Good points, Julien, and thanks for reading my review!
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "juliencristobal" <juliencristo...@...>
wrote:
>
> Thanks for this excellent review ichord! I tend to agree with the different
> comments you have made on your review. However, we need to keep in mind that
> the movie is not set in the future as a result A.R.Rahman might have opted
> for this "clichéd, stereotyped robotic sound" in "Chitti Dance Showcase" in
> order to keep it realistic?
>
> --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "AJ" <purevibz@> wrote:
> >
> > Enthiran Music Review
> >
> > I decided to write this review sooner than I thought due to the songs
> > having a more instant impact and having listened to the whole album at
> > least 15 times since it came out. Further time is not going to change my
> > opinions. My comments are only on the music, not the lyrics.
> >
> > I wonder if we really understand and appreciate the difficulty of Rahman's
> > job, no matter how musically brilliant he is. He is human after all, and
> > not a robot. He has to keep in mind so many expectations and demands, esp.
> > when you have a leading film-maker and superstar with his own fan
> > following
.Rajinikant. Post Oscars, the expectations for Rahman have only
> > grown and I truly wonder how he manages to rise to the occasion each time,
> > whether we ourselves like an album or not. With Shankar and Rajinikant at
> > hand, boy, Rahman must try to keep a lot of people happy all at once, yet
> > creating music fitting for the movie that's supposed to have sci fi, robo
> > themes! If there's anyone who can do justice to these demands, it's
> > Rahman. The hype around the music release of this album is one of the
> > biggest I've seen in a while
..touted as one of the finest films, most
> > expensive films, etc.
> >
> > Pudiya Manidha whisks us away to a land of robos and futuristic sci fi, and
> > man, does it ever leave a mark! One of the sleekest masterpieces Rahman
> > has ever come out with in my opinion, this song oozes with etherealness,
> > groove, punch, mystery, intrigue, and trance. This track takes me to
> > another world truly with Rahman's sweet touches
.crystal, progressive synth
> > sound effects, warm ambiance, loopy synths, and the ever soothing and
> > captivating string arrangements. Post Khatija Rahman's soulful singing and
> > bleating goat sounds, the song picks up speed with rhythms and SPB's
> > spritely singing. Notice how the strings mimic the synth loop melody, only
> > adding depth and character to an already richly bestowed track. Based
> > loosely on raaga Bhimpalas, the song takes a soaring route during the
> > heavenly string interlude. Beautiful choral additions are appreciated,
> > adding a stark spirituality and sonic texture along with SPB's split octave
> > singing, creating a very balanced and satisfying bass/treble aural
> > experience on all frequencies. This track will likely go down as one of my
> > favorites in ARR's entire repertoire for the reasons outlined above and for
> > reasons I just can't put into words, but can only feel and experience. For
> > a techno/trance number, it's very spiritual in feel! A complete
> > masterpiece from start to finish, what a way to kick off!!!!
> >
> > A contrasting, more acoustic, upbeat and happier track follows as Shreya
> > and Vijay Prakash please us with lilting singing and joy in Kaadhal
> > Annukal. Rahman's use of rhythm acoustic guitar layered with the sweet
> > accordion and mouth organ/harmonica is extremely appealing aurally with
> > incredible sweetness! Beautiful interludes highlight this earthy and
> > charming song with a Scottish/Irish style using piccolo and accordion in
> > the first, and a very unconventional, out of the box mysterious and ambient
> > synth section in the second, showcasing ARR's brilliant creativity and
> > craft. The second interlude is truly outstanding as it gravitates away
> > from the usual flowery mood and organic sound and serves us something more
> > electronic and spacey, but never distracts the groove and momentum of the
> > whole track! I just love how ARR uses the strings so tastefully and
> > craftily throughout the song creating a very lush aural landscape, esp. in
> > the end when Shreya's counter melodic line joins in. A really sparkling
> > track from start to finish for me and this song just radiates freshness and
> > innovativeness for an Indian film song. The melody itself is very sweet
> > with many hooks, though unconventional for an Indian duet film song and at
> > times hard to remember, but with repeated exposures, I can't get this song
> > out of me!! The whole song is beautifully supported by a fresh, rhythmic
> > groove that mostly unwavers alongside haunting and unique chords and chord
> > progressions.
> >
> > Following the very techno and synth heavy first track, how beautifully
> > contrasting we hear a very earthy and acoustic one in the second
..truly
> > showcasing ARR's versatility and genius in the first 2 tracks alone!!!
> >
> > The third track, Irumbile Oru, is techno to the core, but sounding like an
> > ordinary remix to me! Marked by some sexy grooves and female rapping along
> > with ARR's metallic tinged voice, this track has not yet impressed me much
> > musically. Maybe if I understood the lyrics, I would appreciate it more,
> > but I did notice how the lyrics and words seem to flow quite well. I don't
> > know why Rahman did not do more musically with this track, esp. using a
> > kind of outdated techno sound that has been used over and over! As my
> > friend put it, "this track is a lost opportunity for Rahman" in terms of
> > sound, but I can see how the youngsters are enjoying it for its sheer
> > rhythmic groove, lyrics, word flow, and ARR's voice. Nothing more to write
> > here!
> >
> > ARR has a little fun in the next track, Chitti Dance Showcase, which begins
> > as a cheesy robotic voice
come on Rahman! You can do better! Why
> > choose a clichéd, stereotyped robotic sound that we've heard over and over?
