Reviews (page 2 of 7)
This was fun!
Love it
джими джими хачи хачи
Охуенно
Локал музыка, к которой вряд ли вернусь, но иногда забавно
Вот и до болливудских саундтреков добрались
panjabi mc мне когда-то нравился, но никогда не был фанатом индийского кино и музыки - 3
This is the sort of thing I started going through this list for. Something that I wouldn't normally think of listening to.
This sounds like a spaghetti western and Bollywood had a baby. I went in expecting straight Bollywood music, but this was way different. There are funky bass lines, big horn sections, dramatic strings, and some surprisingly cinematic instrumental stretches that sound like they could be playing while Clint Eastwood stares somebody down across a dusty street. The western influence was probably the most interesting part for me. Then a song will suddenly swing back toward Indian music and remind you what you’re actually listening to. It makes sense as a movie soundtrack because everything feels exaggerated and built around a scene. I didn’t love it enough that I’d listen to the whole thing again on its own, but it was definitely more interesting than I expected.
When I saw the album cover, I took a deep breath, thinking I was really in for it today. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. Another reviewer described the album’s texture as being like “the orchestral themes from James Bond”, and I agree with that. For a soundtrack, it’s pretty good, especially one from Bollywood. It borrows a lot of the string arrangement and motif style stings of the Bong movies, and with some silly Bollywood tunes in between- none sillier than the cha cha chaduru. Didn’t hate, didn’t overstay its welcome. Pleasant enough. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wtf
I wish there was a more tangible way to feel the cultural importance of this album, because from a pure music perspective I question its inclusion in this list. I don't find the movie soundtrack interesting at all on its own. I would prefer to give this album an "incomplete" grade instead
Wasn't sure how I was going to rate this because its a freaking Bollywood soundtrack that sounds way behind its time for the 1970s but it does has its charms and stylictic choices that make it enjoyable, somewhat. Nevertheless, is this really an essential listen (especially with Indian music)?
I enjoy Indian music. This album probably wasn’t the best representation. It’s just ok.
Ich find das Land und die Kultur so kacke und dieses Gedudel macht es noch schlimmer. Der schrille Frauengesang ist nervtötend
nicht mein Fall, komischer Gesang und langweilig.
Hat meine Schlange nicht beschwört
What. Certainly there's better Indian music.
it was very entertaining in parts, with some sick bollywood instrumentation i want to hear again, but it doesnt make me suddenly enjoy listening to movie soundtracks back to front. for every cool moment there was a moment where i did a big cartoonish yawn and checked my watch. like, Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai is very cool, pretty, some wicked sounds in there, and then Countess' Caper is like "i should be watching the protagonist sneak around some castle walls or some bullshit, i just closed my eyes and fell asleep in the theater", in a bad way. ultimately a nice little surprise even if i'm not cultural enough to like, throw this on while i'm washing dishes. Baby Let's Dance Together is the one i'm mostly likely to listen to again. very strong 2
Rating: 2/10 Why, just why, am I listening to this old Bollywood soundtrack. I definitely am down for some movie soundtracks, I think they have their place especially when they stand out as significant pieces of music separate from their movie, but this was just not it.
skip
I think it's kinda hard to judge a movie soundtrack properly without having seen the movie, so I don't really get why this album is on this website. Production is great though, and I really did like the music. But, I just couldn't associate with the instrumental parts enough, cause it's clearly complimenting something else, instead of being it's own thing. Now that's no fault of the album, but as a listening experience, it can't match what I'm looking for sadly. So, actual good music, great production, but I just can't associate with it much.
I was glad to see a non-English language album, but there are probably much better Indian albums out there. I did not enjoy this one very much. 5/10
Much more fun and funky than I expected. Cool mix between cultures. Looked up some of the lyrics and they seemed pretty good for a movie soundtrack
It sounds like a soundtrack b/c it is one. Setting & stealing scenes of 70s Bollywood, the record, tho not quite at the level of Super Fly or Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, is a pretty, pretty delicious score. An Indo-American film, Shalimar (the music) sounds like that, touching on jazz, funk, doo-wop, & other American offerings, tho the Indian elements are also present. The English title of the film is Raiders of the Sacred Stone, & yet I don't really picture scenes of exotic adventures, snake charmers, or belly dancers: a simpler story is relayed to me. However the film actually plays out, I count it a rousing success that the soundtrack makes me want to see the film, ya know, like a live record that makes you want to see that band or artist live.
i had a great time listening to this. should i watch the film??
Different! In a good way. Fine to mix it up. It’s very clearly a movie score. No technical commentary or anything like that, it was what it was. A fun switch up that I’m not mad at. Fully neutral.
This was indeed interesting. Quite enjoyable. I liked it. It is very varied, including instrumentals and some songs with latin, jazz or funk influences. Some songs I enjoyed: "Title Music", "One Two Cha Cha Cha", "Countes' Caper", "Baby, Let's Dance Together", "Romantic Theme", or "Mera Pyar Shalimar". Solid 3 stars (3,5 actually).
It's not bad, but it's an original soundtrack so it has all of the standard original soundtrack baggage. I would have preferred an actual Indian album.
In a list of “music to hear before you die” which underrepresents a whole subcontinent just as diverse as anglocentric popular music, it is strange that one of possibly the only 4 Indian albums is a soundtrack. Was the composer India’s equivalent of John Williams or Ennio Morricone? Maybe. Sounds like generic 70s film score half the time.
Never heard before. World pop needs a day too, yes? Though this is not driving up my street. I don't really care for the Western music he blends with the Eastern music, which, when heard on its own, I find intriguing. The mix always seems off to me.
I was almost at a 4-star, but had a hard time relating as it is so far removed from anything I can call familiar. For that reason I appreciate its inclusion—interesting to hear what sounds and musical approaches resonate with different cultures. Not all of it was pleasing to my ear.
I had a hard time finding a way to listen to this and I'm not entirely sure i heard the whole thing, but what I heard was cool, if not amazing. When it cooks, it's an invigorating blend of styles and I dug it. Asha Bhosle died this year, and given that she is the most-recorded performer in history (11,000 songs, conservatively), I figured I'd give her a listen. I became obsessed. Her music is crazy good, and she is an iconic performer with real personality. Unfortunately, she is one of those singers who doesn't have a single great album, so she gets left off a list like this, which is an absolute crime. I bring her up only because I didn't hear anything on this album that came close to captivating me the way Asha does on songs like Dum Maro Dum, Radha Kaise Na Jale, or Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko. Anyway, give her a listen.
I found this so dang charming. Now I wanna watch the movie.
First OST I've seen on here, never heard of the film before but also not very versed in Bollywood. The music bounces between this very upbeat positive energy and a more dramatic tribalistic tone. Lots of vibrant instruments and repeated vocal lines that sound familiar from other songs of the same type I've heard before. There's also some lines of bass that lends itself to funk which was a nice little surprise throughout. Overall I think it's clear this is a soundtrack but it still stands as its own piece of art and works well.
Interesting choice: not knowing this style, I found the voices kinda annoying but the music was a groove
Absolutely incredible musical storytelling! I wish I spoke Hindi and I kinda want to watch the movie that this is from now. I wish there were more soundtracks in this list.
