31
Dec
2009
The Best Albums of 2009
Moving on with the best of 2009, we have the best albums.
The sole purpose of this post, is for the mere fact that people should appreciate good music, and by appreciate, I mean supporting the artists who put forth an effort to make an album made up of more than just three decent songs.
So here – in no particular order – are the top three albums of 2009.
Northern Lights – Re-Lit
The album featured sixteen tracks, of which I say seven were absolute smashes, and the rest were still pretty decent offerings in which you could manage to listen without wincing.
When I first listened to the album, I couldn’t make up my mind as to what the best song on the album was. There was a wide variety of musical styles on the album, as well as the vocalists selected were also not in your typical album.
Obviously the Kaka track has to be one of the highlights on the album, but it was tracks like “Gaddi” by Ranjit Mani that stood out. The song had an old school feel to it, and it sounded like it was paying homage to the Manak track “GT Road Te.” It just sounded like one of those songs that you see your dad singing along to, or requesting when they’re hammered.
The biggest surprise on the album had to be “Ishqeh Da Toomba.” The track was sung by Amrinder Bobby. When I first listened to it, the feeling I got was, that this dude sounds exactly like Gurdas Maan. Well it wasn’t too long before my sister pointed out that Bobby (as she knew him) was actually Gurdas Maan’s back up singer, and that he had been looking for his own record deal since the early 2000′s. Bobby has been on a few Indian singing contest shows, and most of his songs have been Gurdas Maan covers. I really hope the man’s voice is utilised more in the industry, as we all favour Gurdas Maan’s voice, but also know how much Gurdas Maan Ji does not want to be “remixed” as he likes to put it.
Twin Beats – The Sounds of Punjab
I had a good feeling about this album ever since I started corresponding with Inder (one half of Twin Beats.) Then they went and made a Reproduced segment for Bobby Friction featuring tracks from the upcoming album, and I was sold.
The album features ten tracks, of which all of them have a unique flavour, yet have big percussion in common. I don’t think I need to talk much about this album. All you need to do is check out their video’s, and you’ll recognise real. The whole album is very consistent, and in today’s time, that’s all you can ask for.
All the tracks do it for me, but the one that sticks out the most is “Twins Tappe.” This song is best enjoyed in surround sound. Seriously. When the dhol kicks in, and pans from right to left/right to left/right to left…wow! Jaswinder Daghamia has a great voice, and it’s the rawness of his vocals blended with the dhol and tumbi that makes this track killer.
Taj-E – Sik ‘n’ Twisted
This was the first album that came out this year, that when I listened to it, I didn’t feel ripped off. Sure The Sound Pipe crew really know how to market their products, and they do make some questionable signings. But this album really did a number on me.
Featuring twenty-one tracks, this album was redonkulous when I first listened to it. There are some tracks that may make you hit the next button, but on the whole, this album featured the resurrection of Juggy D with “Vang Teri.” A sick remix that accompanied it, as well as what I feel is the biggest UK Bhangra track that came out this year; “B.I.G.”
The aptly titled “B.I.G.” (because as Taj-E states; “it will be BIG on the dance floors”) is exactly that. A huge track that appeals to all generations of people. I played this track in the car with my uncles sitting in it on a memorable drive back from a party one night, and they went nuts. As I did, they instantly fell in love with the desi feel of the sample used, which made this track authentic.
If you look at the promos Taj-E released leading up to the release, you can see that he put in an honest amount of work into it, and he did it himself. There cannot be any cries of ghost producing on this album, or for that matter, any of the three albums I listed. That’s also a large reason why these albums have been chosen. Not only were they the best of ’09, but they are all products of the people who actually have their faces on the album cover that deserve the recognition.
You may also notice that last year, there were five albums on the list. Bhangra better fix up in 2010, I don’t wanna post about just one good album next year.
3
Nov
2009
Northern Lights – “Nakreh” Video & “Re-Lit” Release
After the success of their 2006 release “Sparked,” Northern Lights is back with the release of “Re-Lit”
If you don’t remember “Sparked,” you missed some anthems in the form of “Aashiq Dig Dig,” “Billo Tere Nakreh,” “Janaab” and my personal favourite “Wrong Number” – which used the Clipse’s “Grindin” sample in a ridiculously sick way.
The first video to be released off the new album is “Nakreh” sung by Ashok Gill.
Not a bad track eh? I still have an issue with the lyric “Saal Solama Chari Jawani” but what can you do?
Since I posted this video after the release of the album, I thought I’d chat a bit about the album.
It has a wide array of musical genres, and I think it is really well made, and also somewhat different than what we have recently been hearing.
It’s got a total of sixteen tracks, of which six to eight I say, should be guaranteed locks to be in your mp3 player.
Hit up the iTunes store and listen to the following tracks;
“Put Jattan da Bounce” featuring Master Saleem. (There isn’t one Eastern instrument in the track, but it works)
“Nakreh” featuring Ashok Gill.
“Akhan de Ishareh” featuring Kaka Bhaniawala. (It’s Kaka. Nuff said)
“Ishqeh da Tumba” featuring Amrinder Bobby. (Dude has a Gurdas Maan like voice going on)
“Bindrakhia Boliyan” featuring Jaswant Heera. (It’s getting traditional now, and the homage paid to the late great is fantastic)
“Re-Lit Tappe” featuring Labh Janjua. (It’s full out traditional now, and by far my favourite Janjua track right about now)
“Gaddi” featuring Ranjit Mani. (Another great vocalist continuing the traditional vibe)
The last three tracks traditional flavour seriously has got me feeling ummm drunk? That’s how traditional they are.
There’s also a “Wrong Number” and “Janaab” remix, but I’m feeling the original version’s off “Sparked,” although this one uses the Lil Wayne “Lollipop” sample. The “Janaab” track does have a cool sounding Qawali feel to it.
I was pleasantly surprised by the scope of this album, and it definitely has got to be considered in the debate for best album this year.
