Thanks a lot, Kalyan! You've always been so supportive and kind! You're such a gem! I so appreciate your comments each time!!!
--- In [email protected], Kalyan K <kalyan...@...> wrote: > > Chord!! Thanks for putting an end to our eager and long waiting for your > Raavan review. As usual, Superb Review.. > > Hmm..yes. Emotional Experience is the best measure to judge an ARR album. > > Kalyan K. > > On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 6:52 AM, AJ <purev...@...> wrote: > > > > > > > > > "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaguuuuuuumein...........Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaloooooooooooo...................!! > > > > Uh E E E Oh......Uh E E E Oh......oho ho ho ho ho...... > > > > ..........as soon as I heard these sounds as the first few seconds of > > "Beera" rolled on, I knew from the get-go that this album would be a very > > interesting music journey.....but then again, which ARR album is not an > > interesting journey, whether it fits your musical fancy or not? > > > > I've been listening to the music of Raavan pretty much non stop for a few > > days now and as I came to thinking about how my review would shape up, it > > occurred to me that a full song by song review as I have penned earlier just > > didn't seem apt for an album like this, especially for such an > > unconventional score and that too so soon after the release. I also feel > > that Raavan's musical strength and identity lies more in the album as a > > whole than as a collection of individual songs. I also feel I have formed > > enough of a solid opinion on the album as a whole to write at least > > something of substance. Will my thoughts and opinions change with time from > > this point on? In the past, this usually never happened........what I have > > felt about an album a few days after its release after multiple listens > > usually stayed firm over the course of time, although my feelings for > > individual songs may fluctuate with time. A song by song review for this > > album has been stated already elsewhere and will be seen quite a bit in the > > coming days, so I thought.......been there.......done that.......let's take > > a different approach this time......shall we? > > > > Some things never change........or maybe.....the more things change, the > > more they stay the same? I wonder about these sayings......and then think > > about Rahman and his music. What has changed with Rahman over time? What has > > remained constant with his output over the years ever since Roja? I think I > > can get into some intellectual back and forth about this to no end and have > > full debates with many of you here, but here's one aspect about Rahman that > > has remained constant from the very beginning: > > > > Rahman Keeps Experimenting. > > > > Sure, you know that......I know that.......most hard fans of ARR know this, > > but do some of you who pine for the "90s Rahman" to return realize that his > > current success domestically and internationally (oodles of awards, praises, > > Padma Bhushan) is because he looks forwards and not backwards? He is a man > > of the moment......attempting to reinvent himself with every project and > > being careful not to trip over his own ego, literally, wanting to destroy > > any trace of good feelings related to previous successes, clearing the slate > > for the new movie, new director, new story. > > > > Rahman is like a "mad" scientist ("mad" meant to convey a good quality, not > > a bad one) in his own musical world......thinking, thinking, > > thinking......out of the box, beyond current norms, stretching the limits of > > imagination and creativity through his work, yet very respectful towards the > > art form and the industry establishment and rules surrounding the need to > > make music that only fits the script and the director's vision......like a > > free painter within a very solid frame that he knows he's not supposed to go > > beyond. But, some frames are larger than others, and within those larger > > frames, Rahman has more wiggle room to be a bit more wild, more like the mad > > musical scientist that he really is, that is just craving to burst forth. > > Mani Ratnam has always been one of those directors who provides a pretty > > large canvass and/or frame for Rahman to stretch his musical brain so to > > speak. > > > > Raavan's music as a whole is a great example of unconventionality in > > today's film music time, with bridges extending forth connecting various > > genres of music, such as heavy rock to traditional Indian folk, electronic > > to African rhythms and tribal moods, semi classical to trance, etc. Although > > these unconventional bridges are not new to Rahman's style of music, > > Raavan's soundtrack displays these connectors in much less subtle and > > unpredictable form than his most recent works, such as Delhi 6 or VTV, which > > is perhaps keeping fit with the character of the movie, Raavan, who with ten > > heads/minds and being "wild" and "unpredictable" as quoted by Aishwarya Rai > > at the music launch. > > > > Rahman's albums have always had elements of unconventionality.....it's what > > made him so successful and continues to keep him so relevant. However, I > > view each of his albums as distinct points in a larger journey, connected > > only by the listeners' memories and expectations.....single album entities > > within a larger musical and spiritual