I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would! This style sounded really strong! Everything worked together really well! "One Two Cha Cha Cha" went on a little long, but was fun! Solid 3 star album Liked Songs: "Title Music (Shalimar)" , "One Two Cha Cha Cha" , "Naag Devta" , "Baby Let's Dance Together" , "Romantic Theme (Shalimar)" , "Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay (Happy)"
? not sure what to do w this one. groovy but at times grating movie soundtrack music - I prefer Eartha Kitt & Goooooldfiiiiiingeeeer
I loved this mashup of sounds. It evokes an image of being in a tiny boat, caught between the swells of two opposing oceans in the Drake Passage. Twisting, churning…holding on while the world shifts wildly around me.
At a certain point I was sure this had switched to another album. Nope - it just cruises from genre to genre. It's a wild ride for sure. Not really sure how to rate it. I had fun. Unlike anything I have heard though it does feel like the global mash ups of the 90s but with a lighter touch. It's a good time that's for sure. Beyond that...what really matters in the low stakes game of listening to a 50 year old movie soundtrack. Smile and say cheese.
Bollywood Bond
++: Title Music, One Two Cha Cha Cha, Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai, Baby Let's Dance Together, Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay (Happy) +: Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay, Naag Devta, Romantic Theme (Music), Mera Pyar Shalimar +-: Countess Caper (Music) 7,2/10
Some of the more delicate parts were quite beautiful when I focused on them, but I spent much of the rest of the album waiting for it to end. I haven't seen the movie. 5/10.
some of these sound like they were written for small children. made more sense as an album when i read the “soundtrack” bit lol. couple were really good. listened to maybe 5 that was enough. also i figured out how to go back so yay :))
Listening notes: Title track is surprisingly jazzy Was not expecting That's the way (I like it) being quoted lol Very grateful for Usha Uthup telling me I'm doing great Why are there horses sneezing in the background Composer is really a fan of just putting random noises in here huh This guy's singing like he wants to restore the Weimar Republic I should go to bed Oh my god they said the name of the thing Quite enjoyed this album. The ballads often didn't really hold my attention but I really liked the instrumental tracks. There were also tracks that I might not enjoy as songs so much but were still nice listening experiences because of their eclectic mix of sounds most notably the second track. Overall I would rate it 3.7/5
not bad, alright
This was a fun time, sounds like a James Bond theme but Indian
I was hoping to like this one more, but don’t think it really stood out in any way.
thought I would enjoy it more but this mostly fell into the background for me
With almost complete certainty I can guarantee that I'm never gonna listen to this ever again, much less watch the movie that this album is apparently the soundtrack to. But - and this is a big but - this album is a great palate cleanser when chewing through 1089 albums. I don't hate it at all and were it not for this list I would've probably never known about it. I'm actually inclined to give this a 3. But I just gave Santana 2 and that would just be silly. Wouldn't it? 2.7
I don’t need to hear this again
It has a vibe. It's not my vibe
Not familiar with many or any Bollywood soundtracks so hard to say if this is a good example or not. But it was a fun listen and welcome difference to the normal UK & US centric nature of this list. Even the album itself seemed a nice mix of styles and genres sometimes. Parts of songs sounded quite familiar and as this is an older album I think various nuggets from there have been sampled in other songs. Rounding this up to 4 stars as it's nice diverse album.
I think this is only the second movie soundtrack album on this list? I thought it was the only one and then couldn’t believe I forgot about ‘Superfly’. Anyways. It’s both extremely late 70s and a genuinely ambitious, out-of-time recording. Fuses 70s studio pop with Indian instrumentation and is largely successful. Unfortunately, almost all the vocals are blown out and sometimes really hard to listen to as a consequence. It’s a shame - the musicians themselves sound great. I did not read the Wiki summary for the movie and could not begin to guess what it’s about. Cha cha cha.
Genial. Parece un disco con un montón de canciones que Tarantino se volaría para sus películas. ¡Y resulta que es el soundtrack de una película! Me urge verla.
At first, I was about to give up on One Two Cha Cha Cha, but then reminded myself I love Mushroom Hunting by Seatbelts. I can do weird so I kept going. The album did grow on me, the mashup of jazz, Indian, and the 70s soundtrack vibe works somehow. I may even check out the movie.
This was fun!!
Number: 203 Familiarity: None (1) Rating: 3 After : ======= It came out to a 3.4 based on my per song rating and they were all 3's and 4's. Being that it's a sound track, I see no reason to bump it up to a 4. This is my 2nd album featuring the music of India and it looks like there are only 4 total on the whole list, which is a pity.
Some nice songs on here. Popular Indian music is overlooked in the west. They have some really good singers on here.
Album #225 Rahul Dev Burman: Shalimar Either I just don’t like Indian music, or this list has done a really bad job showcasing it. The two Indian albums I’ve received so far were an education album on how to play the sitar, and a movie soundtrack; neither of which had any sort of cohesion. I feel like there has to be at least one piece of Indian music that serves as an authentic album listening experience, but I guess the guy in charge of this list just went to the local record store and picked out whatever he could find in the discount bin. It’s not like this was the worst thing ever, but some songs were pretty irredeemable and I never felt like I was listening to anything important. The instrumentals were probably the highlights, but I really feel like this was a complete waste of a spot; maybe the movie is better though. Best Song: Countess’ Caper Worst Songs: Naag Devta Score out of 10: 3
Not my cup of tea but had moments.
I liked guessing what was happening in the movie when they played each song
This is the soundtrack from a Bollywood movie. It’s not for me—neither the movies nor the music. It’s not my style; what a waste of the time I spent on it!
This was fun! Not something I would have listened too previously but really enjoyed it
I found plenty to enjoy throughout this soundtrack. It was fun to experience the juxtaposition and sometimes crossing over of the traditional with elements of western sounds. There were moments when I was intrigued enough to speculate on how this truly fits in with soundtracks from the vast history of Bollywood films. It feels like it would be a monumental task to even scratch the surface and develop just a little understanding of the context so I suspect that, if I find myself drawn back to the vibe, I’m just going to be listening to this album again. It’s been a nice introduction and glimpse of a world I will likely never explore. It’s a shame really, but realistically I’m enjoying it simply in the same tokenistic way its inclusion in the 1001 comes across. Side note: I just watched the start of the movie online and the visuals in conjunction with the music was a pure knockout. I can really see why the genre is so popular.
I loved this. Initially, musically I got Morricone vibes but I think that was just due to the fact that it is a soundtrack and 70’s production. The vocals are varied and appealingly kitsch at times. This covers a lot of ground, is vibrant and fun throughout. Strong 4 bordering on a 5.
pas trouvé
Porque me haces escuchar estoooo.
Love the syncretic bollywood psychedelic stuff. Best ex of course jaan pehachan ho in Ghost World (not sure the original film). This has some of that, some more stereotypical bollywood stuff. Should probably watch the movie to get a real feel for that sort of stuff.
This was really fun and unexpected. The cha cha song is one of the catchier things I've heard from this list. A lot of fun little calls to popular American songs in here, and it's a cool mix of Indian and American funk.
4+ / 10
Could not the album on Spotify but I listened to another album by this artist.
According to IMDB, this is quite a nice movie. The music is decent too, I have to say.
A soundtrack with various artists does not belong on this list. The music was fun but no. If we’re doing soundtracks, where is Singles?
