Beat Street

April 25, 2011 06:00 pm | Updated 06:00 pm IST

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Everlasting Modern Love Songs - Various Artistes

Virgin Records; Audio CD; Rs. 395

There's something about the summer rains that make love songs you've heard before sound refreshingly melodic and this compilation album is one too. The beauty of the album lies in the oxymoron contained within its title, so if you think new age romantic tracks are all about inane ranting, boisterous drumbeats, or lyrics that appeal to one's baser instincts, you are in for a sweet surprise!

The album is off to a passionate start with Adele singing “To make you feel my love”. Yes everyone from Billy Joel to Garth Brooks has covered this Bob Dylan classic but Adele does a stupendous job with just a piano backing her dreamy vocals. She infuses her own musical flavour in the refrain.

Katy Perry kissed a girl and sang to the whole world about it but then again this new age music sensation has sung “Thinking of You” which features on this CD. A serious offering that tests her vocal and songwriting abilities, this soft rock ballad with its distressing feel of thinking of someone while kissing another, makes for a good listen.

“Lovelier than you” is a hasty break from the first two songs. American rapper B.O.B.'s signature style is evident the moment you hear the first strains. Toni Braxton's “Yesterday” is her hit from “Pulse”. This song oozes reminiscence of a bygone relationship. What happens when a musical legend collaborates with an uber popular pop band? Magic is recreated for sure, in “Sorry seems to be the hardest word” by Blue Feat. Elton John will make you realise when a classic is remixed ever so finely, you cannot complain.

“Thinking about You” by Norah Jones is a lingering, bluesy, brass augmented track from “Not Too Late” that is in fact reminiscent of her award winning “Come Away with Me”.

Revisiting past glory successfully doesn't come to everyone so easy and Jamie Cullum has massacred “Everlasting Love”. Estelle's “Come Over” could have been simply omitted from this album.

Compilation albums like these must be applauded for merging different genres of music and R&B artiste Jason Derulo's “Whatcha say” makes for an invigorating listen. “Missing” by Eliza Doolittle has a flouncy air to it. The tune is catchy and the young artiste sure leaves a decent impression with this track.

The 20 track album has for the album closer “I will follow you into the dark” by Death Cab for Cutie, which is an emotional and experimental song.

The thing about this album is that you could play it almost anywhere and you'd probably enjoy it most while driving alone or with your better half. Either way, you don't need to be a diehard romantic to love “Everlasting modern love songs.”

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