I had to dedicate two hours for penning this review. I appreciate those who take time to go through this. Thanks.
First things first: ARR is doing re-recording/BGM for ATM. It's confirmed from reliable sources. Don't keep on spreading rumors. Rather, start spreading this information. Understand the reality: You cannot have ATM songs in a movie like Boys and the vice versa is also not possible. ARR has come up with some "working numbers" to suit the image of a hero who has the potential to hit deep. So, free your mind and enjoy the songs given by the musical genius. A bit of history- The lesson learnt: Till 2001, if an ARR song doesn't catch me instantly, I used to keep rambling like many in this group (!). I remember how bad I felt about mudhalvan songs initally. Later I realized how those songs grew in me. Similar case happened with Alaipayuthey. I never liked yaaro yaarodi, evano oruvan. But later, I realized how ARRs song create a swinging shift thereby making someone to rethink what he/she has thought about it initially. Okay there you go! That's ARR for you. I made something firm in me. i.e. Not to take any quick decisions for ARR albums. This strategy has worked great for me. For example, I never liked tu bin and lukka chuppi from RDB initially but I believed that ARR's song will grow in me. Later I felt that lukka chuppi is a gem of a song and tu bin bataye a golden gift from ARR. Bottom line: Accept ARRs songs as it comes and it will definitely strike gold in you simply because, music from ARR is not a result of ARRs work but ARRs blood. A man who has dedicated his life to music and a man who has the courage to experiment new sounds and genre of music. A simple example: When did rap become famous in regional movies? Only after ARR bought rap stuff in alai payuthe. Okay, lets dive into the subject of this mail. ATM Review: After Laggan, all songs in an ARR album have caught me instantly only in ATM i.e. m hearing all songs without skipping from day 1. My pick of the album: Merlyn Monroe (just a shade sweeter than all the other magnificent songs in the album) Album rating: 10/10. Bottomline: A versatile Rahman in show. ARR makes music sound easy but it is not easy. ATM has a bunch of complex compositions. Kudos to all lyricists. *Ellapugazhum* Brilliance of ARR ARR's voice and rendition; Great and mesmerizing. ARR adds life to the song The use of electric guitar - that's ARR for you Magnificent use of chords that pump the adrenalin (sample 4:02 - 4:10) The way the song ends.. Scintillating! Reverberating chiming section throughout the song - ARRs mind in play Constant energy-sprinkling percussion which sounds great in 5.1 *Merlyn Monroe* Brilliance of ARR Stylish Stylish Stylish The way the song begins is too sexy. LOVE IT! Notice that there are *NO* percussion in this song. Just the chiming sounds with bass guitar does the trick for the song. That's ARR for you again Amazing additional programming. High-tech sounds embellish the song Casual rendition by male singer and female voice getting quite squeaky.. This balance has worked out great in the song Mesmerizing male and female alaaps. A complex song to execute. *Valayapatti* Brilliance of ARR Check out different layers in the song. All unique but very tough to compose Raaga and corresponding alaap. Just magnificient! Come on, could anyone merge both folk and carnatic genre?? Only ARR can handle it so professionally. Result: A magnificient song like this Use of nathaswaram.. ARR makes even that instrument sound so pleasant to hear. The connection between both charanam and pallavi is too good. Folk + carnatic + percussion alaap (dheem thanaku dheem) Use of bass guitar and making it play all along when the raaga alaap is rendered. This is vintage ARR. Use of Naresh and madhumitha is commendable *Kelamal* Brilliance of ARR Only ARR can handle melodies like munbae vaa, kaatril(from GF) and a song like this.. All are melodies but fall info different percussion genre. Just awesome. Ketu rasitha padal ondrai bit is amazing and mesmerizing. An alternate version of it in the middle of the song is just scintillating Singer selection has again worked out beautifully for ARR. The song decorated by various versions of chiming sounds Kokilam Kokilam bit is very much hummable. A simple percussion handled so professionally to suit a melody like this *Maduraiku* Brilliance of ARR Again, the instrument "melam" sounds professional when ARR uses it. This aspect as always been very unique for ARR. He does "something" to make the instruments and singers voice to suit the mood of the song. That's the brilliance of ARR Song beginning is very catchy and suits village mood The pallavi has two layers which makes the song very difficult to tune. I personally think this should be the very tough song to compose. But, the result is an amazing song with a regional touch. Use of nathaswaram is awesome. Again ARRs courage to use new voices has definitely paid off. *Ponmagal vandhal* ARR / Krishna Chetan The way the song begins gives goosebumps. Too cool Rap gels very well with the pace of the song Very clever usage of the old song bits in the middle of the remix Whoever did this song, it is definitely pleasant to hear Additional programming has a professional touch and its elegant Long live ARR and his music..
