Greatest is Dead Ends
- first fully independent album release
-all their 3 other albums were also independently produced and released.
-they are known in undergroud scenes across the globe.
-their songs confronted the Marcos regime head on, risking their lives, they were even there during the EDSA revolution
-it was a time when rock/punk non conformist music was considered demonic, so imagine the struggle
-they didnt do catchy, pang masa songs, so for me, it means they were really into the art
-their last album mamatay sa ingay shows skilled they were, especially the late bassist Jay Dimalanta, and guess who played guitar in that album? right, Lourd de Veyra
-until now chief songwriter and vocalist Al dimalanta still plays without losing aggression in the band THROW, still truly "independent", has not sold out
-they have influenced countless kids to be inspired to form bands including a kid named RAYMOND MARASIGAN, who even mentioned them in of his songs from his side project.
- all their lyrics about the struggles of youth and politics are still very much current. they werent spoiled, rich brats and were in the thick of things during the notoriously dangerous 80s punk scene,
So there, that's my critical analysis, Dead Ends showed both integrity and skill plus relevance. I look at bands/artists based on what their intentions are. And Al DImalanta was a poet of the streets who bravely shouted against an infamously oppresive regime with straight uncloaked lyrics and also sang about the dysfunctions of adolescence without the usual imagery of drugged out and drunken rockers.
BOW.