Akaash Vani Music Review

Akaash Vani Music
Music Direction : Hitesh Sonik
Lyrics : Luv Ranjan

What I expected? : Hitesh Sonik proved himself promising in Coke Studio Season Two. So expecting a good deal of melodies.

Pad Gaye Ji has KK and Sunidhi Chauhan at the helm of affairs, singing a slow rock composition which is rightfully pleasant on ears, mainly due to the endearing singing by both singers. Along the lines I felt a bit of Amit Trivedi in it, but might be my imagination, dunno, it was a good hear!
Crazy Lover : WTF was that?!! Stupid techno.! Stupid lyrics.! And what the hell was Vishal Dadlani and Sunidhi Chauhan doing there!? Skip!
Bas Mein aur Tu sung by Nikhil D'Souza  has a fair slow melancholic melody in it with the good singing giving it an upper lift! Nice hear.!
Bas Mein aur Tu Reprise has better arrangements, nothing more.
Rumani by Thomson Andrews and Shalmali Kholgade holds your attention for its out of the box approach in the singing and composition, the lazy-cool rendition, head swaying tune and the whimsical jazz-techno-rock arrangements.! Good hear!
Tera Mera Naam is another slow rock, this time by Shafqat Amanat Ali, of which's interludes I loved more than the singing or the tune. Average and worth a hear.

Verdict : Hitesh Sonik's debut gives an impression that he has worked more on the arrangements than the basic back bone of his songs. Good arrangements but average tune works against most tracks. I loved Rumani, and Pad Gaye ji was somewhat good too, but overall an average fair, which was sort of a let down. Could have delivered better, may be next time Hitesh!

Must Hears! : Rumani

AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVERAGE<AVERAGE<GOOD<VERY GOOD<EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Table No. 21 Music Review

Table No. 21 Music
Music Direction : Gajendra Verma & Sachin Gupta

What I expected? : Good expectations from Sachin Gupta.

If you lie you die by Jaspreet Jazz and Neeraj Shridhar is the situational techno title track with occasional  voice over by Paresh Rawal. Nothing appealing.
O Sajna gives a better listen with Gajendra Verma and Puja Thaker singing a carefully crafted melody which is slow and fervid as a whole giving a good hear!
Mann Mera by Gajendra Verma turns out to be an average romantic number.
Both Remixes, of O Sajna and Mann Mera were unnecessary.

Verdict : Sachin Gupta disappoints with O Sajna being the only saving grace in this otherwise below average album.

Must Hears! : None

AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVERAGE<AVERAGE<GOOD<VERY GOOD<EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Rajdhani Express Music Review

Rajdhani Express Music
Music Direction : Lahu-Madhav, Ritesh Nalini

What I expected? : Nothing

Koi Umeed(Western) by Hitesh Prasad is astoundingly a 10 minute long track with soft rock, fusion arrangements, melancholic slow feel and apt singing which is greatly appealingly to an extent but gets monotonous at some point. Good hear!
Koi Umeed(Indian) takes the tender ghazal route, brilliantly sung by Shahid Mallya with minimal Indian arrangements. Great hear!
Armaan Jagathi Hai even with the 80's styled background holds your attention, mainly due to the light melodious tune and feelful singing by Shaan! Good hear!
Tera Zikr(Female) showcases Madhusmita's passionate and intense vocals merged into a husky melodious romantic tune backed by simple but ample soft rock arrangements and good lyrics giving one hell of a track! Great hear!
Tera Zikr(Male) has Suresh Wadaker holding the mic which is as equally good as the other version, tender and a great hear!
Karta Hain Dil Se is definitely an age old romantic track, or it gives such a feel with Udit Narayan and the arrangements both in retro mode, something we usually gets in Mohd. Rafi songs, which is nevertheless good!
Mein Hoon Pathith is another old school track with assorted singers, slow and giving an average hear.

Verdict : This one belongs to that category of soundtracks "on which I don't have any expectations at all, but turns out to be immensely captivating.!" Rajdhani express has debutantes Lahu-Madhav and Ritesh Nalini churning out some feel good melodies rich in quality so that you tend to overlook the retro feel over them. Impressive work!

Must Hears! :  Koi Umeed(Indian), Tera Zikr(Female)

AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVERAGE<AVERAGE<GOOD<VERY GOOD<EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Inkaar Music Review

Inkaar Music
Music Direction : Shantanu Moitra
Lyrics : Swanand Kirkire

What I expected? : Nothing

Darmiyan has certainly something wrong with it, don't know whether it is the lyrics, which is romantic, or the tune which is downright anthem-ish so that even Swanand Kirkire couldn't save it with his singing.
Inkaar(Theme) is a better listen with a nice brew of Keyboard, Guitars and Cello and the fabulous female voice.
Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta hai shows Suraj Jagan in his usual hard rock mode, catchy and nevertheless good!
Zindagi Ka Karobar by K. Mohan works well in blending that element of mystery to the fast paced, addictive composition, but with cliched arrangements.
Maula Tu Malik Hai by Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire tries hard to be appealing as a peppy sufi-sh song, but in vain.

Verdict : One of the weakest of Shantanu Moitra's works, he hasn't surely concentrated on this one. Average fair, with one or two songs occasionally appealing.

Must Hears : None

AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVERAGE<AVERAGE<GOOD<VERY GOOD<EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Mumbai Mirror Music Review

Mumbai Mirror Music
Music Direction : Anand Raj Anand, Amjad Nadeem

What I expected? : Nothing

Blunder by Rithu Pathak is kick ass, nicely orchestrated and energetically executed dance track with quirky lyrics.! Good Hear!
Mar Jawan Male by Sonu Nigam and Female by Sayanti Das, is one solid mesmerizing melody which takes your attention in no time and fixes you on the spot with the seeping emotion.! Grt hear!
Doom De Palakt and Govinda Ala Re are almost same, good and peppy orchestration with powerful singing.!
Thumka by Shreya is captivating due to the charismatic rendition of Shreya making this dance track a good hear.

Verdict : Mar jawan is excellent while all others are superbly composed and orchestrated. It came out of nowhere but Mumbai Mirror music is largely appealing!

Must Hears! : Mar Jawan Female

AVERAGE<GOOD<VERY GOOD<EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!