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. ***
Rock is dead theorem was actually bollocks. Unbeknownst to
many, Pavement's Brighten the Corners actually saved rock n' roll in '97. And paved the way for Superdrag's pretentiously titled Head Trip In Every Key the following
year, which proved that rock wasn't just breathing fire, but was actually alive
and kicking asses, albeit murderously. But then, Superdrag and their music
(ditto with Pavement) never had that counterculture baggage for the industry
and media to exploit. Thus, this masterpiece never stole the spotlight. While
the band boasts melodic burst after burst of glorious fuzz, they were probably
closer to breezy power-pop of Fountains of Wayne than to the darker sound of the early
nineties. And while their label were probably aiming them to be the next big
thing, John Davis and his cohorts had
another thing in mind - make another great album without repeating Regretfully Yours. Unfortunately, it flew under the radar and never made a hit, and so the band got
dropped subsequently. The world is not fair. Pitchfork, Slant and everyone, this band deserves to be on your list. A
forgotten classic. Though they never really cared about hits, especially on this
album, this isn't Nirvana trying to be unlistenable on In Utero. This is not a band trying to shy away
from the spotlight. Superdrag meant it to be shared and heard. And they're just
there, hanging around the corner, waiting, secretly watching and yearning for
those precious minutes you wasted, quietly inviting you to grab those headphones, press play and listen. *****