DIARY OF A JANIAC

“Mind-blowing! Electrifying! Excellent! Kick ass!” A very feeble attempt to describe ‘Nicer in a Minute’ would sound very similar to this. Nicer in a Minute is the newest extended play (EP) of the Indian Rock Band Junkyard Groove. Yes the very same band that made us go high over “Its OK” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

Nicer in a Minute consists of 5 songs which are :-

1. Save Me
2. Please Don't Wake Up
3. Thank You
4. Let You Go
5. Say Goodbye

Junkyard Groove, which is Ameeth on vocals, Sid on the axe and Craig on the bass, have carved a niche for themselves in the world of Indian Rock with this new venture. This band with a give-it-all-you’ve-got and never-say-die attitude has surpassed all expectations and is now moving from one remarkable feat to next.

The moment Ameeth sent me ‘Nicer in a Minute’, I knew I was in for a treat but I was pleasantly surprised, when I heard it, by the depth of the EP. An EP containing a mere 5 songs portrays a variety of emotions and all of these emotions are backed by the stupendous vocals, killer riffs, and steady yet pumping bass lines. Not to forget the drums gives a really nice feel and power to the whole EP.

Here is my understanding of the songs and deeper insight to them:-

“Living in a world of pain and sorrow”

From the very beginning the band introduces a very energetic yet melodic feel to the song and they are able to sustain that throughout the song. And brilliantly at that! Also, the though the track is really pumping, the emotions of a person who is depressed and doleful is expressed well. The anxiety of such a man to live is portrayed in a really nice manner. I especially liked the starting of the song. It’s really innovative and it sounds cool too. Ameeth’s vocal chords are just phenomenal. How on earth does he sing like this?

“I can face the world only when you are standing by me”

“I look at you and my troubles seem so far away”

A romantic song that gives this EP a lot of depth! The emotions of love and sheer joy that only a soul mate can provide are expressed cleverly. Again, a very melodic yet energizing track! The chords give this song a feel-good appeal. I definitely don’t mind listening to this track a few times more.

Thank You

“So I’m thanking now for who I am”

“1, 2, 3, 4.. Kick Ass!” That is the only way to describe this track. A very joyous track from the start and this is one track that is really fun to listen to. The blend of steady drumming and quick strumming is really nice to hear. If you look at this song from an emotion aspect, then you’ll be able to feel the vibes of euphoria and blitheness. All in all, yet another superb track!

Let You Go

“I look at you for the comfort that I never found”

“Would you even know if I let you go?”

This track starts with a really steady bass line and then the guitar takes over. That sounds so cool and as usual Ameeth provides a classic vocal piece. A groovy piece that is able to deliver the goods. The ability of JYG to maintain a really up-beat sound throughout a whole 4:28 min song just amazes me. At about 1:30, Sid plays a really small chord, and this song would be incomplete without it. Really nice track and the drumming to this track is really cool too. Especially in the chorus part of this track! They sound like an African beat yet so authentic.

Say Goodbye

"I feel all the pain and the sorrow"

"I wont live to see that day when I have to say goodbye"

This track has a very melodic and steady start to it. And this is one track that proves that JYG can do any type of song that you want them to. Lyrics-wise this song is really nice and if you do listen carefully to the lyrics you can notice that the good times spent together and the sorrowful times are clearly and beautifully demarcated. This track also has mind-blowing guitar work – a quick transition from a slow chord to a really good riff is quite cool to hear. And the drumming to this track is really simple yet intricate in a really odd manner. And as usual, Ameeth didn’t fail to impress me with his vocals.

‘Nicer in a Minute’ is an EP that is worth splurging on. It is one of the most authentic albums to enter the Indian rock industry, according to me. The depth of the EP will leave you astounded. Trust me on this one!

‘Nicer in a Minute’ is a jaw dropping bunch of 5 tracks that are going to be released on the 20^th of January and it will be up for free download on JYGs site (www.junkyardgroove.net).

The places where you can catch up with JYG on the cyber world are:-

www.myspace.com/junkyardgroove
www.youtube.com/junkyardgroove1
www.reverbnation.com/junkyardgroove
http://twitter.com/ameeth
www.facebook.com/pages/Junkyard-Groove/19805275161

AR Rahman has done India proud and he has done his fans proud by becoming the first Indian to win the 66-year-old prize, Golden Globe Awards. If you ask me, I would say that this award has been long pending because of the beautiful songs that he has provided. However, he got the award for Slumdog Millionaire, which definitely isn't his best at any rate, only because of the fact that it was a Hollywood movie. But in the end, it doesn't really matter does it? As long as he has got the award and is beaming, we don't really care.