journey that is entirely Rahman's, but > > yet witness-able to us, those who follow him closely. I think it's > > reasonable to rate each album on a conventionality continuum plot with > > highly traditional on one end and radical on another. For example, Thiruda > > Thiruda would be closer to the radical side, while Jaane Tu Ya Jaana Na more > > on the traditional side. To me, Raavan falls more on the > > unonventional/radical side of the continuum, but yet, having strong elements > > of mass appeal and conventionality contained within. Tracks like "Khili Re" > > and "Ranjha" are examples of the more traditional emphasis. > > > > When I judge a Rahman album as a whole, there are certain key elements that > > I look for to base my judgement: Sound, sound quality, melody, > > innovativeness and originality, arrangement depth and complexity, > > instrumentation range, variety of style and genre, variety of mood, rhythmic > > appeal, singing, lyrics. I feel that the music of Raavan scores high in all > > these areas. But, really the most important determination for me is the > > emotional impact.........how I feel after listening to each song or after > > the album has completed.......do I feel uplifted? Soothed? Inspired? So far, > > the music of Raavan leaves me energized and uplifted...leaves me with very > > good, positive feelings at the end, despite the heavy, dark nature of some > > of the tracks. Here are some key thoughts about the album from me: > > > > The Positives: > > - Huge range of sound and musical forms......very multi-genre, showcasing > > ARR's tremendous range and versatility in compositional style and content. > > - Sound quality is fantastic......"Blue's" issues are history. > > - Each song has a very strong identity that leaves you with a different > > feeling.....the emotions in each song are strong and concentrated, packing a > > punch. A very impactful album. > > - Singing and lyrics are top notch. ARR's use of chorus and percussion > > stand out the most in this album, keeping fit with the movie theme and plot. > > > > - I love the heavy folk nature of many of the songs.......takes me back to > > traditional India and its inherent charm and rusticity. > > - Use of electric guitars is widespread, but tasteful in this album and not > > overdone. > > - Behene De is one of ARR's most epic sounding tracks ever. It's a monster > > track......rich in sound, heavy mood, and the ending is simply larger than > > life. > > - Khili Re is one of the sweetest, most lilting melodies ARR has ever > > composed, beautifully rendered by Reena Bhardwaj. This will be an evergreen > > classic. > > - There's so much going on musically in each track with layers of sound and > > instrumentation and ornamental effects.......a classic trademark of ARR's > > genius. > > > > The Negatives: > > - I feel the album is too short. The listening experience goes by too > > quickly, leaving me wanting for more music (which may be a function of my > > own greed too). > > - The album's strong musical unconventionality and rough sounding/edgy > > parts may restrict universal appeal. > > - I didn't like the first musical interlude in "Ranjha Ranjha"....just > > found it somewhat discordant musically. > > - I wish some of the songs had longer, more elaborate, and more melodic > > musical interludes (Ranjha, Beera, Kata). > > > > All in all, I love Raavan's music and want to listen to it again and again. > > It leaves me feeling inspired musically and enriched > > culturally.....connecting me back to traditional Indian roots even though I > > live in the US. Yet, it's a very internationally oriented music album too, > > requiring a certain open mindedness and tolerance for music of various types > > to be fully appreciated, like most of ARR's albums these days. It's an album > > that has many moods and emotional shades, taking me on a very powerful, but > > short musical and emotional journey that is never watered down. Not one song > > is skip worthy or filler to me. Those who are internationally musically open > > minded and least cynical about music in general will appreciate this album > > the most. > > > > Isn't the best measure to judge an ARR album your emotional experience? > > Forget previous ARR albums, forget your expectations, forget intellectual > > analyses......at the end of the day, how does the music make you feel in the > > moment? If you feel good while and after listening to Raavan, go with it. > > Have fun with it. Let loose. If you don't feel good, that's ok.....move on > > and hope for the best next time. > > > > Let's be more like ARR. With each album, he starts over....creates a blank > > slate and composes in the moment, what is required, what is needed, what is > > inspired at that time only. This is why I never once mentioned this album in > > comparison to any of his previous ones. Let us, his fans, try and do the > > same......live with each album in the moment, attempting to avoid previous > > comparisons and our own expectations, often times unreal and unfair. You'll > > enjoy the experience much more and truly realize the genius of our "mad > > musical scientist". Take each album for what it is.....like it or not like > > it......but, not what you want it to be or expect it to be or thought it > > could be. > > > > These words must not be reproduced without express written permission and > > are the opinion of the writer of the review. > > > > > > >
