Natin99 is the sixth studio album by the Philippine alternative rock band Eraserheads, released on May 18, 1999 by BMG Records (Pilipinas) Inc.
The album was recorded in a nonlinear approach, with the members recording their individual parts separately and mixing them together in the studio. It also had significant writing contributions from members other than chief songwriter Ely Buendia, who wrote the promotional singles âÂÂMaselang Bahaghariâ and âÂÂHuwag Kang MatakotâÂÂ.
The band previously released their fifth studio album Sticker Happy (1997). They toured the country as well as the United States to promote the album. In 1998, they released the compilation album Aloha Milkyway for the Southeast Asian market. They toured in Singapore in September 1998 and Australia in April 1999 to promote the record.
Buendia reflected on the time period: "I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I was wracked by anxiety and insecurity. I was coping with a big inferiority complex. I realized too late that I really didn't like my role as chief songwriter of the group; muntik ko nang hindi nakayanan ang pressures (I was almost unable to withstand the pressure)." He continued that recording Natin99 served as therapy for him, as he was able to rely on his bandmates. "That's why I'm glad that in the new album, they have more active participation especially in songwriting," he said. However, Buendia admitted in a Philippine Daily Inquirer interview in 2001 that he felt burnt out making Natin99. âÂÂHindi ko na alam ang direksyon (I didn't know our direction anymore),â he said. âÂÂNa cut-off ako sa roots namin, at na-realize ko na mas gusto ko ang stripped-down sound namin (I was cut off from our roots and I realized that I liked our stripped-down sound more).âÂÂ
The band worked on Natin99 from September 1998 to early 1999 with their longtime producer Robin Rivera.
The album was recorded in a nonlinear approach, with the band recording their parts at home and mixing them together with additional instrumentation in the studio. "It's like cut-and-paste. You could 'manipulate' certain elements to put it all together,â drummer Raimund Marasigan said. This was showcased in "Peace It Together", the first song written for the album.
All songs in Natin99 were recorded in Tagalog except for a few lines in âÂÂPeace It Togetherâ and âÂÂGame, Tama Na!âÂÂ, a conscious effort by the band after their previous albums Fruitcake (1996) and Sticker Happy (1997) featured many English songs. âÂÂIt was a personal challenge to write an all-Filipino album,â Marasigan said.
The album starts with the drum and bass instrumental âÂÂSinturong Pangkaligtasanâ which segues into âÂÂDahan DahanâÂÂ, a power pop song with distorted, melodic guitar solos. Both tracks were written by Marasigan, who also performed in âÂÂMay Sumasayawâ and âÂÂKilalaâ which have hardcore elements. Bassist Buddy Zabala wrote âÂÂKahit AnoâÂÂ, which features nonsensical Japanese lyrics. Buendia does not appear in the album until the fifth track âÂÂMaselang BahaghariâÂÂ, described as Beatles meets electronica. Zabala co-wrote âÂÂTama Kaâ with his partner Earnest Mangulabnan.
The seven-minute âÂÂPeace It Togetherâ serves as the album's centerpiece for its nonlinear recording approach. Zabala wrote âÂÂSalaminâÂÂ, a âÂÂradio-friendlyâ new wave dance song. Buendia wrote âÂÂPop Machineâ as a commentary on game shows and celebrity gossip. âÂÂHuwag Kang MatakotâÂÂ, released as the albumâÂÂs second single, is a âÂÂâÂÂ60s-style simple and sincereâ song. Guitarist Marcus Adoro wrote âÂÂSouth SuperhighwayâÂÂ, which features âÂÂaggressive techno, jungle and effect-laden guitarsâÂÂ. âÂÂ68 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenueâ derives its melody from John LennonâÂÂs song âÂÂMotherâ and refers to BuendiaâÂÂs childhood home. The final track âÂÂGame, Tama Na!â features comedic wordplay.
The album also features a hidden filler track from Adoro titled âÂÂUnited Natins (Immigration Interrogation Doughpdog Mix)âÂÂ, featuring sound effects of water drips and droning narration from different speakers. Adoro had interviewed some foreigners in Baguio and recorded them talking in their native language, instructing them to add the word âÂÂnatinâÂÂ.
The band also recorded the song âÂÂAliwâ which was not included in the album.
The title is a pun on the year 1999 and the Tagalog word âÂÂnatinâ (ours), which was coined by Adoro and a private joke among the band. The cover art of Natin99 was designed by Cynthia Bauzon and shows four digital waveforms representing the band members.
A nine-minute sampler was released to select FM radio stations in the Philippines with teasers of nine songs from the album. "ItâÂÂs a BMG thing," Marasigan explained. "1999â¦nine minutes, nine everything, nine hours, nine oâÂÂclockâ¦So lots of people can get a sample of what the album sounds like."
The band launched Natin99 on TV through the ABS-CBN variety show ASAP in May. A week later, they performed the entire album at the Family Fun Kingdom amusement park in Pasig. They embarked on a US tour in March 2000.
In 2008, BMG reissued Eraserheads's back catalogue, including Natin99.
Adapted from the liner notes.
Eraserheads
Production
Design