I love whenever a 'world' album pops up. There are far to many US and UK artists, and Rahul Dev Burman makes an excellent case for more worldwide inclusion. Shalimar is funky, jazzy, and very enjoyable
It's fun knocking off a handful of essential albums I haven't listened to off the list, but entries like this one are only good as a novelty. This is a movie soundtrack some guy heard on a pirated disc and thought it was good enough to fill in a diversity pick. That's literally how it got in. I'm sure it wouldn't have been too hard to find a better fitting and more serious album.
Good to hear something different from the usual anglophone albums on this list. It was quite an enjoyable listen, but I didn't think it an essential album. probably not an album I'd play again.
Interesting, but not amazing
Masala music
This was a pretty refreshing album. Felt like a bit of a palate cleanser from a lot of the similar fare that we get regularly.
This was the best album yet
Not for me thanks especially the cha cha cha song. Some really dodgy recording including very distorted singing
I enjoyed having something different but I won’t listen to this again.
I wasn't expecting a late 70s Bollywood soundtrack to be on this list. It was good fun. It felt quite Sixties, probably a sign of how culture travelled more slowly pre Internet.
Good music but bad songs except ham bewafa hargiz na the
didn't listen
- Probably unsurprising given the eclectic nature of Bollywood, but a huge diversity of styles here. I have almost no context for this. - Admittedly propulsive. A lot of impressive instrumental work, particularly the percussion. - Did not dislike anything here, per se, but am just confused why the soundtrack of this particular film was included. Seems like such a random selection.
нормалек, вайбово.
Meh
I wonder if there's an Indian version of this list whose only concession to western music is the soundtrack to 10 Things I Hate About You
This was a remarkable listen - On a crazy hot summer's evening in London, I put this on my nice stereo after clearing out the fridge and cleaning all the shelves. There was a mouldy tupperware in there, filled with baked beans. It was quite disgusting. But also very satisfying to clear out. Also I found a soggy bit of cucumber sitting at the bottom of the vegetable drawer. Anyway, I digress. Put on the Lossless version on Apple music on my stereo I was overwhelmed by a rich sound, the room was filled with multi layered melodies and wonderful singing. Part disco, part avant garde, part jazz, part soul. I don't know what was happening, but it was happening in my ears. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I'm doing this list. This is what makes this venture all worth it. This, and the discovery of John Zorn doing Ornette Coleman songs, that was bonkers too.
A Bollywood film soundtrack is….not for me
85% of this list is goofy ass shit like this
3.5
Not thaaaat bad but it’s just a soundtrack, and an unremarkable one at that. They could’ve found better albums to showcase Indian music.
First 2 songs are fun and interesting. After that it just sounds like poorly recorded and not particularly remarkable Indian music.
Man, that Cha Cha did not need to go on for 5 minutes. I don't think film soundtracks should appear on this list. I did listen, but I didn't enjoy it.
É bem interessante ouvir esses ritmos não ocidentais. Bem elaborados e ricos. CVJ Jemine.
This was an enjoyable surprise - fun to listen to
I'm giving this 4 stars. Could I see myself putting this in on purpose? Absolutely not. But I thought this was going to be miserable, and it was actually kind of fun. I'd love to give it 3.5 stars but such is the life we lead. Half star for not being another goddamned boring 60s rock album.
That’s a weird one.
Some decent sound bites but stop trolling
The important thing with Shalimar is to avoid mistaking exuberance for accident. This is a soundtrack that can sound deranged on first contact, but you cannot do deranged with an orchestra by mistake. Someone has to write those parts, place those colours, cue those entries, and trust that the whole thing will hold together. Burman does all of that with a jazzman’s ear for effect. I came to this half-expecting colourful Bollywood excess, and it certainly has that, but what stood out was the control beneath the spectacle. The title music immediately opens the stereo field out like cinema curtains. Saxophones honk, low brass growls, female voices hover, percussion darts around the edges, and the whole thing feels less like a song than a set being constructed in sound. It is very much title music: bold, widescreen, and completely unembarrassed about announcing itself. The album also sits in a fascinating international soundtrack language. At different points I heard echoes of Gert Wilden, Piero Umiliani, Esquivel, Barry Gray, spaghetti western scores, lounge funk, cha-cha, disco, spy music and cartoon scoring. That could easily become a mess, but Burman has an extraordinary instinct for colour and placement. He doesn’t simply throw sounds in because they’re available. He uses them as dramatic effects. A mariachi trumpet becomes romance. An accordion suddenly relocates a caper to continental Europe. A harsh brass stab or odd percussion splash makes the music behave almost like animation. That cartoon quality is part of the pleasure. Countess’ Caper / Shalimar is a magnificent piece of controlled nonsense: jewel-heist funk, sudden tempo changes, fanfares, spaghetti-western colours and orchestral stings that seem to have wandered in from a Saturday morning serial. It is funny, but not stupid. Like Carl Stalling or Scott Bradley, Burman understands that apparent chaos only works when every gesture is precise. The vocal tracks broaden the picture. Usha Uthup’s One Two Cha Cha Cha is cheap, delicious and joyously over-coloured. She sings it as though restraint was never included in the contract, and Burman matches her with brass, rhythm and echo that turn the whole thing into a nightclub cartoon. Kishore Kumar, by contrast, brings genuine warmth and longing to Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay. His beautifully controlled vibrato in the closing reprise is one of the album’s finest moments because Burman knows when to step aside and simply let a great singer sing. Lata Mangeshkar’s Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai reveals another side of the record. The vocal production has that hard, clipped, extremely forward Indian playback sound, but the melody is strong and, unusually for this album, the arrangement serves the song rather than constantly demanding attention for itself. Asha Bhosle’s Mera Pyar Shalimar is another highlight: rhythmically supple, subtly coloured and a reminder of how instinctively she and Burman understood one another. The real achievement is the pacing. After the early sensory overload, Burman repeatedly demonstrates that he knows exactly when to stop showing off. The romantic theme contains some gorgeous interlocking acoustic guitars. The final reprise allows Kishore Kumar room to breathe. Even the wildest cues are balanced by moments where the arrangement relaxes and the melodies are trusted to carry the emotion. The spectacle works because Burman knows when not to add another fanfare. So yes, Shalimar is funny. It is lurid. It has moments where the only honest response is laughter. But the laughter is affectionate, because the craft is obvious. Burman’s imagination is irrepressible, but it is never random. Every odd decision has purpose. Every orchestral colour has been chosen. By the end I had stopped asking why a particular instrument had appeared and simply accepted Burman’s musical universe. Romance apparently requires a mariachi trumpet. A caper can unexpectedly become a spaghetti western. Somewhere, a guitarist is contractually obliged to go “chakachakawow.” Fine. He earns it.
This is undoubtedly the first Bollywood album I have ever listened to.
