Jerome Abalos's self-titled album is dominated by easy listening love songs that don't present much of a challenge to a singer or listener. Though the album could be an exercise in tedium, Abalos's strong voice, full of depth and passion, makes the songs bearable. Nonetheless, eight of the album's ten songs are slow ballads, and the album cries out for more diversity. A welcome respite from the ballads is "Bumangon Ka" (Stand Up), which opens, surprisingly enough, on heavy metal guitar, though it soon segues into a pleasant pop/rock tune. The only other upbeat song is a cover of the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight," and Abalos's rendition sounds similar to the original. With so many ballads on the album, there is a tendency for the songs to sound alike, and it's easy to overlook the better ones. A fine ballad such as "May Pag-Asa Ba?" ( Is There a Chance?), for example, almost gets buried, and it's easy to overlook the melodic "Baka Mayroong Iba" (Maybe There Are Others).

Adding some character to the album is the penetrating electric guitar, and searing guitar lines are heard on "Pangako" (Promise), "May Pag-Asa Ba?," and "Huwag Mo Sanang Saktan" (I Hope You Don't Hurt Me), among others. The piano also adds charm, as heard in "Larawang Kupas" (Faded Picture) and "Pangako," and "Sayang Na Sayang" (It's Wasted), among others (neither the guitarist nor the pianist is credited). Though the album is dominated by passionate, easy listening love songs, Abalos could tackle more adventurous material if so desired, as shown by the stirring electric guitar and the two upbeat songs he performs.

David Gonzales, Rovi