current aural feeds and news bitties

Maqbool: The extended version jhin min jhini has an introduction that is Pancham_to_die_for.

Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II: wonder if the CD is the first of its kind in Hindi film music soundtracks to use cartoon representations of the lead players on its cover and sleeves? The CD itself has an Escher-esque layout of Arshad Warsi alighting some stairs. Alert viewers will note that the sketch versions of Warsi and Narayanan swap places in the hospital on the inside of the sleeve.

A Night at the Opera : Perhaps in the spirit of the Marx Brothers (whose classic gives this album its title) Queen let loose a theatrical, campy, quirky, outrageous, and self-mocking union of music hall and hard rock: multilayered guitars and vocals embellish heavy metal, pop, British camp and mystical lyrics to guarantee the aural time of your life. Bohemian Rhapsody deserves all the praise showered on it, but it unfairly puts the rest of this fabulous album in the background. The Prophet's Song seems all set to trounce this hit for me.

Stone Rock Blues, a compilation of the blues and rock n' roll originals covered by the Rolling Stones. Lots of Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters (the last track is what gave the band of dinosaurs its name).

Ten was Pearl Jam's first release and packs enough power for years. Chock-full of rock concert favourites this is a great album of shifting moods, anger and musical bang.

The very best of Otis Redding Volume I, featuring the trump cover of The Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. Redding's version is mercifully shorter than the languorous original. And then there's the classic (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay.

Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: 1964-1966 is a wonderful introduction to the powerhorse tough blues and psychedelic ventures of the only rock band to boast having Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page in their fold ...

Nothing Like the Sun has the wonderful Englishman in New York, along with Sting's cover of Hendrix's Little Wing (which Blackmore appropriated for the Rainbow classic Catch the Rainbow).

Meanwhile, after obsessing over La Dixit (Gaja Gamini) and Tabu (Meenaxi), M F Hussain targets Urmila Matondkar for his next venture. Says she has funny body language. David Lynch he ain't, but I'm interested in the final product nevertheless...

And in more depressing news, the release of Kill Bill Vol II has been pushed back from February 20th to April 16th ... NO!!!