Every dog has its day and so does a slumdog! The movie, Slumdog Millionaire, has bagged 4 Golden Globe Awards. The movie is a superb movie and AR Rahman completed the work for this movie in only 2 weeks. The soundtrack has a mix of a variety of styles of music. The song "O Saya" is a really good track that sets the tone for the whole movie. Of course, we cant expect anything but the best from a track sung by ARR himself can we? Then there are a variety of songs that are played but none of the tracks are like the ones in the typical Bollywood movies where the lead actor and the actress go to London and America and Australia for singing a duet. The closest to that is "Jai Ho". The song is set in the train station and it appears during the credits. The choreography to this song is quite odd to say the least, but none the less the song is really good. The tracks that can be heard during the course of the film(and a brief description about each one) are : -



1) Gangsta Blues - This track has a very hip-hop edge to it and it exuberates the feeling of rebellion and theres is a light surge of anxiousness and also a tinge of hatred to it. Well thats what I felt through the track.

2) Riots - This, as the name suggests, is a track that can be heard during the riots that do occur. This track maintains a tone of peril throughout the song and it is able to sustain a sad yet upbeat feel to it. Its also got an alarm like sound that flows through the song and it oddly reminds me of an ambulance and this I would say is one of the key aspects that makes this track have a scary feel to it. This album does send chills down my spine when I listen to it.

3) Mausam & Escape - This track is able to potray a very happy feel in the beginning and suddenly theres a little gap in the track where there is a sense of anticipation and you don't really know whats happening and then suddenly the track takes a turn and shows signs of danger. The sudden twist in the track really excited me when I first heard it.

4) Paper Planes - This is an amazing track if you ask me. There is a really upbeat feel to the whole song and the sounds of gun shots and cash registers is really cool to hear. The visuals during the cash balance sound is really cool too. You got to hand it to Danny Boyle for the visuals throughout the movie and not just this movie.

5) Ringa Ringa - The moment I heard the title of this song, I immediately thought about the old nursery rhyme "Ringa Ringa Roses, Pocket Full Of Poses". This track that has dancing involved and the dancing sequence is well choreographed actually. This track has a very "bollywood"-ish feel to it. Its like one of the normal songs that you find in bollywood movies.

6)Millionaire - Yet another upbeat track. I really liked the electric sound in the end and in the beginning. It gives the track a "feel good yet bound" sound.

7) Liquid Dance - This track is sheer class. I loved this track and its not a surprise that it is the most played track on my i-pod. The way ARR blends the classical lyrics(if thats what it is called) with a western style of background music and maintains a tone of notoriousness throughout the track is just brilliant. I really loved this track.

8) Aaj Ki Raat - Nothing much to comment about this one. The same song to which we saw Shah Rukh move his body in Don features in this movie(only the song, not Shah Rukh).

9) Dreams On Fire - This one is a very romantic track and gets you "feeling mushy". The lyrics is really nice too. Its an english track and ARR has rightfully selected to highlight the vocal melody instead of applying various beats and riffs and chords.

MAKTUB - WHICH PART OF YOU WILL HEAR WHAT I MUST SAY

The title of one of the best albums that the indian rock industry has produced!!! Maktub by Motherjane is an album comprising of 9 songs, including the remastered version of the evergreen MINDSTREET!!!

The album consists of songs, which like all motherjane songs, have meaningful lyrics and they haven't just been written for the sake of writing, its been written because of the inner drive in them to write these songs and each and every one of these songs are so unique in their own ways that you cant help but wonder how on earth can a band be so diverse? How on earth can a creator make his creation so diverse in nature? When one hears the song with concentration and tries to understand the lyrics of each song, he will be able to understand the immense thought put into each song and he will also feel the fact that each one of the songs, not just this album but all albums, are so dear to the members of the band that their pearls of sweat can be felt in each song! (This is out of experience and I'm sure each and every one of you will feel it or have felt it)

The songs of the album are
1) Chasing the Sun
2) Fields of Sound
3) Broken
4) Blood in the Apple
5) Ode to Life
6) Maktub
7) Mindstreet
8) Before One Million Comes One
9) Karmic Steps

