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YOUNG STAR 
 To be honest, I’d rather call it the Anton Ego Awards, after thecharacter of the critic in the animated film
Ratatouille
. If anything,he’s the best character in the film in the sense that all thepresumptions about him were overturned in the film’s climax. He wasfeared and respected but only because he really knew what he wastalking about and — above all — honest. Being obsequious orpandering didn’t influence him but rather just whether he liked whathe tasted or not. Even if it was cooked and prepared by a rat.This year so much great music was released locally that a couple of us— namely, music lovers Luis Katigbak and Quark Henares — decidedthat we should come up with our own Awards. Apologies if we couldn’tthink of a better title for it but let the winners be our saving grace.(Note: We certainly didn’t agree on everything but that’s the nature of these things. We did, however, explain why,which if anyone wants to continue arguing about it, just buy us coffee.)
1. ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 
(Erwin) Ciudad, “Bring Your Friends” This is the
Wonder Years
soundtrack of our generation. Overlooked and underappreciated, it nonetheless confirmsthat eerie phenomenon that befalls all great artists. Remember, even during the Summer of Love, EngelbertHumperdink beat the rest on the charts. But nonetheless, Ciudad will never need any more affirmation from me orany pundit. Listen to this album. Music like this will never grow old.(Luis) Drip, “Identity Theft” You will never feel cooler than when you’re listening to Drip. I don’t mean that smug kind of poser-cool that comeswith patronizing the band of the moment; I’m talking about that glorious experience when their music creates a worldbetween your ears, dark and dramatic, a nocturnal urban narrative with you as the central character beset by suddendangers and unexpected pleasures. With scratches and samples, keyboards and beats, and that relentless, yearning,sensual voice, “Identity Theft” delivers seeming contradictions — fierce vulnerability, emotional electronica — andchanges your life for the better.(Quark) Taken by Cars, “Endings of a New Kind” From the opening salvo
Uh-Oh
to the solemn
Shapeshifter 
, “Endings of a New Kind” could end up being a classicamong the younger set. Credit must also be given where credit is due: producer Mong Alcaraz really pushed the bandto the limits on this record, and when compared to the band’s earlier demos this sounds like it was made by acompletely different artist. Taken by Cars has never sounded so good, even compared to their live performances
THE QLE AWARDS
 THE OUTSIDER By Erwin RomuloUpdated November 28, 2008 12:00 AM 
Page 1 of 4THE QLE AWARDS | The Philippine Star >> Lifestyle Features >> Young Star11/29/2008http://beta2.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=419116
 
today.
2. SONGS OF THE YEAR 
 (Erwin) Ciudad,
My Emptiness
 This is one of the most emotionally affecting ones I’ve ever heard this year. It deals in melancholy (and a genuine oneat that — none of this “Take Me to the Other Side” crap) but is never despairing. It’s evidence of a settling maturity inthe band’s music and lyrics, but also proves they haven’t lost their sense of humor. It’s got a disco beat but isn’tdance punk: rather, like Itchyworms’ 
Love Team
, this belongs to the canon of possibly perfect pop songs made in thiscentury.(Luis) Up Dharma Down,
Unspoken Definites
 It’s almost impossible to choose a favorite song off “Bipolar” — they are nearly all utterly excellent — but still,
Unspoken Definites
stands out, in its almost-painful honesty, in the openness of its music, in the way it takes itsinfluences and shapes them into something new.(Quark) Taken by Cars,
Weeknight Memoir In High Definition
 It starts in an ambient, quiet hum that suddenly erupts with Sarah Marco demanding at the top of her voice: “HEARTSTOPPING-LIAR, ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT JOKE?” Umm, okay, not that great in the lyrics department.However, for me,
Weeknight Memoir (In High Definition)
is anthemic — the kind of song that makes you scream atthe top of your lungs in the midst of traffic or start jumping up and down alone in your room.
3. VIDEOS OF THE YEAR 
 (Erwin) Pedicab,
 Ang Pusa Mo
 What else encapsulates best the weirdness and exhilaration of this year’s music but a video wherein members of thisband get tortured and beaten by a myriad of femme fatales?(Luis) Up Dharma Down,
We Give in Sometimes
 It’s hard to match the trippy visuals your mind makes up when you listen to this intricate, dreamlike track, but thisvideo does a great job.(Quark) Pedicab,
 Ang Pusa Mo
Fourteen words: Shawn Yao, Tricia Gosingtian, Kim Marvilla, Alodia Gosengfiao, Roni Callanta, Ashley Gosengfiao, KatVelayo, Dylan, sadomasochism.(Erwin adds: …and RA Rivera. And yes, Shawn Yao will save us all: “Fiction
na nga
, speculative
 pa
.”)
4. LIVE ACTS OF THE YEAR 
 (Erwin) ItchywormsExcellent musicianship, wicked sense of humor and just brilliant songs. I’m pretty sure that this band’s performancesand music kept me from any suicide attempts this year.
Page 2 of 4THE QLE AWARDS | The Philippine Star >> Lifestyle Features >> Young Star11/29/2008http://beta2.philstar.com/ArticlePrinterFriendly.aspx?articleId=419116
 
(Luis) YoshaWhen a band gets me on my feet, screaming like a cheerleader for a type of music I don’t even usually like, then Iknow they’ve got something special going on. Drawing from soul and jazz, Yosha brings the groove, the virtuosity,and the sheer joy of music-making, straight to their lucky, lucky audiences.(Quark) SandwichThough their latest album isn’t their best, Sandwich still gives their proverbial 110 percent every time they perform.Also, as of late they’ve toned down the improvising and have instead focused on delivering solid performances,occasionally revisiting old favorites such as
Freestyle Analog
and
Cheese Factor Set to 9
.
5. BEST NEW ARTISTS
 (Erwin) Intolerant and Loss Of ControlJust because they’re metal and they don’t give a f**k.(Luis) Ang Bandang ShirleyThey’re not rock gods or avant-garde experimentalists — they’re the people that you meet, when you’re walkingdown the street, each day. Except that they have an enormous talent for impeccable pop tunes and quirky-heartfeltlyrics. And enormous appetites as well.(Quark) Taken by CarsA lot of people accuse Taken by Cars of ripping off Bloc Party. I say they’re better than Bloc Party. “Endings of a NewKind” is the kind of debut that feels like it was made after years of meshing and collaborating as artists, andindividually the instrumentalists have that perfect balance of standing out yet sounding completely organic.
6. COMEBACK OF THE YEAR (By Erwin Romulo)
 Marcus Adoro with “Markus Highway.” Whoever would’ve thought that Marcus had it in him to make such inventive,winsome pop music? The sojourn from the music scene has certainly made his songwriting talents come to fruition.The first bona-fide Pinoy surf album.Another band is Afterimage. Just because Wency actually dared. He failed (miserably), but what an attempt! And thatvideo where he keeps jumping is funny in a macabre sorta way.
7. ALBUM COVERS
 (Erwin) Up Dharma Down, “Bipolar” Not as genuinely complex and dazzling as the band’s music contained within, but it sure does a neat job of inviting usinto it.(Luis) Ang Bandang Shirley, “Themesongs” C’mon. That Pepper Roxas cover is all sorts of adorable.
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