Impressive album design. Too bad it stops there. The first two tracks of Maharlika, “Filipina” and “Tadhana” sound a tad bit too alike that when I I first played the album, I thought I was listening to a pretty long first track. Turns out I was midway Tadhana already. I even replayed the opening of Filipina then jumped to the opening of Tadhana just to arrive at the same conclusion, that they do sound alike. Good thing, “Hanggang sa Muli” (which also comes with an acoustic version) sounded different or I would have surmised that it is the band’s prerogative to foster a very distinctive, nay consistent, nay staple sound. “Simulan Na Natin” tried to sound suave, even sexy with the inclusion of a female vocalist (Hi-C). Tried, for it was kind of unnerving to hear the male vocal slowly squealing “Dahan, dahan, dahan, dahaaaaan.” The track “Meantime Girl” had good intentions, it told of the story of er, a meantime girl. Good intentions, but measly ends. Same is true with “Someone For You” which intended to be a comfort song, until the delivery got slightly botched up. But “Strong Man” considerably redeemed the album. Along with “Learn to Swallow,” the lone track in the album which I find to be conspicuously angst-ridden. The album’s media release suggested that perhaps the said track was dedicated to someone formerly close to Mcoy and all the members of Kenyo. With lyrics running at “Yes Sir! You’re a user/You’ve been turning your friends into enemies…Mister! Get a lawyer! Maybe he could repay your liabilities/Yes sir! You’re a loser/You have no one to blame for your misery” OUCH! – Check out Pulp's November issue to read more.