Songs of 2009- (3)

Okay so writing part 3 is exciting me. Mainly because I listen to the songs as I write about them and write now I'm listening to  "Leftrightleftrightleft" and feeling happy happy happy :D:D:D

It's no secret that Coldplay is my favouritest band in the planet, they've played a huge role in my mental life, saving me, helping me, depressing me, highs and lows, since I was 15 years old.
Those of you who have been reading the blog, I went to one of the opening shows in Madison Square Garden from "Viva La Vida" and I say again, there is no other experience in this world, that takes you above and beyond this materialistic world than seeing Coldplay live.

So I was super excited to hear that they were releasing a live album based on the tour and free! It was a gift to us fans. As Coldplay said "how can we charge for this album? we'd have to pay royalties to the thousands of singers in the audience who sang on the record." 

The album has variations of their old songs, a couple of new ones, and a HUGE presence of their audience in the songs, for those of you who haven't been there will just be able to slightly get how intense, how full of life and love the shows are. The whole album is energetic but slows down for its soft moments as in for "Fix You" when Chris Martin gives the mic to audience and they sing "Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones" (in tune may I add) and the beautiful height of "tears stream down your face" (i still cry every time i hear this part). There's a cute new song called "Glass of Water" and their drummer sings the song "Death will never conquer".The climax of the album is "Viva la Vida" where the whole audience chants along with the "WHOAAAAA" again and again throughout the whole song, not allowing it to end.

Although I know the live album is not from the NY show, I like to think all of our voices are on this album, thank you Coldplay for this wonderful present, once again you brighten up my life just by being you.

Another favourite musician "Norah Jones" released an album this year called "The Fall"

Was eagerly looking forward to her new ventures in music and I was not disappointed in any way. As far as I know she worked with some new artists and has brought about a different sound to her name, sort of a grungy jazzy thing, especially with the song "Chasing Pirates." But don't fear old fans of Norah Jones, she has her soft acoustic guitar and piano based songs as well as her lullaby'ish slow songs throughout the album. It's a nice mesh of some distortion and heavy drumming with her old jazzy sound and an old bluesy vibe, they all suit her beautifully and I'm happy to see her on her adventures.
It only released in November, and I havent really had a chance to grasp the whole album, but I do already have some favourites: "Chasing Pirates" , "Stuck", "Back to Manhattan" (beautiful ballad) and "I Wouldn't need you."
 
So this album is more of a discovery of 2009, though released in 2007. It's "The Opposite Side of the Sea" by Oren Lavie. I stumbled upon him, due to his incredible stop motion video of his beautiful song "Her Morning Elegance" (thanks to Adil Bhai.) Me and bedueen spent hours and hours just watching this video on repeat, there's a total beauty in this song, the lyrics, melody, the picturisation and the handsome artist himself. The Israeli singer/songwriter Oren Lavie has a unique sound, his songs take you to the opposite of the sea with his deep bass voice and his extensive use of violin, cello and the classical touch which is rare in mainstream or rock music. My find of 2009 is definitely Oren Lavie, and the video is a MUST WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY

 Calvin Harris- "Ready for the weekend": this 26 year old Scottish producer who is now working with Kylie Minogue is has really impressed me with his song "I'm not alone" (blogged about already)- am yet to hear the whole album, but I hope it's going to be as bare the single :-)


Going back to Bangla songs, one of my favourite female vocals Nancy (from Habib Bhai's albums) released her solo album. There were several producers on her album, and so got to hear new sides of her voice. But I favoured tracks 1 and 2, composed by Habib ; he really knows how to direct her, pronunciation, throwing, etc wise; he brings out the dreamy girly voice in her, really beautiful. I recommend these 2 tracks highly.

Kailasa- a fantastic band featuring the raw beautiful vocals of Kailash Kher came out with their 3rd studio album called "Chandaan Mein." Like their previous records, this also featured some Sufi songs, some originals, a blend of Kailash's rawness with Naresh and Paresh's fantastic western production and wodnerful backing vocals. These 2 brothers are really something, they manage to take place the right amount of Indian and Western-ness with Kailash's voice. The album's highlight was the title track, a slow moving song "Chandaan Mein" featuring the very cute and appropriate backing vocals the brothers give with their boyish voices in contrast to Kailash's folky one. Bedueen and I tripped on this song on long road trips.

As Bhaiya said when he heard this song, "Na Bin Bataiyen (Dha dhin dhin na)" was based on a concept many musicians have tried, with the tritaal's dhin dhin na, but this version seems to be the most successful we've heard so far as far as fusion goes. (you have to hear it to get what I mean.)All 3 members of Kailasa sing wonderfully in the perfect fun energetic motions in this one.
A few of the other tracks are sort of Bollywood'ish, similar to the type Kailasa is producing for the films nowdays. But another track that super stands out, arrangement, composition-wise is " Rang rang ma" almost drum and base'y vibes with the khomok tabla and drums all together, another round of multiple vocal tracks (my weakness) and then a slow down and build up in the middle (another weakness.)
("Tere Naina" was added as a bonus track from their previous album "Kailasa" and it is in another league altogether, but don't want to compare albums!)
Naresh and Paresh are completely fabulous producers, anyone who haven't their work, RUN and get a copy!

Okay part 3 over, hopefully I can complete part 4 (last part) by tomorrow and commence with my Jan 2010 play list hehe.. yes i seem to be on a roll right now (due to the fact I have an exam, thus feel like doing everything else but study hehehe)

Arm