Thanks a lot, Gayathri! It's feedback like yours that keeps me motivated and encouraged to write reviews. I really appreciate your appreciation!
--- In [email protected], "Gayathri" <gayathri_c...@...> wrote: > > AJ, > > Just read your review. I knew something was not right when I came back here, > and I just found out what it was after reading your latest post (on the > favorite playlist count)...I missed your Endhiran review! Well, it did take > me some time to track your review but it was worth it. > > Like Roshan, I too was curious on the placement of 1100110 in the title, but > you explained it well and yeah, I agree with your choices. > > And your review- as usual, was a masterpiece! Neatly and aptly chosen words. > You've not only described the exact feelings one acquires from listening to > the songs but you've also detailed out the usage of the musical instruments > and the ragas with such preciseness. So much so that even one with no/limited > knowledge of the same (like me)would be tempted to listen the songs again. > > What you described of Puthiya Manitha was exactly what ran into my mind the > minute i listened to the number. There was something special about this song > which I couldn't quite put a name to it...that is, until you spelt it out > yourself. Spirituality! That was an apt word for the number. Who would have > thought a techno song to have divine feel to it? But it did, didn't it? I > felt it too. > > Great job with the review. I totally agree with most of your points esp on > the three numbers (Irumbile, Chitti dance and Boom Boom) although Irumbile > seems to fare much better in my choice of preferences as compared to the > other two. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your reviews. Keep it up! > > > --- In [email protected], "AJ" <purevibz@> wrote: > > > > Ganpy, you're right! I realized that after. Thanks for reading and for > > your nice comments. > > > > Roshan, > > > > 1100110 > > > > Read my review, think of which tracks I praised the most and which I didn't > > and think of how many songs there are in Enthiran. Now, you should be able > > to figure it out. > > > > --- In [email protected], Roshan <c.pixels@> wrote: > > > > > > oh oops.. it is not binary is it ? only 7 digits > > > > > > On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 12:15 AM, Roshan <c.pixels@> wrote: > > > > > > > i was wondering.. what is the binary code for ? > > > > > > > > On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 11:34 PM, Ganpy <ganpy@> wrote: > > > > > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> Chord, > > > >> > > > >> May be your title should just read "Endhiran Music Review - > > > >> 1100110"..:) > > > >> Nice touch & probably gels well with the theme of the movie. > > > >> > > > >> Enjoyed reading your review. Good work..! > > > >> Ganpy. > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> --- In [email protected] <arrahmanfans%40yahoogroups.com>, > > > >> "AJ" <purevibz@> wrote: > > > >> > > > > >> > Gopal, > > > >> > > > > >> > Please add the following to my original post title: 1100110 > > > >> > > > > >> > Please resubmit. Thanks. > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > --- In [email protected] <arrahmanfans%40yahoogroups.com>, > > > >> "AJ" <purevibz@> wrote: > > > >> > > > > > >> > > Enthiran Music Review > > > >> > > > > > >> > > I decided to write this review sooner than I thought due to the > > > >> > > songs > > > >> having a more instant impact and having listened to the whole album at > > > >> least > > > >> 15 times since it came out. Further time is not going to change my > > > >> opinions. > > > >> My comments are only on the music, not the lyrics. > > > >> > > > > > >> > > I wonder if we really understand and appreciate the difficulty of > > > >> Rahman's job, no matter how musically brilliant he is. He is human > > > >> after > > > >> all, and not a robot. He has to keep in mind so many expectations and > > > >> demands, esp. when you have a leading film-maker and superstar with > > > >> his own > > > >> fan following .Rajinikant. Post Oscars, the expectations for Rahman > > > >> have > > > >> only grown and I truly wonder how he manages to rise to the occasion > > > >> each > > > >> time, whether we