This Year (Moonstar88, 2012)

This Year, Moonstar 88’s answer to their fans, is either a very long EP or a short LP. Or rather it’s more like a second disc to a repackaged Todo Combo. Only you don’t have to purchase the same album again (in case you already have it) just to get the bonus disc. Nor their label needs to repackage the album to sell more, because that album has already sold out. And while I initially thought of this as a teaser to their next full length, it is actually not. This is their new full length album, their first in five years. Reportedly, it took them two years to finish recording. Counting the songs, they came up with only half as much as we got from its predecessor. Sound-wise, they just stuck with what made Todo Combo worked so well. Some may call it staying in their comfort zone. But I think being a little too adventurous were among the pitfalls of their first two albums. Go check their songs “Gilid” and “Ligaw”, if you like what you hear, the rest of this mini-album would hardly disappoint. Mini-album, wow, that’s so K-Pop. ***