> > Once again, Rahman using a very outdated sound! I can understand Rahman's
> > attempt to be obvious and literal as he needs to cater to the masses, but
> > still
.there is no elevation of taste using these outdated and hackneyed
> > robo sounds! But, on the plus side, this track has its interesting and at
> > times brilliant moments, esp. with the beautiful and sweeping string and
> > choral interlude, but alas, only lasts about 10-15 seconds! We hear all
> > sorts of genres here
.symphony, heavy metal, Indian tarana, but with
> > jarring transitions. Oh, and I also like that little whistling, jazzy
> > insertion that he put in there towards the end
.showing the more humorous
> > and playful side to ARR! Nice touch there!
> >
> > We switch gears to a much more heavy sounding number, Arima Arima, with
> > Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, 2 singers we haven't heard in a long time in
> > a Rahman's song! This track is full of valor and majesty, showcasing brass
> > and pomp with militarized drumming and a dose or distorted rock guitar to
> > add exclamation! I love Rahman's use of the symphonic strings in this song
> > using them to accent rhythms and intertwining them delicately at times in
> > 16th note fashion creating a beautifully crafted and intricate rhythmic and
> > textured backdrop to Hariharan's and Sadhana Sargam's passionate singing.
> > I love some of the operatic voices that are also used as transitional
> > pieces. I also loved that little 16th note synth insertion during one of
> > the song's transitions, adding energy to an already vibrant and punchy
> > track! Did you notice how the trumpet interlude totally changes the mood
> > of the song as we go into major scale? I love that part of the song!!!!
> > The singing is semi classical at times, esp. during the antaras, which I
> > really appreciate. The track both begins and ends with synth, creating an
> > interesting contrast to the much more acoustic and earthy majority of the
> > song.
> >
> > We go light in mood again with an African twist!!! Kilimanjaro is a real
> > treat with extremely catchy lyrics and spirited singing by Chinmayi and
> > Javed Ali! What a track! I love the mood of this whole song and the
> > beautifully authentic African vocal tribal interludes add only icing to the
> > cake! I don't know how Rahman created such an authentically earthy sound
> > to the tribal choral parts! This song is just brilliant and so crafty! I
> > love how the crisp tablas are used at times and the naughty singing by
> > Chinmayi, who doesn't sound her usual self, but very convincing! This
> > raaga Malkauns based track is punctuated by some very wholesome and crisp
> > drumming, catapulting this track forward with every step! Check out the
> > rhythmic variations during many parts of the song with added maracas (or
> > another instrument) in double time, esp. during the second tribal part.
> > Let's not forget the playful "click click" sound either, which is just
> > perfectly placed! Rahman's versatility is simply mindblowing!!!!
> >
> > The final track begins with Yogi B's "Boom Boom Robo Da" bit which repeats
> > kind of annoyingly through the rest of the song. I could have enjoyed this
> > song without that part, catchy as it is!!! Brass hits and funky techno
> > beats characterize this very rhythmic, colorful and varied track with
> > multiple musical genres in jazz, latin, rap, heavy metal, hip hop, etc.
> > For a change, it's nice to hear Yogi B, another rapper besides Blaaze,
> > though no hard feelings towards Blaaze! The antaras are quite melodiously
> > sung as the singing takes on a more semi classical turn in raaga Abhogi and
> > occasionally Bhairavi. I very much appreciate the second interlude
> > Latin/Spanish sounding section with the soothing female chorus and nice but
> > brief acoustic Spanish sounding guitar. There are more acoustic elements
> > to this song too as what sounds like a bright santoor plays an old
> > fashioned melody in the beginning and acoustic guitar plucking briefly as
> > the other musical flavors melt away for a brief bit during some later
> > transitions. A patchwork track of sorts, much like its predecessor in
> > Chitti Showcase, it's quite entertaining to the core with some splashes of
> > sweet melody thrown in. Rahman's talent as a musically genius craftsman
> > really shines in this track.
> >
> > So, another milestone in ARR's career if you ask me with heavyweights
> > Pudhiya Manidha, Kadhal Anukkal, Arima, and Kilimanjaro totally carrying
> > this soundtrack on all four of their shoulders. These 4 songs to me embody
> > some of Rahman's finest musical work to date in terms of composition,
> > innovation, sonic creativity, and mass and class appeal. This album would
> > be worthy enough with only these 4 songs on the table. The other 3 tracks
> > have bright moments contained within them, but seriously, the outdated and
> > cheesy and cliched robo/electro sounds of the 1980s are a big turn off for
> > me and I am quite disappointed by Rahman's choice here, also likely
> > influenced by Pravin Mani. I really wish that similar sound templates of
> > the ambient textured, progressive and futuristic sounds of Pudhiya Manidha
> > would have been in more abundance in the rest of the songs, but perhaps
> > Shankar had a big say in this to cater to more of the masses and Rajinikant
> > fans and what fits in with the film
..I don't know. As an album overall,
> > it's qualitatively very inconsistent to me and very gimmicky in parts, but
> > with 4 brilliant songs in the mix, I will surely be playing this very
> > entertaining CD as well as the Telugu and Hindi counterparts in heavy
> > rotation for a long, long time to come!
> >
> > Numeric Values:
> > 7/10 Compared to other Rahman albums (mostly for the 4 amazing songs I
> > talked about above)
> > 9/10 Compared to contemporary Indian film albums
> >
> > Copyright by iChord 2010. No part of this writeup may be reproduced without
> > the sole written consent of this writer.
> >
>