I feel like this album was included just to make sure we're all paying attention. It is fine, as far as it goes. It is the soundtrack for a precursor to Bollywood. For my taste, a better option would have been the Casino Royale soundtrack from 1967. I mean, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass! (I would give that album a 5)
Okei, jonkun intialaisen leffan soundtrack mutta tässä on kyllä paljon vaikutteita länsimaalaisesta ja afrikkalaisestakin musiikista. On kyllä myös ihan perinteisiä intialaisia kappaleita. Välillä kanssa aika outoa, mutta mitähän tästä pitäisi nyt ajatella. Ei nyt sillein mitään ihmeellistä, mutta silti ihan mielenkiintoista ja laajentaa taas musiikkitietämystä. Parhaat: Countess' Caper
A nutty flavour with hints of Cole Porter and Tamla Motown with the obvious Eastern spices but I didn't like it.
definitivamente não é meu estilo de musica, e nao vou ouvir novamente. dito isso, o album não é ruim, ele é intrigante. achei legal a experiencia de descobrir um album de outro pais nada a ver com o meu. foi divertido ouvir, mas não me pega no longo prazo. nota 3/10
no es malo pero tengo mis dudas como llego aquí este álbum aparte es mas difícil juzgarlo sin ver la pelicula
Movie score, mix of Indian traditional music, and western film scores. There's also plenty of jazz on display too in the title track. Overall it's fine. I can see the importance, the fusion, but for me it's just pleasant enough background music. Best track - Title Music 3 stars
Fresh, exciting, well composed. I do find it interesting that while this list can’t be anything other than subjective, however it also exposes itself time and time again by favoring shit English punk when clearly there are exceptional compilations from around the world. Either call it 500 western-culture albums… or 1001 white-washed, male-heavy classics and some shit, plus a few international offerings.
horrible
Glad we got this album for the sake of experiencing broadening our musical horizons but can't say I'll be coming back for more. A 2.5 feels appropriate here, but I have a "round down" rule when it comes to cases like this.
Eh, interesting enough but I hope this isn't the only entry from the country of India on this list. Western music is not what it is today without Indian classical music and it would be a bit of a shame if the only Indian album on this list is a movie soundtrack. Still, with how impactful Bollywood has been from both a cultural and financial standpoint, it's easy to see why at least one of these soundtracks make the list.
This is alright but it's just a film soundtrack - a good one but also like, limited by that, especially if you want to know more about Indian music. It's a big country, I'm sure it has lots going on, show me more!!
just very pretty and pleasant and fun to listen to. enjoyed a lot
🙂↔️
A Bollywood soundtrack? I was definitely skeptical when this popped up on a list so heavy on Western rock and pop, and it turned out to be a bit kitschy. The production is a pretty raw, overstuffed mess that throws everything at the wall, Spaghetti Western horns, cheap '70s disco beats, and traditional Indian instruments, and basically none of it sticks. While some people might find the frantic energy and bizarre mashup of genres charming or historically interesting, for me, it was just an exhausting wall of noise that I couldn't wait to turn off.
An okay album, no stand out songs.
Hay canciones muy buena, otras no tanto 3.8
Not sure I *needed* to hear this before I die. 1/5
Why is this on the list. This is just not good from any perspective.
Slightly confused by this choice
This sucked. I don’t think any soundtrack should be on here but def not one that I slept through 1/4 of. Super bland.
So a soundtrack huh? Not my thing at all.
A Bolly or Lollywood soundtrack album must be represented, as the region’s pop music traditions entwine the form with cinema, but it’s weird how this stands alone. This clearly talks to Morricone and other contemporaries, yet the master is omitted from the list. The magpie tendency plays out beautifully - disco, Spaghetti Western, jazz, ye-ye and giallo inflections altered for the audience and sit comfortably next to local instrumentation, rhythms and beats, sometimes juggernaut. A maven could probably cite 1001 fine albums of this ilk, but we’ll have to settle for this alone.
It's a Bollywood soundtrack. It's fine, not as animated as some I've heard.
Never in a million years did I think a Bollywood movie album would be on this list. Great industry great music. Solid. Not much else to say. Of course they chose an album with the most western influences they could fit into an album. Naturally. Classic Bollywood though it's pretty amazing. I really do like hindi music like this reminds me of my dad singing to me. Great music. Many songs are unavailable which is unfortunate. Big fan. Perhaps I need to get into vintage Bollywood. Favourite: Dialogue Least favourite: Naag Devta
Apparently old classical indian. Sounded indian for sure it was a bop
I liked this more than I was expecting mostly because the arrangements and production are good. Half of the songs do not really even feel like songs but that's fine.
This is a movie soundtrack, haven't listened to this kind of music before, but I found myself liking it and it was fun to listen to.
Now I get a bunch of the references in Cornershop’s ‘Brimful of Asha.’
Man, super diggin this album. It's so pretty! I have already saved 2 songs from it. I like the Jazzy beginning, and one of them had a latin sound it. The 70's in it is certainly present in the sound. I'm lovin how how freely he fused things: Indian melody, filmi orchestration, funk basslines, disco, jazz, Latin percussion, psychedelic touches, spy-movie grooves, and huge theatrical vocals. Okay make that 3 I've hearted 3!
It's kind of fun to imagine in your head which scenes fit the soundtrack.
Soundtrack to the most expensive (adjusted for inflation) bollywood film ever made. And I am way out of my depth for this. How does one determine if this is a good soundtrack to a bollywood movie? I didn't have time to check the movie but it might be a cool side-exercise. From wikipedia, it is some heist movie with several twists, each more ridiculous than the last. Something akin to Aladdin meets James bond in India. Yeah I can see this soundtrack kinda fitting that.
Che, perdón pero ni lo voy a terminar de escuchar.
Title Music - 3/5 One Two Cha Cha Cha - 5/5 Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay - 4/5 Countess' Caper - 4/5 Naag Devta - 3/5 Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai - 4/5 Baby Let's Dance Together - 3/5 Romantic Theme - 3/5 Mera Pyar Shalimar - 5/5 Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay - 4/5 Average score: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this is definitely not something i would've come across on my own, so i am glad a soundtrack like this made it to the list. after listening, while i don't think this was my new fav album or anything, i thought it was an interesting listen from beginning to end, and i'm glad i was put onto this. i'm also curious about the film itself now (which i will try to find and watch soon), so that's a plus this is part of why i have so many bones to pick with the author. imagine how much more fun and engaging it'd be to discover new music if we didn't have to go through an almost exclusively british list of artists. the people yearn for more world music!!
A breath of fresh air on this list. Pity I'll have to give this 4 stars just because of that, without really having much in the same vein to rate it against.
Super random album, some kind of cool little instrumentals in here I feel like this album could be good for making samples. I didn’t really care for a lot of the vocals or lyrics, and being a film soundtrack there are random parts which I feel like go with the film but don’t really provide much for just a listening experience. I don’t know I just feel like a film soundtrack film doesn’t really belong on here.
Not something I'm likely to return to, but I appreciate having heard it. The list is lacking Asian representation so this is a welcome addition, and it was enjoyable enough while it was on.
I mean it wasn't bad but it also was just really meh. It sounded fine but it's not something I'm going to come back to.
After listening to each record, I read their respective entries on the book, which is how I learned that this album is incomplete on the generator. The book lists "Shalimar / College Girl - R.D. Burman / Bappi Lahiri", making it clear this double CD is the intended entry (also, the length listed is of both soundtracks combined). I'll request this correction on the subreddit soon enough. As for my review, 'College Girl' had its moments, even though I didn't particularly enjoy the more traditionally indian songs on it. As for 'Shalimar', the influences successfully balance the record for the western listener, offering the best of each song and genre it borrows as well as the indian elements it's composed of.
