Topic started by Nishanth (@ mcf3.wc.optusnet.com.au) on Fri Aug 29 05:04:02 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I want this thread dedicated to Carnatic Album Reviews....If you have any, please add them.....Also, Please do not put unrelated topics in this thread...Thanks,

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Shyam (@ adsl-64-171-7-144.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Sun Sep 28 03:35:07 EDT 2003
  
  Title: Pratidhwani
  Artistes: M.L. Vasanthakumari-Vocal
  Charumathy Ramachandran- Vocal
  A. Kanyakumari Violin
  T. Bhakthavatsalam-Mridangam
  
  Songs:
  1. Gananayakam-Purnashadjam-Dikshitar
  2.Jaya Jaya Jaya -Nattai - Purandaradasa
  3. Karaharapriya fld by Rama Nee Samanam-Thyagaraja
  4. Va Muruga Va-Begada-Spencer Venugopal
  5. Seve Srikantam-Mohanakalyani-Swathi Thirunaal
  6. RTP- Shanmukapriya
  
  This is one of the best concerts I have ever heard. Its more like a Jugalbandhi where MLV lets Charumathy sing neraval and swaras. The RTP is fantastic for a whole hour. All the kirtanas are rendered in the typical MLV style. Definitely a good album to have.
  The accompaniments are very much praiseworthy.
  
  
• From: Nishanth (@ welax7-055.dialup.optusnet.com.au) on: Mon Sep 29 00:10:27 EDT 2003
  
  Title: Pratidhwani
  Artistes: M.S. Subbulakshmi-Vocal
  Vocally Accompanied by Smt. Radha Viswanthan
  Accompaniments:
  Violin-V.V. Subramanyam
  Mridangam - T.K. Moorthy;
  Kanjeera - V. Nagarajan;
  Ghatam - T.H.Vinayarkaram
  
  Songs:
  1. Viriboni (Varnam) -Bhairavi-Ata Thala-
  2. Paraath Paraa-Vachaspathi-Adi-Papanasam Sivan
  3. Hariharaputram-Vasantha-Adi-Dikshithar
  4. Enati Nomu Phalamo-Bhairavi-Adi-Thyagaraja
  5. Bhogindra Sayinam-Kunthalavarali-Swathi Thirunaal
  6. Palinstu Kamakshi-Madhyamavathi-Adi-Syama Sasthri
  7. Nada Vindu (Thiruppugazh)
  
  This is one of the best concerts/albums I have ever heard from golden greats. Its more like a Jugalbandhi where MSS lets Radha Vishwanathan sing neraval and karpana swaras. MSS sings Viriboni at such a speed for second kala or second speed, that it is very hard to keep up when you are singing with her or following her on cd, her throat is so flexible and all her sangathis/assaivus/brugas are coming with such ease, Radha Vishwanathan then goes to the high pitch at times, and this sounds wonderful. Paraath paraa she sings the nereval and swaras with such bhava/feeling. Hariharaputhram is rendered well too, with a lot of bhava as well. Enati Nomu Phalamo is obviously the grand hit. WIth alap/ragam at the beginning, followed by the song, then the nereval and swaras by both MSS and Radha Vishwanathan and the violinist and this is the most grand part. Excellent, and brilliant are just a few of the feelings you will feel when you hear it. Bhogindra Sayinam is alright, but doesn't deserve a special mention. Palinstu Kamakshi is rendered well and once again, Radha Viswanathan goes to the high pitch at times. Then Nada Vindu finishes the album off. This thiruppugazh is rendered in a different and interesting way, seeing not many sing it in this way. Overall it was a brilliant album/concert and the accompaniments are very much praiseworthy. The best of all is what i'd say for MSS's singing.
  
  
• From: Nishanth (@ welax7-055.dialup.optusnet.com.au) on: Mon Sep 29 00:11:27 EDT 2003
  
  I followed Shyams format in writing the review up. But the title is Sangita Kalanidhi. That's all for now,
  
  Nishanth
  
  
• From: Shyam (@ adsl-66-126-231-34.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Mon Sep 29 01:23:10 EDT 2003
  
  Hi nishanth
  I meant title of the album.
  Shyam
  
  
• From: Shyam (@ adsl-66-126-228-132.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Mon Sep 29 14:41:40 EDT 2003
  
  Rising Stars: Live at Narada Gana Sabha 1998
  Balaji Sankar-Vocal
  BV Raghavendra Rao-Violin
  Srimushnam Raja Rao-Mridangam
  
  1. Shankaram Abhirami-Kamalamanohari-Dikshitar
  2. Paalimpa Raava- Arabhi-Pallavi Seshayyar
  3. Nadachi Nadachi-Kharaharapriya-Thyagaraja
  4. Karunai Deivame-Sindhubhairavi-Sreenivasan
  5. Daya mado Ranga- Kalyani-Purandaradasaru
  6. Laali-Peelu-Purandaradasaru
  7. Shobanam-Madhyamavathy-Arunachala Kavirayar
  
  A very refreshing concert. Balaji's voice is just superb, and equally good are the accompaniments. Raghavendra Rao's training under giants such as TN. Krishnan and Balamurali really shows. He really showcases his ability in the alapanais of Kharaharapriya and Kalyani.
  I have come to like all of Balaji's comnmercial and non commercial ventures, he sings a good combo of rare and commonly rendered kritis in his style showing strict adherence to shruti. DKP/DKJ training is evident in this concert, but he also has tried hard to showcase his own creativity, good effort, still has long ways to go, yet very promising.
  His pronounciation is impeccable even in the kannada songs. Kudos to you man!!!
  
