Lootera Music Review

Lootera Music
Music Direction : Amit Trivedi
Lyrics : Amitabh Bhattaharya


What I expected? : Class

Sawar Loon's simplistic folk tune gets enhanced by some controlled vocal's from Monali Thakur and some wonderfully dynamic orchestration from Amit Trivedi's part! Simply absorbing! #Must Hear #Repeat
Ankahee is sweet, romantic, and while Amiabh Bhattacharya gives full justification to the song by his highly expressive singing, the soft rock arrangements are just out of the world! #Must Hear #Repeat
Shikayatein is highly intriguing and more than Mohan Kanan and Amitabh Bhattacharya's good singing, it is the strikingly beautiful rock arrangements, which grows building itself as the song progresses, which catches our attention! #Must Hear #Repeat
Monta Re is usual Amit Trivedi template, a serene folk tune with dandiya background and a Bengali edge(much like Dhak Dhuk, English Vinglish) sung with essential grace by Swanand Kirkire and Amitabh Bhattacharya! Feels really good! #Repeat
Zinda has very carefully crafted progressive rock arrangements but Amit Trivedi does score lower in the singing department, which turns annoying at times. Good hear nevertheless.
Manmarziyan has to it that certain magic which happens when Shilpa Rao comes aboard, absolutely zealous fervid melody, aptly orchestrated with terrific job in singing by Shilpa Rao, Amit Trivedi and Amitabh Bhattacharya! #Must Hear #Repeat

Verdict : Class Expected. Class Delivered. I just don't care about the commercial prospects of the album, but if the music audience of our country are craving for quality, this must be one of the best selling albums of the year! Excellent!

Must Hears! : Sawar Loon, Ankahee, Shikayatein, Manmarziyan


4/5
AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVG<AVERAGE<GOOD< VERYGOOD <EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!


Update 1 : More expert reviewers claim that Monta Re has Baul music background, not dandiya. Both Indian folk, while sounding similar, uses different instruments.

Shortcut Romeo Music Review

Shortcut Romeo Music 

Music Direction : Himesh Reshammiya

Lyrics : Sameer, Shabbir Ahmed, Sanjay Masoom

What I expected? : Fresh commercial entertainment.

Pe Pe Pe has Himesh Reshammiya nasal all the way, templated romantic techno, functional but forgetful in the long run. Remix is added.

Khali Salam Dua, much like HR's own 'Jab Se' from Bol Bachchan, has Mohit Chauhan as its high point placed in an intense melodic tune with minimal but constant arrangements in the background. Works for the rawness in Mohit's voice, good one! #Repeat

Ishq Gangster has a scintillating rhythmic verve to it, Vineet Singh and Himesh Reshmmiya contributing equally to the techno-pop perky track. Good hear!

Remix sounds definitely good with all the infused raps!

Shortcut Romeo, the title track presumably, goes mysteriously techno-jazzy with Ash King sounding the usual fresh. Situational, but one of the better hears of the album!

Shortcut Romeo(Reprise) has an anthemic-patriotic Indian touch to it, mostly due to the way Aman Triikha sings it, but I'm not sure whether the lyrics go perfectly in sync with the setup. 

Jaave Saari Duniya has Mika credited as the singer but I could definitely hear HR all through it, situational celebration song again, might work with the video.

Mashup is essentially well mixed.

Verdict : Shortcut Romeo. Music just for the movie, nothing more nothing less. With good promotions, might last until the movie hits the screens, all set to fade after that. Average

Must Hears! : Khali Salam Dua

AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVG<AVERAGE<GOOD< VERYGOOD <EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Ramaiya Vastavaiya Music Review

Ramaiya Vastavaiya Music 
Music Direction : Sachin-Jigar
Lyrics : Mayur Puri, Priya Panchal

What I expected? : Competent romantic stuff from Sachin-Jigar

Jeene Laga Hoon, even with the surprisingly heard before tune and retro feel, rides high on Atif Aslam's and Shreya Ghoshal's strong vocals giving an adequately engaging melody!
Bairiyaa has the singing duo again, singing a fairly fervid tune. Good effort but doesn't stay in one's mind.
Peecha Chuute has Mohit Chauhan as its high point as well as the strikingly perky setup! Good Hear! #Repeat
Rang Jo Lagyo is easily the best among the lot, the anthem-ish romantic tune goes perfectly in sync with Atif's voice, where he belts occasionally, with Shreya as good as ever! #Repeat!
Hip hop Pammi and Jhaadoo Ki Jhappi doesn't click, the former being a painstaking rehash of the gazillion Punjabi dance tracks we've already heard, and the later an all-familiar item number. Mika doesn't help in both. Just for the screen, situational songs.

