Sunday, March 27, 2011

F.A.L.T.U., Game, Kis Hudh Tak... - Music Review

F.A.L.T.U. (2011)
Music: Sachin - Jigar

1. Char Baj Gayi ------------------------------------------ 7/10
If it has not been a party time for you in a long time, then stock up your bar, get your music system tuned up and be ready to rock to the latest dont-care attitude party track in Char Baj Gayi. A much needed change from the perennial romantic tracks dished out by Bollywood. Just get into the right mood and enjoy this lively track by Hard Kaur.

2. Awaaz Do ----------------------------------------------- 7/10
It is hard to say that we have not listened to this sort of track before, but it still manages to bring over calm over a troubled mind.

3. Le Ja Tu Mujhe ---------------------------------------- 7/10
Starts out as a continuation of Gale Laga Le, another track from the movie, followed by a likable Atif Aslam solo. A nice pop rock by Atif has all the elements that Atif fans have come to expect: a call-for-help mood and Atif and good beats. Also, cannot overlook, or should I say, overhear the similarity between Sachin Gupta's Prince songs sung by Atif and this one.

4. O Teri ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/10
Pretty bad track. But deserves mention for its jocular lyrics and classical Indian music tune. Falls right in the category of Motumaster from Udaan.

Final verdict: Get tracks 1, 2, 3 above. Other tracks Gale Laga Le, Nayee Subah and Rab Sab Se Sona are decent enough to make this a refreshing album that you will not regret playing in the background.

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Game (2011)
Music: Shankar - Ehsaan - Loy

I must officially say now that Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have lost it to what it takes to producing refreshing and entertaining music. This album had them written over it, alas in a stale music sort of way. I just hope they find their way back. Given the genre of the movie, most songs sound like a bored bonus track from Don. Maine Yeh Kab Socha Tha is a silent, romantic number that comes anywhere close to be loved. However, the song gives you a feel it will take off from a slow and promising start to a euphoric climax, but fails to deliver any of that during the 300 odd seconds it plays, but takes musical detours instead.

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Kis Hudh Tak... (2010)
Music: Abid Shah

Surprise! Surprise!! Nothing to expect here. Just another perfunctory duty of producing music for a movie. Why do it and waste budget over something without putting your heart in it? The only funny aspect of this album is Naseeb Wale Hote Hain. Measuring at almost 10 minutes, this track is a huge extension to Khwaja Mere Khwaja from Jodha Akbar.
Char Baj Gayi - F.A.L.T.U. Awaaz Do - F.A.L.T.U. Le Ja Tu Mujhe - F.A.L.T.U. O Teri - F.A.L.T.U. Naseeb Wale Hote Hai - Kis Hudh Tak...

Friday, March 18, 2011

Tum Hi To Ho, Soch Lo, The Film Emotional Atyachar, Life Express - Music Review

Tum Hi To Ho (2011)
Music: Anand - Milind

1. Aaye Khuda Dard Ye Gum - The track starts out pretty good with Mohit Chauhan doing what he does best: a romantic soliloquy. In fact, the most of the song is so impressive, that the later half is almost hilarious with the cheesy romantic talk stuffed for some weird reason. It completely ruins the song, otherwise an impressive effort. Just for kicks, I would recommend to listen this song for a good laugh.
2. Dil Ne Mere Dil Ne - Good for dhabas, autorickshaws.

Final verdict: Yawwwn! What a dull album. Clearly has a stamp of trying to get a bargain within the music budget of the movie.

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Soch Lo (2010)
Music: Charu Mohan, Nitish Pries

1. Mera Yahaan Hai Kaun (2) ----------------------------- 7/10
A fresh rock track. Starts out with good beats, a slow and steady opening with a typical climax with the congruence of drums and bass guitar. This song is a male version and is more energetic and has better tempo than Mera Yahaan Hai Kaun female version. It is also good, but the male version is better of the two.