ourselves like an album or not. With Shankar and > > > >> Rajinikant > > > >> at hand, boy, Rahman must try to keep a lot of people happy all at > > > >> once, yet > > > >> creating music fitting for the movie that's supposed to have sci fi, > > > >> robo > > > >> themes! If there's anyone who can do justice to these demands, it's > > > >> Rahman. > > > >> The hype around the music release of this album is one of the biggest > > > >> I've > > > >> seen in a while ..touted as one of the finest films, most expensive > > > >> films, > > > >> etc. > > > >> > > > > > >> > > Pudiya Manidha whisks us away to a land of robos and futuristic sci > > > >> fi, and man, does it ever leave a mark! One of the sleekest > > > >> masterpieces > > > >> Rahman has ever come out with in my opinion, this song oozes with > > > >> etherealness, groove, punch, mystery, intrigue, and trance. This track > > > >> takes > > > >> me to another world truly with Rahman's sweet touches .crystal, > > > >> progressive > > > >> synth sound effects, warm ambiance, loopy synths, and the ever > > > >> soothing and > > > >> captivating string arrangements. Post Khatija Rahman's soulful singing > > > >> and > > > >> bleating goat sounds, the song picks up speed with rhythms and SPB's > > > >> spritely singing. Notice how the strings mimic the synth loop melody, > > > >> only > > > >> adding depth and character to an already richly bestowed track. Based > > > >> loosely on raaga Bhimpalas, the song takes a soaring route during the > > > >> heavenly string interlude. Beautiful choral additions are appreciated, > > > >> adding a stark spirituality and sonic texture along with SPB's split > > > >> octave > > > >> singing, creating a very balanced and satisfying bass/treble aural > > > >> experience on all frequencies. This track will likely go down as one > > > >> of my > > > >> favorites in ARR's entire repertoire for the reasons outlined above > > > >> and for > > > >> reasons I just can't put into words, but can only feel and experience. > > > >> For a > > > >> techno/trance number, it's very spiritual in feel! A complete > > > >> masterpiece > > > >> from start to finish, what a way to kick off!!!! > > > >> > > > > > >> > > A contrasting, more acoustic, upbeat and happier track follows as > > > >> Shreya and Vijay Prakash please us with lilting singing and joy in > > > >> Kaadhal > > > >> Annukal. Rahman's use of rhythm acoustic guitar layered with the sweet > > > >> accordion and mouth organ/harmonica is extremely appealing aurally with > > > >> incredible sweetness! Beautiful interludes highlight this earthy and > > > >> charming song with a Scottish/Irish style using piccolo and accordion > > > >> in the > > > >> first, and a very unconventional, out of the box mysterious and ambient > > > >> synth section in the second, showcasing ARR's brilliant creativity and > > > >> craft. The second interlude is truly outstanding as it gravitates away > > > >> from > > > >> the usual flowery mood and organic sound and serves us something more > > > >> electronic and spacey, but never distracts the groove and momentum of > > > >> the > > > >> whole track! I just love how ARR uses the strings so tastefully and > > > >> craftily > > > >> throughout the song creating a very lush aural landscape, esp. in the > > > >> end > > > >> when Shreya's counter melodic line joins in. A really sparkling track > > > >> from > > > >> start to finish for me and this song just radiates freshness and > > > >> innovativeness for an Indian film song. The melody itself is very > > > >> sweet with > > > >> many hooks, though unconventional for an Indian duet film song and at > > > >> times > > > >> hard to remember, but with repeated exposures, I can't get this song > > > >> out of > > > >> me!! The whole song is beautifully supported by a fresh, rhythmic > > > >> groove > > > >> that mostly unwavers alongside haunting and unique chords and chord > > > >> progressions. > > > >> > > > > > >> > > Following the very techno and synth heavy first track, how > > > >> > > beautifully > > > >> contrasting we hear a very earthy and acoustic one in the > > > >> second ..truly > > > >> showcasing ARR's versatility and genius in the first 2 tracks alone!!! > > > >> > > > > > >> > > The