Carbon Stereoxide

The band’s sixth studio album Natin99 was released in May 1999.{{cite web |last1=Jamora |first1=Marie |title=Eraserheads: The PhilMusic Interview - Natin99 In a Galaxy Right Here (September 4, 1999) |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010220051608/http://www.philmusic.com/zine/features/1999/09/090499_eheads/index.htm |website=Philmusic.com |access-date=16 August 2024}} In August, drummer Raimund Marasigan’s band Sandwich released their debut studio album Grip Stand Throw.{{cite web |last1=Castillo |first1=Maddie |title=Sandwich kick off 25th anniversary celebration with 'Grip Stand Throw' concert |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/sandwich-kick-off-25th-anniversary-celebration-with-grip-stand-throw-concert |website=Bandwagon Asia |access-date=18 August 2024}} Marasigan also worked on his solo album Inkjet under the electronic project Squid 9, which was eventually released after Carbon Stereoxide.{{cite web |title=Squid 9 - "Inkjet": A Raimund Marasigan Solo Project |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010205103200/http://www.philmusic.com/netradio/specials/squid9/index.html |website=Philmusic.com |access-date=18 August 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Tagasa |first1=Jen |title=Eraserheads Drummer Gets Busy |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010126170600/http://www.mtvasia.com/News/Regional/Items/0101/0101035.html |website=MTV Asia |access-date=18 August 2024}} Meanwhile, lead vocalist Ely Buendia released his first solo album Wanted Bedspacer in December 2000.{{cite web |title=Ely Buendia: The Wanted Bedspacer Interview |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020317082030/http://www.philmusic.com/zine/features/2000/11/110200_ely/index.shtml |website=Philmusic.com |access-date=17 August 2024}} Bassist Buddy Zabala produced albums for other bands such as Itchyworms{{cite web |last1=Manalo |first1=Kathrina |title=Heads (Yes!, January - February 2001) |url=http://www.schizo-archives.com/eraserheads/press/feature_2001-1_2_Yes.pdf |website=Schizo Archives |access-date=18 August 2024}} and Asin,{{cite news |last1=Caruncho |first1=Eric S |title=Fathers, Fenders and Feeding Bottles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=maU2AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA93 |access-date=7 January 2023 |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=10 June 2001 |language=en}} while guitarist Marcus Adoro worked as session musician for Pepe Smith.{{cite web |last1=Abubakar |first1=Pearlsha |title=Alive and Kicking (Pulp Magazine, October 2002 |url=http://www.schizo-archives.com/eraserheads/press/feature_2002-10_Pulp-28_PearlshaAbubakar.pdf |website=Schizo Archives |access-date=18 August 2024}}

In a Philippine Daily Inquirer interview in 2001, Buendia admitted that he felt burnt out making Natin99. “Hindi ko na alam ang direksyon (I didn't know our direction anymore),” he said. “Na 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).” In another interview promoting his solo album Wanted Bedspacer in 2000, he hoped that Carbon Stereoxide will bring the band back to basics.

The album was recorded between October and December 2000 at Tracks Studios in Pasig. Production was handled by Robin Rivera, who had previously produced five of the band’s albums. The band's record label BMG had reportedly imposed a strict deadline for them to finish recording the album by December.{{cite web |last1=Ayson |first1=Jim |title=New Eraserheads Album Out January 2001 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010308234357/http://www.philmusic.com/zine/news/2000/12/122500_cos/index.shtml |website=Philmusic.com |access-date=18 August 2024}}

The album’s working titles include Eight Down, Two to Go (referring to the band’s recording contract with BMG) and Escalators Up Ahead. Zabala’s partner Earnest Mangulabnan finally announced the album’s final title as Carbon Stereoxide, a pun on carbon monoxide & carbon dioxide.

In a chat event with Philmusic in 2000, Marasigan hinted at Carbon Stereoxide’s sound as being inspired by The Cure, with folk and drum and bass elements. The band had attended a Cure concert in California last June. The album was also described as “dark, mature — not so much pop as rock” and a “near-complete departure from the original Eraserheads sound”.

The band had performed some of the new material live, including “Maskara” and “Palamig”. An early composition, “Get This Love Thing Down”, was also performed live but was not included in the album. Adoro contributed two tracks, "Wala" and "Pula", which had folk elements. "Out of Sight" was inspired by Blur.{{cite web |last1=Adoro |first1=Marcus |title=Carbonara a la Marc (Carbon Stereoxide production notes) |url=http://www.schizo-archives.com/eraserheads/works/prod-notes_carbonstereoxide.html |website=Schizo Archives |access-date=4 September 2024}}

Carbon Stereoxide was initially set to release on January 15, but was later postponed to March.{{cite web |last1=Tagasa |first1=Jen |title=Eraserheads' New Album Release Postponed |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010126090700/http://www.mtvasia.com/News/Regional/Items/0101/0101013.html |website=MTV Asia |access-date=18 August 2024}}

