Long jump from Bert to Martin… to Robin

Robin Nievera

“Overwait”

PolyEast Records

Robin Nievera is one fine blues guitar player. The evidence is on all 10 tracks on this debut album, whose title, “Overwait,” is rich with self-deprecating wit.

Nievera turns serious when he strums his growling guitar strings on all of the CD’s tracks, particularly “In 3’s,”  “Sexy Strut,” and “Lost,” where he seems desperately in love with a femme fatale.

But which lady of his affections—real or imagined—would not surrender upon hearing the emotional sensitivity in “Smile,” “Delight” and “Beautiful”?

In this scenario, the couple should find themselves dancing to the funk-infused “Soundtripping.”

Bring out the wine and raise a glass to Nievera’s accomplishment. It’s been a long and winding road from Bert to Martin to Robin. Pocholo Concepcion

Apo Hiking Society

“Paalam nAPO: The Farewell Concert,” May 29, 2010

The Thirdline Inc.

We’ve heard of Apo since we were young and today we still enjoy their songs. This DVD relives that historic night nearly two years ago at the Music Museum when fans, friends, and colleagues in the music industry trooped to see the legendary pop trio perform for the last time.

The series of shows dubbed “Paalam nAPO” from February to May 2010 marked the final chapter of the group’s career. What might have otherwise been a bittersweet farewell for Danny Javier, Buboy Garrovillo and Jim Paredes turned instead into a rousing celebration of four decades of friendship that spills over into their songs.

The ageless ruling triumvirate of Pinoy pop delighted audiences with the same formula of barkada music combined with its signature Apo banter. All-time favorites like “Ewan,” “Batang Bata Ka Pa,” “Pumapatak Ang Ulan,” “Panalangin,” “Awit Ng Barkada,” “Mahirap Magmahal Ng Syota Ng Iba,” “Blue Jeans,” “Yakap Sa Dilim,” and assorted medleys are all here. Especially heartwarming is the novel arrangement of Filipino folk tunes fused with contemporary pop that segue seamlessly to a wonderful pastiche.

“Paalam nAPO” is a fitting tribute to the gang who made us feel like family, with songs that became the soundtrack of our lives. Edwin Aguilar, Contributor

Cathy Go

“Find My Way To You”

Mayumi Records

Cathy Go is one of the brightest young talents to follow the path taken by Sampaguita, Lolita Carbon, Lou Bonnevie, Cynthia Alexander, Barbie Almalbis, Aia de Leon, Yeng Constantino and other chick rockers. Discovered while opening an Aiza Seguerra concert, Go impressed guitarist-composer Mike Villegas so much that he started writing songs for her to record.

The result is “Find My Way To You,” Go’s debut CD bankrolled by Villegas and his wife Bayang Barrios and released on the couple’s indie label, Mayumi Records.

Villegas seems to have tailor-made the assertive “Ayaw Na Kung Ayaw” to Go’s tough persona, the song’s swaggering tempo punctuated by brash lines: “’Di marunong manghinayang itong puso ko.”

But the album’s gems are the ballads, notably “Atin Lang Ito,” which is hands down the most tender make-out tune we’ve heard in recent months.

Even Go’s voice, although more suited to the kick-ass nature of rock ’n’ roll, assumes a mellifluous tone on the soft tracks. Pocholo Concepcion

Rihanna

“Talk That Talk”

Def Jam/MCA Music

Twenty Top 10 singles, including 11 No. 1’s and still counting. Oh, be-e-e-e-abe! There seems to be no stopping Rihanna’s winning formula of love, pain and redemption.

“Talk That Talk” is an eclectic collection of dance tracks and midtempo inspirational ballads that combine R&B, hip hop, dance pop, electro house and dubstep. The album also boasts productions from currently hot studio wizards Alex da Kid, Bangladesh, Calvin Harris, Dr. Luke, The Dream, Hitboy and Stargate.

Parental advisory: This record was dubbed by MTV as “the dirtiest pop album ever!” But raunchy moments aside, there are also pleasant reasons to like it, like the fun pop, reggae-flavored “You Da One”; the dance floor-ready rave tracks “Where Have You Been,” “We Found Love,” and “Drunk on Love”; the anthem-like “We All Want Love”; and the wonderfully-arranged ballad “Fool in Love.”

Just be ready to explain to the kids that such bawdy lines as “Suck my cockiness/Lick my persuasion” are, well, figures of romantic speech. Edwin Aguilar, Contributor

Ed Sheeran

+ (pronounced “plus”)

Warner Music

With only an acoustic guitar and his self-confidence as backup, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has been enjoying huge success since his debut single, “The A Team,” topped the UK chart. Sheeran’s magical lyrics have won him not only fans around the world but have also brought him the Best Solo Male Artist Award and the Best British Breakthrough Act at the 2012 British Music Awards. Amazing accomplishment for someone who got his start on Facebook and on YouTube.

Sheeran is an excellent storyteller—proof of which is the upbeat, Caribbean-influenced “Drunk,” the fast-talking “U.N.I.,” the beautifully-arranged “Small Bump” and “Lego House,” the plaintive acoustic “This,” the beatbox-syncopated “The City” and “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.” Edwin Aguilar, Contributor