Loved every word of your review!!! Thank you so much for this excellent write-up, Chord...
And will this revision be updated here as well?! :-) http://simbucentral.blogspot.com/2010/01/music-review-of-vtv.html On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 11:55 AM, Vithur <vith...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Chord's write Up - 100/100. you are the best .. > > > > > On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 8:30 AM, ichord <purev...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> >> >> After some corrections and additions: >> >> If there's a distinct trend that I see in ARR's music over time, it's his >> reduced emphasis on musical adventurism and acrobatics and increased >> emphasis on >> subtle musical forms within a composition, often perceived subjectively as >> "not >> living up to his own standards". I don't agree with that notion since it's >> ARR >> who recreates his own standards with each release, just like destroying >> his own >> ego before a compositional session. The burden of responsibility to >> recognize >> this is up to the listener, who may be challenged and confounded by >> expectations >> and biases, which is normal and natural. Again, these are trends only and >> just >> from my observational standpoint...nothing is black and white or >> exclusionary. >> This trend may be a function of two forces: 1)Age (emphasizing more of a >> gestalt perspective) 2) Progressive evolution as part of a unique artist >> whose >> mindset is bent on conceptual expansion and really trying hard to avoid >> being >> typecasted, escaping from his own set trails to form new and distinct >> roads. >> The music of VTV is a major step in AR's evolutionary process as an artist >> who's >> never content with the status quo, or even his own previous success. >> Remember, >> it's the artist over the entertainer, and in VTV, it's the pure artist >> within >> ARR, even beyond musician, that is in the driver's seat. I will not >> comment on >> the lyrics since I don't understand Tamil. >> >> 1) Omanna Penne: >> Steady and soothing.....a composition that oozes with spiritualism and >> introspection. I love how AR juxtaposes the Western rhythms with the >> Carnatic >> raagas first by the female voice, and weaving throughout the stylistic >> Nadaswaram, whose roots are deeply Carnatic, but expressed so universally >> in >> this track. Wonderful singing by Benny and the Nadaswaram ending is surely >> a >> page from the Rehna Tu continuum outro. Nothing fancy in this composition, >> but >> the feeling left behind is extremely elevating and cleansing. Fantastic >> start. >> (8/10) >> >> 2) Anbil Avan: >> ARR at his playful best. He must have had a lot of fun putting this track >> together. There is nothing heavy or mind blowing about this track, but >> what >> makes it work for me is the joyful innocence in the melody and the very >> interesting sonic arrangements using a Shehnai type sound juxtaposed with >> a >> church organ sound. The musical interlude that has this also has some very >> nice, quick chord progressions that defy banality. The melody sticks easy >> and >> would be a fun song to dance with. (7/10) >> >> 3) Vinnathaandi Varuvaayaa: >> Wow......what a minimalistic impact! Minimalistic impact is something that >> I >> have been missing from Rahman's oeuvre in recent films, but here it is, in >> its >> full glory and form. Using a minimalistic sound template for a title song >> is >> quite bold and outside the box, but boy does it work for me!!! The >> acoustic >> strings (guitar? harp?) along with vibes and small bells create such a >> unique, >> peaceful ambiance in this song that transports me into a dreamlike world. >> Beautiful string additions in the mid section only add depth to amazing >> vocals, >> chords, and heartfelt emotions in this gem, but likely to be underrated >> track. >> Delicate, subtle, dreamy, ambient, soft, restrained, soothing, >> warming.....I can >> go on and on..... Again, a track doesn't have to be complex and >> adventuresome to >> be powerful....this is the genius of AR....he can create such a powerful >> ambience using minimal quantity. (8/10) >> >> 4) Hosana: >> There is no other composer in India who can arrange better than AR. In >> this >> song, many of AR's strengths are showcased.....sound structure, layered, >> thick, >> yet uncluttered arrangements, symphonic textures, haunting melody, >> soothing >> ambiance. The sound layers are so clean and crisp....that beautiful >> strumming >> acoustic guitar is so nice!!! Also worthy of metion is the high toned >> Scottish >> flavored flute and the subtle mandolin rhythms in sync with the main >> rhythms, >> punctuated by the pulsating string sections. The female choir with the >> angelic >> expression is one of the most beautiful choir sounds I've heard. This song >> sticks to you and won't let go. A complete masterpiece IMO that is one of >> the >> best songs that ARR has composed in recent years. (9/10) >> >> 5) Kunnukkul Kannai >> Another playful techno oriented track with some pleasing electronic >> arrangements. The unique feature of this track for me are the string >> quartet >> type rhythmic accents throughout that give this youth song a very Western >> classical feel. Relatively simple by composition and sound, but again, a >> nice >> dance number with good melody. Rahman not living up to his standards on >> this >> one? Well, that's up to you to decide, but it's an enjoyable one for me, >> though >> If I had to pick my least favorite in this soundtrack, it's this one. >> (7/10) >> >> 6) Mannipaaya >> I was looking forward to this song ever since I knew Shreya and AR would >> be >> singing it, a romantic duet. The song has everything I could hope for in a >> romantic duet....breathtaking melody, beautiful soundscapes, sophisticated >> arrangements, gentle ambiance, subtle symphonic artistry. I love the piano >> backdrop and so many of the symphonic instruments can be heard in >> isolation...oboe, clarinet, tympani, flute, etc. A very subtle masterpiece >> in >> my opinion, that can only be appreciated by those with a certain musical >> sensitivity and emotional open-ness, and of course, who like mushy >> romantic >> numbers! The melody is quite drawn out with long contours, so it's not a >> song >> that's easily melodically remembered the first time go, but certainly >> sticks >> with you with repeated exposure. There is a certain musical abstractness >> to this song, like a modern painting that takes time to sink in and be >> registered, but only appreciated by those with such a taste and open-ness. >> Strengths of this track...mood, delicate >> arrangements, subtle artistry, certain melodic sections, innocence, >> sincerity. >> One of the album's highlights for sure and I hope it's picturized well >> (9/10) >> >> 7) Aaromale >> Wow.....just wow!!! AR takes a page from the Pink Floyd era, but nothing >> here >> is lifted or copied. Sensual, stylistic, clean acoustic guitar playing >> along >> with passionate and mind blowing vocals by Alphonse make this track simply >> stunning. The string type sounds which weave in and out add a whole new >> dimension to the sonic architecture of this gem. What is so unique about >> this song is again, minimalistic impact with sound, instruments, but also >> chordal architecture.......there are only 2 alternating chords being used in >> the entire song!! Can you believe it? The >> chorus part which begins with the Malyali "Swasti Swasti" harks on raaga >> Bhimpalas to create a magical effect....imagine...juxtaposing a 2 chord >> bluesy guitar riff with a raaga >> based melody.....only AR....only AR.... The added percussion increasing >> the >> pace only add to the intensity and sinisterness to this path breaking and >> out of >> the box track. And man, what an ending...the way the vocals fade >> out......oh >> man!!!! The ambience created is just out of this world....it leaves me >> stunned, >> mesmerized, in awe. (10/10)!!! >> >> General highlights of this album include minimalistic impact, originality, >> very >> sophisticated and classy arrangements, incredibly strong ambience and >> sound >> quality, and soothing influence. I don't think anyone will be complaining >> about >> sound issues in this album like we saw for Blue, as ARR I think paid a lot >> more >> attention to that aspect this time around, perhaps keeping our "Blue" >> feedback >> in mind??? The soundtrack also has a wide range of styles, sounds, musical >> forms that keep you interested. Because of the highly international, >> situational, and somewhat unconventional nature of the songs, these will >> only be >> appreciated most with time, post movie visuals, and by those who are most >> open >> minded about music in general. Those who only like the antara-mukhda type >> film >> songs will find the listening experience to be awkward and just too >> esoteric. >> Also, except for the first track with Carnatic raagas, most of the rest of >> the >> album is void of obvious ethnic Indian sounds/styles/forms, consistent >> with the >> international and more universal musical approach. This again, may be a >> turn >> off to some due to non exposure. Like all new ARR albums, esp. ones like >> this that have some unconventional and new elements, it will take time to >> grow for many, if at all. >> >> A special mention must be made for the singing in each song. All singers >> have done a fantastic job in rendering with great emotion and passion. I esp >> liked Shreya Ghoshal's heartfelt crooning in Mannipaya and what more can be >> said about Alphonse in Aaromale? Amazing rendering and much credit goes to >> ARR too for bringnig the best out of him. Other singers such as Benny, >> Karthik, Chinmayi, Kalyani, Blaaze, Suzanne....all deserve high praise for >> their parts. >> >> My overall rating....9/10. A distinct highlight of ARR's career...one of >> the >> very finest musical packages you will find anywhere in the world today, >> not >> because of its complexity, wizardry, or dynamics, but for pure artistry, >> sincerity, ambiance, mood, minimalism, subtlety, and overall spiritualism. A >> nice instrumental >> track addition would have made this album perfect for me. >> >> > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > > > > -- Cheers, Madhavan.R Be a Music Fan; not a Music Pirate!
