It has been a long dry season without any good music releases. I saw the posters for JBJ and heard about its music being directed by SEL and gave it a wide berth, see my last few purchases for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have been heart breakingly bad. The trio was so talented and the mediocre scores have been becoming a constant source of depression for me.
However, this weekend, I made a trip to the panjabi market in Vancouver and heard a the JBJ song - quite inadvertently- there isn't much you can say when faced with a formidable Panjabi kuudi with fake lashes and paranda, is there?
But, I was intrigued with what I heard and went on to get a copy of the CD. Let me say- it is the best they have been since BnB- and in some respects I think the music is one of the best scores they have ever produced - In one respect they have pulled all stops- the singer list is quite impressive- Neeraj Shridhar, Rahat Fateh Ali, Vishal Dadlani, KK, Sukhvinder, Sunidhi, Alisha Chinai and Vasundhara Das ...quite a list wouldn't you say? Shankar sings one version of the title track -
Jhoom
Shankar Mahadevan
The title track sung by an itinerant jack sparrow meets baoul is an attempt to keep fragmented narrative of the movie seem somewhat contiguous. The sound track does not pay heed to the number of people enacting the song to the number of the playback singers- leav alone trying to match voices to the personalities – apart from Shankar Mahdevan and Amitabh in the various tempo's of this song. Shanaker Mahadevan is very good-he would have given Mohd Rafi a run for his money with his lovely punju accent. I was astounded :) The song is a typical SEL song - lots of synth and a strong beat - with a very good baritone provided by Shankar. The carpenter technique of over laid vocals is very successful in lending dimensions to the song.
Ticket to Hollywood
Neeraj Shridhar, Alisha Chinai
I love the slightly nasal -echo-ey voice of Neeraj Shridhar- the lead singer for Bombay Vikings. I can never forget the 'Woh chali -' in his voice, still makes me go weak in the knees. The song is played as a pleading- conversation between the two - somewhat like ' ‘panch rupaiya barah anna'. Alisha Chian is a perfect foil to the male voice and the transitions are handled nicely with the single time beat and the repeating refrain of 'Ticket to Hollywood'.
JBJ
Zubeen, Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan
One part of the multi part dance competition song. It has a re-mix-y touch to it with super-imposed beats and vocals.The song required strong vocal chords, what with the overpowering beat and background- Sunidhi , Zubeen rise to the occasion beautifully, there is a section where the two pass the baton, so to speak, with the title phrase - 'jhoom- jhoom barabar', reminds me think of a two duelers bowing before they jump in - Shankar's voice is mostly relegated to the background echo vocals- as always adding a nice dimension to the track.
Bol na halke halke
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mahalaxmi Iyer
Love the way the song starts off … the same beat cycle playing over and over again, each time around a new instrument is added - you hear the harmony building - ghatam, synth, jal tarang, flute and the final round the voice of Rahet Fateh Ali. His voice is like a caress, very well matched with Mahalaxmi's dulcet soprano. The only song that can be called -hindustani in the olde world Indian classical music sense, it uses a lot more instruments than I have heard in a typical SEL number- there is a fairly heavy reliance on synth and guitar- still. The song is given to transitions as it relates a whole story of the two young lovers; it is perhaps the only song in the album that relies on the vocals as much as it does. The strange attempt to show old-age in the last few lines by morphing the voice to some weird back play is tacky. The song shines despite it though.
Kiss of Love
Vishal Dadhlani, Vasundhara Das.
This unexpectedly is my favorite song in the album and the credit goes to Vishal( of the Vishal-Shekhar fame). The raspy voice and no holds barred rendition is one of the best I have heard him do... the first time he says ..
Oye baand kar le, oye baandkar yaara dake dalti aakhe!!
makes you want to jump up and join him in the hoarse plea.
Thoroughly danceable, This is one of the songs in which Gulzar's genius shines thru- simple words twisted to match the beat and yet they convey the passion ... Vasundhra is usually pretty good and she holds up her part in the song - but she cannot match the ferocity of Vishal's voice.
The Oompha Lumpha warning starting and ending song is kinda nice - it does end abruptly - but it is too impassioned and simmering down the tone might have been lot worse than the abrupt edge.
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
KK, Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalakhsmi Iyer, Shankar Mahadevan
Part deux of the dance competition song- delightful. The lyrics are amazing - nutty imagery and wordplay-- Gulzar had a ton of fun writing this- so must have the music director and the singers- it is foot-stamping-longing to dance-rhythm. The puckish guitar and the strong bhangra beat ( with the authentic drums) plays amazingly well with a ton of synth work and reverb- effects.
Mahalaxmi sings at a lower octave - she is unrecognizable - I have only heard her render the higher octaves of mellifluous soprano so this comes as a complete surprise. A lovely one I must say.
KK and Sukhvinder Singh are amazing as is Shankar who appears midway thru the song ( as amitabh's appears half way thru the song) - changing the pace of the song- very smoothly done!
Jhoom jam -
Passable instrumental jam of all the songs -
Over all the album is a look at how SEL is maturing - using varied vocals and moving away from the synth and guitar based accompaniment - while keeping their signature strong beats and a frothy spirit. Very nice effort indeed- this album has not quite redeemed the unqualified disasters a few of their last albums have been, but the star is on the rise again.
I wish the movie and the choreography was as inspired as the music – alas!
However, this weekend, I made a trip to the panjabi market in Vancouver and heard a the JBJ song - quite inadvertently- there isn't much you can say when faced with a formidable Panjabi kuudi with fake lashes and paranda, is there?
But, I was intrigued with what I heard and went on to get a copy of the CD. Let me say- it is the best they have been since BnB- and in some respects I think the music is one of the best scores they have ever produced - In one respect they have pulled all stops- the singer list is quite impressive- Neeraj Shridhar, Rahat Fateh Ali, Vishal Dadlani, KK, Sukhvinder, Sunidhi, Alisha Chinai and Vasundhara Das ...quite a list wouldn't you say? Shankar sings one version of the title track -
Jhoom
Shankar Mahadevan
The title track sung by an itinerant jack sparrow meets baoul is an attempt to keep fragmented narrative of the movie seem somewhat contiguous. The sound track does not pay heed to the number of people enacting the song to the number of the playback singers- leav alone trying to match voices to the personalities – apart from Shankar Mahdevan and Amitabh in the various tempo's of this song. Shanaker Mahadevan is very good-he would have given Mohd Rafi a run for his money with his lovely punju accent. I was astounded :) The song is a typical SEL song - lots of synth and a strong beat - with a very good baritone provided by Shankar. The carpenter technique of over laid vocals is very successful in lending dimensions to the song.
Ticket to Hollywood
Neeraj Shridhar, Alisha Chinai
I love the slightly nasal -echo-ey voice of Neeraj Shridhar- the lead singer for Bombay Vikings. I can never forget the 'Woh chali -' in his voice, still makes me go weak in the knees. The song is played as a pleading- conversation between the two - somewhat like ' ‘panch rupaiya barah anna'. Alisha Chian is a perfect foil to the male voice and the transitions are handled nicely with the single time beat and the repeating refrain of 'Ticket to Hollywood'.
JBJ
Zubeen, Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan
One part of the multi part dance competition song. It has a re-mix-y touch to it with super-imposed beats and vocals.The song required strong vocal chords, what with the overpowering beat and background- Sunidhi , Zubeen rise to the occasion beautifully, there is a section where the two pass the baton, so to speak, with the title phrase - 'jhoom- jhoom barabar', reminds me think of a two duelers bowing before they jump in - Shankar's voice is mostly relegated to the background echo vocals- as always adding a nice dimension to the track.
Bol na halke halke
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mahalaxmi Iyer
Love the way the song starts off … the same beat cycle playing over and over again, each time around a new instrument is added - you hear the harmony building - ghatam, synth, jal tarang, flute and the final round the voice of Rahet Fateh Ali. His voice is like a caress, very well matched with Mahalaxmi's dulcet soprano. The only song that can be called -hindustani in the olde world Indian classical music sense, it uses a lot more instruments than I have heard in a typical SEL number- there is a fairly heavy reliance on synth and guitar- still. The song is given to transitions as it relates a whole story of the two young lovers; it is perhaps the only song in the album that relies on the vocals as much as it does. The strange attempt to show old-age in the last few lines by morphing the voice to some weird back play is tacky. The song shines despite it though.
Kiss of Love
Vishal Dadhlani, Vasundhara Das.
This unexpectedly is my favorite song in the album and the credit goes to Vishal( of the Vishal-Shekhar fame). The raspy voice and no holds barred rendition is one of the best I have heard him do... the first time he says ..
Oye baand kar le, oye baandkar yaara dake dalti aakhe!!
makes you want to jump up and join him in the hoarse plea.
Thoroughly danceable, This is one of the songs in which Gulzar's genius shines thru- simple words twisted to match the beat and yet they convey the passion ... Vasundhra is usually pretty good and she holds up her part in the song - but she cannot match the ferocity of Vishal's voice.
The Oompha Lumpha warning starting and ending song is kinda nice - it does end abruptly - but it is too impassioned and simmering down the tone might have been lot worse than the abrupt edge.
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
KK, Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalakhsmi Iyer, Shankar Mahadevan
Part deux of the dance competition song- delightful. The lyrics are amazing - nutty imagery and wordplay-- Gulzar had a ton of fun writing this- so must have the music director and the singers- it is foot-stamping-longing to dance-rhythm. The puckish guitar and the strong bhangra beat ( with the authentic drums) plays amazingly well with a ton of synth work and reverb- effects.
Mahalaxmi sings at a lower octave - she is unrecognizable - I have only heard her render the higher octaves of mellifluous soprano so this comes as a complete surprise. A lovely one I must say.
KK and Sukhvinder Singh are amazing as is Shankar who appears midway thru the song ( as amitabh's appears half way thru the song) - changing the pace of the song- very smoothly done!
Jhoom jam -
Passable instrumental jam of all the songs -
Over all the album is a look at how SEL is maturing - using varied vocals and moving away from the synth and guitar based accompaniment - while keeping their signature strong beats and a frothy spirit. Very nice effort indeed- this album has not quite redeemed the unqualified disasters a few of their last albums have been, but the star is on the rise again.
I wish the movie and the choreography was as inspired as the music – alas!
