Thanks a lot! I don't give much importance to how one song sounds like another. No matter how similar 2 songs may sound, the differences between them way outweigh the similarities.
--- In [email protected], ARRvind <arr_arv...@...> wrote: > > Perfect review Chord(AJ)! I was expecting you to take out the "Theekuruvi" > song name while reviewing Amma Thalle.. :) > > --- On Sat, 7/17/10, AJ <purev...@...> wrote: > > > From: AJ <purev...@...> > Subject: Re: [arr] Substance Matching up to Style - Music Review of Komram > Puli > To: [email protected] > Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010, 11:03 AM > > >  > > > > Thanks, KJ! > > --- In [email protected], KJ <rajkeshav84@> wrote: > > > > Too Good AJ. Well framed word for Puli Music. Engaging review indeed > > > > On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 1:59 AM, Kalyan K <kalyankin@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Superb Review Chord. Thanks for that. > > > > > > Kalyan K. > > > > > > On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 7:15 AM, AJ <purevibz@> wrote: > > > > > >> > > >> > > >> Substance Matching up to Style â" Music Review of Komram Puli > > >> > > >> (Cannot comment on lyrics and placement of them since I don't know > > >> Telugu. > > >> I am fully aware that the lyrics and the use of them have been a huge > > >> sore > > >> point of the album in others reviews.) > > >> > > >> In my opinion, Rahman composing for a hardcore commercial flick had > > >> yielded mixed results going by history, but falling more on the positive > > >> side of the fence. Commercial flicks can offer a somewhat safe canvas for > > >> Rahman to let his hair really loose and experiment like the mad musical > > >> scientist that he is, but often depends on the director's musical taste > > >> and > > >> film scope. With SJ Surya at the helm of this Telugu flick, would Rahman > > >> burst through or remain uninspired? > > >> > > >> One observation to made about ARR's Indian soundtracks since his Oscar > > >> recognition and having Western doors more wide open for him is that the > > >> attempt to "internationalize" the music is evident to me, since the > > >> spotlight on Oscar winning AR Rahman was on. Of course, Rahman's albums > > >> always had the international/world influences, but somehow, post Oscars, > > >> the > > >> intentionality of this seemed more focused. But, this intention did not > > >> come > > >> without much cost when you look at soundtracks like VTV and Raavan, both > > >> featuring world influences, but retaining a core Indian-ness to the > > >> music. > > >> What a tricky balance and tightrope act that Rahman managed to > > >> achieveâ¦..widening the universal appeal scope of the music for more > > >> diverse > > >> ears throughout the world while still needing to satisfy the aum junta in > > >> the local domain! Did Rahman walk the tightrope without tipping in Puli? > > >> > > >> Well, a pretty fine start if you ask me as the thumping beats of Power > > >> Star blast their way into a high octane, adrenaline pumping track with a > > >> solid raag Bhairavi based melody sung spiritedly and spritefully by Tanvi > > >> and Vijay Prakash. This tune is totally energizing and becomes ablaze > > >> with > > >> an electronic fire with splashes of folk. The part where Tanvi sings > > >> "Power > > >> Star" sounds a bit too cheesy for my taste and is the only drawback in an > > >> otherwise excellent track. During the antara, Rahman has used the same > > >> techno synth sound sample that he used in the song Kannkul Kannai from > > >> VTV > > >> and has used it very tastefully. Did you also notice a bit of operatic > > >> singing at the end of the first interlude following the brass solo? A > > >> mélange of sonic colors define this hot track and I only feel like > > >> dancing > > >> to it like crazy when I listen! > > >> > > >> My oh my, what do we have here in track 2? What a beautiful start with > > >> only techno drums and plucked strings setting the minimalistic backdrop > > >> for > > >> what is to become one of the most genius tracks from ARR. Totally > > >> unconventional in structure, it's a track where the singing in double > > >> time > > >> is punctuated by one of the most frequent and wild chord changes in one > > >> song > > >> I've ever heard, not to mention how the various raagas used in the main > > >> melody seemingly shifting with each second! Only a genius legend like ARR > > >> can pull this off so brilliantly! Total drama and surging emotions cast a > > >> plucky hue to this scintillating number that is bound to become a > > >> favorite > > >> by many who appreciate the wild and freakish side to ARR, and freakish > > >> in a > > >> good way! Rahman is playing and having fun in this track!!! I also love > > >> how > > >> ARR has used the flourishing symphonic based interludes so tastefully > > >> that > > >> only add class to an already refined juggernaut of a track. Parts of the > > >> song do sound a bit cluttered and mildly noisy arrangement wise at times, > > >> but that is entirely forgiven by me given the complete brilliance > > >> showcased > > >> here! Warning: This track is not for the conventionally and traditionally > > >> mindedâ¦.you need to really open your ears and mind to enjoy this one! > > >> > > >> And the brilliance only continues in track 3 with a patriotic surge > > >> voiced > > >> by the one and onlyâ¦â¦ What a beautiful symphonic and epic soundscape > > >> that AR > > >> has used for this intensely passionate track that is full of courage and > > >> gusto. The beautiful brass interludes add a uniquely dimensional sonic > > >> texture to an already richly laden, multilayered power track alongside > > >> the > > >> soothing "Mannipaya" like choral interludes, once again full of > > >> aestheticism > > >> and refinement. The thumping drum beats and the backdrop tanpura > > >> throughout > > >> the song add even more depth and beauty. This song somewhat reminds of > > >> the > > >> same passion and style of the song "Ellapazhugam" from ATM. > > >> The intensity backs off a bit in the fourth track, but not the quality! A > > >> paced track full of attitude, certainty and spirit, the symphonic strings > > >> and patient electronic accents give an all around beauty to this punchy > > >> number. Both male and female voices alternate between the heavy and > > >> lighter > > >> styles, adding a nice vocal balance, but with conviction! Possibly my > > >> least > > >> favorite track on the album, but that is only a relative dislikeâ¦..it's > > >> still a solid number! > > >> > > >> We suddenly shift gears in the fifth track as the Gangsta Blues template > > >> appears, but with a sweet melody! A very sexy and seductive sounding > > >> number > > >> to me, this track scores and how!! ARR goes into sonic experimentation > > >> mode > > >> more minimalistically this time with light techno, crafty and sweet > > >> acoustic > > >> guitar, spacious electro sound effects, and accordion type sound. This > > >> track > > >> breathes slowly and patiently with breaks! The melody in the antara is > > >> the > > >> sweetest part of the song as Shreya croons the high notes with incredible > > >> ease with her sweet as honey voice. A beautifully crafted melody that > > >> only > > >> has one asking for more! A very unique track by ARR, despite using the > > >> Gangsta Blues rhythm and style template. > > >> > > >> The final track is my favorite. So what if it somewhat sounds like > > >> Rahman's previous devotional numbers? The melody is still unique, despite > > >> using similar ragas and the musical arrangements are incredibly refined, > > >> harkening back also to the Roshan Hua from Sapnay days with the Arabic > > >> sounding mandolin like splashes. Oh, and Rahman has used the acoustic > > >> guitar > > >> here so beautifully and delicately throughout the song and with such > > >> softness adding just the right feel to this incredibly moving and > > >> spiritual > > >> number. I love the intro and first interlude use of the solo oboe > > >> followed > > >> by very moving strings shifting to a major scale temporarily. Oh, and did > > >> you notice the short flute insertion at the 3'17" mark, that is so > > >> perfectly > > >> timed and placed to reflect the emotion of the moment? PURE MAGIC! The > > >> second interlude has Chitra doing her usual alaap best along with a loopy > > >> clarinet like sounding insertion before the low octave tuned tablas come > > >> in > > >> with a time signature that is really hard to figure out! I hope everyone > > >> noticed the nice bass guitar throughout the song adding only depth to an > > >> already deep number. Rahman has used raagas Charukeshi, Asawari, Pilu in > > >> various avatars so beautifully with a slow, drawn out melody that > > >> squeezes > > >> out every drop of emotion. This devotional track totally takes me to the > > >> clouds and has me floating on air. What a masterpiece! > > >> > > >> So, there you have it. This is an album full of stylistic panache only to > > >> be matched and even subdued by the substance that Rahman has poured into > > >> each and every track. The fact that the songs remind one of ARR's earlier > > >> works doesn't bother me one bit and I never get hung up by such things, > > >> because there is way more uniqueness and innovation in each track than > > >> similarities to previous tracks, as there usually is in an ARR album! > > >> When > > >> listening to an ARR album, there are certain core features of his music > > >> that > > >> I pay attention to like sonic range, innovation, emotion, passion, > > >> intensity, melody, orchestration, depth of arrangements. The surprise > > >> for me > > >> was the level of musical intensity and highly refined and sweet sounding > > >> sonic range and orchestration and arrangements, which I did not expect > > >> for > > >> an album for this type of movie under this director. This album has > > >> gotten a > > >> strong hold on me and I keep wanting to go back to it, signifying another > > >> test passed for an ARR album. So, yes, an inspired soundtrack with Rahman > > >> walking the tightrope with great élan, once again showcasing why he is > > >> one > > >> of the greatest composers ever with a musical versatility, depth, and > > >> range > > >> that is in a league of his own. > > >> > > >> If I had to give a numeric judgement: Comparing to other ARR albums, > > >> 7/10, > > >> and comparing to contemporary Indian film albums in general, 9/10. > > >> > > >> (This review or any part of it may not be reproduced without the > > >> expressed > > >> consent of this writer. Copyright 2010 by ichord) > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > >
