TRCK OF THE WEEK: The Strangeness - Liliw
Garage-rock turned Alternative-country misfits, The Strangeness, are back with a brand new single titled "Liliw" from their debut album, "Scorned as Timber, Beloved of the Sky" under Wide Eyed Records Manila label. You might be wondering if there are any local alternative country-garage rock bands that follow the bloodline of Wilco, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Pinegrove, and Spiritualized. Strangely enough, The Strangeness has existed for quite a while and they've been kicking ass with their fair share of home-y country rock tunes and intense lo-fi punk jams. Even before this whole music blogging came to fruition, I was digging for some old affordable vinyl records around Cubao when I was in 2nd-year high. I was bound to dig up some dirt cheap vinyl in the bin that cost right around 100 and 200 bucks. I didn't really depend on buying up to date releases and I never got into purchasing the mint and expensive ones either. Most vinyl records I ended up playing on the record player was a bunch of obscure country rock bands in the 1970s. Those 70s country rock records eventually became a gateway for me to discover more music whether online or through vinyl digging. With the Strangeness being on board in my music enthusiasm for a couple of years, I can't help but feel happy with "Liliw" in the light of day ever since it was performed live for a couple of years. "Liliw" and its songwriting is immensely contemplative where it talks about a bunch of friends wanting to hang out in a pond somewhere in their hometown. This type of songwriting has this powerful effect on the listener. Alongside the reflective lyrics are the incredible instrumentals that followed which are the twangy guitars that glide above frontman and lead guitarist Francis Cabal's angelic vocals, the powerful blend of blues inspired guitar solos, and the calming piano keys dancing to the soulful guitar riffs that build in the very end of the track; "Liliw" overall makes you want to think about summertime in those sweetest moments. Seeing the Strangeness release mellow after mellow track are hints of what their debut album would sound like. If you look at their past releases like their single, "Easy Boys and Easy Girls" and the entirety of "Jesus Camp EP" for example, you could completely see that this band are making their music sound like they're neatly packed inside one giant box full of obscure bands that I spent my time hearing during my days in Cubao. This is 5 years in the making and we're finally getting a brand-new, mint condition debut album -- A badass, soul rocking, foot stomping, headbanger of a debut album that us music fans will be anticipating. If you guys still think that you're born in the wrong generation, you might want to think again after you guys listen to "Liliw" by The Strangeness. It's all worth it to the very end.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO RIGHT HERE: