AUDIO REVIEWS

GHULAM
Tips; Rs. 45
Jatin-Lalit are at it again, composing music which is repetitive, but melodious nevertheless. Well, this album has all the good numbers on Side A, while Side B is stuffed with forgettable ditties. The best thing about the album is Aamir Khan making his singing debut. He sings the song Aati kya Khandala and has you floored. The song requires him to sing like a loafer, and he sounds just like one, singing the number to perfection. But then Aamir is the best at whatever he does. The number is prosaic, but catchy, and you’ll soon find it humming yourself. Wish Aamir sings more songs. Among the other songs, Aankhon se tune kya jaadoo kiya, a sensuous rain song, and Jaadu hai tera jaadu, a typical Jatin-Lalit number stand out. There are two bonus tracks too - Sambhala hai maine from Naaraz and Tujhe pyar karte karte from Najaayaz. But it’s Aamir’s song alone that makes the album worth a buy.

HUMSE BADHKAR KAUN
Venus; Rs. 32
Looks like Viju Shah gives his best only to Rajiv Rai (Mohra, Gupt). For others, he doesn’t feel the need to be innovative. His music for this film confirms the opinion. After composing some mind-blowing music for Gupt, he comes up with some mundane stuff in this album. The songs are run-of the-mill and you wonder whether it is the same Viju Shah who composed music for Gupt. Even the lyrics are ludicrous like the first number Line marle re baba line marle, which will surely be a hit with the ‘Roadside Romeos’. Another number has tongue-twisting lyrics which go Pee pee ke jee, jee jee ke pee. This one surely leaves you foxed. Then there’s a U.P.-Bihar number Suite boot pahno ya kurta which has become a trend. At this rate, Viju Shah won’t be able to say, “Humse badhkar kaun?”

NASHA HI NASHA
Bombino; Rs. 30
Another re-mixed cover version of film numbers pertaining to the intoxicating effects of wine. Ten numbers, which include Peene walon ko... from Haath Ki Safai to Peete peete kabhi kabhi... from Bairaag sung by Sonali Vajpai, Babul Supriyo and Devashish, are cheap reproductions of the original hits. A passable fare by all means.

CHANNEL HITS IV
Magnasound; Rs. 50
India’s No. 1 music channel (or does that credit go to Music Asia or was it MTV?) are back in the market with another feet-tapping, finger-snapping compilation of the best of the best. This one’s sure to be another winner with Daler Mehndi going Balle Balle and Shweta Shetty crooning huskily, Deewana to deewane hain...And there’s more... You may not get to feel the monochromatic magic of Suchitra’s A-Ha this time, but the chart-topper can still make you want to hum along. Funky Shaan and his Love-ology will make you fall in love with him all over again, never mind if the charts don’t love it anymore. Talking of funky reminds one of Sanjay Raina’s funky song, Aye meri Zohra Jabeen. Hummable stuff, perhaps as good as the original. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan may not be with us anymore, but you can still remember him with Teri yaad. Season the concoction with a dash of Baba Sehgal (Ke main jhooth boleyen) and add a pinch of Anu Malik (Kasam lee hai hamne) and you can be ready to serve your weekend guests with a dish which may be a wee bit old, but it’s still gold.

AISI LAGI LAGAN MEERA HO GAYI MAGAN
Venus; Rs. 30
All thanks to Anup Jalota that bhajans soared up the popularity charts over a decade ago. The clarity of his rendition and the lucid verses caught the fancy of music lovers instantly and Jalota became a collector’s item and a connoisseurs delight. While upholding the family tradition of bhajan singing of his father, P D Jalota, an acclaimed bhajan exponent of his time, Jalota junior brought in a contemporary context to the traditional devotional music. His Chadariya jhini re jhini... set concerts afire and Main nahi makhan khayo... amused the old and the young alike. Woh kala ek bansuriwala... was a pure joy, Rang de chunariya..., a celebration of bhakti and Jag main sundar do hi naam..., the ultimate realisation of the divine supremacy. Five of these super-hit Krishna bhajans and the title bhajan, Aisi lagi lagan..., are re-packaged in this album, and rest assured that the appeal of the bhajans remains as strong as ever, unaffected by the passage of time. Don’t miss it, if you love the Jalota brand of bhajans, it’s too good for the price it comes.

NAACHU GAVU VITHU NAAVE (MARATHI)
Krunal; Rs. 30
Sung in praise of Lord Vithoba of Pandharpur, eight bhajans in this album should delight the followers of Varkari cult. The lyrics, as well as Suresh Wadkar’s classical-based singing is a treat to those who are devotionally inclined. Sanjayraj Gaurinadan’s music employs the traditional instruments like the bells, cymbals and tambourines. The scores are soft and slow. Suresh Wadkar fans may like it nonetheless.

 

FILM ALBUMS / HINDI
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10	Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya Duplicate Jeans Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai Dil To Pagal Hai Ghulam Salaakhen Gharwali Baharwali Dushman Aunty No. 1	[T-Series] [HMV] [T-Series] [Tips] [HMV] [Tips] [T-Series] [T-Series] [HMV] [Venus]

 

POP ALBUMS / INDIAN
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10	Azaadi - Junoon Dance Masti - Various Come Be My Lover- Stereo Nation Kismat - Sonu Nigam Best Of Daler Mehndi-Daler Mehndi Dance Collection - Various O Jaane Jaana- Kamaal Khan Asha Once More - Asha Bhosle Yaaron Sab Dua Karo - Ram Shankar Hindustani Gudia-Hema Sardesai	[EMI] [Sony] [Plus] [Magnasound] [Magnasound] [PolyGram] [HMV] [PolyGram] [Zee Music] [Venus]

 

MUSIC ALBUMS / ENGLISH
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10	Titanic - Soundtrack Let's Talk About Love - Celine Dion Ray Of Light - Madonna Chart Busters '98 - Various Aquarium -Aqua Vuelve - Ricky Martin Savage Garden - Savage Garden Mega Mix Latino-Various The Full Monty - Soundtrack Jimmy Ray - Jimmy Ray	[Sony] [Sony] [Warner] [Plus] [BMG-Crescendo] [Sony] [Sony] [Plus] [BMG - Crescendo] [Sony]

 

UK TOP TEN
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10	Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya Saat Rang Ke Sapne Dil To Pagal Hai Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai Duplicate Ishq Zor Bada Din Aflatoon Salaakhen	[T-Series] [T-Series] [HMV] [Tips] [HMV] [Baba] [Plus] [HMV] [T-Series] [T-Series]