album review: girls with different sounds
July 4, 2007By Baby Gil excerpt from The Philippine Star (April 16, 2007)
Girls wanting to break into the music business these days have only a few but very definitive options. There is the singing champion like Sarah Geronimo; the rocker chic, think of the sweet but tough Kitchie Nadal; the bossa nova babe a la sultry Sitti; and the acoustic siren with the haunting call of Juris Fernandez of MYMP. Of course, there are always openings among the Hot Babes or the Sexbomb dancers for the attractive but vocally challenged.
But there are some intrepid sorts who refuse to conform to prevailing trends. Let us thank heaven for them because they dare to be different and keep the music scene lively and interesting. They live with the hope that maybe, they can spark another trend like the bossa nova or acoustic pop and then make it to the top just by being their own true selves.
Jazz in The Powder Room Stories by another singer/songwriter and ex-ska expert Skarlet. Skarlet is the new name of Myra Ruaro, the girl soloist of the Brownbeat AllStars. If I remember right, her former band specialized in ska, that blend of reggae and rock that became a big seller during the New Wave period in the 80’s. Im not also sure but that must have also been the time when she acquired the name Skarlet.
The Skarlet found in her first solo album is of a very different breed though. Save for a boogie-woogie rendition of Brownbeat’s The Way That You Do, no trace of ska remains, Instead there is a Skarlet who leans more toward sexy, willful O’ Hara sort but with a big band sound. The always daring Myra is jazzy and earthy as she goes through 14 tracks in what is truly an exciting album.
I think the package screams ‘hey, we can do this too!’. And Myra accompanied by some of the musicians around does it very well indeed. Get a load of what she does with pop standards Call Me and One Way Ticket To The Blues. Other songs included are Skarlet, Lullaby for Ganei, Anguish, Babae Ka, Myawong, Stay with Me, Birdy Bop, Goodbye Roby Jean, Joy and Words Behind Tears.
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