The year 2006 produced a descent amount of good music. Talagang din a papaawat ang mga artists sa paggawa ng OPM, from indie to mainstream they connected the every ear of music loving Pinoy. One good thing about the music of 2006 is that it crossed boundaries – soul can be mix with jazz, jazz can be with rock, rock with a tinge of bubble gum pop so on and so forth. In the year 2006, bossanova became a sensation toppling acoustic acts, tribute albums became the soundtrack of city life, and future hit makers were covered 24/7, quartered and learned in one academy.

Before the Chinese New Year, dapat may recap sa mga best of ng OPM. Nagawa ng mga neophyte band na makasama sa count down. Some where able to surpassed the sophomore jinx. Yung iba kahit nagpalit na ng pangalan nagawa pa ring patunayan na ang tunog lang nila ang nagbago. At siyempre nariyan pa rin ang mga stalwart ng OPM industry.

(May ibang album achieved critical praises pero di ko magawang isama dahil saw ala akong kopya nila, these included the heavy ‘Conflagration’ ng Cog, ‘Transit’ ng Spongecola, Sleepyhead’s, Skies of Ember’s ‘Endless Swoon’, The Dawn’s 20th Year album at ilang emo bands.)

10.) Manila High – Kala

Influenced by the 70s Manila Sound, this band fused funk, disco, jazz, and pop to create a funky and groovy debut album. Their first single ‘Jeepney’ ruled some music charts gaining them nationwide attention. Noteworthy tracks include the bossa ‘Southside’, the novelty ‘Tubero’, the title track ‘Manila High’ and the VST inspired ‘Bakbakan Na’. Continuous playing of the album gave you an infectious grooving.

9.) 2 Step Marv – Kjwan

When Marc Abaya left Sandwich for Kjwan, marami ang nag-speculate na mas lalong paangasin ni Marc ang dati nang maangas na grupo. It was not really Marc’s full attention that gave this band the additional bravado it was also Boogie Romero’s guitar licks. From their sunny feeling ‘One Look’ the band proves that they evolved from a hard rocking band to a more matured musicians. Nagawa rin nilang gawing sophisticated ang nasabing album with tracks like ‘Can’t Do That’.

8.) Strangely Paired – Outerhope

Siblings Mike and Micaela Benedicto proved that even an acoustic guitar and an electronic organ can produce an infectious debut album. This duo were compared to the dream pop heroes like Nick Drake, Coctaeu Twins, and Belle and Sebastian that shows us Pinoy is not lagging behind in terms of music. Micaela’s sweet and delicate voice swoons like a little playful girl that matches with the atmospheric duet of their instruments. From their playful instrumental track ‘Learning to Skate’ to the infectious power pop ‘Final Hour’ this album is so atmospheric that you wanted to listen it during rainy days or preferably reading a book. Notable tracks will include the bluesy ‘Makisama’, the whimsical ‘Sky High Blue’ and the playful ‘Another Daybreak’.

7.) Discotillion – Narda

There is no stopping with Narda. From their indie debut album effort to its punk-dance riot sophomore album they had always proved that they can kick. Walang kaduda, Katwo Librado is the hottest female vocalist in town (after posing for FHM, definitely she is). Her vocal is so intense and fiery that it gave the track ‘Molotov’ its continuous flame. Hindi rin maiiwasan na mapasayaw sa mga naggagalawang tunog ng mga synths and undeniably strong drum beats. This short-span album delivers an in-your face songs about riots, dance party, crazy antics, car chases, and relationships. Track after track, it is undeniably infectious to the effect of faster paper works and uncontrollable head-banging.

6.) Extra Rice – Chillitees

Sabi nila ulan daw ang ultimate mood setter para sa tao pero habang pinakikinggan ko ang album na ito hindi ko maiwasang sabihing Chillitees can be a good mood setter. From the groovy ‘Sama Na’ to the bittersweet ‘Ex’, this album proves to be sultry, refreshing, soulful, sweet, and jazzy that you wanted to try to listen to the whole album again. One good thing about this album is that they employed the elegance of the Filipino language. Ginamit nila ang Tagalog and avoided the clichés that most RnB bands where doing which gives them an edge over Southborder and Freestyle.

5.) Queso – Queso

No they are not a new band, and their music – evolving. Tawag sa kanila dati’y Cheese at ang kanilang mga taga-sunod Tropang Daga, pero sa album cover pa lang pinatay na ang daga kaya intriguing ang dating ng bagong Cheese. Kung ang ilang nu-metal band ay nag-shift na ng tunog, sila, mas lalong pinahusay. Pinaghalu-halo nila ang iba’t-ibang genre para mas lalong umaangas ang tropical grunge nila. A steady mix of jazz, electronica beat, hip-hop, and the occasional reggae. Siyempre sino ang hindi magkakamali sa kanilang mouthful lyrics na binibigkas ni Ian Tayao. At ang ilang best tracks sa album ay ang ‘Furlan’, ‘Insekta’ , “santa Maria’ and the collaborated effort with the spoken-jazz genius Louyrd de Veyra, 'Billy Boy'.

