Beautiful Machines Explained

Beautiful Machines
Type:Album
Artist:Pupil
Cover:Beautiful Machines.jpg
Released:November 11, 2005
Studio:Wombworks Studios
Length:53:27
Next Title:Wild Life
Next Year:2007

Beautiful Machines is the debut studio album by the Filipino alternative rock band Pupil, released on November 11, 2005 through Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The album featured the singles “Nasaan Ka?”, "Dianetic", "Dulo Ng Dila", and "Gamu-Gamo".

Background

Pupil was formed in 2005 as a spin-off of The Mongols, an underground band featuring Eraserheads vocalist Ely Buendia (vocals), Teeth guitarist Jerome Velasco (guitars), Yanni Yuzon (bass), and Bogs Jugo (drums). When Velasco left the band to study in the United States, the band members recruited Dok Sergio (who also played guitar for Teeth), who swapped duties with Yuzon and played bass.[1] The band's manager and Buendia's then-partner Diane Ventura described Pupil's sound as "more pop" while The Mongols were "guitar-driven".[2] The band signed with Sony BMG on September.

Music and lyrics

All members contributed songs to the album.[3] “It’s less indulgent. It’s more focused,” said Buendia. “This is uncompromised. We are now talking directly to the audience,” said Sergio. Jugo added: “We did as we please. We don’t care about making hits.” The band recorded at Wombwork Studios in Marikina.

The album featured the lead single “Nasaan Ka?”, which was written by Ventura (who also sings in the title track). A music video was directed by Quark Henares. “Nasaan Ka?” later won Best Performance by a New Group at the 19th Awit Awards.[4]

One of the album tracks, "Blow Your House Down", appeared in the animated film Hoodwinked![5] The film, which was the first independently produced 3D animated feature to be produced in the Philippines,[6] later premiered in December.

Release

The band sold the first hundred copies of the album at a bar in Makati two days before it was released in stores.

Personnel

Pupil

Additional musicians

Production

Design

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jorge . Rome . Rock ’n’ roll survivor – triumphant . The Manila Times . 24 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Lo . Ricky . Has Ely B. totally erased E-Heads from his memory? . Philippine Star . 25 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Coping with a reluctant icon . Balita.com . 25 August 2024.
  4. Web site: 19th Awit Awards: LIST OF WINNERS . Awit Awards . 25 August 2024.
  5. Web site: Ely Buendia on the “Hoodwinked” Soundtrack . Philmusic.com . 25 August 2024.
  6. Web site: Peszko . J. Paul . Hoodwinked: Anatomy of an Independent Animated Feature . VFX World . 25 August 2024.