North (Matchbox Twenty)
One of the recent singer/vocalist who I identify with the most is Rob Thomas. To be honest, I got onto Rob only after his collaboration with Santana (Smooth) and I went back to his 2 solo albums – …Something to Be and Cradlesong and loved both, particularly the latter. I’m sort of more of a Rob Thomas fan than Matchbox Twenty, but there’s just so much of Rob in North, that I felt this new album is almost like a sequel to Cradlesong! The hooks and tunes are all punchy and memorable. My personal favorites are She’s So Mean, Put Your Hands Up, Our Song (Very Cradlesong-sound here!!) and Like Sugar.
Jeeney ki wajah, Bechayan sapne & Bolo na – Chittagong (Hindi – Shankar Ehsaan Loy)
Bolo na is not just one of the best songs of the trio in 2012, it is also one of the best songs of 2012. There is a lot of Shankar’s sensibilities here than the other two, though the backgrounds do bring forth Ehsaan and Loy! Bechayan sapne is highly listenable for its simple, earthy tune, while Jeeney ki wajah has wonderful lyrics with patriotic fervor by Prasoon Joshi and superbly harmonic vocals. Chittagong is the surprise of 2012, coming so late in the year!
Jaane bhi de – Ishkq in Paris (Hindi – Sajid Wajid)
More than the soundtrack, it is Preity Zinta’s career that has me wondering in despair – here was a mighty pretty woman who was doing rather well for herself. I remember a time when she was particularly popular with the kids as voted by some kids channel (Pogo, I think).. and look at her now… a film that spells Ish-kay-q *cringe*. But you never know – there might be something to the film beyond all these superficial reasons. Jaane bhi de is the one song that stays, from Sajid Wajid’s average soundtrack.
The Origin of Love (Mika)
British singer Mika’s 3rd album is completely in line with his first 2 albums – similar bouncy hooks and musical layers that are immensely pop and enjoyable. Lola’s interesting drawl is trademark Mika, while Elle me dit’s spunky French dance-pop, Underwater soaring tune where Mika’s vocals come out beautifully, Love You When I’m Drunk rude, catchy way of offering a terrible opinion in your face and Celebrate’s bouncy, simple hook… all add up to a highly likeable new album if you like Mika’s kind of music. Mika’s previous albums had almost the equivalent of musical pyrotechnics. This one, only in comparison, is indeed simpler.
Engirunthu mulaikkudhindha and Maranthuvidu – Therodum Veethiyile (Tamil – D.Imman)
After a series of fantastic soundtracks, Imman seems to be taking a minor break in Therodum Veethiyile. Not that it’s bad – it’s just much less impressive than some of his recent films. Engirunthu is very nice, no doubt, but there is a certain tedium that seeps in the tune and the overall package. Maranthuvidu does much better, in comparison – superb tune and orchestration!
Raaja Gopuram – Puthiya Theerangal (Malayalam – Ilayaraja)
Raja gopuram is the kind of tune that Raja throws at his listeners and says, ‘Go figure!’. Much of thr guitaring and sounds are from the man’s golden 80s, even as the tune reminds me – pleasantly – of Oru kaadhal enbadhu, from Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi, which incidentally had music by Gangai Amaran, and not Ilayaraja (many people make this mistake, anyway).
Thanks to @npodiyan: Here’s Gangai Amaran explaining how Raja composed Oru Kaadhal Enbadhu from Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi (2:18 onwards)!
Midsummer Station (Owl City)
Owl City’s 4th album Midsummer Station is a fairly good listen. It is a easy listen, uptempo sound all through and songs like Dreams and disasters, Shooting star, Gold, Speed of love and Metropolis make a mark. Good time, Adam Young’s duet with Carly Rae Jepsen (of Call Me Maybe fame!) is a earworm all the way.
Dreamum wakeupum, Aga bai & Mahek bhi – Aiyyaa (Hindi – Amit Trivedi)
I have read some incredible criticism for this soundtrack. One went, ‘If Aiyya is Marathi-flavoured “music” then I belong to Barcelona!’. I’m not sure what gave anyone the idea that Aiyyaa is Marathi-flavoured! It so happens that only the lavni, Sava dollar, has any semblance to Marathi-style music. The rest of the soundtrack goes wonderfully well with the plot of the film – a Marathi woman being madly in love with kitchy Tamil (South Indian) films and music, and as a result wanting to marry a ‘kaala’, as she lovingly refers to South Indians. While Prithviraj doesn’t fall into the ‘kaala’ sect by any stretch of imagination, it is a light-hearted mix of 2 states. The music, dance and sets echo that brilliantly. Dreamum wakeupum has many dance steps that are so very Kamal Hasan-Silk Smitha while the tune and orchestration very modern-day Tamil kuthu. The real deal in Aiyyaa’s music is a punchy and modern parody sound – usually parodies in Hindi cinema end up sounding juvenile – this one is actually smart!