Glad to see R.D. Burman here. We need Ilaiyaraaja and A.R.Rahman to listed next. Favorite track: Mere Pyaar Shalimar other picks: one two cha cha, again wohi rehta hai, hum bewafa
As someone else said - having a soundtrack as the only representation of Indian music, is like having the Forrest Gump soundtrack as the sole representation of American music. Still, I enjoyed it more than I'd thought. Interesting music, even though I will never revisit it again. One star less for the silliness of its inclusion
Fun listen! I picture the movie as a Bollywood version of a campy Roger Moore Bond movie.
Was just okay, some good singing, and some annoying singing.
Oh dear.
I like representation of Bollywood but this one didnt do much for me 2/5
Oh dear. This was awful.
This is another difficult one to judge, but it did contain a variety of cultural sounds and I must admit the rhythm was catchy in places.
cheerful, but not my style
Sounded like what I think it was: the soundtrack to a Bollywood caper from the 70s.
It seemed mostly typical for Bollywood, although I thought it started stronger than it ended. I really wonder why this one out of the myriad movie soundtracks from India.
Virkelig rart med noget nyt genremæssigt. Kan klart tåle at blive hørt mere. Stor 3'er.
I mean it was ok , definitely not for me but it was fine
There's a couple of bangers on here. I overall dug it but it's a movie soundtrack so I don't think you can really appreciate fully without watching the film.
I don't wanna complain too much, cause this was pretty fun and I didn't dislike listening to it. And I absolutely think more movie score/soundtracks should be on this list. But I am left wondering: why this? Why this movie soundtrack? Why this for India specifically? I just don't understand it's relevance
It's got a good beat and I can dance to it. 4 stars
I don’t even know where to begin with this or how to judge it. I’m at a complete loss of words, not positively or negatively.
I am completely unaware of this album and am going into this blind. I'm quite enjoying this. Looking at the reviews on this site, it seems like I'm in the minority. But now I also want to check out this movie. So, yeah, I'm gonna add this to my list of albums to listen to again.
I’m sure it was groundbreaking in its day but to these ears it’s a pastiche that ends up sounding like everything and nothing at all
Je suis pas habitué à ce style de musique, mais c’est une bonne découverte qui donne envie d’aller voir un petit peu plus loin.
Great addition to the list! Funky, wild, and cool - some filler, but exactly the kind of stuff I wanted to discover. It's a shame that it's the only album from India on the list. So much amazing stull has come out of that continent. Someone should write a book on 1001 Indian albums to listen to before you die (and it will certainly be as controversial as the current book).
Very cool
Bollygood
und wieso müsste man das gehört haben?
Naja, Bollywood. Verstehe nicht ganz warum das in die Sammlung rutschte.
Good use of eastern music with western styles. Something different
interesting choice to put a bollywood movie soundtrack
I appreciate listening to music using keys not common in western music. this was a nice listen but probably wont be returning. Qurbani still holds my top spot for indian soundtracks
I had been thinking that I was too old to like anything unfamiliar and new to me, but this album disproved that. It was a fun listen, like listening to a Sergio Leone movie soundtrack.
490/1089 - A nice palate cleanser from all the Britpop. It's westernized world music but it's probably gonna be somewhat hard to find the authentic traditional stuff, especially given that this is a movie soundtrack. Still a common theme with a lot of the "world" picks. Oh well, the jazz-to-polka track was fun and well made. To be honest, I'm getting a bit bored with this project and think I've successfully expanded my music horizons. I'll probably complete it since I'm pretty far along but I need to find a less flimsy and more meaningful reason.
I generally enjoyed this except for the cha cha song. A nice Bollywood soundtrack
Fun listen. Kind of odd to have a soundtrack on this list but nice change of pace.
Thanks I hate it
Qué música tan rara. Paso
random aber iwie cool? idk gegen ende gefällts mir immer besser, sehr entspannt und sehr schön, interessante instrumentals und film klingt iwie fun.
One two three cha cha cha
hugely exuberant soundtrack-record, flitting shamelessly between funk, disco, samba, Bollywood torch-song, the James Bond soundtrack. it is a whole hell of a lot of fun to listen to and also probably not something i'll return to much - when it comes to this kind of thing, i prefer the music more direct and less grab-bag-ulous, so it stands to reason that the Lata-ji track is my favorite thing on offer here. still a delight, and representative of some genuinely wonderful singing and songwriting that should get much more credit on the world stage
I didn’t know movie sound tracks could make it on this list! This was very fun with a good mix of instrumental tracks and vocal tracks.
A Bollywood '70's Blaxploitation soundtrack album? Seems against some of the rules. I'm glad you attempted to give us some Bollywood, but I'm not certain this really qualifies. As a Blaxploitation soundtrack, it's a 3. Nothing great, nothing terrible. As representation on the list of a soundtrack, dude, this sucks. Singles, Titanic, The Graduate, Grease, Purple Rain - good grief there are a ton of other sound tracks that should be on the list.
Some equally very cool and very annoying stuff. 2.5/5
Enjoyable listen combining some interesting styles; makes me want to watch the film
Better than I expected.
Day 280
Had a lot of fun with this one
There’s a very good case for Bollywood soundtracks (or any Indian music, really!) to have several entries on this list. Some of them are surely essential and would introduce me to pop cultural artifacts I would’ve otherwise ignored. But from my quick research, Shalimar was a critical and commercial flop. So why is it here? The answer is that it’s a kind of fusion album, I guess. Mixed in with the more usual Bollywood soundtrack stylings are a bunch of scattershot Hollywood soundtrack styles. It mostly feels random rather than coherent. Bollywood is admittedly a blind spot for me, but this didn’t do a lot for me. Just an odd selection, more of an interesting curio than a must-hear.
I don't know what to do with this album (see every other review) so I'm giving it a 3
this is a weird one to rate, but in the opposite direction as my last weird one. I think the music is fine-ish but it does not even remotely belong on the album list by the list criteria. We can't get the correct Bee Gees album because it's a soundtrack but we can get this? it's also annoying, and very accurately British, to have the album's sole Indian music representation come from some random-ass soundtrack. Naag Devta is great though. so what am I rating this? I genuinely will not know until I press the button. if I'm being consistent it has to be a one but I'd feel bad. I want to personally confront whoever put this on the album list and demand answers
Sounds like a 70s movie soundtrack. Not much else to note.
I liked this a LOT more than I thought I would. Soundtracks are not always great listening. This one had a crazy wonderfully eclectic mosaic of sounds!
Not really sure how this is on this list. It's a movie soundtrack with some pretty generic music.
Could barely find this one on Spotify, soundtrack to a movie I'll never see. I'm open to listening to more albums from around the world but I doubt this is the best stuff to come out of India.
My favorite Indian restaurant in sF is called Shalimar. This is not that. This is more like a weird mishmash of a bunch of above average restaurants of all cuisines. Should have liked more than I do.
no me gusto
This is great
Interesting, but nothing I would ever listen to again.
Not being a fan of the genre, this had a few spots I liked, but was overall not appealing to me. Some jazzy numbers, but overall, not for me.
Maybe if you have nothing else to do.
This is a blend of big-band jazz and pop written and performed for a movie soundtrack. That's all fine, but I might as well break out some Henry Mancini. No reason to listen to this before dying.
5/7 Piece of shit
This was a interesting ride. I can see it.
