Photoblog - day 15, April 25, 2010

Haircut day:

We normally do this once a month - by we, of course, I mean Bryce and me... most of the time anyway.

When we do have our haircut, we go to 'Boy', whose been my barber for many years - since Bryce was roughly two.

That said, this is Bryce having his hair cut and Boy in the process of finishing his work. As for me, I'm still sporting very short hair - and intend to do so until the weather gets cooler. Boy is not only my barber - he also goes with me to Batangas to, on occasion, and gives the folks there - like my mom and sister haircuts as well.

Photoblog - day 14, April 24, 2010

Bubbles and me:

The idea of a photoblog is all about taking pictures of what you see - and hoping these pictures remind you of what you did for the year... at times, I have a dearth of pictures to choose from - at other times, I agonize over choosing which among two - sometimes even several, pictures I would like to show... and I need to choose just one.

However, the photoblog is also an opportunity to have a picture of you - at least one per month... added to said blog, with the intent to show how you look at that particular time or moment of your life. That said, I will be inserting pictures of me - once per month (and maybe I'll try to do the same with the rest of my family) to accomplish just that. These pictures will naturally not be pictures by me - as I will be the subject - or at least, one of them.

Having finished that little introduction, here's a picture of me from yesterday, as I arrived home. It has become more of a practice that when I get home, Bubbles eagerly (sometimes over-eagerly at that) greets me, and regardless of how tired my day is, it really is great to have someone - even if just your pet, greet you happily. Not that the rest of my family does not greet me - it's just that Bubbles always jumps in front of the line of greeters.

This greeting ritual will normally end with Bubbles insisting that I carry her - which I'm doing in this here picture. You can see the satisfied and happy smile in her face. Guess she's elated that I'm finally and safely home.

This picture was taken by Bernice upon my prodding - while Bubbles was still in her happy face state.

Photoblog - day 13, April 23, 2010

Safe trip:

A rosary... you'll find it at many homes, pockets and... as in this case, cars in this predominantly Christian/Roman Catholic nation.

Our car has this particular rosary hung around the rear-view mirror... not obstructing the view of course, but meant to be a reminder of sorts that I - whenever I drive, need to be aware... conscious... and never angry or impatient towards my fellow drivers.

I need to remain cool and in control - and not let some crazy inconsiderate poor excuse of a driver force me to do car chases just to get even for a slight they may have done. Lord knows there are more than enough instances when my patience does get tried - and I do have the tendency to not want to be the aggrieved party... and yet.... and yet... I need to remind myself... maybe even ask: "What will I get out of this - really?"

I may get instant satisfaction or gratification that I was able to outdo a bad driver... maybe get even... and feel great for the moment - but at what risk? And did my actions solve the problem? Often enough. my honest answer would be 'no... not really' - and at times, I do need to remember that should any mishap happen to me due to my retaliation, I may end up worse off - than had I just allowed the other person to just get ahead or make their way in. Would my pride and strong sense of fairness help me and my family?

It's all about turning the other cheek... and by this , I don't mean mooning the guy. Nope... It's all about patience - and thanking a higher power for the safe journey you've had. Now let me put things into perspective... I'm no saint - far from it... and it's not about giving up one's principles - it's choosing one's battles - and knowing when it is worth it.

Hence my need for said reminders... and hence the need for a rosary in our car.

Photoblog - day 12, April 22, 2010

Modernist interior:

This picture shows a wall in a resto-cafe that my colleagues and I frequent at Robinson's Cybergate 2, in Boni. What attracted to me about this was its overall impact and artistry. You will notice that the masonry on the bricks is far from smooth - and yet, it is this effect that gives it the post-modernist/steam punk look that I thought of. Mind you, I'm no expert in interior design - but the wall was eye catchy due to how it was done.

To counter this rough interior, the cafe's proprietors placed two large mirrors on said wall - right above the long black sofa which serves as comfortable seating options for the cafe's patrons. The mirror reflects the lighting - thus making things brighter; as it likewise reflects the interiors to give the illusion of making the space look more roomy... bigger. But that's not all... If you look closer, the mirror here (as is it's twin) is framed by rough wood that matches the roughness of the walls.

Adding a finishing touch - the frame is back-lit by white lighting which gives a zen design - countering the roughness of the wood and wall... while seemingly supporting the smoothness and tranquility of the mirror's surface. Whether the owners or designers really had this in mind, I don't know... all I do know is that it's over-all impact impressed me enough to take this picture and share it. No special effects or adjustments made here... just wanted to show the scene.