The album was promoted by the lead single “Maskara”, with a music video directed by Buendia and Marie Jamora.{{cite web |last1=Tagasa |first1=Jen |title=Eraserheads: Keeping It Together |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210013313/http://www.mtvasia.com/Music/Interviews/20010201001/index.html |website=MTV Asia |access-date=18 August 2024}}

Carbon Stereoxide was first released on cassette. Its subsequent CD release included a bonus VCD with the music video for "Maskara" as well as behind the scenes footage and interviews, and also included a set of masks featuring the band members.{{cite web |title=Eraserheads - Carbon Stereoxide |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2996559-Eraserheads-CarbonStereoxide |website=Discogs.com |access-date=18 August 2024}}

In 2008, BMG reissued Eraserheads's back catalogue, including Carbon Stereoxide.{{cite web |title=Eraserheads - Carbon Stereoxide (CD, 2009) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2995042-Eraserheads-CarbonStereoxide |website=Discogs.com |access-date=18 August 2024}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r590421|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]

}}

Carbon Stereoxide sold 12,000 copies in the Philippines, making it the least successful album by the band in terms of sales.

The album was poorly received by critics upon release. Baby Gil of The Philippine Star wrote: "Carbon Stereoxide finds the Eraserheads at the crossroads." She added that the album's guitar and drums "get too loud in the wrong places at times, but take note, they are real."{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2001/04/29/86313/eraserheads-rock-harder-carbon-stereoxide|title=Eraserheads rock harder with Carbon Stereoxide {{!}} Philstar.com|website=philstar.com|access-date=2018-06-21}}

David Gonzales of Allmusic regarded Carbon Stereoxide as "another bewildering mess". While he considered the album's first two opening tracks ("Ultrasound" and "Maskara") as "good alternative rock songs", he pointed out that these songs will fail to appeal to a wide range of listeners. Gonzales dismissed most of the album as "pointless and meandering".[http://www.allmusic.com/album/carbon-stereoxide-r590421/review c] Carbon Stereoxide - The Eraserheads | AllMusic

{{Track listing

| title1 = Ultrasound

| writer1 = Ely Buendia

| length1 = 4:21

| title2 = Maskara

| writer2 = Buendia

| length2 = 4:11

| title3 = How Far Will U Go

| writer3 = {{hlist|Buddy Zabala|Raymund Marasigan}}

| length3 = 3:05

| title4 = Bloodtest

| writer4 = Marasigan

| length4 = 0:43

| title5 = Wala

| writer5 = Marcus Adoro

| length5 = 7:14

| title6 = Hula

| writer6 = Buendia

| length6 = 3:06

| title7 = Photo Synth

| writer7 = Marasigan

| length7 = 0:32

| title8 = Palamig

| writer8 = Buendia

| length8 = 4:22

| title9 = Out of Sight

| writer9 = {{hlist|Zabala|Marasigan}}

| length9 = 3:09

| title10 = Super Vision

| writer10 = Marasigan

| length10 = 0:18

| title11 = Paint Stripper

| writer11 = Marasigan

| length11 = 3:28

| title12 = Escalator Alligator

| writer12 = Adoro

| length12 = 1:14

| title13 = Playground

| writer13 = Marasigan

| length13 = 4:12

| title14 = Omnesia

| writer14 = Buendia

| length14 = 4:14

| title15 = OK Comprende

| writer15 = Marasigan

| length15 = 0:27

| title16 = Pula

| writer16 = Adoro

| length16 = 5:26

| title17 = Outside

| writer17 = {{hlist|Buendia|Zabala|Earnest Mangulabnan}}

| length17 = 5:32

| title18 = Acid Eyes

| writer18 = Marasigan

| length18 = 0:19

| total_length = 55:53

}}

{{Track listing

| title1 = Maskara (Music Video)

| length1 = 34:42

}}

Adapted from the liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Carbon Stereoxide|others=Eraserheads|year=2001|type=album liner notes|publisher=BMG}}

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Eraserheads

• Ely Buendia – vocals, guitars, back-up vocals {{small|(tracks 3, 5, 14)}}
• Buddy Zabala – bass, guitars, back-up vocals {{small|(tracks 3, 5, 14)}}
• Marcus Adoro – guitars, vocals {{small|(tracks 5, 16)}}
• Raimund Marasigan – drums, guitars, percs {{small|(track 13, 16–17)}}, back-up vocals {{small|(tracks 3, 9)}}, filler {{small|(tracks 13, 17)}}, vocals {{small|(track 11)}}, additional beats {{small|(track 12)}}, loops {{small|(track 13)}}

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Production

• Robin Rivera – producer
• Angee Rozul – mixing, recording
• Rudy Tee – executive production
• Vic Valenciano – A&R

Design

• Ely Buendia – cover and Sagada photos
• Diane D. Cute – band photographer
• Cynthia Bauzon – sleeve, art direction

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{{Reflist}}

{{Eraserheads}}

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Category:2001 albums

Category:Eraserheads albums