Music review: 'Jannat' is soft and drifting

Album: Jannat
Artist: Ankur Tiwari
Label: HOM Records
Price: Rs125
Rating: ***

The real challenge for Ankur Tiwari with his first album is to bring something new to Hindi rock— something that separates him from his predecessors and the rock that is currently the toast of Bollywood. Ankur has a few winners in this one that work, creating his USP.

The opening track ‘Chand Chahiye’ is undoubtedly the most rocking song with its upbeat guitar and drums. It’s a fun take on the promises one makes to win over a girl, making that promise more important than the love itself. ‘Aaj Kyon’ is sweet and melodious; likeable after repeated hearing.

He adds Spanish touches to the song ‘Bekhabar’ and the varying pace in the track makes it lilting. The Spanish elements come back in ‘Jaanu’ in the form of female vocals and back-up vocals sung in the language.

It gets all mellow from here on. ‘Musafir’ is a sleepy love song. It yawns and crawls along the traditional guitar and drums. 'Hum' reminisces about the lost days of being madly been in love. It doesn’t do much in terms of writing or tune though in comparison to his other tracks.

The title song ‘Jannat’ has the intensity and the tempo to get you on to it. It’s more Bollywoodish in the way it’s been arranged. ‘Shukriya’ is a simple guitar and drum song, but the melody is haunting and grows on you. By this time you know that Ankur’s vocals are soft and drift along the guitar notes. Though musically he has great melodies, he does not challenge himself enough vocally.

‘Tujhe Jane’ has an old world charm. Its bluesy rhythm is its mainstay. ‘Sheher Mein’ is about late realisation of love and losing that person by the time you wake up. Ankur is singing about love through out, something that everyone can relate to. But sticking to it in every song can get repetitive. The variety is what is lacking in his song writing.

The last song is the high point of the album though. The guitar strumming at the beginning of this doped version of ‘Chand Chahiye’ is quite cool. The tempo goes down, sounding like a drunkard’s version of the original song. Let’s expect some more of this unconventional stuff from Ankur, the next time he gets into the studio to give his intrinsic melodies that edge. 

In the end, Ankur’s school of Hindi rock is definitely soft and drifting, supplemented by straight and simple lyrics.

Kudos to him for keeping the whole album live, making you like smelling a bread fresh out of the oven. One star goes to Ankur for making Jannat with certain honesty and simplicity, and believing in some of the most non-commercial compositions. Something that’s rare in an industry where marketing gimmicks drive musical careers.