Posthumous Michael Jackson album due out May 13

NEW YORK: When Michael Jackson´s record label released his first posthumous album in a year after his 2009 death, producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins was asked to work on the project.

He declined.Years later, the hitmaker who worked heavily on Jackson´s 2001 comeback album "Invincible," says he´s finally comfortable again producing the King of Pop´s music.

He produced the title track from the upcoming album, "Xscape," out May 13.Says Jerkins: "I had a personal relationship with Michael, (so) it was about, ...´What would he want it to sound like now?´""Xscape" was executive produced by Timbaland and includes songs Jackson recorded in the 1980s and 1990s.

Some of the tracks are taken from early recording sessions for successful albums such as "Bad" and "Dangerous."

2 States music review: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy deliver a refreshing album!

Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy

Lyricist: Amitabh Bhattacharya

Singers: Aditi Singh Sharma, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Benny Dayal, Arijit Singh, Chinmayi Sripada, K. Mohan, Yashita Sharma, Shankar Mahadevan, Siddharth Mahadevan and Rasika Shekhar

Ever since the film on Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States was announced we were waiting for the film with bated breath. Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have managed to grab eyeballs after the first trailer of the film was released a few days ago. Producer Karan Johar has roped in this favourite trio to compose the music of this north meets south love story. So do Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa manage to live up to the expectations? Read on to find out…

The album opens with Offo sung by Aditi Singh Sharma and Amitabh Bhattacharya. Offo is a youthful and peppy number with quirky lyrics which makes it worth listening to! As usual Aditi does a fantastic job but it’s Bhattacharya who surprises us as we are more used to hearing him in romantic ballads. Though this isn’t one of the best numbers, but it is one of those numbers which will lift your spirits instantly. Listen to it and you’ll agree with us.

Next up is Locha-e-ulfat which has been sung by one of our favourites – Benny Dayal. The video picturised on Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have different instances where the lover boy is seen staring at his ladylove. Though it’s a situational number, we won’t be surprised if guys use this number to woo the girls in college campuses. After crooning for several dance numbers like Badtameez dil, Shake it like Shammi and Disco deewane, Benny impresses us yet again with this soulful yet energetic offering.

Following this is Mast magan – a duet rendered by Arijit Singh and Chinmayi Sripada. The composers have infused a beautiful sufi feel to this romantic number and the singers do complete justice to this track. The shehnai makes difference to this otherwise mushy duet. While the song did sound quite similar to Sajda from My Name Is Khan, we aren’t complaining coz Arijit’s passion makes all the difference in this one.

Iski uski is the next one in the album crooned by Shahid Mallya and Akriti Kakkar. Though this techno bhangra number isn’t one of best dance numbers; the singers do an okay job due to the peppy music and fun Hinglish lyrics. Though it is a loud number, it has very little impact once the track is over.

Chandaniya by K Mohan and Yashita Sharma is a beautiful guitar infused track perfect for long drives. While the beginning of the song did remind us a lil of the famous Dooba dooba number, the duo offers freshness to this romantic number which has been missing when it comes to lovey-dovey songs. The country feel of this track will makes you leave everything to get lost in this soothing composition. This number will surely remain in your playlists for a while.

The last track of the album is the shaadiwala number in the form of Hulla re sung by Shankar Mahadevan, Siddharth Mahadevan and Rasika Shekhar. This one is a full on Punjabi number complete with dhol and Punjabi lyrics. While we like the energy levels by all the singers, we were a lil disappointed that the song is more Punjabi and less of south.

Verdict: The music of Alia and Arjun’s much awaited love story is quite refreshing. Though this album isn’t one of the best ones by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, it is a relief to see the trio back in action.

PS: Locha-e-ulfat, Mast magan and Chandaniya are worth listening to!

Music Review: O Teri is a decent album

There are many memorable songs in O Teri, feels Joginder Tuteja.

One expects the music of O Teri to be fun since the film looks quite youthful.

First-time composer G J Singh gets good support from lyricist Kumaar.

New entrant Roshni Baptist is seductive in the club track Butt Patlo. The song has the kind of sound that one associates with Pritam and Vishal-Shekhar.

In that aspect, G J Singh doesn't disappoint with Jaspreet Jasz behind the mike. The singer does a good job in projecting the kind of exuberance that's expected with such a film.

However, one does wonder about this new-found fascination of butt in Bollywood. From Tooh (Gori Tere Pyaar Mein) to 'Butt' which is exclaimed with the sound of 'round round.'

G J Singh brings a contemporary sound with Teri Akhan Vich. He is also the singer here with Jaspreet Jasz, and together they bring a high energy to this song.

Neeti Mohan does well in her brief appearance in the song. Though not really a chartbuster, this number is engrossing enough.

Iulia Vantur, who was once said to be Salman Khan's girlfriend, makes her debut as a singer and performer in Ummbakkum. She does a good job.

Mika Singh and Jaspreet Jasz try to pep up this number but it’s just passable. One usually expects a Mika number to be the highlight of the album but Umbakkam sounds like an extension of Butt Patolo, and the remix version isn’t much better.

The last track, Phollo Karta, appears to be a misfit. Guest composer Hard Kaur comes in for this Manish J Tipu written and sung number which is desi in presentation.

It’s about the pros and cons of social networking. An average number, its music video may help it cover some distance, as was the case in Pulkit Samrat's last film Fukrey where innovative videos of similar songs helped the music to reach the masses.

O Teri is a decent album but it doesn't have many memorable songs. It makes for short and snappy listening

U2 rolls back next album to 2015: report

LOS ANGELES: U2 are pushing back the release of their 13th album to 2015 despite a new single and many high-profile media appearances, music industry journal Billboard said Friday.
Citing anonymous sources, it said the Irish mega band fronted by Bono has scheduled additional sessions with producers Ryan Tedder and Paul Epworth, although Danger Mouse remains the project's central producer.
"It seems to be taking longer for them to finish an album as they get older, but the great thing about U2 is that the whole of a record is always better than the sum of its parts," Billboard quoted a source close to the project as saying.
"That magic that the band always seems to capture ... they have yet to capture it."
Billboard also reported that a U2 tour that would have been announced this month, and would have kicked off in September, has also been rolled back to next year.
Since the start of this year, U2 has played at the Golden Globes as well as on "The Tonight Show" on the night Jimmy Fallon took over as its host on NBC.
The group also rolled out their latest single "Invisible" during American football's Super Bowl, in a tie-in with Bank of America to raise funds for the AIDS charity Red.