|  Pupil Wildlife album
So para sa mga nakakamiss kay Ely, diehards and loyalist ng Eraserheads, and of course, fans ng Pupil, here is their 2nd album entitled Wildlife. We all know that Ely Buendia had a heart surgery early this year and good thing he’s all good now. So he’s fucken back! Sabi nga niya in one of his interviews, he’s the million dollar man (something like that) or baka ako lang nagsabi?! Basta ganun. That is because his heart costs a million!
For those who is not familiar with Pupil, Pupil is Ely Buendia (vocals/guitars), Yan Yuzon (guitars/vocals), Dok Sergio (bass/vocals) and their new drummer Wendell Garcia (formerly drummer of Barbie’s Cradle) who replaced Dok.
The debut album of Pupil was Beautiful Machines which was released 2005 and had the songs Nasan Ka?, Dulo Ng Dila, and Dianetic to name some. Their 2nd album has 12 tracks.
- Fin (D. Ventura) – This song is sang by Dianne Ventura, parang intro song lang coz it only plays for 1.13 minutes lang. Great voice. If you are familiar with the group K’s choice, kaboses ni Dianne yon. (First line of the song goes: There is this something…)
- Matador (E. Buendia, D. Ventura) – Sang by Ely, ganda yung beat. English song and I think it was Dianne on the background vox. FYI, Dianne is Ely’s better half and “CONNECT” me if I’m wrong, their manager too. Steady yung tunog. Maingay and okay ang lyrics. (First line of the song goes: Do come and see..)
- Monobloc (E.Buendia) – This song is my personal favorite. Tingin ko eto next single nila and has a strong chance of being played in most radio stations if tagalong ang gusto nila release. Parang ang lungkot nitong kantang toh. After I heard the whole album, I played this 4x on my way home. Catchy like their first hit Nasan Ka?. I’m achully playin it now. Since this is my favorite, here’s the whole lyrics.
‘Di alangan sa tukso ng ulan/ Ang ihip ng hangin tila nambibitin/ Ating nang simulan/ Kahit walang mapaglagyan/ Bukas ang lansangan/ Saan mag-aabang ng araw/ Sumama ka na/ ‘Wag kang mawawala/ Pagka’t ngayong gab’y puno ng alaala/ Saba’y nating saluhin/ Anumang itapon ng bukas sa atin/ Pipigtas/ Ililigtas/ Sa mga buwaya/ Kasama ka sa’king bukas/ Kahit ilang daang taon ng lumipas/ Hinding-hindi ka makakahanap/ Ng isang katulad ko/ Ginding-hindi mapapantayan/ Walang gulong ang aking palad/ Paano nga ba ang lumakad?/ Buksan mo ang pinto/ Naghihintay na ang buong mundo/ Sa’yo/ Ano pa ang hahanapin?/ Lahat na ay sa akin/ At kung alangan sa tukso ng ulan/ Hindi napapawi ang init ng labi/ Sa bawat hakbang/ Sa kaliwa o sa kanan/ Lampas sa hangganan/ Doon mag aabang ng araw/ Kailangan kita/ ‘Wag kang mawawala/ Pagka’t ngayong gabi’y puno ng alaala/ Sabay nating harapin/ Anumang itapon ng bukas sa atin/ Bangon sa hukay/ Bigyan ng buhay/ Ang pag-ibig na patay/ hukayin/ buhayin/ang pag-ibig natin.
- Here I Go Again (E.Buendia) – Enlglish song sang by Ely. Kinda slow and parang far out yung melody. Slow yung tempo pero heavy guitars. (First line of the song goes: There is a line I will not go across)
- Talon (Y. Yuzon) – I believe this song is sang by Yan. First tagalong song that I heard from him. Kahit nung Mongols pa sila, puro English rin kinanta niya. This song rocks. Parang tunog Mongols pa sila dito eh. (First line goes: Talon na, wala kang makikita.)
- Sumasabay (A.Sergio, D.Cabuhat) - Tagalog song which I believe is sang by Dok who also sang Dulo Ng Dila in their first album. Sounds like Odd Even which was The Mongols’ song from their album Buddha’s Pest. The Mongols was formed by Ely Buendia after Eraserheads days and was composed of Yan, Jerome Velasco, and Bogs. “Sumasabay” plays for more than 4 minutes. Longest track of their album. (First line: Sumasabay sa araw, Masigla sa init)
- Animal Lover (E.Buendia) – English song sang by Ely. Bagay sa title ng album which is Wildlife. (Last line of the song para maiba naman: She’s the last of a dying breed [4x ata inulit]).
- Teacher’s Pet (E.Buendia) – Deyn ko trip masyado. Parang pambata yung tunog. hahahaha! (Chorus: Here kitty, kitty, You’re looking so pretty). Parang pambata di’ba?
- Sala (D.Ventura) – Wuhoo! so eto ung carrier single nila. For me, one of their good songs in the album. Dito yung vintage Ely voice, yung tumataas yung boses nya. Fuck yeah! Don’t you just love it when he sings that way! Yung sa part na “Kinabukasan nakasalalay sa iyong kamay..” Fuck yeah!
- Disconnection Notice (E. Buendia) – Astig intro nito yung guitars. Masarap sigurado pakinggan toh pag live kasi ang galling. For me, this song is Pupil. Rock talaga! (Line that sticks in my head: So…Turn off the lights now… Turn off the lights now.. Turn off the lights now..)
- Bato (D. Ventura) – Tangina tong kantang toh! Fucken scares me. Far out. Fucken Great! Galing! Parang ang sarap lang magdrive, maglakad, uminom, tumulala while playing this song. It’s so nice to be alone with this song. Lyrics and melody wise. It’s fucken insane!! Parang ang sarap mag suicide! Or is it just me?!?! ( Last line: Paalam....) Trivia: Eraserheads also had a song entitled Bato, first track ng Circus album. Trivia ba yun?!
- Set Me Apart (D.Ventura) – This song was released months before this album was achully released. So I guess you are familiar with this song too. I believe this was made for Animax. (First line goes: Don’t get lost, stay on track)
So there you go. 12 tracks. Was hoping for a bonus track pero wala eh so I played Monobloc na lang ulit. For those missing the Eheads, this is far from their music. Don’t expect love songs like With A Smile, Torpedo, or Minsan. Shades of Toyang, Pare Ko, Alapaap, or Overdrive can’t be seen in Pupil’s music. Masasabi mo lang siyang parang Eraserheads because of the voice of Ely Buendia. That’s it. The lyrics are serious, just like Pupil’s first album unlike songs written back in Eraserheads which talks of everyday life. I personally liked the songs that were not sang by Ely in their previous album. They were better. Songs like False alarm which was sang by Bogs, Dulo Ng Dila by Dok, Beautiful Machines by Dianne, and Lost Guide by Yan. That’s my opinion.
What’s cool with this album is every song sounds different from each other. Walang magkatunog. Well-planned. Ely was successful in making the songs in this album not to be a mainstream thing. I do recall him saying that he does not want the hype. He does not want his band to be mainstream. I don’t know how exactly to define their music but I guess it’s melancholic rock. So if you’re a diehard of Ely, you will definitely buy this album If you’re looking for Eraserheads music, this is not the album for you. If you are a fan of Pupil, you gonna buy this album. If you wanna hear something different, not emo, not cueshe shit or Parokya’s humor, this could be your album. Rating: 3.5 out of 5. |