Dum Maaro Dum

Mit jaaye gham the re-creation of Dum maaro dum is atrocious and if Anushka Manchandas singing cannot salvage it,there is no valid reason for Jaideep Sahnis inane-meets-sleazy lyrics. Why dont our current breed leave the hallowed classics alone and try and make an original song rather than pollute classics and end up with justified flak and no gains of any kind?

Shree Shani Jagraataa

Times Music,Rs 99

Composer Pyarelal of Laxmikant-Pyarelal returns after an eon in his first solo Indian album. Presented by the worlds only Shani saadhika Dr Vibhashree,who also introduces the album with a Aavaahan Stotra,it has seven odes to Shani grah or Saturn sung by Kavita K.Subramaniam,Devki Pandit,Shail Hada,Bela Shende and Shrikant Narayan.

Written by Pt.Kiran Mishra,the songs have the correct tenor with the rousing orchestration that this album demands and is Pyarelals forte. The standout tracks are Shail-Shrikants Shani deva ko pranaam,Kavitas Main to shani ke naam ki jogan and Bela Shendes Bhajo bhakton shraddha se.

Neo 8211; Human Frontier

Times Music,Rs 360

Neos album Human Frontier sounds too much like Kevin Lyttle. While he likes to think of himself as a hybrid pop singer,songs like Bachelor,Shadow dancer,Dont you worry and Wont surrender reinforce the mush pop genre that Neo seems destined to tread.

His voice is mellifluous and does not get shrill like James Blunt. Neo falters when it comes to singing romantic ballads though,a cruel prerequisite for a pop singer,and fails to give depth to songs like A million miles. The album has some good lyrics,with Human frontier and Silver lining leading the pack. Pick this one up,for Neo is destined to be big if he keeps to his pop singers strength.

Best Of The Best

Universal,Rs 495

The first thing you see in this two-disc albums inlay is 50 Cents Candy shop and Jackson 5s I want you back placed one below the other. This fusion of genres and generations is something to be expected from an album that calls itself Best Of The Best.

Thus,the album is a please-it-all edition that includes every hit band and singer that made it big over the past four decades. From Cat Stevens and Marvin Gaye and Abba to Rihanna and Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Lady Gaga,this album has it all and more.

Some song selections,however,are curious. Nirvana is represented by Come as you are instead of Smells like teen spirit. Similarly,Snow Patrols Run seems irrelevant. Chasing Cars would have been a more apt choice. Elton Johns Daniel in place of Candle in the wind is the biggest travesty of the album. Look over these niggles and the album truly becomes a jewel.

With Priyanko Sarkar