Sorry, geen John Barry, Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Lalo Schifrin, Bernard Herrmann? Of Alexandre Desplat, Howard Shore, Rachel Portman, noem maar op! Of Vladimir Cosma, Nicola Piovani of Rogier 'Soldaat van Oranje' van Otterloo? Maar wel deze Indiase nobody, met zijn goedkope flutdeuntjes?! Puur muzikaal gezien is deze vrolijke muziek een stuk beter te trekken dan Ravi Shankar's Teleac-cursus van laatst, maar ik snap niet dat deze lichtgewicht-niemendalletjes er wel in mogen en écht goede filmmuziek niet. Tenzij je toevallig Air heet of de muziek voor een zwarte detective hebt gemaakt. Terwijl deze Indiase meneer gewoon alles heel duidelijk gejat heeft van de Westerse filmmuziek, of het nou de Blaxploitation- of Schifrin-achtige begintitels zijn of een van Morricone gestolen westerndeuntje. En dat ook nog in ermbarmelijke geluidskwaliteit. Echt dikke onzin dat dit in de lijst staat.
One Two Cha Cha Cha.....That's the way, aha aha, i like it...ja dàààg. Het boek noemt dit nummer 'brutaal'. Hoe kom je daar bij?? Het volgende nummer biedt ons "brrrrr.....brrrr...." klanken. Ik neem dit 'album' inmiddels al niet meer serieus. Het romantische thema is nog zo'n 'hoogstandje'. Wat is er nu weer romantisch aan een Josti-keyboard?
Ik heb er dus wel heel veel problemen mee dat dit in de lijst staat. Een film die op IMDb 681 stemmen heeft gekregen voor een gemiddelde van 6,3. Dan ga je mij niet vertellen dat dit de soundtrack van een land is van 1 miljard inwoners. En dan ook nog te bedenken dat er zoveel iconische soundtracks zijn, die allemaal niet in dit boek zijn opgenomen. Stop een album als dit lekker in het boek 1001 soundtracks die je ooit gehoord moet hebben, maar niet hier. Ik moet wel zeggen, er zitten muzikaal best aardige jazzy, funky of western-achtige stukken in. Het doet me denken aan blaxploitation films ook, waar er hier wel een paar soundtracks van in staan. Dus eigenlijk klinkt het niet eens zo heel Indisch. Dat maakt het misschien alleen maar raarder. Ik weet niet zo goed wat ik hiermee aan moet. Ik vind het niet eens zo slecht, maar als je dit er in zet, dan is Ennio Morricone natuurlijk 1000x iconischer en dat staat er niet in. Ik ga een 1 geven, omdat de keuze niet uit te leggen is. Dit hoort niet in het boek, punt.
Pajeet
Nee, keine Chance!
1.5
2.5
2.5
This was not really what I was expecting at all. I kind of have a mental image of what most Bollywood music sounds like to me and this wasn't it pretty much at all it actually kind of reminded me of a 60s American Movie soundtrack, to be specific it sounds like 1967, with Filmi instrumentation added. The results I found were intriguing. Though I can't say this is a type of music that I would pull out and listen, I'm kind of glad I had the opportunity to take it in. I'm sure it works better with the film. The one song I enjoyed the most was "Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai". Lata Mangeshkar's voice was absolutely beautiful. I think because that one, at lest on the onset, wasn't over orchestrated. It just let her voice create the mood. Looking at the album cover, which has nice period movie poster art, kind of makes me want to check out the movie at some point. I has a mid 70s crime exploitation vibe to it. (6.3) ★★★
Interesting, but not the best thing in the world. 3 stars
This album wasn't bad. Maybe a little inessential, but there were some cool parts. 3 stars.
How I wish this was Shalamar instead. And whilst I was certainly not expecting anything to the level of The Second Time Around, I Can Make You Feel Good or Take That To The Bank I wasn’t expecting seriously cheesy 70s TV cop show themes and cha cha cha music either. There was quite a bit of stale curry house BG music that I was expecting as well. I hope this cha-cha-cha’s its way off the next edition of 1001 albums.
1978.
Incredible, just incredible. An Indian Morricone and just as wonderful.
La verdad me metio en un transe. No es musica que vaya a escuchar, pero estaba lindo escucharlo
Koma
Pas ma came, un peu trop ethnique
C’est mieux avec le film je pense
J'écoute peu de BO de films mais j'ai passé un bon moment
A lovely slice of Bollywood. Solid 4 Stars.
I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Outside of the first track (the main theme of the movie) being a little disjointed for my ears, I happened to really enjoy this. It’s a lot more dynamic than I was expecting, with some great guitar / sitar / horn / percussion work throughout, and a lot of other instruments I just wouldn’t have expected out of 1978 Bollywood. Granted, I don’t know jack shit about 1978 Bollywood, so I guess I should check my biases a bit. Lyrically, there are translations out there – I had to use https://www.hindigeetmala.net/ for them, which is a site devoted to categorizing practically everything you could hope for about any Bollywood movies of this era. From the translations, it seemed like a classic love story centered around misunderstandings of cheating. Imagine my surprise to read the synopsis & discover that this movie is about a guy faking illness to eliminate all of his jewel-thieving nemeses from ever taking his most precious ruby (the Shalimar), before getting killed by the hero, who was a secret agent all along. Yeah, spoilers, I know, but who’s gonna really watch this? Thankfully, the soundtrack here has nothing to do with the plot, and for my money’s worth, it’s a pretty enjoyable 40 minutes. Yes, there are quirks of the culture to get used to (a bit of repetition, some very high vocals, slightly odd drum patterns, some slightly fuzzy mixing), but once you get used to them & just kinda get into the rhythms of each track here, it’s simple enough to get lost in, as the language carries a natural rhythm to it. The English songs here are fun too, with “One Two Cha Cha Cha” just kinda being a bop. Overall, I’d say you should just go listen to it before you die. Mileage will vary, obviously, but if you can find your fun with this, it’s a mostly breezy 40 minutes that has just enough tension / atmosphere from the instrumentals alone that you can kinda play out a movie in your head. R.D. Burman appears to be a prolific movie composer over there, and while he’s been dead for 32 years, I’m glad this is on the list to give people some awareness of his work. The floor is a 3, if it just doesn't click. For me, it’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5, just because I enjoyed it that much. Pretty good pick from Mr. Dimery & friends.
How in the arse am I supposed to rate this?? It's entertaining to be fair. I guess 3/5 is fair.
I was a little doubtful going into this one, since it's a movie soundtrack and from a movie not within my own particular cultural background. But this is an enjoyable pop record, full of singable tunes and fun riffs. Now my only question is "If soundtracks are okay, why the heck isn't The Commitments on the list of 1001 albums we should listen to before we die?!"
En fond de faire quelque chose peut être.
Je dirai cha cha cha que j'ai chachacha beaucoup chachacha aimé chachacha cet album chachacha. C'est difficile chachacha de ne chachacha pas se chachacha laisser chachacha emporter chachacha par ces musique chachacha Je ne chachacha sais pas chachacha ce dont chachacha parle le chachacha film chachacha Mais avec chachacha des musiques chachacha comme celle chachacha ci chachacha, on ne peut chachacha je suis chachacha sur qu'il chachacha est génial Chachacha
J'ai pas vu le film mais à la BO ça me fait penser à une sorte de James Bond indien - « Dhe nem iz Bond, Singh Bond » Ohhh ça va... Playlist pick : One Two Cha Cha Cha !
