By: Chirag Sutar 24 May 10 18:07 IST
Average: 4.5 (85 votes)

Artiste: Shakira

Song: Waka Waka  (Single, 3 versions)

Label: Sony Music

Rating: 4/5

It doesn't take too long to get hooked onto singer Shakira's official FIFA world cup song Waka Waka (This time for Africa). The song features South African band FreshlyGround along with the Columbian pop star. After the song was released, and played on radio stations, South Africans were miffed since they preffered to have someone from their own country singing it....

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By: Chirag Sutar 15 May 10 11:33 IST
Average: 5 (2 votes)

Artist: Naveen Kumar

Label: Sony Music 

Rating: 4/5 

I have had the opportunity of hearing Naveen Kumar at one of his recording sessions, and the way this self taught musician plays – it can drop your jaws – quite literally. But he is not all about impressing with his virtuosity. The notes that come out of his big bag of flutes that he travels with are truly soulful. And they have the power to send you in a meditative state without much effort.

The album opens with Heart Flute - a nerve soothing track. The album's liner notes mention that this was the song which Naveen composed after his father passed away, and that the tune was a way to communicate with God – so there you go – listen to the brilliant conversation.  ...

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By: Chirag Sutar 08 Apr 10 18:24 IST
Average: 3 (2 votes)

Music: Diganta Sarma

Folk songs have their own charm. They grow at their own pace, and then refuse to leave once they fall on your ears. And, perhaps thats one of the reasons why composers like A R Rahman and many others (Shantanu Moitra, Sneha Khanvalkar (Oye Lucky Oye, LSD) use folk references in their compositions, and travel to interiors of India. The references maybe in the vocals they use, or arrangements of the instruments. But having said that, folk music which is used in bollywood is too processed or 'commercially adulterated'. So where does one hear an aesthetic balance of both folk and contemporary? ...

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By: Chirag Sutar 09 Mar 10 19:02 IST
Average: 4.3 (9 votes)

Artiste: Shafqat Amanat Ali

Rating: 3.5/5

Label: Music Today

After delivering one of the most melodious punch packed album 'Tabeer' last year, expectations of anything coming from Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali's table have gone higher. The versatile singer is now back with his second non-film album Kyun Dooriyan – but does the music hook? Though not instantly, it does have the tendency to grow after multiple hearings. The album stands out for its overall pepped up sound, and Shafqat's experiments with genre’s he has’t really tried before. What more, the ‘Rockstar Ustad’ also treats listeners to an unexpected bhangra pop song in this heavily rock influenced offering. ...

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By: Chirag Sutar 08 Apr 10 18:24 IST
Average: 3 (2 votes)

Music: Diganta Sarma

Folk songs have their own charm. They grow at their own pace, and then refuse to leave once they fall on your ears. And, perhaps thats one of the reasons why composers like A R Rahman and many others (Shantanu Moitra, Sneha Khanvalkar (Oye Lucky Oye, LSD) use folk references in their compositions, and travel to interiors of India. The references maybe in the vocals they use, or arrangements of the instruments. But having said that, folk music which is used in bollywood is too processed or 'commercially adulterated'. So where does one hear an aesthetic balance of both folk and contemporary? ...

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By: Chirag Sutar 24 Oct 08 16:53 IST
Average: 4.4 (5 votes)

Generations

Label - Big Music

Artistes - Ghulam Ali, Asha Bhosle, Aamir Ghulam Ali

Not all non-film music albums have a shelf life of more than six months, but 'Generations' - the work of Aamir Ghulam Ali (composer), Ghulam Ali and Asha Bhosle is mix of light classical music and ghazals. The 12-track album has three remixes, despite having classical purists like Ghulam Ali and Asha Bhosle at the album's helm. However, the album can do equally well even without the remixes.

After giving this a ear, it's certain that Aamir Ali has picked up the 'composing' nuances from his legendary father. But, unlike his father, his young son has pepped up the ghazals, or say, given it a younger feel to make it appealing to the masses. Anyway, one wonders if the album offers any meat at all!...

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By: Chirag Sutar 01 Oct 09 16:38 IST
Average: 5 (4 votes)

Artist: Poets Of The Fall

Label: Saregama

Price: Rs 199

Since the band's inception in 2003, Poets Of The Fall have always had a knock down effect on their listeners. Right from the band’s first single Late Goodbye written for computer game Max Payne 2 to their last album Revolution Roulette. For those who don't know, the band had performed in India two years back at the IIT Kanpur during the Carnival of Rust-tour(2007). Poets Of The Fall comprises of singer Marko, guitarist Olli and keyboardist Captain....

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By: Chirag Sutar 29 Jan 10 19:20 IST
Average: 4.1 (14 votes)

India's 60th Republic day will be remembered for two prominent goof ups. Number one - goof up on the Padma Awards, and two, a foul mess up of the iconic song 'Mile Sur'. There was one commonality between the two though - bollywood, and a row over who was deserving. Though what makes Saif Ali Khan eligible for Padma Shri is something only the Government of India can answer, when it comes to the iconic song Mile Sur, i.e the Aam Junta song, the public took the baton in their hands (read mouse and keyboards) and expressed their angst, or say just used their freedom of speech on this special day. What really boiled their blood? Ironically, some of the key personalities from the world of sports, literature, politics and people went missing while undeserving bollywood newbie's smiled their way through the new Phir Mile Sur video. Jale pe namak or whatever they call it... The web buzzed with a thousand comments...

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