Sugarfree’s Sa Wakas, Dramachine and Tala-Arawan

The thing that I love most about pinoy bands is the fact that they help each other out. If you peer inside their album covers and read their thank you messages, you’d always read about a handful of other bands and some of the industry’s movers and shakers like Buddy Zabala and Raymund Marasigan. And whenever I read their thank you’s, I always try and see if my favorite bands are in them like Itchyworms and E-heads. And sure enough, they’re there. Another band that constantly pops up is Sugarfree.

Ebe Dancel’s name would always come up whenever good songwriters are on topic, especially in forums like Talk@PhilMusic. I didn’t really know who he was and which band he belonged to so I did a little research and found out he’s the frontman of Sugarfree. In my head I was like, “Sugarfree? Ah…Hari ng Sablay,” But I didn’t liked that song, so what’s the deal with him being such a good lyricist? Of course, silly me, they must have tons of other songs. So I bought all 3 of their albums to see and hear firsthand Dancel’s genius.

Sa Wakas

Tracks:
1. Burnout
2. Hintay
3. Mundong Malungkot
4. Taguan
5. Fade Away
6. Unang Araw
7. Mariposa
8. Telepono
9. Tummy Ache
10. Los Baños
11. Insomya
12. The Allan Song

Dramachine

Tracks:
1. Sinta
2. Prom
3. Kwentuhan
4. Martir
5. Hari ng Sablay
6. Tulog Na
7. Limbo
8. Kandila
9. Kwarto
10. Alinlangan
11. Tao
12. Dramachine
13. Reprise
Bonus Audio:
1. Cuida
2. Burnout (ulit)
3. Makitang Kang Muli

Tala-Arawan

Tracks:
1. Dear Kuya
2. Kailan Ka ba?
3. Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin
4. Huling Gabi
5. Salamin
6. Nangangawit
7. Pasyal
8. Wari Ko’y
9. Ang Pinakamagaling Na Tao Sa Balat Ng Lupa
10. Reunion
11. Wag Ka Nang Umiyak
12. Ikaw Pala
Bonus Track:
1. Batang-bata Ka Pa

After loving the Itchyworms’ albums and proclaiming their songs ultra addicting and cool and witty, I must admit that Sugarfree’s appeal is almost the same for me. If you listen to all their albums, you get a sense of continuity starting from Sa Wakas, to Dramachine and Tala-Arawan. They’re very consistent with their sound; very relaxed, upbeat and they totally rock! It’s one thing that they have such good melodies and it’s another that they have truly amazing and smart lyrics. What I like about Dancel’s songs is that you can easily relate to what he’s saying. I love it that he chooses the simplest of words for his compositions and yet have a deep and sharp meaning to them.

Another thing about them is that Dancel’s voice is a part of their trademark. It’s not Medwin Marfil material, but does the job of rendering a soul to their songs.

In all honesty, I love all their songs. Okay not all, but most of them I love. If I’d choose one best song per album, it’ll be Telepono (Sa Wakas), Tulog Na (Dramachine) and Wag Ka Nang Umiyak (Tala-Arawan). There are tons of other great songs in their albums that I equally love like (please forgive me for enumerating almost all of them): Burnout, Mundong Malungkot, The Allan Song, Insomya, Mariposa, Hintay, Unang Araw, Kwentuhan, Limbo, Kwarto, Sinta, Dramachine, Alinlangan, Cuida, Dear Kuya, Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin, Wari Ko’y, Nangangawit, and Ikaw Pala.

I particularly love Dramachine because, I don’t really know why, I can’t stop my head from going along with their beats. Their other 2 albums are also amazing but there’s something about their seemingly fresh and clever songs in their sophomore compilation that makes me want to hug my pillow and just stare somewhere. They take me everywhere; they make me laugh, they make me sigh (courtesy of Tulog Na and Burnout) and they make me think hard. That’s how appealing they are to me. Geez, I practically worship them already.

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