I just heard one song..yeh taara!

It sounds like MITWA from Lagaan!!to me?

Any one?

That's a good thing. I much prefer it sound like a song in Lagaan than the recent stuff that ARR has worked on like Lakeer, etc. Swades should be vintage ARR and I can't wait for the soundtrack. I've heard clips of Yeh Taara and another song Yuhi Chala, and it definitely seems like ARR is back in form.

I did like his tunes in DNJAK!

But if SWADES sounds like LAGAAN, I will be hugely disappointed in Rehman!

Ek taara!! Is also choregraphed like MITWA! with no Charm of it! with villagers sitting and SRK jumping like an ass doing stupid ek taara!!
My apologies to King Khan fans!

Well the thing with the recent releases like Lakeer and DNJAK that disappointed me was that there was no experimentation with the instrumentation, which is what has made me such a huge ARR fan. Yuva and Meenaxi had some good tracks that allowed ARR to expand his range, but other than that, albums like DNJAK, Lakeer, Tehzeeb, etc. haven't exploited his tremendous talent. The instruments and rhythms in Swades seem to be a lot more innovative which is what excites me about the soundtrack. I'm counting on it being the best of the year.

ARR was way out of his mind and form, with Tehzeeb and Lakeer!

Yuva..his tunes were let down, with bad lyrics.

DNJAK..at least are soft, melodious and hummable!These songs dont show electronic and orchestral wizardary, but are extremely, melow and melodious..my 2 cents.

swades is out, got CD!

Mind you!It is no LAGAAN or TAAL, but likeable!

http://web.music.coolgoose.com/go/music

enjoy here, all songs 4 you!

ARR does it again. Just got the CD, and it's the best soundtrack this year. Only other album that has been close this year is Chameli.

And for a reference to my tastes, here's how I would rate some other soundtracks this year:

Swades 9/10
Chameli 8.5/10
Yuva 7.5/10
Meenaxi 7/10
Lakshya 6.5/10
Phir Milenge 6/10
Main Hoon Na 6/10
Kyun Ho Gaya Na 6/10
Veer Zaara 6/10
Dev 5.5/10
Hum Tum 5.5/10

bottom line!! it is not as good as LAGAAN, ZUBAIDA, TAAL, DIL SE!

thank god, rehman did not troubl;e lata ji!

Oh! Oh... sacreligious!

Anyways, if there's one thing I've learned about A.R. Rahman soundtracks, it's that they need time to get used to. I usually greet each of his releases with disappointment, and then I end up loving them. It's quite ridiculous, but it happens everytime (unless the music is truly, TRULY bad, like Lakeer or Love You Hamesha). I initially disliked Meenaxi, and now I believe it's his greatest work ever (only Dil Se.. has the possible distinction of being that great, if not moreso). As of now, I'm not crazy about any of the tracks in Swades, but all the ones featuring Udit Narayan (i.e. the fasted-paced songs) have the potential to age gracefully.

Yes, giving Meenaxi 7/10, did show some malfunxion there

I was giving VZ 7/10, so? Meenaxi is way better!

Swades is better than VZ, 8/10

Good album. The two instrumentals are so beautiful, and the songs are quite good too. It will grow on you with time. 8/10. The tune of Dekho Na is from the Tamil song Baba Kichukichu Tha from Baba, which ARR did about 2 years ago.

The thing with Meenaxi is that even though I like most of the songs, there isn't that one track that has stuck with me over the months.

I liked Yeh Rishta, Chinama, Noor un, and loved Do Kadam Aur Sahi (wasn't fond of the others like Rang De, Dhua Dhua, etc.) but there still isn't a song that I want to listen to every couple of days. Like Saathiya has its title track, Taal's title track, all the songs in Dil Se, Mitwa, etc. these are songs that I still listen to often. Meenaxi didn't have that for me, though Do Kadam came close.

Ofcourse it comes down to personal tastes.

swdaes wont have it eitgher, I bet!! so take it to 7/10 in your list too!

Well, I am absolutely in love with Yeh Jo Des because of its inspirational tune and Rahman's stirring rendition. I also love Yuhi Chala because of how smoothly it fuses different sounds together; fusion (or ARR) at its best, and I also like Yeh Taara. My gut feeling is that one of these songs will stand the test of time for me, but you're right in that I'm not sure of that yet.

Anyway, I don't understand what the hoopla is about as the ratings were my personal opinions. You can't force me to like Meenaxi more and like Swades less right?

I have listened to the soundtrack lately and I love most tracks. The two with the Shehnai are great and "Ahista" is one of the best Indian songs I know. The use of the harp is a great touch. And the sound quality is outstanding. Listening to it on high end equipment and with digital room correction removing the room influence is a revelation.