Nostalgia Alert: Five Pinoy Rock Albums Turning 30 This Year

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1995 was a year of tragedy and celebration for Filipinos — from the execution of Flor Contemplacion in Singapore to the infamous Kuratong Baleleng rubout, the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rosing, and the country’s hosting of World Youth Day, which was presided over by Pope John Paul II. It also saw the continuation of the alternative revolution in the local music scene that started a few years earlier, as mainstream radio filled the local airwaves with more homegrown rock tunes than ever before.

Here are 5 landmark albums from a year like no other in Pinoy music:

Cutterpillow – Eraserheads

One of OPM’s biggest sellers, Cutterpillow is E-heads’ most commercially successful album to date, featuring hit singles “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” “Torpedo,” “Overdrive,” and “Huwag Mo Nang Itanong.” Like Rubber Soul for The Beatles, the album signals the band’s progression into more experimental and diverse musical territories. It also has one of the most recognizable OPM album covers and a hidden titular track about a cat who wouldn’t ever want to get fat.

Listen to Cutterpillow on Spotify

Wolfgang – Wolfgang

Months after speaking out against the vinyl reissue of this self-titled debut over small royalties, Basti Artadi recently announced the upcoming release of its re-recorded and remastered version to mark Wolfgang’s 30th anniversary. The critically acclaimed album consists of 8 solid tracks, including the band’s trademark songs “Halik ni Hudas” and “Natutulog Kong Mundo.”

Listen to Wolfgang’s self-titled album on YouTube

Hebigat Sounds Volume One – Razorback

As the album’s name suggests, Razorback’s debut is a collection of heavy-hitting songs with fierce guitar riffs and powerful vocals, such as “Giyang,” “Pepe the Hepe,” and “Tabi ng Bulkan”.

Listen to Hebigat Sounds Volume One on Spotify

Teeth – Teeth

Best known for the drinking anthem and NU 107 Rock Awards Song of the Year “Laklak,” this self-titled debut album fuses the band’s grunge influences with alternative rock. It also features the widely popular “Prinsesa,” which has become a karaoke staple among Filipinos.

Listen to Teeth’s self-titled album on Spotify

Galit Kami sa Baboy – Datu’s Tribe

“Lovable and dangerous since 1994,” Datu’s Tribe just celebrated its 30th anniversary last December at The 70’s Bistro, electrifying the audience with hits from this gold-selling album, which Eric Caruncho called the wittiest debut of 1995, such as “Sarsa Platoon,” “Praning” and “Nakakalitong Mga Tao”. The band is expected to release either several EPs or a full-length vinyl this year.

Listen to Galit Kami sa Baboy on Spotify


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