Verdict : A good album with occasional good melodies and cliched dance tracks. Scores for the first four songs!

Must Hears! : Rang Jo, Jeene Lagaa, Peecha Chute

AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVG<AVERAGE<GOOD< VERYGOOD <EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Fukrey Music Review

Fukrey Music
Music Direction : Ram Sampath
Lyrics : Munna Dhiman, Vipul Vig, Mrigdeep Singh Lamba

What I Expected? : High quality entertainment!

Fuk Fuk Fukrey, is mad, insanely catchy, what with the addictive dholak beats merged with the neat electronic music along with some high energy singing from Amjad Bagadwa, Ram Sampath, Yash Divecha, and Vrashal Chavanand, builds up for a chart buster! #Repeat
Beda Pyaar is surprisingly leaps and bounds above the usual Mika club song affairs, thanks to the extremely catchy chorus and high level production quality. Tarannum Malik is perfect as the backing vocal! #Repeat
Lag Gay Lottery gets the Punjabi fusion sound right but is a nudge below the standards set by the first two songs, singing by Ram Sampath and Tarannum Malik is impactful enough though. Entertaining stuff!
Karle Jugaad Karle's predominant Indian flavour is accelerated by Kailas Kher and Keeti Sagathia, the Qawali mode executed perfectly by the apt arrangements keeping you engaged throughout with catchy hooks! #Repeat
Rabba is delightful, the fantastic layering of sounds on a folk-ish tune stand out along with some powerful singing from Keerti Sagathia, Ram Sampath and Clinton Cerejo!
Ambarsariya is just rightly made for Sona Mohapatra, seems just out of her 2007 album 'Sona', the breezy Punjabi tone set to some wonderful guitar with simple yet instantly memorable lyrics! #Repeat

Verdict : Fukrey is listeners delight! The dance tracks excels in quality, which you rarely get to hear, while the melodies are subtly alluring! Ram Sampath gets the tunes right, as he always does. Very Good effort this is. Fuk Funky Fukrey!

Must Hears! : Fuk Fuk, Beda Pyaar, Karle Jugaad, Ambarsariya


AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVG<AVERAGE<GOOD< VERYGOOD <EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 Music Review

Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 Music

Music Direction : Sharib-Toshi, Sachin Gupta

Lyrics : 

What I expected? : Punjabi masala

Yamla Pagla Deewana, apart from being a song for the Deols to shake a leg onscreen, nothing much. Catchy tune anyway.
Sadi Daru, a slightly different version offers same effect.

Changli Hai Changli Hai is no different
Main Taan Aidaan Hi Nachna has Sachin Gupta stamp all over it, more fresh with the hip hop mode, still basically the same feel

Suit Tera Laal Rang Da is templatized Punjabi melody, Sonu Nigam and Sunidhi Chauhan does a good job though.
Jatt Yamla Pagla Ho Gaya is adequately funky, thanks to Mika. The second R&B version with Sharib Sabri on vocals, equally good.
YPD Mashup serves the purpose.


Verdict : There is nothing wow about Yamla Pagala Deewana music, might click for Punjabi music lovers. To the others, just the occasional "balle balle" till the movie hits big screen.

Must Hears! : None


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Aurangzeb Music Review

Aurangzeb Music

Music Direction : Amartya Rahut(Song 1), Vipin Mishra

Lyrics : Puneet Sharma, Manoj Kumar Nath, Vipin Mishra

What I Expected? : Nothing much, after all what can you expect from a cop-don thriller?