Photoblog - day 11, April 21, 2010

Simple Cool Pleasure...

I created a pitcher of Margarita for Ben, Shirley and myself - so we could beat the heat of summer in a hot summer's night.

Since this was a Frozen Margarita, it allowed for unique shapes to form as I let the frozen part slide into the cocktail glass.

I noticed that it was difficult to see the texture of the drink just by the pictures I took. That said, I tried experimenting with higher contrasts just to see any proof that this was a frozen margarita. I would say that this picture shows me able to meet most of what I set out to do... though I still consider becoming even better. For starters, I can't seem to get the right focus to capture said texture... at least, not yet any way. That said, I will wait and continue practicing until things become clearer.

Photoblog - day 10, April 20, 2010

Sorcerer's apprentice?

This is a snow globe of Mickey reprising his role of the 'Sorcerer's Apprentice' in the film Fantasia. Despite being just one of a short spiel in the film - Mickey's sole appearance in said Disney film gave (at least in my viewpoint back then) the necessary Disney feel in an otherwise drab and different film. Take note though... this was from the viewpoint of a child so used to the usual Disney fare of colorful characters in great stories. Obviously, Fantasia's genius was lost to me back then... and it wold not be until Fantasia 2000 that I would get reacquainted with said film.

Going back to the Mickey snow globe - first of all, I'm not really a snow globe collector - but back when my family and I vacationed in Hong Kong Disneyland, I was naturally thinking of what would be the best souvenir program to remind me of our trip here. Naturally, I looked at the many shops offering trinkets and souvenirs - but could not decide on what I would like to get for myself... that is, until I saw this snow globe.

What I liked about it was that it was Mickey - the undisputed symbol/mascot of Disney... and it was in his role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice - though looking at this snow globe somehow gives me hints that this Sorcerer may not be an apprentice any more. I also remember that the price was very reasonable, so I thought 'why not?'

That said, I tried experimenting with this Mickey trying to take it from several angles - and seeing how the picture can be further enhanced via Microsoft's picture manager. I tweaked with the contrast a bit to make the background - which is actually our dining table's dark colored glass top, less obvious. Consider this an experiment with little to no lighting.

Just like the Lord of the Rings book-ends, I took a subject (in this case, Mickey) and created the opportunity for a photo shoot.

Photoblog - day 09, April 19, 2010

Black and White:

I've been opting to experiment with shapes and shadows for a while now... I even asked a friend (Brian) whose photos of faces I've found fascinating, how he was able to capture all the details of said faces of old people - wrinkles and all. He said that the trick was in making the pictures black and white. This way, the shadows would appear more visibly.

Since then, I've been waiting for the right opportunity to try my luck out on a similar endeavor. Today, as I was fetching my son, Bryce, from his swimming lessons, I spied this mural hanging on the outside wall of the country club where I met him and his girlfriend (Meiji), and thought... wow... it's got lots of shapes and intricate patterns - plus the sun was shining from one angle, thus casting a lot of shadows, so... take a picture of it I did.

Once done, I cropped it a bit - focusing on the main design of the two people, but making sure there was still enough of the patterns to work with. After this, I just turned it into a black and white picture... tweaked the contrast... and the rest is what you see.

Photoblog - day 08, April 18, 2010

Mirror to the Soul...

That is what they say about the eyes... in this case, this particular right eye belongs to my daughter, Bernice, who wanted me to try and capture her eye as close as possible - so... I set the camera at close-up Av (in case she blinked) setting; zoomed in and took the shot. Once done, I further zoomed into the picture by cropping the picture's background (and to get a pimple out of the picture, as requested) and make the eye's details grow further to see said details better.

If you look closely into the retina, you'll see my reflection focusing the camera to Bernice's eye. I tried enhancing the picture further using the crude - but effective Picture Manager of Microsoft (as I've still no time to study other more sophisticated picture management software - and their capabilities) to add to the picture's contrast.

An interesting experiment, this one.

Photoblog - day 07, April 17, 2010

Afternoon delight:

This afternoon, I happened to be in Greenhills, and while waiting for Barbie and Bernice (having their hair done in the parlor), I visited the local comic shop, got a few issues plus the latest Time magazine then headed for Bo's Coffee, where I ordered a cup of brewed coffee and enjoyed reading. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed my afternoon and did not get impatient.