Each song in the album has its own theme and conveys a very positive message! The messages conveyed by each song, when implied by one, can definitely change ones look at life and make him a better HUMAN BEING than he was before! (This is out of sheer experience, again)

The song "Ode to Life" is a haiku. Haiku in the rock industry are very rare and honestly, i hadn't heard any haiku by a rock band before. I actually rubbished the thought of a haiku by a rock band but the "Ode to Life" Part 1(from Insane Biography) and Part 2(from Maktub) changed my perception about haiku! I now see it as a powerful way to display ones deepest thoughts in just a few lines and I honestly feel that no one can do it better than Suraj ettn! The lyrics of the 2nd Ode to Life is

"I've seen new life
and there is new life in me
I wonder how you feel
when you see all that you see"

These four lines express the sheer bliss of being a father and how you treasure each and every moment that you share with your child! Although I have no clue as to how one feels when he gets a child, I was able to feel the happiness through the song! I've just taken the above song as an example and I've tried to just briefly explain the way I felt about it!

I remember that Suraj Ettn once said that the reason a person becomes a fan of any artist is because he is able to see a part of himself in the the artist and this is the very reason I'm a fan of Motherjane!

The album was launched on 27/09/08! It was a web launch and each member of the band had face paint to exhibit the fact that they believed that man is half human and half spirit! I felt that it was a very nice way to portray what they thought!!

They showed the videos of Fields of Sound and Chasing the Sun and my comments on it would be "The scenery matched the music!"

Well after all this I have just one thing left to say, "Please don't miss out the chance of listening to one of the best albums the Indian Rock Industry has produced"

My favourite bollywood movie of all times - ROCK ON! Its basically a movie about four friends who are addicted to rock music and form a band called Magic(which is quite a weird name for a rock band but nonetheless an acceptable one). They form the best band in India and seem to be inseperable and also win an opportunity to record an album and produce a music video.

The members of magic are :-

1) Joe Mascarenhas (Arjun Rampal) - The lead guitarist of Magic and a soft-spoken man. A man who is true to his principles and a man who is true to his girlfriend like no other man on this planet. An extremely talented guitarist who lacks just one thing - business sense.

2) Aditya Shroff (Farhan Akhtar) - The vocalist of Magic. A man who gave up everything he had including his parents for rock. A man who later changes into a crude business man who cares for nothing but money. A born poet!
3) KD - Killer Drummer (Purab Kohli) - The drummer of Magic and an extra cool one at that. He, according to me, was the best actor in the movie(I aint saying that the other actors/actresses were any less). A really talented drummer who is really nostalgic and when the band breaks up he is the one who feels the worst and he is the one who is most nostalgic about MAGIC!

4) Rob (Luke Kenny) - The keyboardist of Magic. He might seem a bit out of place at the beginning but trust me, without Rob magic is like a 2 month baby without its mother. The man who is at the end of all jokes yet maintains his cool always. If there is a little tussle inside the band, its Rob who would resolve the issue.

They get seperated, during the course of the movie for a reason which if told now would take out the element of surprise from the movie. And each one goes in different ways. Fate brings them together. Yet the process of reuniting is not as easy as one thinks. So do they succeed in bringing magic up again or will past memories return or is their friendship forever runied?

There are loads of comic instances in the film which will definitely spur any man's funny bone. A few of them are the wedding show, the trip to the their old tea stall again(rob especially),
kd hitting on the lady, all of kd's one liners, the first drummer at the last show shown in the movie(his look, the way he plays aint bad at all though).

This movie also shows one thing. Its the girls that control a guys life and to succeed in one's life you've to make your own decisions and not let your partner do it. Its your life, life it! You've got one life, live it!

The songs rock! The songs add to the complete atmosphere of the movie. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy can give themselves a pat on their back as they have driven their audience crazy. Farhan Akhtar can also give himself a pat on the back for his vocals and acting. The actresses, too, played their part to perfection.

The track 'Sinbad the Sailor', 'Rock On', 'Zehreeley' are all great tracks! Zehreeley is a track that rings all the time in my mind. Tum Ho Toh is a really nice, romantic track that will catch anyones fancy the moment they hear it!

I also think that Rock On has helped to promote the rock scene in India and it is a movie that has portrayed the rock scene here really well, parents not understanding the childs dream of becoming a rockstar, the girls influencing a rockers decision to live completely, etc. ALL in all its a movie that everyone should see, old or young, metal maniac or not! A MUST WATCH!!!