Music Review (Updated) - 2019

To make music reviews more noticeable and easy to navigate each review, thought will classify each review as follows based on the rating in my blog

BA - less than 7 (Below Average Album)

A - less than 8 (Average Album)

AA - less than 9 (Above Average Album)

E - 9 and above (Excellent Album)

• Sarvam Thaala Mayam (E), Natasaarvabhowma (A), Mr Majnu (AA), Kanne Kalaimaane (BA), Vandhaa Rajavaathaan Varuven (BA), Mehandi Circus (AA)
• Bell Bottom  (AA), LKG (A), Mithai (AA), Sonchiriya (A)
• Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota  (AA), Majili (AA)
• Kanchana 3  (BA), Jersey (E), House Owner (AA)
• Maharshi  (BA)
• Sindhubaadh (A), Sivappu Manjal Patchai (A),Raatchasi (A), Pon Manickavel (A), Oh Baby (A)
• Dear Comrade (E), Kaappaan (A), Kennedy Club (BA), Rakshasudu (A)
• Namma Veettu Pillai (A)
• Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (A), Lungi (A), Adithya Varma (AA)
• Thippara Meesam (A), Darbar (BA)
• Pattas (A)

Music Review (Tamil): Pattas

Music Review (Tamil): Pattas
Music Composer: Vivek-Mervin

Puthu Suriyan's tune treads on the dependable tune structure backed by rousing string arrangements with quite enough anthemic moments with respect to the soundscape. Anuradha Sriram holds the song and it's delightful to listen to her song after quite a lot of time and the composer duo wonderfully employed backing vocals while Uma Devi marks her presence with her lyrics. The song gets more engaging in the instrumental version titled A Mother's love and fittingly done by Chennai Strings Orchestra and Nathan's woodwinds. Chill bro caters to the mass audience with the easily likeable tune despite Vivek Siva's patchy questionable lyrics. Vivek Mervin mixes in the background everything from kuthu percussions to EDM techno sounds while Dhanush easily sails off the tune with his enthusiastic vocals.

Jigidi Killadi once again suffers from the random lyrics by Vivek but satisfactory tune in the hands of Anirudh's dependable vocals make this one works. Vivek Mervin kept the background neat and simple loaded with techno sounds which work to the song's favour. Morattu Tamizhan da's oft-repeated tune structure doesn't hamper the fun quotient of the song mainly because of the verve of the composer duo's vocals. The grand celebratory soundscape is prodded by Maxwell's brass sections and vivek's lyrics easily blends well with the mass tone of the song and serves well with the tune. Piriyadha Enna's prelude guitar work by Keba Jeremiah lies comfortably in Yuvan Shankar Raja's territory but followed by an adequately listenable tune which fizzles out very soon. Vijay Yesudas and Niranjana try hard to make this droning tune work but the track fails to engage the listener. Mavane's hard rock grungy soundscape hark back the listeners to Kabali's Neruppu Da especially the extensive punchy Thalai Nimiru phrase. The track's undeniable highlight is the ultra energetic Rap portions in the second half by Arivu while Vivek Siva ably supports him with his vocals.

Verdict: Vivek Mervin continues to produce easily accessible energetic tracks despite nothing extraordinary to offer.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Pick of the Album: Mavane, Morattu Tamizhan, Puthu Suriyan

P.S The edited version of the review is published in Moviecrow. You can listen to the songs in Youtube

Music Review (Tamil): Darbar

Music Review (Tamil): Darbar
Music Composer: Anirudh Ravichander

If Marana Mass from Petta is an extension to Raman Aandalum Ravanan Aandalum, then Chumma Kizhi turns out to be an inspiration from Thani Koda Eduthu. But the song didn't work despite SPB's singing and the song lacks a punch required for a Rajini introduction soundtrack. The percussion-heavy track falls further flat with the Vivek's uninspirational lyrics. Tharam Maara single is in lines with Ullaala from Petta and the Goan rhythm is engaging and breaths a fresh air until Vivek's lyrics dampens down the proceedings. Anirudh's earnest singing for the colloquial random lyrics makes this one a listenable one from the album. Dumm Dumm tune meanders without any instant catchy factor attached with the song. However, Anirudh shines in the resonant arrangements in the interludes especially the violin bits while Nakash Aziz infuses much energy required for the celebratory song with his vocals. Overall, though the song sounds enjoyable until it lasts, definitely not a memorable one.

