"...Hahahaha someone should produce the QLE Awards. Seriously."

                               - Shawn Yao

By now you would have heard of QLE:

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/vidvibe/view/20081121-173640/The-QLE-Awards

and

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/11/22/20081122141661.html#

and if I wasn't the web promoter of Drip - they would win most of the awards but if I wasn't, this would be my choices :)

BRAND NEW ARTIST



Taken by Cars - there's a reason they got invited twice to CSB - once for Frosh Night and the next in Myx Slam Jam - I had my student org president Uij Dollosa listen to them and he was hooked. Love their live acts and their album is so good someone stole my autographed copy. (return it please).

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

(my biased choice - IDENTITY THEFT by DRIP)



Lover's Quarrel by Mike's Apartment - this can be the libretto of the first ever Filipino neo-soul opera (you heard it here first). Mike Constantino kept telling me that the songs in the album told a story and that the songs had an arc. I actually met the girl who inspired the LSS-inducing "FIRST" - which is an ABSTINENCE THEME SONG waiting to happen (attention Derek of True Love Waits).

SONG OF THE YEAR

(my biased choice - LISTENING by DRIP)

Sabi-Sabi by Yosha - every artist/band wanting to get into the scene should listen again and again if they really want to be part of this OPM. Do your really want to nominated into the Nu107 Rock awards and not get an invite? Listen to this song

First by Mike's Apartment - Mike Constantino sings what every man thinks when they realize the first time that realization hits them the first time but could not articulate. You will sing this again and again.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

(my biased choice - FALLEN by DRIP just because it's a CREATIVE COMMONS video, the first in the Philippines)

Yugto by Rico Blanco (the Quark and Edsel cut) - how many videos do you have that deal with the Filipino Spirit World - must-see video for people into Spiritual Mapping and Spiritual Warfare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJoakmMsBVw)

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR

Yosha - that's why I booked them in The Room Upstairs when NOBODY had ever heard of them :) Barbie Amalbis-Honasan told me to look out for the band when they come out after I was blown away by Yosha's duet with Julianne covering Jill Scott's "Long Walk" when Tropezz was still Tavern and they just did  Bass Guitar Clinic for Victory this week - I'm blown away every time these group performs whether they are a quartet or a duo (Yosha as Jill Scott in Revolver 62: Run for Cover 2).

ALBUM COVER OF THE YEAR



Lover's Quarrel by Mikes' Apartment (Brian Sergio)

1. Lorraine Lapus ('nuff said)
2. Can't miss this album because of it's size
3. The 2 years was worth the wait, I even have a YouTube video of their first recording sessions for this album (I think ...) - (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWI71qcrE-g)

ARTIST OF THE YEAR




Up Dharma Down - even though their album launch was impenetrable (try going to Hexagon Lounge in RCBC Plaza with a thousand other people at the same time) - this band will always continue to make a difference

SPECIAL MENTION:



Betamax by Sandwich - reminds me of Richard Tuason's "Wala noon sa States" and Miko Pepito's spoken word poetry, it just reminds me of the stuff that we used to do and have when there was no internet etc. Thanks Sandwich!

UPDATE!

1. The band links to their songs and videos are now CLICKABLE!
2. Be there on December 10 at Route 196 as we celebrate OPM and the FIRST EVAR QLE AWARDS! - ENTRANCE IS FREE OF CHARGE SO YOU DON'T HAVE AN EXCUSE NOT TO BE THERE!