TOP 50 OPM BANDS OF THE '90S | PART 4

ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE:

One important requirement for this list is that bands must have released at least one album before the year 2000. There are plenty of great bands that formed in the ’90s but only dropped their debut albums in the 2000s.

Here are some of those notable acts:

(I got my research from Wikipedia and other online sources)

ITCHYWORMS /

FORMED: 1996 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2001 (LITTLE MONSTERS)

CHICOSCI /

FORMED: 1996 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2000 (REVENGE OF THE GIANT ROBOT)

BATTERY /

FORMED: MID 90S / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2000 (SELF-TITLED)

BADBURN /

FORMED: MID 90S / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2001 (BOUND BY BLOOD)

MOONSTAR 88 /

FORMED: 1999 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2000 (POPCORN)

SUGARFREE /

FORMED: 1999 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2003 (SA WAKAS)

IMAGO /

FORMED: 1999 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2001 (PROBABLY NOT BUT MOST DEFINITELY)

RADIOACTIVE SAGO PROJECT /

FORMED: 1999 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2000 (SELF-TITLED)

ORANGE AND LEMONS /

FORMED: 1999 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2003 (LOVE IN THE LAND OF RUBBER SHOES AND DIRTY ICE CREAM)

URBANDUB /

FORMED: 2000 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2001 (BIRTH)

KAMIKAZEE /

FORMED: 2000 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2002 (SELF-TITLED)

6CYCLEMIND /

FORMED: 2002 / RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM: 2003 (PERMISSION TO SHINE)

And yeah. Almost forgot about this.

NUMBERS 1 TO 10

NUMBERS 11 TO 20

NUMBERS 21 TO 28

NUMBERS 29 TO 36

NUMBERS 37 TO 44

NUMBERS 45 TO 50 (AND CRITERIA BREAKDOWN)

21 to 28

28 THE JERKS

YEARS ACTIVE: 1979 – PRESENT

90S GROUP ROSTER (KNOWN MEMBERS): CHIKOY PURA, NITO ADRIANO

90S HITS: RAGE, SAYAW SA BUBONG*, REKLAMO NG REKLAMO*, TAMBOL*, MAD MATHEMATICAL WORLD*, AND HE SAYS* (*from their Jerks Live album)

I almost wrote them off, thinking they never released an album in the ’90s. But they did—and that’s why they made this list. Aside from their Jerks Live album in 1994, Star Records released their first major studio album, Haligi ng Maynila, in 1997. The Jerks have been belting out tunes since the Manila Sound era, and in terms of influence, you could say that most bands from the ’80s and ’90s—even well into the 2000s—look up to them. Their music is a unique chop-suey of styles. Chikoy Pura and Nito Adriano are true icons in the industry, and they’re still performing today. Honestly, I prefer their English songs more. If this was back in the ’80s, they probably would’ve been at the very top.

27 BACKDRAFT

YEARS ACTIVE: EARLY 90S – I DON’T KNOW

GROUP ROSTER: UNKNOWN

90S HITS: ANAK NG GABI, SMB, SUGO NG DILIM, ANG HIMIG NATIN, DAMA DE NOCHE

I was totally oblivious to their existence at first since I wasn’t into the Pinoy heavy metal scene back then. And that really sucks, because now that I’ve discovered their music, I realize I seriously missed out on a lot of good stuff. Thanks a lot, Afro-American boybands like Damage, Az Yet, and Boyz II Men; British boybands like Ant and Dec, Take That, and Boyzone; and Australian boybands like Code Red and 911 — you robbed me of musical awesomeness! Their sound ranges from Wolfgang-like riffs to Shampoo ni Lola vibes. Sometimes they get a bit “lata,” and yes, they growl now and then, but I’m really starting to appreciate their style. A friend told me that SMB, their version of Himig Natin, and Dama de Noche are all great hits, and I believe him. But if I had to pick a favorite, it’d probably be Anak ng Gabi — that track is just awesome.

