Boom Box

JAANAM SAMJHA KARO
Tips, Rs. 40

Anu Malik comes up with yet another score which will have you tapping your feet and snapping your fingers. Though the music for this film doesn’t really stand out like his scores for other films, it gels completely with the frothy theme of the film.

Yes, he does repeat himself and is also inspired by international numbers, but then all music directors today take these liberties. So why point a finger at only one? At least Anu makes some changes unlike other composers who lift tunes outright.

Well, coming back to the album, it takes off with a bang with the electrifying title number, which Anu himself sings with his current favourite, Hema Sardesai. The high-pitched song will compel you to shake a leg.

Love hua, the next number, is well-sung by Alka Yagnik, who modulates her voice with ease. The same can’t be said about Kumar Sanu who sings this duet with her. He sounds completely off-key.

I was made for loving you needs to be mentioned because it has been sung by Kamaal Khan, who was the craze of 1998 with O o jaane jaana. Ila Arun joins Kamaal in this duet, doing her raunchy bit. It’s good to hear Kamaal’s voice after a long time, though one wonders why he sounds so much like Anu.

The best song of the album, Sabki baaratein aayeen comes next. Though inspired by the Mukesh-oldie Duniya bananewale kya tere man mein samaayi and Anu’s own Virasat number Payali chunmun, the song makes for a great hearing. And it is sung by the versatile Jaspinder Narula, who elevates the song to great heights and moves you. The song is repeated again in the voice of Alka, who also does a good job.

Side B, comparatively, is lacklustre. It has one song composed by Anand-Milind Kisi ne humse kiya hai vaada, which seems to influenced by Aawara bhanware from Sapnay. Main ladki akeli sung by Hema Sardesai sounds like an extension of the Judwaa number Tan tana tan. Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lyrics for the first time don’t make much of an impact. They are gibberish. Overall, an album which is in tune with the present times.

TERE JAISA YAAR KAHAN
PolyGram, Rs. 65

A compilation album of “12 great theme songs” which have been digitally remastered. Side A has the touching Tere jaisa yaar kahan, one of the best songs on friendship, sung by Kishore Kumar from Yaarana. Then there is Yudh kar, a song which instills courage, from Yudh; the romantic number Bhool gaya sub kuchh from Julie; another lovey-dovey song Ek nazar from the film by the same name; the happy Dukki pe dukki ho from Satte Pe Satta; and another friendship song Saat ajube is duniya mein from Dharam Veer.

On the flip-side you have the lilting Saagar kinare from Saagar; the meloncholic Dil aakhir dil hai from the film by the same name; the impish Kitne bhi tu kar le sitam from Sanam Teri Kasam; the melodious Yeh vaada raha from the film by the same name; Maar gayi mujhe teri judaai from Judaai; and Kasme vaade nibhayenge hum from Kasme Vaade.

The choice of songs is interesting and the album is sure to be a hit with the music buffs.

SOFT LISTENING
Tips, Rs. 55

This instrumental album has been conceived by Subhash Ghai and features the hit songs from his films which have been played on the keyboard by Tabun Sutradhar. Suresh Lalwani accompanies him on the violin. Ghai who is among the few musically-inclined filmmakers, has produced this album since he feels music is a form of meditation, and this album is meant to convey the emotions of his films.

Side 1 has the instrumental versions of the songs from Saudagar, Khalnayak, Karz and Karma. Side 2 includes music from Meri Jung, Hero, Ram Lakhan and Pardes. The soft rendition of the songs on the keyboard provides great relief from the tensions of the day-to-day living. And they even conjure up a romantic atmosphere. So this makes a good buy both, for the hard-working man and the die-hard romantics.

THE ASLI LOIN MIX
BMG-Crescendo,
Rs. 65

Ajit’s Loin jokes are legion, and almost everyone has a personal favourite. The tape under review includes a whole clutch of his better ones, vocalised by Shehzad Khan, the son of the legendary screen villain. But that’s not what the cassette is all about; it is a remix album of eight songs from films that Ajit starred in. The Ajit jokes part runs as a dialogue through the length of the tape.

Shahzad is a fine mimic, and does sound a lot like his father, but the trouble is that one has already heard most of the Ajit jokes contained in the tape. After the novelty wears off, the tape begins to sound monotonous.

And what of the the remixed songs? Well, there’s little that can go wrong with them, no matter how bad the remix. The remix list includes Yeh desh hai veer jawanon ka scored by O.P. Nayyar from the film Naya Daur; Tauba tauba, Rajesh Roshan, Mr. Natwarlal; Ruk jana O jana, R.D. Burman, Warrant; Diljalon ka, Kalyanji-Anandji, Zanjeer; Jab chhaye mera jadu, Rajesh Roshan, Loot Maar; Dekho mera dil machal gaya, Shankar-Jaikishan, Suraj; Rafta rafta, Kalyanji-Anandji, Kahani Kismat Ki; and Jaa re jaa, Kalyanji-Anandji, Kalicharan.

