"Go, go, go PBN it's your album, we're gonna party like it's going platinum." It's sad that I have to remind you all of that terrible line from Panjabi by Nature's last album, but it was the first thing that came into my head when I heard that this was their record label's mix. That line probably ruined my impression of PBN altogether. However, on a much better note this album does contain a remix of that song, but I'll get there in a bit.
PBN is the in-house producer for Limitless Records and this is the second release on the label after the PBN album itself. The album features the artist alongside a bunch of new talent under Limitless and a line up of big names including Lembher Hussainpuri, Amar Arshi, Dippa Satrang, and Nav Sarao. It's an 8 track album created to bring together a variety of producers and singers to showcase their talent according to the press-release. It's got a good mixture of hip hop, traditional, and even a little bhangarage and rnb.
The album cover is your cliché hot girl showing just a little skin and the title of the cd. Really had enough of this, but I guess their trying to follow what has worked in the past on that one.
The opening track "Dil" is the track making the noise promoting this album. Every album has that one song and this is the one for this album produced by whom but PBN. The song starts off with Lembher singing about a girl's dupatta being pulled away from her, because of the wind and all the guys fall for her right there. Quite the Bollywood scenario, but luckily the rest of the song is much better. Missy Elliot's little "Uh, hit me" in the beginning of the tracks allows us to foreshadow that there's going to be some sampling done in this album too. Lembher does quite a good job and I've really been appreciating him after "Das Ja". Very catchy chorus with a desi feel which differs slightly from the initial hip hop feel of the song. Overall, it's a good song.
The next song "Nachke" is also produced by PBN and features Devinder J on the vocals making his debut and does quite a good job too. However, at certain times the harmony of the vocals sounds a lot like "Giddian Di Rani". The song has a very hip hop based sounds to it with the tumbi playing throughout a lot like the first track. PBN uses the sample of R. Kelly's "Thoia Thong" which was a song I really disliked. I don't think this was the best sample to have used, it's like J Skillz says in his interview with Richard on the site, "You have to get a classic because what's hot today might be dead by the time the CD is out, so you need a sample that has lasted the test of time." And this is definitely not a song that has lasted the test of time. Not a good song at all, doesn't do much for an audience, because of it's similarity in sound to the first track.
"Chardi Jandi" is the following track on this album, and possibly the best song in the collection. Yes, it's the same one that had the terrible line that I opened this review with. But, praise Desi Devilz who produce this track and delete that and instead insert a very slight "Hands up, getcha hands up" which really works. This track is a lot more desi influenced than the original bhangarage one, and it is a great improvement. Amar Arshi shines through on this track the same way he did on the first one, no complaints there at all. And overall, I'm really glad that they brought this track back from the dead, excellent decision. Very bouncy, made to get your nach on, well done Desi Devilz.
Whenever I think Nav Sarao, the first song that comes to mind is "Hasdi Hasdi", and on this album the one track with him is actually that one. It's the exact same Hit Squad mix version showcased on the "PHS - The Streets" album. A great track that has to be one of my favorites, but we've heard it far too many times. If you haven't heard this song than I highly suggest you take a listen to it, because it is amazing. I guess it's not so bad that they used this song on the album, but it's not new and required little creativity on the part of Limitless Records, they could've at least tried a little remix of it.
Imagine a desi song attempting to imitate the bounce sound we heard from Jay-Z's "Can I Get A
", the annoying dirty south flavors we've been getting used to in hip hop lately, and some detestable emceeing. That's about all that "Aja Aja" really has to offer, plus an attempt to make a catchy chorus, but failing miserably. I've ever heard of Off Licence, but I'm really not impressed. A bit past halfway through the song the track changes into a very bhangarage flavor. If there wasn't so much editing of the vocals, the bhangarage version wouldn't have sounded too bad. I don't know if it was a poor effort to try their hand at something different or something, but it really didn't work.
The following track is the "Putt Sardara De" remix by the Jawani Project, some more new talent on Limitless. When I heard the original I really thought it could've been mixed up a bit better and I think Jawani felt the same way. They provided a nice bhangarage/hip hop version to the original desi/hip hop track. Dippa is exceptional on both tracks so not much difference there, but the remix is truly spectacular in comparison to the original. Even though, it's just another bhangarage track, it does its job for the people cruising in their cars and those that enjoy these types of tracks in the clubs. It's an exceptional track, well done for this one.
Now, I've been criticizing this album throughout, but grant me a little more complaining. If you absolutely must use a sample than why the hell would you sample the part with the original artist introducing himself on the original track. "Joona Mor" starts off with Beenie Man's introduction from "Boss Man" that goes "Well this is Beenie Man, the roughest toughest
". Clearly, Beenie Man was not in the studio with Jett Mander recording that part when he was producing the track, so leave it out. The rest of the track samples "Sim Simma" which is an excellent song, but Jett ruins it with the dhol among many other things on this track. Too much is happening for me too give a proper opinion of Prem Chamkila, although I'm sure he's quite good, but this track didn't allow him to portray his skills. Overall, a waste of disk space and time.
Finally, on the last track, PBN returns after doing the first two tracks with "Vaada". Now, this is a track that I can truly compliment PBN for, a perfectly smooth rnb tune that does its job as a near slow jam desi track. Not enough songs of this nature out there falling under this category. The tune gets just a little repetitive and Devinder needs to change up his harmony a bit, otherwise great work. Devinder J is a great singer and I cannot wait to hear more from him, apparently he'll have a debut album out. The song is about a girl who promises to meet this guy, but she never comes through and he's singing the pain away. Excellent track, just a bit redundant, but its working.
I think the guys at Limitless purposely put this last to leave us with a good impression of this album. However, it doesn't change the fact that most of the songs on here are really not all that. Two new tracks that can pass off as hot numbers. Three new ones that made very little noise due to bad producing. Two remixes that improved their originals and were actually quite good, on the second time around. And one amazing track that has been around for a while unfortunately.
So, is it really worth it? No, not at all. It's all been done before. The price is not worth the remixes and two tracks that I really appreciated. The new talents that I was a bit impressed by were Devinder J, Jawani Project, and Desi Devils. Overall, I give it a 6/10, nothing too impressive.
When it comes down to, Limitless Records is taking what has worked in the past in mainstream bhangra and just repeating the trends. It is nothing out of the ordinary or an attempt at something different and fresh, which is something the bhangra industry is really lacking at this stage. |