I'm not going to sing praises for ARR. I don't know the scientific nuances of the music. But I believe (which may be proved wrong!)that I have good ears for good music.
After hearing VTV 3-4 times, I'm still intrigued. I know that something different is happening there; I'm clueless but something pulls me into it. Now, considering the sensibilities that ARR's previous albums had, it all had an Indian touch. So if he is going beyond the boundaries with a Tamil album, this sound and musical touch may disappoint even a core ARR fan who loves to hear pure Indianness in the album. I think ARR is taking a small step towards unifying some global aspects where the Indian melody meets the Western instruments, rooted completely on sound textures that appeal to both Indian and Rest-of-the-world ears. And the main problem may be that we are not ready for it. We don't know it yet. We are ignorant about it. So I believe this album will take more time to sink in because we have to develop our ears and heart and mind to get ready for such a stuff!! Now coming to reviews. I know what ARR has done starting from 1990s. I have read reviews praising and ridiculing ARR. But I hear the songs for myself and not for any reviewer who writes for or against his works. No offense meant. I have fun reading the pieces. But the music is still rated by me on my hearing. And I have found no one influencing me in that matter. So I have a humble request to everyone to hear the music for yourself and judge it accordingly. At the end of the day, the reviewer also is airing a personal opinion (may be a bit influence because of commercial aspects)! And about ARR. I give no other MD the hearing time and space I give for ARR because it's something that captured my attention way back in 1992 when I was just 7. And since then, no one ever attracted me into music like him. Not even the great Pink Floyd and the likes. Not even the Pop music. Not even any music in my mother tongue, Malayalam. So still I'm giving myself time to understand VTV. And I don't care what any reviewer says about it. You may give from 1/10 to 10/10. I'll read them too. But let me go back to hear the tracks. Cheers!
