Genre: Acoustic, R&B, soul, pop, jazz
Recorded: 2012
Label(s): n/a
Producer(s): Gabe Bondoc, Glenn Clancy, Matt Clores, Dave Kochanski
Featured Artist(s): n/a
Timing is the second full independent album from YouTube song cover sensation, Gabe Bondoc. Like always Gabe delivers a smooth collection of soulful endearing tunes with his serenading auricle soothing voice. With the talent he has it is hard to believe that he is still unsigned, however, you don’t need to be signed to be a special musician.
The album gets into the swing of things with my favourite track on the album “First Choice” which is an upbeat acoustic jazz composition. It is a masterfully written song about him telling his desired girl that she has “always been my, first choice”, but he has never had the courage to tell her until now and it serves to encourage those with a crush to just tell their crush. Following “First Time” is “Better”, where Gabe explains why he is the better match for his crush saying “I’m not just the boy that you’ve grown up with, now I’m the man that you should come and be with, well I know I ain’t him, girl but he no me”.
Timing continues with more tenderly sung love songs such as “Tables”, “Black Book” and “You Got It”. With “You Got It” being the best out of the bunch. It is a smooth acoustic R&B track, that brings back memories of great R&B songs of the 90s. After “You Got It” the album takes a new musical direction with the John Mayer inspired pop song “Dorm Room” and whilst being a good song it is definitely one of the weaker songs on the album.
The album is flooded with more love songs and that is the only negative of the album, that there are no varying topics away from romance. However, the album has a clear focus on stories about feelings of love, nearly-love and heartbreak. Plus the magnitude of brilliant songs makes the issue of lack of other subject matters very minor and irrelevant.
The album finishes off with the chilled acoustic track “The Weight”, which describes how he and his partner keep on failing to let out their true emotions of their love for each. The track is a solid finish to the love dazed album and also demonstrates Gabe’s fantastic songwriting skills, which is constantly great throughout the whole album.
The open, frank and honest nature of Timing makes it a true gem of an album and is a real reflection and testament of Gabe’s pure passion of making thought provoking sincere music. Eloquently sung heartfelt songs is a habit on Timing, making it a classic that the masses should know about.
Top Track(s): First Choice, You Got It, The Weight, If Only, Black Book, Better, Waiting
Album Rating: 
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