Their debut proved that their was indeed something about the local scene’s ska/reggae/rocksteady scene to be capable of putting out something that didn’t sound diluted show-band “party people in the house” stuff. (Clearly these guys just don’t own Bob Marley’s “Legend” CD or that wretched Big Mountain Peter Frampton cover.) Drawing from influences like Hepcat, Jackie Mitoo and 2 Tone, they managed to create music that’s resoundingly and genuinely homegrown. Chief songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Paul Puti-an sings like he needs to — a cross between James Brown and Joe Strummer. On their second album, No Hero, Coffeebreak Album continues to evolve even way past the confines of the genre. Songs like "Parang Himala", "Porno", and "When The Music Fades" may stray a bit further from the parameters that lesser bands like, say, Brownman Revival would doggedly adhere to — but, by God, does it retain the spirit of their musical forbearers. Not that you won’t get the good ol’ stuff here too as evidenced in the superb title track. They mean it, man.

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- Erwin Romulo

Curator, Writer, Film Maker, Music Critic, Musician

Editor in Chief of Esquire Philippines (2011-2015)