Nagmamahal (sa) BennyBunnyBand: Album Review

It's been awhile. I know. Forgive me. Adult life.
A month ago during the BennyBunnyBand Tshirt Launch, I got a copy of their EP. If you haven't heard the music of this amazing trio, Kuneho Rock, I had a brief fangirling post about them previously.

After playing their tracks day in and day out, which made my daughter start humming Dear Laarni one day, I've finally found my strength to get up the hospital bed and write a review.

Their EP has six (6) tracks:

Dear Laarni
Ikaw Na (Ang Anghel, Bow!)
5-10
Pam ToGetHer
I'm Coming
P.S. Laarni

Their songs began with "ligaw" songs, upbeat and weirdly nice to hear. Well, that is Kuneho Rock, unique and weird, but good. That is best noted in Dear Laarni which focused on this guy trying to win a girl's heart. Filled with the common words of a seemingly lovestruck guy in a hurry for a yes from his lady love, Dear Laarni poses more on the humorous side of things rushed and ecstatic with young love. With the fast, literal breath-taking singing of lead Benny Giron, and a lot of voice maneuvers, the song made the rhythm like pulsating heartbeat with unpredictable highs and lows, fasts and slows. Ah, young love. That's Dear Laarni.

Ikaw Na (Ang Anghel, Bow!) is another ligaw song with an upbeat, but rather slower rhythm---something you can pick for a good night gig of harana. This song aimed to use all compliments for the girl from flowers to angels. This poses as an all-out pa-impress, boladas to get that yes in a very Filipino kind of way. The signature Kuneho Rock is still in place and the colloquial lingo of the lyrics makes it more relatable even to youngsters who are ready to strum their way towards their girl's heart.

5-10 is another ligaw song, but this time, hitting a higher level of wooing. This could even pass for an Ode, which is a praise song. Placing the girl on a pedestal, the guy had to present himself so little. It may be sincerely done as he has very low self-esteem, or it's just another Pinoy type of flattery which belittles oneself to praise another. Whatever it is, this is simply another rocking piece that would make your heart melt, ironically, in fast beats.

Pam ToGetHer is more of a ballad that tells a story, like "one normal day, I met this girl..." kind of story. This focuses on Pam, a girl, maybe as beautiful as Helen of Troy that everyone seems to fall on their knees just to get her attention. This song works less on the lyrics, but focused on the instrumentals. It's beat is as rad as Dear Laarni, and it's fun all the way. You really don't need to know what happened to Pam and her suitors to enjoy the music. It's that one song that would make you dance even in your lowest of moods.

I'm Coming is my favorite. According to Benny, this is their most serious song so far. Yes. Serious and heart-warming. It was rather short compared to the other songs, but there is a reason behind that. The first two verses were all about the extreme anguish of longing for your loved one. The person may be in a far away place, or can be emotionally far. So it could be a make-up song, actually. It can also be for LDR. Whatever pleases you, just enjoy the music. These verses have a quite long instrumental in between which gives the slow pacing of thoughts and the sadness despite the upbeat music, each verse shifting to another thought. This is followed by a long "haaaahh...." that marks the faster pacing of rhythm and the increasing intensity concluded by "Malapit na!" This intensity became a surge of emotions and excitement on the couple's nearing moment to meet. The same intensity was sustained and ended by a climactic "Mahal ko...nandito na ko." Then an abrupt stop after several plucking. Does it sound familiar? Yup. Though this song is a very heart-warming composition, it has its sexual undertones. Thus, this suits a good make-up...song.

P.S. Laarni will break your heart into pieces, chopped, minced and seasoned with salt. It was a song you won't expect from the band---tear-jerking especially if you have imagined yourself to be Laarni on the first song. And my first thought when I heard this song, "How could you be so cruel?" Yes, it was a cruel song, for a saksak-puso-tulo-ang-dugo kinda cruel. I don't want to talk about it anymore. Maiiyak na naman ako.

I guess that's it! This band is great in live performances and in everyday sound tripping. My kid even memorized Ikaw Na and dance to it while brushing her teeth. But don't take my word for it. Grab your copy of the BennyBunnyBand's EP! But not now. Sadly, they are still reproducing physical copies after it was sold out.

Don't fret! They have Dear Laarni, Pam ToGetHer and Forbidden Song No. 2: Kamandag (Pogi Problems) on Spotify! Kamandag is the ultimate f***boi song. Just saying.

Also, you can see them perform live this coming Fete dela Musique on June 18, 2016, 4th Floor Alfresco Area, Century City Mall! Here's the schedule of the Fusion Stage:

The best thing about Fete dela Musique:

But there are more reasons to see them:

FREE OPM memes SHIRT!