third track, Irumbile Oru, is techno to the core, but sounding > > > >> like an ordinary remix to me! Marked by some sexy grooves and female > > > >> rapping > > > >> along with ARR's metallic tinged voice, this track has not yet > > > >> impressed me > > > >> much musically. Maybe if I understood the lyrics, I would appreciate it > > > >> more, but I did notice how the lyrics and words seem to flow quite > > > >> well. I > > > >> don't know why Rahman did not do more musically with this track, esp. > > > >> using > > > >> a kind of outdated techno sound that has been used over and over! As my > > > >> friend put it, "this track is a lost opportunity for Rahman" in terms > > > >> of > > > >> sound, but I can see how the youngsters are enjoying it for its sheer > > > >> rhythmic groove, lyrics, word flow, and ARR's voice. Nothing more to > > > >> write > > > >> here! > > > >> > > > > > >> > > ARR has a little fun in the next track, Chitti Dance Showcase, > > > >> > > which > > > >> begins as a cheesy robotic voice come on Rahman! You can do > > > >> better! > > > >> Why choose a clichéd, stereotyped robotic sound that we've heard over > > > >> and > > > >> over? Once again, Rahman using a very outdated sound! I can understand > > > >> Rahman's attempt to be obvious and literal as he needs to cater to the > > > >> masses, but still .there is no elevation of taste using these outdated > > > >> and > > > >> hackneyed robo sounds! But, on the plus side, this track has its > > > >> interesting > > > >> and at times brilliant moments, esp. with the beautiful and sweeping > > > >> string > > > >> and choral interlude, but alas, only lasts about 10-15 seconds! We > > > >> hear all > > > >> sorts of genres here .symphony, heavy metal, Indian tarana, but with > > > >> jarring > > > >> transitions. Oh, and I also like that little whistling, jazzy > > > >> insertion that > > > >> he put in there towards the end .showing the more humorous and playful > > > >> side > > > >> to ARR! Nice touch there! > > > >> > > > > > >> > > We switch gears to a much more heavy sounding number, Arima Arima, > > > >> with Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, 2 singers we haven't heard in a > > > >> long time > > > >> in a Rahman's song! This track is full of valor and majesty, showcasing > > > >> brass and pomp with militarized drumming and a dose or distorted rock > > > >> guitar > > > >> to add exclamation! I love Rahman's use of the symphonic strings in > > > >> this > > > >> song using them to accent rhythms and intertwining them delicately at > > > >> times > > > >> in 16th note fashion creating a beautifully crafted and intricate > > > >> rhythmic > > > >> and textured backdrop to Hariharan's and Sadhana Sargam's passionate > > > >> singing. I love some of the operatic voices that are also used as > > > >> transitional pieces. I also loved that little 16th note synth insertion > > > >> during one of the song's transitions, adding energy to an already > > > >> vibrant > > > >> and punchy track! Did you notice how the trumpet interlude totally > > > >> changes > > > >> the mood of the song as we go into major scale? I love that part of the > > > >> song!!!! The singing is semi classical at times, esp. during the > > > >> antaras, > > > >> which I really appreciate. The track both begins and ends with synth, > > > >> creating an interesting contrast to the much more acoustic and earthy > > > >> majority of the song. > > > >> > > > > > >> > > We go light in mood again with an African twist!!! Kilimanjaro is a > > > >> real treat with extremely catchy lyrics and spirited singing by > > > >> Chinmayi and > > > >> Javed Ali! What a track! I love the mood of this whole song and the > > > >> beautifully authentic African vocal tribal interludes add only icing > > > >> to the > > > >> cake! I don't know how Rahman created such an authentically earthy > > > >> sound to > > > >> the tribal choral parts! This song is just brilliant and so crafty! I > > > >> love > > > >> how the crisp tablas are used at times and the naughty singing by > > > >> Chinmayi, > > > >> who doesn't sound her usual self, but very convincing! This raaga > > > >> Malkauns > > > >> based track is punctuated by some very wholesome and crisp