Thursday, December 30, 2010

The 10 best OPM albums of 2009

The 10 best OPM albums of 2009

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By Paul John Caña Contributor
Despite the almost obscene slump in sales worldwide of traditional recorded music, you have to hand it to our local artists: they’re still churning out pretty great music. 2009 was a great year for OPM. Not even counting the slew of sold-out concerts by Sunday musical variety show staples, the year was marked by releases from hardened veterans, scene regulars and explosive upstarts. This is by no means an exhaustive list. But for this observer constantly bombarded with music on all fronts, these are the albums that stood out this year (in random order):
1. Chicosci—Fly Black Hearts

Fans of pop-punk continue to get their thrills from Miggy and company, and this latest album clearly gives the “vampires” their fill. Forceful grooves, head-banging beats and show stopping vocals from frontman Chavez, it’s a sonic assault that’s easily one of the band’s best works. It’s everything we’ve come to expect from Chicosci and more.

2. Archipelago—Travel Advisory

Yan Yuzon breaks out of co-Pupil Ely Buendia’s shadow and fronts a fresh breath of OPM air. The guitar work on “Travel Advisory” is reminiscent of Brit pop-rock cool, but the writing and overall flair the band gives off is unmistakably Pinoy. Nothing too heavy and certainly nothing lightweight, the songs would work as the soundtrack to a long transnational flight or a leisurely Sunday afternoon drive.

3. Outerhope—A Day For The Absent

“Strangely Paired” introduced the brother-sister tandem of Mike and Mick Benedicto to the independent music scene in Manila about four years ago. On their second outing, the siblings don’t fix what ain’t broke; the songs remain in that realm of whimsy and fantasy, of ponies and cotton candy, a solitary pink balloon piercing a turquoise blue sky. Think Kings of Convenience, only cuter. 

4. Sugarfree—Mornings & Airports

Whether he’s warbling about his latest heartbreak, a sibling abroad, or the complexities of life in general, there’s something strangely comforting about Ebe Dancel’s singing. In this latest album from arguably one of the most important Filipino bands of the decade, Jal Taguibao and Kaka Quisumbing contribute a couple of songs each, but Dancel’s imprint is still all over the place. The familiar never sounded so good.

5. Side A—Only 1

The new album isn’t just a compendium of trademark middle-of the-road mush, it’s also a middle finger to all the haters who’ve cast aside Joey Generoso and co. as nothing more than an inconsequential “showband.” Well guess what, pretentious jackasses, two decades on and the Side A juggernaut is still at it. Fresh, romantic and unapologetically sappy, “Only 1” proves that the “Forevermore” hitmakers are doing something right.

6. Peryodiko—Peryodiko 

For sure, Kakoy Legaspi’s blazing ways with the guitar is a major reason to check out Peryodiko, but Vin Dancel’s latest project also bursts with inspired writing, catchy hooks and a whole lotta fun. If “Agawan Base” and “Bakasyon” don’t have you snapping your fingers or singing along, you must be deaf.

7. Silverfilter—Devotion

With his latest album, Cyril Sorongon aka Silverfilter is in a class all his own. An electronica album that’s also a “soundtrack to prayer” may seem like something that exists only in the imagination of a dejected church organist, but Silverfilter manages to meld his electronica background with a deeper, more spiritual purpose. With this all-instrumental paean to prayer and meditation, you’ll never hear church (or spa-waiting-room) music the same way again.

8. Bayang Barrios—Biyaya

The princess of Pinoy folk music released her latest independently, as so many of her contemporaries do these days. But it is by no means a reflection of the quality of the work. On the contrary, her sinuous, free-flowing vocals coupled with earnest songwriting (she dedicated this album to her child with husband Mike Villegas) is a rarity in these times of loud, overproduced records by so-called divas. “Biyaya” is a true gem worth repeated listens.

9. Sinosikat—2nd Album

More of the same thing ain’t always a bad thing. In Sinosikat’s case, their sophomore effort has produced even groovier tunes based on the same formula: sexy melodies, smart songwriting and those scorching vocals by front woman Kat Agarrado. With the addition of two new cast members, the progenitors of the so-called Pinoy soul movement solidify their status as the hippest and coolest neo-jazz players in the country today.

10. Urbandub—The Apparition

A preliminary listen to the new album (it was only launched less than two weeks ago) reveals an even more confident group growing into their own as one of the most important rock outfits to rise out of the South in years. Gabby Alipe’s predilection for contemporary blues-rock is not lost on this new collection of songs destined to become cult favorites. With any luck, “the apparition” is here to stay.

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