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" <purev...@...> 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 > > >