4.) Tala-arawan – Sugarfree

Take a peek at Ebe Dancel’s diary. Mas personal ang dating ng album na ‘to para kay Ebe, nagsulat siya ng mga kantang naayon sa kanyang nadadarama, simula sa takot sa pagtanda (Salamin) hanggang sa sarkastikong hirit sa mga taong nangungutya (Ang Pinakamagaling na Tao sa Balat ng Mundo). But what makes this album special is that Ebe proved his worth as a honcho of mainstream pop-rock. The melody of the songs will stick in to your head na gugustuhin mong i-hum matapos ang ilang spin ng album. Adaptation. Nag-adapt ang bagong banda sa bago nilang kabandang si Kaka Quisimbing matapos umalis ang dating drummer na si Mitch. Sumasakto ang dating tunog nila Ebe sa mga drum beats ni Kaka, at si Kaka umaayon ang mga palo sa tunog ng Sugarfree. Mutualism kumbaga. ‘Ikaw Pala’ is a mellow song, walang kaduda-duda ang sentimentality ni Ebe pagdating sa mga ganitong uri ng mga kanta. At kung gagawa ng panibagong commercial ang mga network provider, paniguradong ‘Dear Kuya’ ang papatok sa mga utak ng mga taga-ads. At di mawawala ang mga break-up songs na gaya ng ‘Kung Ayaw Mo Na Sa Akin’ na hinaluan ng siste, at ang ‘Reunion’ bilang sequel ng kantang ‘Prom’ from their sophomore album.

3.) Blue Monsoon - Sound

From their previous positive debut album, Sound, this time took us to the darker and sober Manila, this may attributed to the inclusion of Malek Lopez (Drip, Rubber Inc) to the creative forces of the band. Sa first track (Blue Monsoon) palang gusto mo nang humiga at namnamin ang mga imahen na isinulat ni Sach Castillo, pero sa maiiging pagdarama mas kapansin-pansin ang loneliness sa pagbabago ng panahon. Ang isa sa maganda sa album na ‘to, mas nagbigay sila ng pansin sa mga kantang nasusulat sa Tagalog. Their debut effort only featured Habulan as a Tagalog track, now mas madami isama mo pa ang mahabang version ng ‘Di Na Natuto’. They sound like Steely Dan sa mga tracks na tulad ng ‘Where to Go From There’ and Corduroy sa instrumental track na ‘Let Get It Back’. They are not just a jazz fusion band, they tried to mix funk and electronica sa Jamiroquia-ish track ‘The Trouble With Me’. Notable tracks include the noir-ish ‘Turpentine’ (tribute track for the jazz goddess Billie Holiday), the darkest song in the album ‘Idlip’, the hypocrite-friendly ‘Maskarahan’, a tribute to Manila Sound ‘Maynila’, and the disillusioned “Bagong Siglo’. (Try ko gumawa ng album review nito)

2.) Fragmented – Updharma Down

When Armi and the band came out to the music scene via this album, kaliwa’t kanan na ang mga praises na natanggap nila, at kasama na rito ang respeto ng mga taga-industriya ng musika. Sa kanila nagsimula ang term na ‘fusion’ because their music can’t be classified as rock, jazz, pop, soul, triphop, or drum and bass, but one thing is for sure, spin after spin, siguradong bago mo nang mantra ay ang vocal prowess ni Armi Millare, the solid rhythm from the bass of Paul Yap, the affectionate guitar lines of Carlos Tanada, and the powerful drum beats of Ean Mayor.

1.) Flipino – Dong Abay

Dong Abay is what Lino Brocka is for film. Both persona captured the scenery of Philippine condition. Kung drama si Lino Brocka, wit ang pinagagana ni Dong Abay. ‘Awit ng Kambing’ can be compared with Lino Brocka’s ‘Insiang’. ‘Perpekto’ was Dong Abay’s answer to Lino Brocka’s ‘Tinimbang Ka…’. Kung hirap naman ng buhay ang pag-uusapan, parehong huli ng dalawa ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga mamayang Filipino. Si Brocka ay may ‘Maynila: Sa Kunko ng Liwanag’ samantalang si Dong Abay ay mayroon naming ‘Mateo Singko’. Sa ilang ulit na pagpapaikot ng album na ‘to, mas magbubukas ito ng karagdagang mata sa tunay na kalagayan ng Filipinas.