MJ songs.

Childhood (from HIStory, 1995) - This is a biographical song, centering on MJ's difficult childhood years. The musical arrangement beautifully interprets the sadness, pleading, and sense of fantasy expressed by MJ. I'm so moved by the lines MJ sang - "No one understands me...They view it as such strange eccentricities, 'cause I keep kidding around"; "People say I'm not okay. 'Cause I love such elementary things... It's been my fate to compensate, for the Childhood I've never known..."; "Before you judge me, try hard to love me. The painful youth I've had." When this song came out, MJ was in the middle of controversies, criticisms, and media cruelty. Whenever I listen to this song, I can empathize with MJ; I can feel the pain. I cry to this song.


Just like many modern-day artists and musicians, Michael Jackson has influenced me in certain ways. And just like many good people around the world, he has touched my life. Thank you very much, King of Pop. You will never be forgotten.

Music Review: Journey - Revelation

Arnel Pineda is revered as a rock vocal god among Filipinos all these years. Last year, he got the biggest break of his career when legendary American rock band Journey discovered him and invited him to join the group. We've seen, heard, and raved on his performances (as seen on YouTube and other video-sharing sites). Finally, Arnel cements his Journey frontman status with the band's new recording, Revelation.

I have the two-disc album. The first cd features fresh new Journey materials, while the second cd contains remakes of Journey's timeless, classic hits with Arnel on vocals. Overseas, the album is a 3-disc package. The third disc is a live in-concert dvd, which was filmed on March 8th, 2008, during Journey's performance at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm hoping that the 3-disc set will become available here in the Philippines.

I've been a Journey fan ever since I started checking out their former drummer, the legendary Steve Smith. As expected, the music on the new album is impressive. Recording quality is topnotch, thanks to producer Kevin Shirley. Current drummer Deen Castronovo's performance is rock solid. On the remakes, Deen faithfully played Steve Smith's drum parts, which the former described as perfect for the songs. Among the new songs, my favorite drumming performance of Deen is Wildest Dream (watch out for his double bass attack at the end of the song). And regarding the vocal performance, what more can I say? Arnel is incredible! And it seems that Arnel generates so much energy and makes the tunes feel so much better (no disrespect to the great Steve Perry, who is of course a certified vocal god). Thank God guitarist Neal Schon found Arnel; he's a prize catch.

My favorite tracks on the first cd are Never Walk Away, Change For The Better, After All These Years, and What It Takes To Win; on the second cd: Faithfully, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Lights, Open Arms, and Stone In Love. Buy the album. It's so worth it.

ARNEL PINEDA, YOU ARE THE KING!!! Mabuhay ang musikong Pinoy!!! You make us Filipinos very proud.

Toto, Live In Manila '08: My Concert Hangover

I just came back from watching the concert of one of my all-time favorite bands, Toto, held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City (which isn't so far from where I live). And boy, it was one of the best concerts I've ever watched! Yes, I still have the Toto concert hangover. While composing this blog, their 1992 album Kingdom Of Desire is playing here on the background.

Toto already had a couple of concerts here in Manila years ago, and I missed them all. I was anticipating their concert this time, since I first heard the news a few months ago that they'll be back in town. This time I don't have any reason to miss this show. Thanks to a very good friend of ours, me and my drummer friend (and our manager's husband) Joel David were able to score tickets. There was traffic at the Araneta Center, and searching for a parking space was quite tough. Until finally we were able to spot a good parking space at around 8pm. We ran two blocks going to the venue, thinking that we might be late for the show (it says 8pm on the ticket). We were like kids who were eager to enter a theme park.

Of course, the show didn't start on time. We were seated at the Patron area, near the right side of the area where the sound engineers are stationed. We had enough time to settle down and buy something to eat. It was also a good time for me to approach the stage to take a closer look at Simon Phillips' drumkit.

Simon Phillips is one of my favorite drummers. I consider him as a huge influence on my playing, and he's one of those great drummers whom I want to emulate. I am privileged to have attended the Hall Of Fame drummer's Zildjian Day Manila drum clinic about three years ago. Approaching the stage, I recognized his familiar, classic Tama double-bass, multi-tom drum set-up. But this time, he is using the brand new Tama Starclassic Mirage acrylic drums. I took a much closer look, and there I saw also his new "Monarch" Signature snare drum. I took a few photos, then went back to my seat.

Show kicked off unexpectedly, with Simon opening the show with thunderous drum rolls, signaling the intro of Gypsy Train. This was followed by Caught In The Balance (my favorite track from their 1999 album Mindfields), and other songs which are mostly from their Simon Phillips-era albums. There were plenty of fellow musicians in the crowd, so this was a huge treat for us, knowing that Toto is a band composed of renowned, world-class musicians. So after every song, I kinda figured out who among the audience are musicians. We were the ones applauding enthusiastically after every musical stunt, while the casual spectators were caught unfamiliar with most of Toto's non-mainstream songs.