  
• From: Shyam (@ adsl-66-126-228-132.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Mon Sep 29 16:43:43 EDT 2003
  
  Ragam Thanam and Pallavi
  Bombay Sisters-Vocal
  USha Rajagopal-Violin
  Arjunkumar-Mridangam
  Govindarajan-Ghatam
  
  The RTP is in Thodi. I am an ardent fan of the duo, but they have declined a lot in their quality from where they used to be. This album is aurally disturbing, unpleasant, to say the least.
  Thodi is one of the most majestic ragas and it like kambojhi and bhairavi has many many shades to it that have been brought forth by eminent artists. GNB, SSI, MSS and MLV's thodi comes to mind. I have them rendering Thodi as RTP more than one time,a nd everytime, they are able to bring out a subtley different thodi.
  This alapana is awful!!! So bland that I dont mind myself hearing my own rendition in my own gruff voice! Their beautiful voices have become so dull,and they make absolutely no effort to present any racy swaras. Can you believe there is no trace of brighas in the pallavi?
  What happened to all that talent?
  USha Rajagopal is one of those artists whose performance seems to coincide with the artists.
  Accompaniments can be heard when the sisters are not croaking away.
  That tape went straight into my dustbin.
  
  
• From: Nishanth (@ welax9-245.dialup.optusnet.com.au) on: Tue Sep 30 00:52:46 EDT 2003
  
  I meant title of album was Sangita Kalanidhi M.S.Subbulakshmi for my review from yesterday. I have never enjoyed bombay sisters singing, it is so bitter. ANyway, that is all,
  Nishanth
  
  
• From: Shyam (@ adsl-66-126-229-199.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net) on: Fri Oct 3 01:23:49 EDT 2003
  
  Ganaamrutham
  Nithyashree Mahadevan-Vocal
  M.A. Krishnaswamy - Violin
  Mridangam - I.Sivakumar
  Ghatam - S. Karthick
  Kanjira - Ganesh Kumar
  
  1. Arula Vendum- saaramathy-Dandapani desikar
  2. Piraava Varam - Lathaangi- Papanasam Sivan
  3. Enna Solli - Kaanada - Ambujam Krishna
  4. Yen Palli - Mohanam and Kapi - Arunachala
  Kaviraayar
  5. Muruga Muruga -Saaveri-Periyasami Thooran
  6. Dhikku Theriyatha -Ragamalika-Mahakavi
  Bharathiyar
  7. Shankara - Sindhu Bhairavi-Ganapathy Raman
  8. Thiruppugazh
  
  Nithyasree's voice has really matured and I dont find her shouting. I have always liked her style, but sometime my ears hurt (literally) after listening to her live concerts on my mp3 player.
  This is a very pleasantly rendered album starting out with the rarely heard arula Venum in saaramathy. This is followed by a crisp alapana in lathangi, a coomon violin alap, and an excellently rendered Pirava Varam tharum with bhava soaked neraval and swaras at the anupallavi. Well done!
  All the other pieces are well rendered, an hour and money very well spent i would say. Totally worth it!
  
  
• From: Nishanth (@ welax3-112.dialup.optusnet.com.au) on: Mon Oct 6 20:46:29 EDT 2003
  
  Title : Sowmya Vocal (cover is yellow so you can distinguish it easier)
  
  Vocal - Sowmya
  Violin - Embar S. Kannan
  Mridangam - Neyveli Narayanan
  Kanjira - B. Purushothaman
  Morsing - Raman
  
  1. Gam Ganapathe - Hamsadwani - Adi (tisra nadai) - Muthiah Bhagavathar
  2. Chitham Irangada - Sahana - Misrachapu - Papanasam Sivan
  3. Varanarada - Vijayasri - Adi - Thyagaraja
  4. Dayarani - Mohana - Jhampa - Thyagaraja
  5. Dinamanivamsha - Harikambhoji - Adi - Thyagaraja
  6. Bhajare Yadunatham - Peelu - Adi - Sadasiva Brahmendra
  7. Thiruppugazh - Arunagirinathar
  
  This album is one of the best i have heard. Sowmya's solid, rich and melodious voice makes the listener want more and more. Gam Ganapathe opens the album, and it is rendered pretty well. The tamil krithi Chitham Irrangada is sung very beautifully, and i am very serious when i say very beautifully, especially her alap. I liked Varanarada a lot, it is a fast moving, or i may say very fast moving song, which is the action part of the album, being the fastest song, and her management to do nereval and katpana or manodharma swarams for this is simply superb and at its best. Dayarani is sung ok. Dinamanivamsha being the obious highlight having alap/raga introduction, the song, katpana/manodharma swarams, as well as the chance for tani avarthanam between the mridangist, kanjira player and ghatam player. This is done very well as well. Bhajare Yadunatam has been sung with a lot of bhava/feeling, and i enjoyed this one as well. Then the thiruppugazh is set in surati, but is actually not a thiruppugazh as i found out last year. It is a thiru-arutpa, therefore it most probably is not composed by arunagirinathar. But overall, this album is very delightful, giving carnatic music lovers a huge taste of everything. It's worth it as well. Do you want to listen to this album and see for yourself? Well, you may listen to this album by Sowmya, as well as other albums by Sowmya, as well as other albums by other artists, at my music website http://carnaticnish.topcities.com
  For those wanting to listen to this album...click on vocal in the sidebar, click on Sowmya near the bottom of the webpage and then click on the last album on Sowmya's album page. It should be called "vocal" But overall this is a nice album, why not have a listen? Also, Chittam Irrangada should be available for download at coolgoose.com. Till then, ciao amigos! Have a listen, it is worth it too.
  
  

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