Thanks, Sajin! About Irumbile, it's warming up to me, but I'm not sold on it yet. It's just too plain Jane and teeny pop for me, but who knows...one day it will knock me over the head and I'll say, "wow"! Only Rahman could do that!
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, mohammed sajin <mnsa...@...> wrote: > > Chord, you just try to fool the readers by using unusual words and phrases, > just > showing off! > And now you criticizing some songs, just for proving your authenticity!!! > . > . > . > Heyyy,.......... I am just kidding :) > How can someone say no, to your reviews. > I am a big fan of your reviews. > For me the following are procedures for an ARR release. > > > 1. Track list > 2. Audio release > 3. repeat hearing > 4. and Chord's reviewAnd one more thing, please don't fail to inform > us, if u > start liking the song 'Irumbile oru idhayam' > > SAJIN > > > > ________________________________ > From: AJ <purev...@...> > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wed, August 4, 2010 2:44:55 AM > Subject: [arr] About my reviews... > > > Thanks everyone for reading my reviews and your kind comments. I write > reviews > not expecting praise or attention...it's a hobby for me and I do it for my > own > self expression and satisfaction. If anyone is patient enough to read my > reviews and write a kind comment, that is bonus to me. > > > My reviews tend to be long and verbose, I know that. I like to be very > descriptive about the songs, explaining what I like and why I like it, > pointing > out a lot of details. I'm sorry if my reviews are not the most reader > friendly! > I simply don't have time to go back and edit them and make them more concise. > > Please forgive me for this. > > --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Kalyan K <kalyankin@> wrote: > > > > Nice review Chord...But i love irumbile too..Hope it will grow on you in > > coming days. > > > > Kalyan K. > > > > On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 6:33 PM, Roshan <c.pixels@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Nice review, Chord. took some time to read the whole thing though. > > > although i couldn't like the whole album. i do agree with the Puthiya > > > Manidha. This one has really grown on me. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 6:41 AM, AJ <purevibz@> wrote: > > > > > >> > > >> > > >> Gopal, > > >> > > >> Please add the following to my original post title: 1100110 > > >> > > >> Please resubmit. Thanks. > > >> > > >> --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com <arrahmanfans%40yahoogroups.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 followingâ¦.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 whileâ¦..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 touchesâ¦.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 > > >> secondâ¦..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 voiceâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦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 stillâ¦.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 hereâ¦.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 endâ¦.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 filmâ¦..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 â" Compared to other Rahman albums (mostly for the 4 amazing > > >> > songs I > > >> talked about above) > > >> > 9/10 â" 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. > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > -- > > > ----------------------------------- > > > http://roshanravi.com > > > http://ramblingsoul.com > > > http://cssheaven.org > > > > > > > > > > > >