Did I get to read all the issues? Almost... I just had one issue left to read before the ladies arrived - well, that and the Time magazine. I intend to finish the remaining issue, plus the magazine in a while.

This was a straight forward picture taken... no adjustments in Photoshop or anything like that. Since I was sitting beside the glass window, I had ample lighting without the need for any flash photography.

Photoblog - day 06, April 16, 2010

Extra-ordinary Friendship

This is a picture (just one of several) showing Bubbles and Neco in their playful mode. The fact that a dog and a cat are civil with each other is rare enough - one where they're close friends or feeling like family... well let's just say it's great to watch these two in action.

At times, Neco is the seeming aggressor - and Bubbles just lets her have her way. At times, they run around the ground floor and in this case, they share a playful moment while lying on my bed. Since Neco was introduced to Bubbles while still a kitten, she probably thinks herself a dog - at least, that's the way it seems... specially when she starts panting like a dog after running.

For this particular picture, I just used my auto-focus as they were moving quite actively. No adjustments to the picture's settings were made - this was purely a shoot and picture compress moment.

Photoblog - day 05, April 15, 2010

Morning Reading, marker, coffee and my glasses.

When I find myself in the training room relatively early, I bring out the book I'd be currently reading, and try to finish a few pages (or if things are really interesting to me, this can stretch to a few chapters).

It's a way for me to spend time while waiting for my training to officially start, i.e. the time to start - or sometimes to wait until 50% (or a relatively sizeable number) of attendees to arrive. This practice lets me actually finish reading books, where I would normally not get to even consider starting (let alone, finish) one for a seeming lack of time to really sit down, and enjoy reading one. It's also a time when I can reflect on some poignant lessons the book may offer.

The marker (a dry marker type) is for when I wish to highlight a passage, quote or message from within the pages. The coffee is courtesy of a coffee dispenser during those days when a Starbucks or it's likes are too inconvenient to purchase. The black mug is from one of the many pantries at the client's site which can normally be found on the same floor, so it's just a short walk to the dispenser and (limited) choice of coffee. Other than that, I naturally will be needing my reading glasses; though there are days I can and do try reading without them - but if the font is insensitively written small or when the color combination is such that it becomes hard to discern letter from background, then it's out with the reading glasses.

This was just a straight forward shot - no frills... having paused for a while as I was reading, I noticed the ordinary setting and thought that it would be cool to preserve this scene for posterity... hence my taking the shot.

Why did this picture appeal to me enough to choose it as my picture for the day? Simple... it reminds me of how I can be creative in finding time to continue my quest for knowledge; for my self-awareness or my self-improvement.

Photoblog - day 04, April 14, 2010

A play with perspective:

This what I was trying for here. Fans of Lord of the Rings will of course find my picture's subjects familiar... the Argonaths; which we all saw in the first film 'Fellowship of the Ring'. These were the two tall and imposing statues that the fellowship - while in boats, rowed through enroute to Mordor, close to the movie's end (before they encounter the Orcs and get split up).

I tried to take a picture of the statues from what I thought would be the viewpoint of the Fellowship as they paddled their way between the monolithic landmarks / sentry posts. Just to give you an idea, these statue replicas are just about 5 to 6 inches tall... the picture hopefully gives the illusion of these being tall and intimidating - just like in the movies.

To accomplish this, I just places the statues near the edge of our dining table and took the shot from below the table's surface. It was just a stroke of luck that the wall was somewhat grayish blue - replicating the effect of overcast skies seemingly signaling the ominous plight of the Fellowship. That said, I just adjusted the contrast and color a bit.

Photoblog - day 03, April 13, 2010

Tito Joseph:

This is Tito Joe Tipton, a balikbayan and one of my cooler uncles, though not really a blood relative type uncle... more like a family friend uncle - then again, he also happens to be one of Barbie and my god fathers in our wedding.

Around 7PM, I noticed several missed calls in my cell phone - with a number I did not recognize... so I called to find out who it was. Now, one of my unheralded talents is my ability to recognize peoples voices even if by phone... and the voice of Tito Joe did register after a few seconds. Apparently he was here (only for a limited time) and he was free this particular evening... so off I went (to his hotel) to meet him and catch up with what's been happening.

