''It's Not Easy Being Green'' is the fourth studio album by Filipino

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band

Rivermaya Rivermaya is a Filipino alternative rock band. Formed in 1994, it is one of the several bands that spearheaded the 1990s Philippine alternative rock explosion. Rivermaya is currently composed of original members Mark Escueta and Nathan Azar ...

, released on January 14, 1999. The album features the singles "Nerbyoso", "Rodeo", and "Shattered Like". It is the first album after

Bamboo Mañalac Francisco Gaudencio Lope Belardo MañalacVIDEO: "It's Francisco, that's my great-grandfather, then Gaudencio, that's my lolo, then it's Lope, then it's Belardo Mañalac." / (; born March 21, 1976), popularly known as Bamboo Mañalac or simply ...

's departure. This is also their first album with

Rico Blanco Rico Rene Granados Blanco (born March 17, 1973) is a Filipino singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor, endorser and entrepreneur. He began his career as one of the founding members, and served as the chief songwriter, ...

as the lead vocalist. It is also the last album they recorded for BMG Records Pilipinas until in 2022 when they rejoined the label, now as

Sony Music Philippines Sony Music Philippines, Inc. is a record label based in the Philippines, which was founded in 1995 as an imprint of the international music label Sony Music Entertainment and a part of its Asia-Pacific chain. After the closure of the local lab ...

. The album hit gold barely a month after its release.

Commercial performance

The album sold 40,000 units in the Philippines, reaching platinum certification status, though it is the band's lowest-selling album.

Critical reception

David Gonzales of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

reviewed the album and noticed some

Britpop Britpop was a mid-1990s United Kingdom, British-based music culture movement that emphasised Britishness. Musically, Britpop produced bright, catchy alternative rock, with significant influences from British guitar pop of the 1960s and 1970s. B ...

influences in "(A Little) Sorry (Should Make Everything Alright)" and "Shattered Like". He critiqued about Blanco's performance as vocalist on the album. He stated "...While Blanco is a fine singer, it's possible that the loss of the charismatic Bamboo has shaken the band's confidence."

Track listing

All songs by

except where noted.

Personnel

– lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths *

Nathan Azarcon Nathan Peter Hachero Azarcon (born January 29, 1975) is a Filipino musician, nationalist, songwriter, and producer. He is currently the bassist, vocalist and one of the founding members of Pinoy rock, Filipino rock band Rivermaya. He was also a m ...

– bass guitar, vocals, lead vocals *

Mark Escueta Mark Edward Penabella Escueta (; born 9 January 1976) is a Filipino musician and one of the founding members of the Filipino rock band Rivermaya. Escueta has been the only constant member of Rivermaya since its inception in 1994. Early life E ...

– drums & percussion, vocals

Album credits

*Executive Producer for Rana Entertainment, Inc.: Chito Roño & Lizza G. Nakpil *Executive Producers for BMG Records Pilipinas: Rudy Y. Tee *A & R Direction: Vic Valenciano & Rommel Sanchez *Album Photography: Eddie Boy Escudero & Eric Liongoren *Digital Photography: Mark Escueta, Rico Blanco & Ryan Peralta *Package Concept & Design: Mark Escueta & Rico Blanco *Technical Assistant & Additional Layout: John Joel Lopez *Recorded At: Pink Noise & TRACKS Studios *Sound Engineer: Jun Reyes (Pink Noise) & Angee Rozul (TRACKS Studios) *Album Mix: Angee Rozul & Rivermaya *Horn Arrangements on "May Kasalanan" and "Bagong Taon":

Mel Villena Mel Villena is a Filipino musician, composer and musical director who has worked with various artists such as Sharon Cuneta, Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera, Lea Salonga, The Company, and Mitch Valdez. He was also the musical director of Associate ...

*Horn Section: JD Villanueva (baritone sax & bass clarinet), Ernesto Abarillo & Glenn Joel Lucero (trumpets), Ronnie Marqueses (trombone) & Dix Lucero (clarinet & alto sax)

Accolades

References

Rivermaya albums 1999 albums Tagalog-language albums {{1990s-rock-album-stub