Junior Senior Music Review

Junior Senior

For a long time (since maybe "Thalapathy"), I've been a Mammootty fan. Ever since "Nandhaa", I've been a die-hard Yuvan Shankar Raja fan and see him as the next upcoming big thing to hit Tamil cinema.

Does YSR keep up his solid reputation with "Junior Senior"? Well, yes, he does, and quite well. I could listen to three of these songs again and again -- and the other three aren't too bad, either. The only problem I have with the album is that a couple of these songs sound a bit like older YSR compositions, and repetition is a surefire killer of new music directors. I know that YSR has the talent to get past that repetition -- but he hasn't quite yet.

Good strong album. Just not YSR's best, or even close to it.

Don't worry, Yuvan Shankar Raja, I know you'll deliver with "Pop Carn."

SONG-BY-SONG REVIEW:

Aanandham -- Unnikrishnan.

YSR albums always begin with a bang. He often slams us with his best song early on in the album, and "Junior Senior" is no exception. "Aanandham Pennukkullae", beautifully and subtly sung by chameleon Unnikrishnan definitely qualifies as one of the best songs, if not the best song, on the album. Great lyrics, organized composition, beautiful subtle music, and great singing. Who could ask for more? "Junior Senior" is off to a hefty start. Excellent!.

Naan Oruvan -- Vijay Yesudas.

Initial listen, I thought this song rendered by Yesudas' son, Vijay Yesudas, was pretty bad. The gunshots sounded tacky, and the song didn't seem to have any rhythm. But I have since revised my opinion. "Naan Oruvan" grows on you, and the song is brilliantly composed, starting off softly and then getting more and more alive. Vijay Yesudas also does a perfectly capable job on the singing, and YSR keeps up his reputation of being able to find the perfect singer for each song. Excellent!

Pudhusaai Pudhusaai -- Srinivas, Tippu. "

Pudhusaai Pudhusaai," unlike "Naan Oruvan" is an instantly likeable very fun very exciting song. From the moment the first "Engae engae enthan ottrai roja devathai?" line first came up, I've been hooked ot it. Great song. No more needs to be said. Plus, I have to say it it: Tippu, who initially started out strained, is now showing much improvement. Excellent!

Srirungara Kannaa -- Uncredited Singer.

This is one of those YSR songs that sound like we've heard it before in a previous YSR composition -- this sounds like "Alagaana Suriyan" from "Manathai Thirudi Vittaay." But it's still a great song. The female singer who sings it does a magnificent job, and the beat is nice. Not the best song for repeated listening, but the lyrics are good, the singing is good, and the beat, while familiar, is good. Very Nice.

Thithippai -- SPB, Swarnalatha.

There's been a disturbing trend recently of handing SPB the worst song on the album in hopes that he will turn that song around and make it good. (This definitely was not the case in YSR's "Nandhaa," where YSR gave SPB arguably the best song on the album -- "Mun Paniya.") Unfortunately, SPB can't make an average song good; he can only make a great song perfect. That's the case with "Thithippai," the only really disappointing song on this album. Adequate singing, usual music, very average lyrics. Nice!

Oh Shalalala Jamai -- Yuvan Shankar Raja, Yugendran, Prem.

Another familiar sounding YSR ditty; this sounds like "All Day Jolly Day" from "Manathai Thirudi Vittaay." The song really aren't that similar; it's just that the average lyrics, YSR's voice, and the beat make them sound that way. Nice dance youth song, but not really my kind of thing. The album started off strong with three excellent songs, and then went downhill (but not too far downhill) from there. Nice.