We spent the night (and had a light dinner) at Cafe Havana in Greenbelt 3, where I had two glasses of Mojitos, and I can honestly say that I prefer our own home brewed Mojitos over the Cafe Havana mix any time.

That said, I was about to post a picture from home until I got the unexpected call from Tito Joe. Guess I shouldn't consider the day ended just because I arrived home; as this evening's surprise twist showed me... and since Tito Joe rarely comes to Manila, I would say the picture I took of him wins, hands down, as picture of the day. If anything, it's a nice surprise and a great reminder of a unique event that happened this day.

Nice seeing you again, Tito Joe!

Photoblog - day 02, April 12, 2010

What a Clown...

This is one of my three Clown Loaches (the fresh water counterpart to the Clown fish of Finding Nemo fame). This picture was one of the latter pictures I took for today, and it was actually a toss-up choosing this and the harder to capture Rummy Noses.

My older camera... an Ixus V, had difficulties capturing moving fishes, hence my having a lot of blurred pictures - specially when we try capturing my smaller, but faster moving Cardinals and Rummy noses. As you can see, the DSLR does not have any problem capturing my fishes now, and I was able to capture the Rummy Nose as well. So why didn't I show that picture? Well... the over all composition of this picture looked much better. If I didn't know better, I'd think my Clown knew it's picture was being taken and posed deliberately for this shot.

Bottom line, I can now better capture my fishes - and I'll probably choose a better picture for my Cardinals and Rummy Noses at another day. Meanwhile, in case you're curious about said Rummy Nose and Cardinal shot, I'll be placing it in my FB pictures. I can now enjoy looking at my fishes for de-stressing sessions - plus look at and share pictures of them when I'm not home.

Technical aspect: I tweaked the contrast a bit to make the fish look less pale, and cropped the excess background. Other than that, I used a manual focus, rather than trying things out automatically.

Photoblog - day 01, April 11, 2010

Water and Wine:

As I was coming in for mass (which we usually attend in the Promenade mall) I spied these two bottles at the end of the makeshift aisle - which normally is where it wold be placed in preparation for offertory. The difference now though is that I brought my camera - so I sat behind the table... focused and took the shot.

Technical background: Cannon D1000 - in 'P' mode and manual focus (to get the closer item while the background becomes de-focused) using an EF-S18-55mm II lens.

Starting out a picture diary / photo blog.

I know it's been a while since my last entry here... guess one reason (aside from a lack of time at times) is my wondering what to write. I know it doesn't have to always be profound, but there are times I have writer's block. So one thing I can do in between - while waiting for my moments of brilliance to strike, is to borrow an idea from a friend (thanks Aodhan) and try out a photoblog with a daily picture that can somehow be used to show my growing skills (crossing fingers here) as a photographer.

Now that I've got that preamble out of the way, I'm wondering how to start it. What rules I should set and what leeway I should have. Let me explain... the original idea of a photoblog - at least, the one I know, is for the blogger to take a picture a day (a discipline I may not be able to always accomplish) and another thing... can I, for example, just present one picture when I may have several?

To answer that... discipline. I'll do my best to try and take a picture a day; and not necessarily from just my DSLR camera (I can likewise use my phonecam), so no real excuse. As for the wanting to show more than one photos - in case, you know, I've got more than one great one... well, I can always post the others in FB... they just won't officially be part of my photoblog. So problem solved.

Moments worth freezing in time...

Have you ever had one of those moments when you pause, take a step back - then realize you wished you could remember that one particular moment in your mind? That if you had a camera - or a blank canvas, you would try to preserve the moment? I know I've had them... and in some instances, they represent very simple - yet wonderful visuals that tell me life is worth living.

One such moment happened just a while ago - in fact, it happened twice around the same time yesterday and today. Of what do I talk about? Simple... it's the image of seeing my kids asleep - really peaceful and rested, while Bubbles, likewise enjoying the lull of the moment and the cool environment, is at times curled up at their feet (sometimes, she's stretched... at other times, she's got her head rested on a pillow).

So why does this merit a pause? Simple, it represents what I want in life... the peace, the quiet, the safeness, the fact that at that point in time, they are blissful and rested. My kids - though they technically are more teens now than kids, are two important aspects of my life... and Bubbles resting at their side - represents of course, the added love, loyalty and security offered them unconditionally. Bubbles stays with them - not because she is forced to... but because she does not think otherwise. It's not for her protection or sheer comfort either... she is very protective of anyone in my family - specially when we are asleep.