Barbadiyaan is groovy, club track, an ear worm frankly because the chorus stays with you, once you hear it. Ram Sampath and Sasheh Aagha does an upbeat singing fare and with some neat DJing, does give a lively hear!

Barbadi the soft rock version of Barbaadiyaan is just brilliant! Riding on Mohan Kanan's elevated, deft vocals, the haunting, low pitch, well arranged track demands definitely multiple hears! Great Hear!

Jigra Fakira has Keerthi Sagathia doing a RFAK, the usual sufi-folk-rock template, but gets saved by some soulful Esraj in between. Listening again, oh what the hell, a good hear nevertheless.

Auragzeb, the title song namely, takes the Gospel choir route, slow and serene, clearly stressing on the lyrics while being sung well by Marianne D’cruz Aiman and Choir.

Aurangzeb Rock version hit the right chords, Vipin Mishra croons unmistakably and with some skilled orchestration, the song is strong but better be used in the BGM than as a standalone.

Trial By Fire - Main Theme (instrumental) Violins and Keyboard. Well composed.

Battleground Gurgaon (instrumental) instills an element of fear in you.

The Fathers Truth (Instrumental) Has some really good sax and keyboard.

Aurangzeb - Orchestral (Instrumental) Violins and drums. Impressive.

Verdict : In Harry Potter language, I'll give an 'E' grade to the album, to be specific, it 'Exceeds Expectations'. While all the instrumentals are done well, the rest songs are bloody impressive, even when being a tad situational. Composers Amartya Rahut and National Award winning, ex-Parikrama guitarist Vipin Mishra does a neat job and for a cop-don thriller, more than enough.

Must Hears! : Barbadiyan, Barbadi, Aurangzeb Rock Version

AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVG<AVERAGE<GOOD< VERYGOOD <EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Music Review

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Music
Music Direction : Pritam Chakraborty
Lyrics : Amitabh Bhattacharya

What I expected? : Understandably, Pritam will pull all strings to ensure a fantastic music score for a Ranbir Kapoor film which is huge in making and high on hype! Nothing but a 'fun'tastic album!

Batameez Dil is instantly trippy, quirky and peppy with highly imaginative lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. This Benny Dayal & Shefali Alvarez sung track gonna be high on the discos! #Repeat
Balam Pichkari by Vishal Dadlani and Shalmali Kholgade, the holi song, is addictive from the word go! Especially the 'balam pichkari' hook stuffed brilliantly inside the largely colorful and energetic arrangements! #Repeat
Ilahi and Ilahi Reprise, respective versions sung by Arjit Singh and Mohit Chauhan, are exactly the same not for the singers, but definitely arranged well, especially for the sound placing of the chorus. Mohit edges over Arjit by a bit in the singing department, rawness in voice contributes, nevertheless, superb track! #Repeat
Kabira is soft rock melody, templatized by a bit, but sung well by Tochi Raina and Rekha Bharadwaj.
Kabira Encore, the second version by Arjit Singh and Harshdeep Kaur is actually way more likable due to the folkish rich arrangements, which suits the composition more in entirety. Good Hear!
Dilliwali Girlfriend by Arjit Singh and Sunidhi Chauhan comes with the heavy heard before feel which usual Punjabi songs give, enjoyable but situational.
Subahnalla, even with the prosaicness in the composition department, rises above the usual due to the flawless rendition by Sreeram with ample support from Shilpa Rao. Good hear!
Ghangra is strangely staid albeit the singers being concerned is Rekha Bharadwaj and Vishal Dadlani, mainly due to the mediocre arrangement setup and less lively singing. May work with a video.

Verdict : The score does not satisfy huge expectations. Its a 50-50 affair, Pritam begins the album in a fantastic note through Batameez Dil and Balam Pichkari but then falters through the middle of the album. While all the songs are good enough to ensure a good promotion round for the film, the album as a whole is not enough to satisfy the demands of the music audience. On the up side, the album does scores through the first three songs, which becomes its high point, and which makes this one lively and worth trying. Good effort!

Must Hears! : Batameez Dil, Balam Pichkari, Ilahi


AVOIDABLE<POOR<BELOW AVG<AVERAGE<GOOD< VERYGOOD <EXCELLENT!<OUTSTANDING!