By the time Toto played their impromptu medley of hit love songs I'll Be Over You, I Won't Hold You Back, Lea, 99, and Georgy Porgy (and letting the crowd sing along with it), that's when the casual non-musician audience reacted the most. Guitarist/Vocalist Steve Lukather must have thought that it's funny, knowing that Filipinos are suckers for love songs. But it's still cool, because they rearranged a bit some of their classic songs, to give it a different yet refreshing flavor.

My favorite parts of the concert? I like how they ended the love song medley with the instrumental part of I'll Supply The Love. Don't Chain My Heart, Pamela, and Stop Loving You were well-done, and they made some twists at the opening of Rosanna. And of course I enjoyed Simon Phillips' drum solo, where in he soloed over the instrumental part of Hydra. Every musician had their moments to shine on stage. I was so amazed with every guitar solo Steve Lukather performed. He is a genius! Bassist Lee Sklar (who is sessioning for Mike Porcaro, due to the latter's hand injury) and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes had a good number of highlights and solo spots, and guitarist Tony Spinner and vocalist Bobby Kimball were impressive.

Not only was the performance mind-blowing. The sound quality was excellent! Toto's sound engineers have done a superb job. Having a great sound team and a quality sound sysem is a great compliment to how well Toto's musicians play and make their instruments sound good. Simon Phillips is known for having great ears for high-quality drum sounds. I'm still at awe with how huge and thunderous his Starclassic Mirage kit sounded. And his new Monarch snare drum sounded great at the venue. This special new drum is worth investigating.

Every good musician can pick up a few new things from a Toto concert. In my opinion, I think the best lesson, especially for young and aspiring musicians, is to value sound quality. Many kids these days tend to focus a lot on technique, speed, and all those hot licks and riffs. These may be nice too, of course. But many tend to neglect the idea of producing a quality sound. We may be able to play so many cool stuff with our instruments, but it won't be cool if it sounds poor. We should make an effort on not only to play better, but to sound better too. And if it sounds better, it makes us and our listeners feel better too.

After the show, I bought Steve Lukather's new solo album Ever Changing Times at a stand near the gate, which has Steve's autograph on the cd sleeve. I already had Simon's signature on my Starclassic snare drum, so it's nice to have Steve's as well. After that, we all went home, satisfied and with an added boost of inspiration.

Music Review: The Better Than Life Project

Info from Praise Music Philippines:

THE BETTER THAN LIFE PROJECT was conceived and produced by the prolific musician/songwriter Bebo Bharwani, featuring all his original lyrics and music. The album is highlighted by superb performances from the country's eminent artists such as Top Suzara, Jay Durias, Barbie Almalbis, Pido Lalimarmo, Noah Krishna, Chedi Fidel, Naldy Gonzales, Radah Tinsay and Mike Luis.

All the proceeds of the THE BETTER THAN LIFE PROJECT will be donated to the Reach Youth Ministries, a non-profit organization that reaches out to the street children of Metro Manila and other cities. They provide food, shelter, education and spiritual guidance -- all to give these children a better chance at life. For more information visit http://www.reachyouth.org.

*****

Read the names of the featured artists on the album cover... Need we say more?

Most of the artists who played for The Better Than Life Project were also part of The Air I Breathe project years ago (which was also a project led by Bebo Bharwani). I love the music from The Air I Breathe album; and there are plenty of reasons to equally love the music from The Better Than Life Project.

Music is topnotch, thanks to the talents of some of the best musicians in the country right now. Besides the featured artists, here's a rundown of musicians who performed in this album:

Benjie Mendez (drums), Franklin Benitez (drums), Reli de Vera (percussions), Tata Balane (bass), Richie Ramos (bass), Rommel dela Cruz (bass), Junjun Perez (bass), Jack Rufo (guitar, keyboard), Jano Queyquep (guitar), Eric Villadelgado (guitar), Bobby Velasco (keyboard), Rancis De Leon (saxophone).

Plus, there are two special tracks which feature world-renowned bassist Michael Manring. Bebo Bharwani sang and played second bass on one of those two tracks.

My favorite tracks in the album are Wake Up and Dream (Track 1, featuring Jay Durias), Awesome (Track 5, featuring Noah Krishna), Beyond The Glassy Sea (Track 6, featuring Chedi Fidel), and Heal (Track 10, featuring Pido, Radha, Noah & Mike Luis). All the songs in the album are convincing, well-written, and well-crafted. The music speaks for itself. So go grab a copy, listen to it, and feel and appreciate it.

This CD costs only Php250. I bought mine at a House Of Praise CD store. Instead of copying or downloading it, buy the original CD. Proceeds from this CD will go to a good cause. Excellent music, plus you get to help out. So, it's all good.