But yeah... going back to the topic on hand, this is one image worth remembering. It makes me think everything is okay in my world... and that both Barbie and I are able to continue giving them what they need - including the bliss of resting in a home... mindless of time passing.

Despite what I said earlier about wanting to preserve it with pictures though, I know it's inappropriate to do just that - so I will merely preserve it in my mind... and in this blog.

We should all be so lucky.

Bocelli Christmas album - my review

Few people can match the vocal and production excellence of Josh Groban's Christmas album 'Noel' - it's why I consider it my barometer or benchmark when thinking of 'quality' Christmas songs or albums. It may seem unfair to other artists... it may likewise seem unfair for Mr. Groban. I don't pretend to be an expert in deciding what's good or bad - but I do know what I want when I hear it.

So why start with talking about Mr. Groban? Well, I did say few, right? Here is one album that I feel matching that description. Andrea Bocelli's 'My Christmas' is a must have album. There, I've said it. It's production quality can best be discerned by listening to each song - the arrangement, the selection... and yes, definitely... the voice.

From the very start, with his soulful rendition of White Christmas, switching from English to Italian the obvious strength of Bocelli is his mastery of several languages and his seemingly effortless transitioning from one language to another as he sings without missing a beat... this lends to a universal (okay, maybe just global) theme that Christmas is definitely celebrated around the world... and this singer can definitely relate to that. BTW, I'm guessing about the Italian here, since I don't really speak the language, but if the song's other title 'Bianco Natale' is any clue... I'd guess it was Italian.

Now why'd I say global? Simple, his rendition of another classic Yuletide song, 'O Tanenbaum' starts of - rightly so, in German, then switches to English, and it's not the only song he does this too.

Andrea's other strength is his flexibility - not just with languages, but with his genre... many would say he's a classical singer... fine. Operatic in approach? Maybe so - and by the way, I don't really go for such songs or singers... and if Bocelli sang them, well then fine too... but as I said, I'm not really a fan of such genre. Luckily, Bocelli seems to have traversed such genre and found his mark continuously traversing from pop to classic.

For the most part, his Christmas songs are peppered with classical innuendos, but that's just fine - it does not come across as pretentious, nor forced. I still enjoy the songs, the rendition and... the arrangements. His 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town', for example, is sung with a choir of children... and he comes across as an adult who is reminding the children of their following some simple suggestions for when Santa comes to town - his low voice a pleasant counter to the children's high tones... that is, until he reaches a high note himself.

Another favorite of mine is his 'Jingle Bells' - see if you can place some names to the voices you'll hear him singing with.

One last thought, I believe I carped about Christmas albums carrying 'Ave Maria' as a song - not that I'm anti-Mother Mary or anything... heaven forbid, as I'm Roman Catholic, and I do admire the mother of Jesus, who is equally a central figure in the birth of Jesus... but, the song has been used in other - more sorrowful occasions, so I find it unbecoming of a Christmas tune selection. I won't blame the song - which is basically the 'Hail Mary' prayer... but I'll have to blame the practitioners using said song in sorrowful gatherings for giving me this bias. So why bring this up? Well, Josh added the song in his Christmas album - and so did David (Archuleta) for that matter, and when I hear the first few notes for said song, I simply press the 'next' button in my player whenever it comes up. So you see, even Josh could not remove form me this bias.

Well, apparently, Andrea did something different... he added into his album, the 'Lord's Prayer' - now I may say it isn't exactly a Christmas carol either, but since it's a newer - more contemporary version, it avoids the stigma of being related to less joyful practices... and yes, Andrea sings a good 'Lord's Prayer', so I let it play on.

I'm not saying I accept it as a Christmas tune, mind you... but I don't mind listening to it as part of the album. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my one little complaint to an otherwise, near perfect Christmas album. That said, I reiterate my advice... go buy this album, and enjoy it as a worthy addition to your Christmas holiday celebration. Right before creating this review, I looked at Amazon to seek more information about the album - and it's got some sample tunes for you to listen to... so listen and see if I was right. I also came across some pictures - one where I see Andrea with one of my favorite composers/arranges - David Foster. Maybe that explains the quality.

My rating? Four and a half stars... maybe five, even, that is... if I believed it was perfect.