26 AGAW AGIMAT

YEARS ACTIVE: 1993 – PRESENT

GROUP ROSTER: QT PADUANO-NADELA, RENMIN NADELA, HANK PALENZUELA, JEPHTHAH WENCESLAO

90S HITS: SABI NILA, KISS-A-ME, NAIS KO, WANLITELTU, KULANG, MIRAKOL, PROPETA NG BAYAN, TO OUR DEAR COMRADES

There was a band back then that produced awesome hits diving deep into the romantic and patriotic sides of Filipinos — and that band is Agaw Agimat. They had a knack for delivering heartfelt renditions of verses that might seem odd at first. Their music is like editorial cartoons: sharply intellectual, entertaining, and harshly satirical. Agaw Agimat used their popularity as a platform to push for change, especially in how the country handles poverty.

Kiss-A-Me tells an awesome story with a wicked swerve at the end — easily my favorite Agaw Agimat track. Sabi Nila has a great chorus, but if only it were a love story, it might have worked even better. I liked their first album more, though I enjoy most of their songs — except Wanliteltu. For some insane reason, it reminds me of Jaymie Baby’s Eh Kasi Bata. Whatever happened to that person, anyway?

25 HUNGRY YOUNG POETS / BARBIE’S CRADLE

YEARS ACTIVE: 1997* – 2005 (*Barbie’s Cradle started in 1998)

GROUP ROSTER: BARBIE ALMALBIS, FRANKLIN BENITEZ, RICCI GURANGO (as HYP), ROMMEL DELA CRUZ (as Barbie’s Cradle)

90S HITS: As HYP – FIREWOMAN, TORPE, & PERSONAL FLIRT; As CRADLE – TABING ILOG, GOODNYT, & THE DANCE

This band stood out for crafting nice, heartfelt songs without a shred of violence. I was actually more into their earlier incarnation, HYP, mainly because of Firewoman. That song was so sweet and sincere it instantly made people care about the band. I still remember the first time I caught Firewoman on MTV Asia — it was pure gold.

But the spotlight quickly shifted to Barbie Almalbis, who became the real star. When the band reformed as Barbie’s Cradle after Barbie and Ricci Gurango’s split, her popularity only grew stronger. People kept asking, “Who’s that cute chick?” Barbie’s voice and style have often been compared to Leigh Nash from Sixpence None the Richer — angelic and pure. Both Leigh Nash and Barbie later pursued solo careers and lent their voices to teen show soundtracks: Leigh with Kiss Me on Dawson’s Creek’s OST, and Barbie with songs on Tabing Ilog.

24 KULAY

YEARS ACTIVE: 1991 – 2000

GROUP ROSTER: BOOM DAYUPAY, JEANNIE OAKMAN, RADHA CUADRADO, ANGEL JONES*

90S HITS: DELICIOUS, BURN, SHOUT

Man, I absolutely love this group! Kulay isn’t your typical band — they brought the computer into their music the way Daniel Bedingfield did, blending technology seamlessly with their sound. In the studio, they used all sorts of tech wizardry, while on stage, they brought in a whole crew just to deliver those tight beats live.

Cheap plug: If any of you have a copy of Kulay’s live and unplugged recordings, please share it with me!

Boom was the heartbeat of this group. Once a Vancouver-based DJ, he shaped Kulay’s distinct edge with his funky, hip-hop, and electronic vibe. He also created the Vibestation — a signature tool that helped Kulay land film roles (Gimik: The Reunion), snag big commercial gigs (Pepsi), and even score international recognition in the UK.

At their peak, they were the only band rocking that unique sound. The 90s really lacked groups that nailed style, arrangement, and production all at once — and Kulay had it all. Whether live or in the studio, they were always spot on.