Well that was 70's fun…won’t go back to it much but gad I was exposed to it.
Interesting Bollywood Soundtrack this one is. I was not expecting to dig this at all, but some of the sounds, especially with it being the 70s, have a pretty good groove to them. There is nothing that stands out for me, but I did not hate this.
Jesus Christ, why the fuck is this on the list?
Music wankers
ID Buddy?
Was cool to get another album from India. This was way more funky than I expected and had a number of familiar elements that I’m sure I’ve heard in other songs but whosampled says they haven’t been sampled very frequently. Wasn’t expecting a KC and the Sunshine Band reference on this album either. My only draw back is I don’t like the tone of the female singers in most Bollywood movies. I don’t know if it is that they sing in a high range or what but there is something there I can’t get past.
Interesting
The music is good but how am I suppose to like a soundtrack of a movie that I've never watched before??
1.8 Would be happy if I never heard Bollywood music for the rest of my life, that's about it really.
not for me
Soundtrack to 70's Bollywood film. It was fine, nothing special but not bad.
Like others, I wish we got an actual album by an Indian artist. Indian music has been massively influential to mainstream pop, and even if it wasn't, is worthy of more representation on a list like this.
Vet inte om jag lyssnade på rätt eftersom albumet var svårt att hitta
Pues mucho mejor de lo que aparenta. En su época tuvo que ser una revolución. Ha sido interesante escucharlo. Curiosa "One Two Cha Cha".
At least it's not some random British uninspiring noise band.
I couldn't even finish this
Nice blend of Bollywood meets Western music, not a bad listen
No idea what this movie could be about. The soundtrack covers a wide range of different styles that throws off whatever my best guesses are. This is not a style of music I ever find myself listening to, but I’m glad I did. This was really interesting. Not sure if I could call it good. The Title Music was probably my favorite song here.
Soundtracket fra en Bollywood-film fra 70-tallet. Diverse artister. Halvveis interessant. Kun lyttet én gang. Top 3: Countess' Caper/Shalimar, One Two Cha Cha Cha, Mera Pyar Shalimar
Decent album, not really my style
Fun and interesting, but I'm not itching to listen again
Yes, please, more like this. The sound quality seemed a little pinched - is that the style, or did all the good engineers get hoovered up by Rumors? Also one female voice especially grating in one song, bad helium vibes. Otherwise a fun and different romp,, cha cha cha.
Helt klart noget af det mest originale der har været indtil videre med bollywood lyden. Og selvom det helt klart er interessant og har nogle spændende elementer, så vile jeg ærligt talt ikke vide hvornår jeg ville få lyst til at sætte det på ??
It definitely was something different than I am used to. It's as if it was an Indian album but with western sensibilities included. I liked it more than I thought I would.
Different than I thought it was going to be. Kind of feels like 60's pop meets blaxploitation films meets India?
An enjoyable enough, diverting soundtrack. I preferred the upbeat songs to the ballad-y ones.
Braucht niemand
I came here for an experience. Let's do this! ************ From a distance -- as in I have basically no experience with any Bollywood film and no Indian music whatsoever -- all of this seems very 'overcooked'. There's a lot going on. That **seems** in line with my perception of the film style and what little I know of the music. On its own, it's extremely stylish, has a bit of funk in it, but boy is it *loud* (garish/kitschy). With few other signposts/guides to this music, I'll go with my gut and gently compare it to my more extensive jazz knowledge. (2/5) Thanks for the experience, I see what's going on here and appreciate that it will appeal to a few billion people who are way more knowledgeable and invested in this. Count me out of that. It's WAY too busy for my tastes. The track entitled "A Countless Music" is all over the map,. musically, for instance. "Naag Debra", and "Aaina Wohi.." are similarly stuffed full of instruments, singers, and a style I just don't care for. Thanks, but no thanks. This Indian is a little too spicy for my tastes.
Not gonna lie, after the initial "what the fuck are we doing here," I actually found this one quite fun and refreshing. In fact, I'd have given a much higher rating if it had been fully instrumental, as the singing threw off some of the groove for me (not speaking the language or having a cultural connection can do that, unfortunately). The fusion of jazz, disco, and traditional Indian music must have caught me in the right mood, as it struck a chord I didn't expect to like as much as I did. Still, while I liked it better than a number of other albums we've had on this list, it isn't something I'm likely to revisit (with the exception of Baby Let's Dance Together, which is legitimately going into my rotation) so it hits the ceiling at a 3/5.
Variety: 3 Adequacy: 3 Listenability: 3 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 2 = 2.8 rounded up to a 3 INTRO From his Wikipedia article: " From the 1960s to the 1990s, Burman composed musical scores for 331 films". Wow. That's some impressive shit. I have seen this thing pop up on lists before but have never taken interest. Now's as good a time as any. "Baby, let's dance together" THE TRACKS "Title Music" - Not exactly what I was expecting. Very jazzy, at times funky, and lots of cool electronic accents. Horror adjacent, and a kind of step above the trashy 70s genre scores that I have a bit of a sweet tooth for. "One Two Cha Cha Cha" - This goofy bit of poppy nonsense appeals to the part of my personality that loves the sillier B-52 songs, and other similarly kitschy junk. The blend of Latin and Indian flavors here makes it all the more interesting. "Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay" I was not digging on this one. Englebert Humperdink and Jose Feliciano vibes all around. "Countess' Caper (Music)" - What it says on the label. Some Henry Mancini-esque caper music, that veers into a jaunty, uh, moped chase through Naples, before swinging right back into the thick of some classy ass crimes. Something is being heisted here I hope. But we also get a return to Spaghetti Western territory for a mariachi infused march. Finally we briefly visit the Temple of Doom and ride home to victory. I enjoyed this journey. "Naag Devta" - This one has a LOT going on. Seems like the male lead's "I Wish" song maybe ( see below ). Imagining him strutting through town with his entourage of a male chorus while the all the available ladies marvel at his supreme dancing skills. Though this is classified as an action adventure movie, so who knows? Is all the music here non-diagetic or not? Curious how close to the mark I am on these scenes playing out in my head for a movie I doubt I will ever watch. "Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai" - Not sure if this is meant as a love theme, but sure has the vibes given the string arrangement. This is the moment where the female lead sings about her longing while doing some mundane task. Like the "Bonjour" song in Beauty and the Beast. Or so I imagine. This one didn't do much for me though. Enjoyed the instrumentation more so than the vocals though. "Baby Let's Dance Together" - Dig them crazy rhythms, man. Funky guitars and drums with some sultry vocals over top, a flute section, and some very solid stops. Out of Sight. "Romantic Theme" - At times reminiscent of some Spaghetti western scores, or even some giallo stuff. That clavichord (?) or whatever it is hits. "Mera Pyar Shalimar" - Very listenable and right in the pocket of Bond-inspired late decade mystery/ thriller stuff you will often hear Tarantino repurpose for his movies. I could imagine this playing over the opening credits of Kill Bill 3. Solid. "Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay (Happy)" - Not enough of a difference here between this and part I. Might even prefer it to this. Gonna go out on a limb and say this is likely the credits music. HIGHLIGHTS - "Title Music" - "Mera Pyar Shalimar" - "Romantic Theme" - "Countess' Caper (Music)" - "Baby Let's Dance Together" MIDLIGHTS - "One Two Cha Cha Cha" - "Naag Devta" LOWLIGHTS - "Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai" - "Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay" - "Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay (Happy)" FINAL THOUGHTS Overall this was an enjoyable, light. breezy little detour from rock world. I could definitely see a few of these winding up in my score playlist. Will I ever re-listen to the whole thing again or watch the movie? Unlikely. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Save those highlights for future use! FURTHER LISTENING - The Pink Panther film score composed by Henry Mancini - The Great Silence film score composed by Ennio Morricone - Gumnaam film soundtrack - music composed by Shankar-Jaikishanm lyrics by Shailendra.
