Kiko Machine (Kiko Machine, 2004)

The lads of Kiko Machine, indie/comedy/rock band composed of Fine Arts students from UP, aren't very fine, to say the least. Not only do they idolize a second-rate moustachioed matinee, they also dream to be on the cover of Pulp magazine, and if all else fail, they'll do everything just to become boldstars. Musically, I'll put them somewhere behind PNE, together with, though not as popular as Kamikazee. They're funnier than Giniling Festival and definitely better than Rocksteddy. Their music maybe just as derivative as anyone mentioned above, but their gimmicks and ticks are definitely their own - from wearing costumes (their bassist dons a Spider-man costume), to rousing live performances (see their Youtube videos), to the wildly imaginative album cover and songs full of wry college humor and TV nostalgia. And underneath all the gimmickry and raucous live performances, are remarkably well-written songs. Songs that primarily evokes adolescent and post-adolescent memories spent in front of the boob tube - raving about and imitating those TV shows - be it an afternoon soap, Sunday morning cartoons or late night series. Theirs is a generation that grew-up watching Batibot, Aguila, McGyver, Takeshi's Castle and WWF and they're proud of it. No wonder that their best songs, aside from "Gabi", are inspired by these TV shows. And that song about McGyver is definitely one funny gem. ***