drumming, > > > >> catapulting this track forward with every step! Check out the rhythmic > > > >> variations during many parts of the song with added maracas (or another > > > >> instrument) in double time, esp. during the second tribal part. Let's > > > >> not > > > >> forget the playful "click click" sound either, which is just perfectly > > > >> placed! Rahman's versatility is simply mindblowing!!!! > > > >> > > > > > >> > > The final track begins with Yogi B's "Boom Boom Robo Da" bit which > > > >> repeats kind of annoyingly through the rest of the song. I could have > > > >> enjoyed this song without that part, catchy as it is!!! Brass hits and > > > >> funky > > > >> techno beats characterize this very rhythmic, colorful and varied > > > >> track with > > > >> multiple musical genres in jazz, latin, rap, heavy metal, hip hop, > > > >> etc. For > > > >> a change, it's nice to hear Yogi B, another rapper besides Blaaze, > > > >> though no > > > >> hard feelings towards Blaaze! The antaras are quite melodiously sung > > > >> as the > > > >> singing takes on a more semi classical turn in raaga Abhogi and > > > >> occasionally > > > >> Bhairavi. I very much appreciate the second interlude Latin/Spanish > > > >> sounding > > > >> section with the soothing female chorus and nice but brief acoustic > > > >> Spanish > > > >> sounding guitar. There are more acoustic elements to this song too as > > > >> what > > > >> sounds like a bright santoor plays an old fashioned melody in the > > > >> beginning > > > >> and acoustic guitar plucking briefly as the other musical flavors melt > > > >> away > > > >> for a brief bit during some later transitions. A patchwork track of > > > >> sorts, > > > >> much like its predecessor in Chitti Showcase, it's quite entertaining > > > >> to the > > > >> core with some splashes of sweet melody thrown in. Rahman's talent as a > > > >> musically genius craftsman really shines in this track. > > > >> > > > > > >> > > So, another milestone in ARR's career if you ask me with > > > >> > > heavyweights > > > >> Pudhiya Manidha, Kadhal Anukkal, Arima, and Kilimanjaro totally > > > >> carrying > > > >> this soundtrack on all four of their shoulders. These 4 songs to me > > > >> embody > > > >> some of Rahman's finest musical work to date in terms of composition, > > > >> innovation, sonic creativity, and mass and class appeal. This album > > > >> would be > > > >> worthy enough with only these 4 songs on the table. The other 3 tracks > > > >> have > > > >> bright moments contained within them, but seriously, the outdated and > > > >> cheesy > > > >> and cliched robo/electro sounds of the 1980s are a big turn off for me > > > >> and I > > > >> am quite disappointed by Rahman's choice here, also likely influenced > > > >> by > > > >> Pravin Mani. I really wish that similar sound templates of the ambient > > > >> textured, progressive and futuristic sounds of Pudhiya Manidha would > > > >> have > > > >> been in more abundance in the rest of the songs, but perhaps Shankar > > > >> had a > > > >> big say in this to cater to more of the masses and Rajinikant fans and > > > >> what > > > >> fits in with the film ..I don't know. As an album overall, it's > > > >> qualitatively very inconsistent to me and very gimmicky in parts, but > > > >> with 4 > > > >> brilliant songs in the mix, I will surely be playing this very > > > >> entertaining > > > >> CD as well as the Telugu and Hindi counterparts in heavy rotation for a > > > >> long, long time to come! > > > >> > > > > > >> > > Numeric Values: > > > >> > > 7/10 Compared to other Rahman albums (mostly for the 4 amazing > > > >> > > songs > > > >> I talked about above) > > > >> > > 9/10 Compared to contemporary Indian film albums > > > >> > > > > > >> > > Copyright by iChord 2010. No part of this writeup may be reproduced > > > >> without the sole written consent of this writer. > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > ----------------------------------- > > > > http://roshanravi.com > > > > http://ramblingsoul.com > > > > http://cssheaven.org > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > ----------------------------------- > > > http://roshanravi.com > > > http://ramblingsoul.com > > > http://cssheaven.org > > > > > >