Well, that was certainly...interesting. Hey, I started this project for a sense of musical exploration. Today our adventures take us to India. The best compliment I can give is that this album sounds like the soundtrack to a movie from the 1970s. Its got love in its heart and a "cha cha" in its step. I'm not a big of the disco-esque sound, but again seems of its time. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. Some days I guess we just get the stamp in our address book and move on. I'm not lingering on this one. 2/5.
It is not consistent in the way a great studio album by a band is consistent. Some pieces matter more as mood, scene-setting, or sonic spectacle than as stand-alone songs. There are moments where the record feels more like a box of brilliant materials than a single fully locked statement. That is the cost of the format.
Sorry, not my style
surprisingly well. many tracks are just incredible good and catchy, some just not at all. Very interessting to listen to.
The first two songs got me good. One, two, cha cha cha, that's the way, aha aha, I like it. I don't know if I will ever listen to this again, but it was pretty fun.
Ha! First one to listen 😄. I admit it took me a couple sittings to finish the whole thing. It's pleasant enough if you like Indian subcontinent pop music from the 70s. I prefer Indian classical music like Ravi Shankar if we're going there. But this was fine to footle around the house to.
Listening session: april 11th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: my birthday album! It’s nice to hear some world music on here, but I find it disappointing that it’s from a soundtrack. While I appreciate to hear something I’m not really familiar with, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped (maybe I have to watch the movie to fully appreciate this soundtrack) Favourite tracks: Romantic Theme (Shalimar) & Hum Bewafa Hargiz Na Thay (Happy)
# Album Name: Shalimar # Artist: Rahul Dev Burman # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Quite funky in parts for sure. But couldnt listen to the whole thing. surely there is better indian music than a bollywood soundtrack # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? No
Well….. this is a lot. There’s the traditional Bollywood soundtrack including the legendary playback singer Asha Bosle but also every other soundtrack genre imaginable- jazzy spy themes, spaghetti western, blaxploitation often in the same piece of music. This is the whole point of this project though, to listen to albums I would otherwise not choose to listen to. Will I listen to it again, probably not. Did I enjoy it ? Yeah
Sehr positiv überrascht. Allein endlich mal wieder was anderes zu hören verbessert das album. Manchmal schon recht nervig (nach dem 80sten cha cha cha reichts auch) aber overall macht es einfach spaß. Weiß nicht ob ich es nochmal so hören würde aber definitiv interessanter als das zigste britpop album 4/5
2,3/5
Umm.... No idea if this is good or not as I have no frame of reference for Indian music (Bollywood). Doesn't do anything for me. Interesting rhythms 'tho.
Album not available on my streamer. I only listened to a smattering of songs I found on YouTube. Not able to assess the album experience but the music seems fun.
Liked it more than I thought I would.
I thought this album was fun enough and was both pretty funky and cinematic in scope. It feels grand in parts but is very playful. It's hard for me to rate it, as I'd probably give it a 3.5 for something where I can hear that it is well done in may ways, but I can't really say how good it is compared to other music of the type, and to many l istening, it will feel like a peculiarity. However, I feel I have to round down to a 3, because it also didn't feel like it pushed a whole lot forward, partially due to being a soundtrack and it's not supposed to be just a creative piece on its own, being tied to a movie, ultimately.
Interesting listen, i didn’t necessarily like it all that much, but I think that has more to do with the nature of a soundtrack album
This guy was cooking. Really fun.
It was refreshing to have something outside of western culture. I especially had fun with "One Two Cha Cha Cha"!
54/100. Even without understanding the lyrics, you can really feel that 70s energy where he is throwing everything from psychedelic rock and funk to Latin cha-cha and orchestral jazz into the mix. Decent record.
An eclectic selection of pop and Indian world music that is catered for a western audience. Anyone who's ever saw Indians in western films knows what they get here. But is it good? Is there not better, not sanitised Indian music?
Not sure why this is the Bollywood album that’s included. Didn’t seem like anything special, and it anything it really felt like you had to have seen the movie to appreciate it.
If I ever wanted to play a Bollywood album, I might choose this one, but I probably won’t ever want to play a Bollywood album
not for me
I could actually see how people would like this but not me
its not bad just not for me
Diferente, entiendo que esto forma parte de una peli, lo hicieron adaptado a la película, lo cual lo hace más interesante parece que fuera al revés, muy bien producido
I like the Cha Cha Cha song
don't get this ...today is 1st of April not yesterday
Interesting album, but if we’re including Indian albums then surely there is a wealth that haven’t featured. The list is a mess
Nothing about this feels right. This is like the Indian ripoff of the Shaft soundtrack. Or like an early 70s Bond movie score. It's worse than both of those. Five minutes of One Two Cha Cha Cha is five minutes too many. Annnnnd....some movie dialogue. This thing is pushing all the wrong buttons. I don't understand how this made the list. Countess' Caper now sounds more like a classic 30s/40s adventure film score. They just added an Indian touch to every style of Western soundtrack from the dawn of sound in films. This cannot be the best Bollywood soundtrack of all time. Romantic Theme sounds more like Creepy Theme.
Well, at least it wasn’t Elvis fucking Costello again
Doesn't deserve one star, but it's really not for me.
Has a dated feel even for its time, or at least not really at the top of its contemporary game. I don't really know how it compares in Bollywood, I can only compare it to music that I'm familiar with and it doesn't manage very well The songs are okay, just not particularly exciting to hear, overall left feeling a bit of dullness
Soundtrack zu einem indischen Film
Terrific soundtrack and album! Really enjoyed this!
This album is a schizophrenic fever dream. I don't mind it, nice to get a bit more global representation. The title music sounds like Sons of Kemet (London Jazz Band, not frog typo) and Naag Davta slaps, I'm sure I've heard it sampled somewhere.
big 2
Robust and powerful music and vocals. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but in general, it's very pleasant and nice. The harmonies and sequencing is done so well. It's certainly a journey listening to this one, but one I would recommend.
I enjoyed listening to something different, Bollywood music consistently slaps. Gotta wonder why this one was chosen specifically. 3.
2,5
I was surprised to get a movie soundtrack on this list. I accidentally let it loop back around to the second song while listening, and I'm considering that a good sign. My one critique is less about the artistry and more the production: It's really saturated. This is somewhat explained by the era this was made (mid 70's), but I've heard other music around this time period that sounds cleaner. I think some of the saturation is thematically appropriate, but this has too much for my ear. I think I'd have to see the movie this was the soundtrack for to get the best understanding of it, but as its own independent listen, not bad at all.