Vocalists on the album include Shrikant Narayan, Sujata Bhattacharya, Shailaja Narayan and Vinu Seshadri.

NO. 1’S, MARIAH CAREY
Sony Music, Rs. 125

sAt the very outset, Mariah, in the sleeve notes, hastens to say that this is not a “best of ...” collection because she hasn’t “been recording long enough for that.” She adds that one day she will do a “greatest hits” collection, but that record may or may not include songs that parked themselves at the top of the Billboard charts.

That said, album reads like a hit-list of Mariah Carey’s best-selling songs. And, included as bonus are some that didn’t actually make it to the top of the charts, but which Mariah believes are truly great tracks.

As one listens to the album, what strikes one is how much her music has matured and grown over the years. In the 1990 hits, Someday and Love takes time, Mariah, then a teenager, really sounds her age; eager and hopeful. Fast-forward to the 1998 hit-duet with Whitney Houston, I believe, and there is a change in the way she sings her songs. Her voice still sounds full of hope, but lacks in conviction just the wee bit. But, hey, that doesn’t take anything away from the song itself; it is feel-good.

Other tracks on this compilation include My all, Honey, Always be my baby, Hero, Vision of love, Fantasy, I’ll be there, Emotions, Without you, Do you know, Dreamlover, Sweetheart, Whenever you call and One sweet day.

THE BOY IS MINE
BMG-Crescendo,
Rs. 125

Monica is one of a new breed of talented young singers sizzling their way up the America’s pop charts. The album has already spawned three top ten hits, including the current No.1, Angel of mine.

The album is an easy-listening mix of soul, R&B, hip-hop and pop songs. Monica’s voice has terrific range which is put to good use on the album. Musically, too, album has a nice mix of sounds that keeps monotony from creeping in.

Songs that strike a chord are Street symphony which features an elaborate strings section; The first night, which is a standard pop ditty with some very interesting words; the Monica-Brandy title track and the balladic For you I will.

WHERE YOUR ROAD LEADS
BMG-Crescendo,
Rs. 125

Country sounds from one of the best in the business comprises this album. Trisha Yearwood’s voice is one of the most distinct in the business. On Where Your Road Leads, Trisha is in fine form, vocalising a set of bitter-sweet ballads that are thoroughly enjoyable.

Tracks that stick are the Garth Brooks-dueted title-track, That ain’t the way I heard it, the melancholic Heart like a sad song and I have a song.

SIX DAYS SEVEN NIGHTS (OST)
PolyGram, Rs. 95

The tape contains music taken from the soundtrack to the Harrison Ford-Anne Heche comedy, Six Days Seven Nights. If you haven’t seen the film, chances are that the music will make no sense to you.

But those of you who have seen the film will find superb visual references for the music contained on the tape. Randy Edelman’s music is a mix of Carribean cool and calypso swing. As the film is set in the tropical paradise of Hawaii, the music draws largely from native sounds.

Super cool sounds include swinging The Calypsonians performed by Taj Mahal, Crash dance which is a drums-heavy instrumental, the tense Pirates and the symphonic Panorama.

But like I said, the music will make more sense if you see the film, and it’s an enjoyable film at that.

BEST BUY

UNFORGETTABLE LOVE SONGS (VOL.3 & VOL.4)
Venus, Rs. 40 (per cassette)

Come Valentine’s Day and you have a whole lot of cassettes devoted to the theme of love. This two-album gift pack from Venus has a collection of 20 love songs, which is meant to make your Valentine’s Day special. The compilation includes songs from the recent past.

VOL. 3: Side A has songs Radha bina hai Kishen akela (Kishen Kanhaiya); Kitna haseen chehra (Dilwale); Bandhan toote na (Paap Ki Duniya); Ek baat bataoon (Milan); and Agar zindagi ho (Balmaa). On Side B you get to hear Na kajare ki dhar (Mohra), Mahiya teri kasam (Ghayal); Chura ke dil mera (Main Khiladi Tu Anari); Chandi ki cycle sone ki seat (Bhabhi); and Payalia (Deewana).

VOL. 4: Side A in this volume has good numbers like Mera dil bhi kitna pagal hai (Saajan); Jab se mile naina (Love Letter); Gori hai kalaiyan (Aaj Ka Arjun); Chori chori maine bhi to (Dalaal) and Jiya pyar maange jiya (Aasmaan Se Ooncha). Side B includes numbers Tujhe rab ne banaya (Yaad Rakhegi Duniya); Kaise kate din (Swarg); Bin tere sanam (Yaara Dildara); Kaisa lagta hai (Baaghi); and Jab koi baat bigad jaaye (Jurm).

The songs are romantic no doubt, but one really wouldn’t include them in the ‘unforgettable love songs’ collection. Some of them can’t be even recalled like Agar zindagi ho (Balmaa) or Maahiya teri kasam (Ghayal) or Jiya pyar maange jiya (Aasmaan Se Ooncha). Nevertheless, once you hear them you will definitely get into the romantic mood. A good buy at a reasonable price.