Sting Christmas album - my review

Imagine yourself sitting in a relatively comfortable chair, as part of an audience who've gotten together in a hall - not unlike the inns of old. The winter night only kept at bay by a large fireplace's warmth... and in the middle of this inn's hall - or perhaps in a visible corner, sits the bard. As he strums his instrument, people ease up on their conversations so they can be entertained by this man.

The Bard starts singing stories - not just simple tunes to be repeated with certain refrains, and followed with a catchy beat... no sir. This bard tells us tales... stories that neither of us have heard - and are not privy to it's ending, so we strain to listen to every word. Got that in your mind? Good - now you're ready to listen to Sting's new album 'If on a Winter's Night...'

To say that this in not your regular Christmas album would be an understatement. If you're looking for songs of Rudolph, Santa and the likes - sorry, look elsewhere. Then again, listeners of Sting won't be surprised by this at all... after all, the man is known for his lyrics being deep, poetic at times, and definitely with a message. It's what makes Mr. Sumner someone I consider, not just as a simple singer - but an artist.

Having said that, how does his Christmas album come across? Well for starters, who says it is a Christmas album? Listening to it won't exactly set you up for Christmas joys - but the stories are indeed there. Like any Bard worth his ale and tale, Sting gives us songs of characters old - yet, looking at them in a new manner. Look to 'Gabriel's Message' and the 'Cherry Tree Carol' to get an idea of what I mean.

Then listen to his 13 other selections. As I said, it's not something you just set up and play in the background... instead, you need to focus on it, specially on the first run - or you'll be lost to the song's tales. In fact, I might even go far to suggest that you first listen to this with your iPod - that way, all the lyrics won't be missed.

So yeah, it bears some focus of attention, and for some this might be a big minus - after all, many people would rather sit back and relax with familiar songs of yore playing at the background while the Christmas lights flick on and off, and if you're the busy type this might not be the album for you - as I said, it can be entertaining... but not in an automatic manner.

If you're too tired to actively listen, I would very much advice you choose to listen to another - more traditional Christmas CD. But if you want to try something different... let the Bard entertain you. In a five star rating, I'd even be reluctant to say my piece... you see, I've listened to it... and realized that I need to listen to it some more. Sometimes, the stories take on a different light when listened to a second time, and a third, or fourth.

But this is just me... and in this instance, please don't take my word for it. Try it out. If you like it, great. If not... no harm done. For a relatively, risk-free trial, you might want to go see the Amazon site to preview a song or two.

David Archuleta Christmas album - a review

It's that time of the year again... when some of us look with mixed feelings to the wonderful gatherings and cheers the season will bring - and along side these, the seemingly madcap shopping for gifts and the traffic that magically swells because of said madcap shopping.

Meanwhile, so of us are already thinking of where to set up our decors and Christmas trees (at least, those of us who need not think about Thanksgiving and Turkeys) - dusting them off from a year's keeping and seeing to the lights - half-hoping they're still good for another season... or if that fails, buying new sets. Then there's the test of patience as we check these lights... and set them up in the tree.

But aside from the usual countdowns, shopping and decor dusting, I believe another manner for preparing is to simply make sure that the music we would like to hear all through the season will be just a touch away... in our iPods, connected to our theater systems' speakers.

That said, I make sure I do have hours of Christmas songs... form the glorious to the happy, from the classic to the new. It is in this latter category that I search, yearly for any new Christmas CD to add to my collection... and it is in this particular month - November - that I start my searching, simply because many of the newer CDs do get released around this time.

My first review spotlight goes to David Archuleta's 'Christmas from the Heart', and let me first give you an idea of what it has... 13 songs, mostly all traditional favorites like Joy to the World, O Holy Night and Silent Night... with one piece sung as a duet with Charice Pempengco - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

How does this CD feel? Note I said feel... as I believe most Christmas albums should evoke some kind of feeling with their listener. Archuleta fans may not like what I have to say though - and no, the fact that I'm a David Cook fan does not mean I'll automatically be biased against Archie. So I'll say my review (or reaction, if you like)anyway.

BY far, the album was unimpressive - at least from my expectations of Archie. Many artists come up with a Christmas album seemingly for the sake of saying they have one, and I was sorely tempted to dismiss this particular work as one such album... almost, anyway. But the song renditions are all not that bad. The previously mentioned duet with Charice does come out nicely... though I wonder if this was more because Charice was in it - and no, I'm not really that big a Charice fan either, so I'm not biased in that regard.