23 P.O.T.

YEARS ACTIVE: 1996 – 2005

GROUP ROSTER: KARL ROY, FRANCIS REYES, MALLY PARAGUYA, IAN UMALI, JEFF LIMA, HARLEY ALARCON, JAYMAN ALVIAR

90S HITS: YUGYUGAN NA, FISHCAKE, MONKEY ON MY BACK, ULITIN, PIECE OF THIS, FYB

When they first came out, they looked like a melting pot of pure awesomeness. Led by the tattooed powerhouse Karl Roy, this band served up a wild mix of blues, punk, rock—and yes, even dance grooves—that had fans begging for more. Their sound wasn’t easy to pin down, but that’s exactly what made them stand out.

Karl wasn’t always this bold; back in his Advent Call days, he was more restrained. Over time, he and his bandmates realized that to break into the mainstream, they needed to hustle beyond just the music — marketing themselves became key.

I still remember Fishcake’s music video blowing up on MTV Asia, while locally, Yugyugan Na became an anthem played on every radio station except NU107. Their self-titled album was so killer that almost every track got massive airplay. And when the remastered version dropped in 2003, it gave the band another huge boost right back to the top.

22 FREESTYLE

YEARS ACTIVE: 1996 – PRESENT

90S GROUP ROSTER: TOP SUZARA, JINKY VIDAL, TAT SUZARA, CARLO TAPIA, NIKKI CABARDO, GERALD BANZON

90S HITS: BEFORE I LET YOU GO, SO SLOW, TIL I FOUND YOU, THIS TIME

This band’s roots trace back to Davao City, where they first showcased their talents and caught the eye of Viva executives. Brought to Manila, their single Before I Let You Go shot up the charts and quickly made them a household name. Suddenly, they were the toast of the town, backed by a giant recording company and playing sought-after concerts alongside some of the country’s best singers.

I still remember tuning into VTV in the ’90s during PBA games, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Weakest Link, where this band got heavy promos — so much so that many tagged them as Side A’s rightful heir. Their track So Slow even ended up as background music during that infamous Bobby Andrews “date-rape” scene on the 2003 Viva Hot Babes flick First Time.

And speaking of Top, here’s a fun fact: when he and Pops Fernandez covered Ogie Alcasid’s Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang, they turned a decent ballad into a karaoke staple that’s since been hilariously butchered at Christmas parties, birthday bashes, videoke bars — and yes, even strip joints.

21 SOUTH BORDER

YEARS ACTIVE: 1996 – PRESENT

90S GROUP ROSTER: JAY DURIAS, BRIX FERRARIS, LUKE MEJARES, TATA BALANE, BUTCH VICTORIANO, RIC JUNASA

90S HITS: KAHIT KAILAN, LOVE OF MY LIFE, HABANG ATIN ANG GABI, SA ‘YO, MAY PAG-IBIG PA KAYA

I used to think they were a bit sappy and, well, oily — Brix Ferraris’ blonde hair looked like it had enough pomade for an army. But there’s no denying the impact they made, especially during the late ’90s surge of showbands in the Philippines. That era flipped the script: rockers started fading, and showbands became the “in” thing.

This R&B group from Davao entered the scene just as many rock bands were disbanding or slipping into obscurity. Sure, South Border had their share of vocalist issues, but their string of hits is undeniable. Jay Durias was the backbone—an amazing composer and a seriously underrated singer who crafted many memorable songs.

Kahit Kailan was their breakthrough track — the one that made them a household name and earned them heaps of awards and recognition. Though their best stuff mostly came in the 2000s, their ’90s work laid the foundation.

For me, Rainbow stands out as a timeless favorite — right up there with Mulawin’s iconic theme, Ikaw Nga.

NOTES:

Now, the big guns are rolling in. The showband titans—South Border and Freestyle—are unleashed, bringing their smooth vibes and killer hits. Rock legends like Backdraft and The Jerks are also in the house, ready to remind everyone why they’re icons.

Mainstream favorites Hungry Young Poets and P.O.T. have joined the lineup too, so expect more of their talented batchmates to show up as this list keeps rolling.