Tera naam, Jaya jaya ho & Vandan ho – Ganaraj Adhiraj 2012 (Non-film – Gulraj Singh and Manoj Yadav)
I was significantly less impressed with the 2012 version when compared to the 2011 version, which I think was absolutely brilliant! But still, this is a good listen. I’d really like Gulraj Singh to go mainstream… please!
Babel (Mumford and Sons)
The title track’s Englishy folk guitars and tune make for the perfect opener! Songs like Whispers in the dark and Below my feet are a bit too seeped in the band’s faith, lyrically – but, tune-wise they do well. I Will Wait is the most accessible song of the album, with an addictive sound, while Broken Crown is the most dramatically divergent sound the band has produced yet. Mumford and Sons’ sophomore effort is a winner and that in itself is a record, because the second album, coming after a hugely liked debut is quite a task!
Naanaaga naanindri, Andril paravai & Ilavatta thaalam – Uyir Mozhi (Tamil – Santhosh Narayanan)
Santhosh Narayanan is the most unconventional composer to make a mark in recent times in Tamil. Atta Kathi and Pizza had demonstrated that amply, particularly the latter. And now, Uyir Mozhi! I particularly love Andril paravai and Ilavatta thaalam!
Laali laali & Reppalapai – Damarukam (Telugu – Devi Sri Prasad)
50th film by Devi! I wasn’t all that impressed, barring these 2 songs that shows that this man can go beyond his hyper-energetic stage performances and templatized music that he’s been churning with alarming regularity.
Dekhyo, Chithira chhilo & title song – Monkemoner Station (Non-film – Shreya Ghoshal and Joy Sarkar)
Monkemoner Station is one of the best non-film albums in recent times – it’s a pity it is in Bengali; I’m guessing it may have got much better recognition if it was in Hindi! Joy Sarkar’s music seems tailor-made to showcase the best of Shreya and she doesn’t disappoint at all!
Close The Distance (Go Radio)
Go Radio’s second album is a pretty good piece of work by the Florida-based rock song. Lost and Found, Collide (that ‘You be the reason, I’ll be the rhyme’ followed by a Coldplay’ish hum is a fabulous touch!) , Things I don’t see, The Ending and Baltimore are tracks that are in the familiar Go Radio sound. Most of the songs in Close The Distance have the piano as the orchestral base and that aids them well in producing a solid follow-up to Lucky Street.
Aasai mugam, Nalladhor veenai and Nenjil uramum indri – Suchi Music I Like (Non-film – Suchitra and Sai Madhukar)
Finally, Suchi crosses over to some serious music. Having been relegated to singing raunchy and catchy items songs in movies, she grabs the opportunity to sing Bharathiyar’s verses and together with Sai Madhukar, delivers a neat album!
Mogathirai, Rathiri (Decent version), Ninaikkudhe & Engo odugindrai – Pizza (Tamil – Santhosh Narayanan)
The other Santhosh Narayanan soundtrack in this list! Rathiri and Engo odugindrai have been on loop in my playlist for a long time now!
Badla nazara, Gustakh dil & Dhak dhuk – English Vinglish (Hindi – Amit Trivedi)
One of those Amit Trivedi soundtracks that sounds good, but doesn’t really scale anything new. Still, Shilpa Rao’s Gustakh dil rocks! So does Dhak dhuk!
Cinematics (Set It Off)
Set It Off’s full-length debut album is eclectic and promises a really interesting sound within the genre that they play with – alternative rock and pop punk. The breaks and pivots in Plastic promise almost sound like Green Day, but with Set It Off’s own unique theatrical sound. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead and Freak Show are on similar veins – the theatrically grand sound makes a huge difference. Dream Catcher is neat, but largely conventional. Great sound, good listen!
UNO! (Green Day)
Green Day’s latest album – part of a trilogy, no less – is less impressive than their last album, 21st Century Breakdown. There are a few good songs worth the listen, the overall impact is rather limited. Carpe Diem, Kill the DJ and the ode to U2, Troublemaker stay on.
Fires (Ronan Keating)
Ronan’s new album with original songs – after 6 years – sees him sounding more like another boyband member gone solo – Gary Barlow (Take That). I heard Gary in Love You and Leave You and Waster Light. But yes, while Gary is still significantly ahead, at least in my opinion, much of Fires is light and listenable. The title song, I’ve Got You, Wasted Light and Oxygen work easily, while sweeping ballads like The One You Love and Easy Now My Dear offer a good platform for the former Boyzone singer to excel.
The Spirit Indestructible (Nelly Furtado)
Nelly’s new album is characterized by the same production values as a Rihanna or a Nicky Minaj. As for the album’s sound, it seems channelize everyone from MIA and Madonna and less of Nelly’s own actual Portuguese soul that was in full flow in her Spanish album Mi Plan. Result… a very mainstream R&B album that sounds good, but doesn’t sound like a Nelly Furtado album. The title song, High Life (feat. Ace Primo), Parking Lot and Miracles are good listens, while the best of the album happen to be Believers (Arab Spring) and Bucket List.