To be fair, David's 'O Holy Night' was good - almost getting that feeling I was talking about earlier. Now, am I being too critical - maybe, but let me explain why.

To better know where I'm coming from, let me take you - American Idol followers in general, and 'David fans' in particular, back to a time when a contestant from Hawaii named Jasmine Trias sang a song by Heart (the famous band with the two female leads)- and did a 'not too swell' number (she had a hard time with sustaining the high notes of which the song is known for). But never mind how it sounded. There was one comment by the judges that stood out.

Apparently. song selection was not just something they - the contestants, needed to consider... but there was also the fact that they had to be aware of how previous Idol contestants likewise sang the songs they chose to sing, and it may have been some time since, but the Idol judges - specifically Simon, could still remember the wonderful rendition of another Idol contestant to said song - this Idol contestant, of course, eventually won. So fair or not... Jasmine got the comparison (to Kelly Clarkson, if memory serves me right).

I have to confess to having similar comparison tendencies right now - and unfortunately for David, I'm comparing his song interpretations with the way Josh Groban sang them too.

Ah, now I'm getting some some nods amongst some readers - while Archie fans are questioning my being fair. Why do this? It's my basis to say if a song interpretation is good or bad; just outstanding or simply mediocre.

First of, Josh got those emotional buttons working with his 'Noel' album, and since most of the songs in Noel were similar to Archie's song selections - I, naturally - fairly or not, compared Archie's work to that of Josh - at least, on the emotional response thing.

And how did Archie fare?

Well let me again quote Simon when I say some of Archie's renditions - not all, mind you... seem uninspired - almost like being sung in a Karaoke. Now some of you might say - how can I say Karaoke and David in one sentence? I did earlier say it was almost uninspiring did I not? And to be fair - I've known some friends who do good Karaoke too. But we get Simon's diss, right? It meant that the song, as sung was not inspiring.

Would David even win against Josh? It will be hard to beat Josh - there is a reason why I use him as a barometer for quality songs and singing, after all. So why bother comparing the two at all, if I were to just end up dissing Archie? Well I've a surprise for you - I do prefer David's version of 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' - in a way - it was simpler, it did not sound too 'over the top' as Josh's version did with all those 'letters' from the home front and the battle field inserted in between. David's rendition was simpler - more direct to the point, so Archie fans... I'm giving this one small victory to David.

In making the songs David's - or putting a David spin, as some would say - at times, I could hear David's signature inhales - and I wonder if he really is grasping for air, could he finish the the song? I was therefore wondering if that was what made for his signature mark - it's not a David song without those gasps for air. If so, it can get distracting though. His rendition of 'Silent Night' - for example was soulful; as was his 'Ave Maria'. But... I could hear the 'breathing'. I also have some thoughts regarding 'Ave Maria' being part of a Christmas album selection - but that is another topic. Suffice it to say that David does not win any brownie points from me for his rendition of said song (and neither did Josh, by the way).

How is the CD in terms of Archie's singing? Well he does hit the right notes... but then again, studio recordings can be edited until thy get things right - right? The technical aspect is good, arrangements were cool and Christmassy (yes I know there's no such word, but I like using it) - quality was definitely implemented in the album's creation in a way that I can honestly say this sounds like it wasn't done in someone's garage.

By itself - 'Christmas from the Heart' is not bad... but it lacks some heart - some inspirational 'oomph'. Maybe David is better seen singing live than listened to? Not a chance... his old Idol studio recordings were great - so that's not it.

Did he not find a Christmas album worth doing? I can't answer that... but I hope not. Did he rush when making this? Again, I can't answer that - but it may seem that way. You see, after all is said and done - you don't have to be better than Josh, that would be too hard a goal for most - so nope... I can't ask for that. But I want my singer - when singing, to evoke a reaction from me - be it melancholy, blues, bliss, hope, happiness - or simply being merry.

If I were to use a 5-star rating manner - with 1 being 'not great' to 5 being 'totally great' - I'd give this album a '3.5 stars' Average... with it's few brilliant moments... but not enough to warrant a rating of 4. In my recommendation to buy... sure, why not - it's still an album that's nice to listen to.

(Note: Amazon buyers have rated it a 5-star. Must be Archie fans)