How?
1. Share this photo and caption your post with "I AM GOING TO #FeteFusion2016" Make sure that your post is "PUBLIC"
2. BE THERE ON SATURDAY! Pag tinawag ang name mo at wala ka, mapupunta sya sa iba. </3

Deadline of entries will be on Friday, June 17, 2016 (8pm)
Here's the Facebook post.

Another!

WIN A FREE D&D UKULELE (Concert size) with Belcat pick-up from Ukulele Philippines.

How?
1. Share this photo and caption your post with "I AM GOING TO #FeteFusion2016" Make sure that your post is "PUBLIC"
2. BE THERE ON SATURDAY! Pag tinawag ang name mo at wala ka, mapupunta sya sa iba. </3

Deadline of entries will be on Friday, June 17, 2016 (8pm)
Here's the Facebook post.

In case you are not lucky enough to win these prizes, 

you can always take home a souvenir of this event. How?

P R E - O R D E R N O W !

Email: watunderdogsprod@gmail.com or message WAT UP or Para sa Sining on Facebook.

To get updates and to support the Pinoy Music Scene,
You may follow my favorite bunnies on Twitter: @BennyBunnyBand
Like their page on Facebook: BennyBunnyBand

See you, EveryBunny!

Have You Heard Kuneho Rock?

Here's my copy of the EP, signed by my favorite bunnies
and of course, the Bunny shirt!

Have you found yourself hopping with the rhythm of a song? Talk about live performances that bring the hyper kid out of you.That, maybe, is a Kuneho rock you are listening to. Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce to you one of my favorite bands in the indie music scene --- The BennyBunnyBand!

*Kuneho Rock (Bunny Rock) is a tag for the music specifically made by BennyBunnyBand.

Points why I love this band:

Energy
If you have seen them perform live, you would know what I mean. There is this kind of hyper energy, exuded by the stage that seems airborne, and the audience easily catches this feel all throughout the performance. Here's a sample of their song Dear Laarni. Then tell me afterwards if you didn't think of dancing with it. :D




Packaging
I'm not just really talking about the costumes. Though that is one thing I love, too. They can sport any ridiculous costume or go all naked or nearly, and regardless of that, they would deliver the same cool performance. The costume adds to the fun, but it's really more of the performance that makes all the dress-up cool. Another is their name. Benny Giron is the lead vocals who plays the Ukulele and obviously why it's Benny. Sorry for my biases, but I just love figures of speech because I'm an English teacher, so the alliteration of B is so good, I love it. For those who are not familiar with alliteration, that is the repeated consonant sounds employed in order to establish internal rhythm. That is so literary and so musical in my opinion. Also, their EP brought out my frustrations with letters. Really, who doesn't want too receive snail mails in this digital age? There is nothing else more romantic than that. Then marked with Nagmamahal, BennyBunnyBand though there was a last minute cross-out of nagmamahal. Hehe. Love their faces on the stamps. One for the collection.

Humor
We all know how difficult it is to write songs, to perform them and get people to listen to them. How much more to write songs with humor? Their humor reminds me of PNE though they have different sounds. I tip my hat to music makers who can make fun music and not getting the novelty song label. That is one difficult thing to achieve in the kind of music industry we have. On a different note, they may have the humor, kilig, and fun in their music, but they broke my heart in P.S. Laarni. Really, guys. You we're so cruel. I'm going to move on soon. Thank goodness, I'm not Laarni.

Music
So this is the first time I saw a lead vocals using an Ukulele. I didn't even know that it could go well with band performances. I've heard the instrument played many times especially by my students who try to learn it, but I've never imagined it on stage at B-Side Makati for a night gig. That is really amusing for me, so, yo, Benny! You're awesome! The sound of the Ukulele and the unique vocals mark the difference of their music among other indie bands, plus their upbeat Kuneho rock that makes it all jumpy and great to open a gig night, just like what they did during the MilesExperience Album Launch!

By the way, their EP is composed of six tracks:

• Dear Laarni
• Ikaw Na (Ang Anghel, bow!)
• 5-10
• Pam ToGetHer
• I'm Coming
• P.S. Laarni

To get updates and to support the Pinoy Music Scene,
You may follow them on Twitter: @BennyBunnyBand
Like their page on Facebook: BennyBunnyBand

And hey, they're on Spotify! 

Listen to Dear Laarni, Pam ToGetHer and their recently released single on Spotify, 

Forbidden Song No. 2.  

Wondering where Forbidden Song No. 1 is? Here you go. 

Credits to the owner, taken at B-Side Makati during the MilesExperience Album Launch, April 30. 

(Please use your earphones and watch it as how you watch forbidden clips. 

Alam na this! Rated SPG)