That's pretty much all for this album.




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The Film Emotional Atyachar (2010)
Music: Mangesh Dhadke, Bappi Lahiri

A pretty big album. Since it is not great or pathetic, summing the review with a few mentions:
1. Chitka Hua - A spiced up and fast-paced track for the jazz fans. Fun to listen to.
2. Kaafir - Out-of-the-box track for dance floor only. No remix necessary.
3. Sun Liya - A very typical romantic track by Samir Date. Pretty soothing despite being generic.





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Life Express (2010)
Music: Roop Kumar Rathod

Being a good singer and producing popular music are completely different things. A very cliche album with the UP-Bihar-esque, NOM, item song in Banaras Ke Paan. Pyar Ka Namak is decent, but so not 2010. Roop Kumar Rathod assumes the reins of playback in 4 tracks. He has a quality voice with the right amount of compassion, but unfortunately that alone is not alone to salvage a song.

Final verdict: Sounds like a decade old album and nothing touches our heart.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Yeh Saali Zindagi, Hostel, Vikalp - Music Review

Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011)
Music: Nishat Khan

1. Ishq Tere Jalwe --------------------------------------------- 6/10
This is a total Bheegi Bheegi from Gangster remade, recomposed. Although, Bheegi Bheegi is better for it's novelty (not originality, because we all know where Pritam got the tune from), this song picks up after a slow opening. Pretty decent song, but open to individual taste. Javed Ali slightly disappoints, whereas Shilpa Rao is not cut out for high pitched tunes.

2. Dil Dar-Ba-Dar ---------------------------------------------- 6/10
This song has pretty good beats and tempo. Very Bollywood indeed. However, this is a kind of track which you have heard in every other album. Despite it's likability, the song is cliche.

3. Kaise Kahein Alvida ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6/10
Indian classical music connoisseurs will like it. Even not so much fans of this genre should find it pretty calming. Now this is Javed Ali's forte.

4. Yeh Saali Zindagi (Duet) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/10
Pretty good duet. Melodious. Has good beats. But the lyrics kill it. Sunidhi Chauhan should sing more songs like this.

Final verdict: Overall, a decent album with not many surprises. Definitely has the stamp of a good musician. Just not impressive enough.


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Hostel (2011)
Music: Virag Mishra

1. Bandagi ------------------------------------------- 7/10
It feels like the Bollywood musicians have started finally figuring out the grunge rock music puzzle. This genre never meant a cacophony of bass guitar, throbbing drums and screeching voices complaining to the whole wide world, which has mostly been the case in Bollywood so far. This track however gets it all in a harmony. Full marks to the musician.

That's pretty much to the album. Rishta Bano is decent but is about advising us, while Hausalah (I Wanna Live Once More) is good but conveys a suicidal mood, which is never welcome.

Final verdict: Not bad. Good rock track in Bandagi.

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Vikalp (2011)
Music: Dev-Vijay

Another debutant music duo? Maybe. Good luck to them, as they have had a not so bad start.

1. Kya Kahoon Tumse ------------------------------------ 7/10
As the song begins, the natural reaction is 'Sigh! Another Shaan track. He's not so cool anymore'. But wait, don't completely dismiss him yet. A pretty good track that reminds us of his heydays. Give him a chance again.

2. Nachenge Saari Saari Raat ------------------------- 6/10
A pretty good by the new music duo, with Sunidhi Chauhan unsurpisingly (because she is a voice of most second-rung movies nowadays) lending her voice. They prove all the naysayers wrong. Not a great song, but definitely will not make anyone feel like they are listening to some trash. It would be in fact interesting, if this song is put in one of the mainstream movies.

3. Yaar Ye Waham --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/10
What a rip-off of Aashiq Banaya Aapne's title track. The lead voice is not so great to pull it off though. Not bad, but no one can replace the legendary HR.

This rounds up a week of not-so-bad music.