After Katravai Patravai in Kaala, Yogi B comes back for another Rajini song Thani Vazhi and the fans of the singer may like this song but the track comes off as a random hodgepodge of sounds which doesn't cohesively build up into an enjoyable song. The only exciting aspect of the song is the suspenseful prelude around which the song is conceived. Thalaivar theme which is high on percussion falls flat without much to offer while similar to Petta Villain theme is much exciting one. Though the track sounds like an extension to Singaram Theme from Petta, the haunting and sinister effect created from mostly the strings is engaging stuff from the composer.

Verdict: Darbar is an unentertaining Rajini soundtrack. Anirudh struggles hard to deliver the mass album which he did it to some extent in Petta.

My Rating: 6.5/10

Pick of the Album: Tharam Maara Single, Villain Theme

The edited version of the review is published in Moviecrow.

Weekly Earworm -Week 9 (01/12/2019)

Weekly Earworm -Week 9 (01/12/2019)

Namah: Thaikkudam bridge: Kanne: Kanne is in lines with the band's earlier Navarasam and the guitar riffs with the progressive rock arrangements is a spellbinding listen. Thaiikkudam bridge roped in Avial fame Anandraj Benjamin Paul to croon this energetic track along with Vipin lal. Inside my head in collaboration with the German drummer Marco Minnemann which released as a video two years ago is an immersive haunting listen from the band. The tune reaches a crescendo with the hard rock portions crooned brilliantly by Anish Krishnan. I'll be adding few more songs next week

Darbar (Tamil): Anirudh : Chumma Kizhi: If Marana mass is an extension to Raman Aandalum Ravanan Aandalum, then Chumma Kizhi turns out to be an inspiration from Ennoda Raasi Nalla Raasi. But the song didn't work despite SPB's singing and the percussion-heavy track turns out to be an average track and Vivek's lyrics doesn't help either.

Kalidas (Tamil): Vishal Chandrasekhar: Mazhai: Vishal Chandrasekhar experiments in Kalidas with an interesting mix of Classical and Jazz tracks. The pick of the album is definitely Sudha Raghunathan's brilliant Mazhai and Thamarai's lyrics add beauty to the semi-classical tune especially with the lines 'Muruvalgal Tharaamaal Muthamida Vaaramal yengavaithu Ponadhu enna'. Sharanya Gopinath aces the jazzy exhilarating Meraki Nenjam effectually.

Bhagyanagara Veedullo Gammathu (Telugu): Saketh Komanduri: Vethiki: Vethiki Vethiki's rhythm and the mood has an uncanny similarity to the Ilayaraja's Ekkada Ekkada from Ladies Tailor. Though the tune is lovely one, Sri Harsha Emani's lyrics irks a lot.

Amrutharamam (Telugu): NS Prasu: Tholakari Chinukula: NS Prasu's relatively unknown album Amrutharamam shaping out to be an engaging album from the composer. After Chinmayi's Naalo Neevey last week, Tholakari Chinukula crooned by Aditi Bhavaraju also turns out to be a pleasant melody backed by neat arrangements.

Dhanusu Rasi Neyargale (Tamil): Ghibran: Yaaru Mela: Ghibran is in fine form in the celebratory song Yaaru Mela. Sowmiya Mahadevan is fabulous with her rendition and the Charanam tune makes one to easily fall in love with the song while Karky's casual banter lyrics blend well with the carefree tone of the song.

Adithya Varma (Tamil); Radhan: Nenjukulle: Adithya Varma team releases the final song of the soundtrack Nenjukulae and this one too is a reused track from the original album. The soulful track with the vocals of Swetha Mohan alone work magically as in the original and, unfortunately, Radhan's stupendous album didn't gain much traction in Tamil.