Best of 2010 - Top 5 albums

Let me begin by dissappoitedly admitting that the albums this year have overall been the poorest show in many years.. Look at last year, when albums like Delhi 6, Dev D, Kaminey, Love aaj kal, Ajab prem... were all vieing for attention... Or the year before where jodha akbar, jaane tu.., rock on, dostana, were all in the same category... Or my fav year (2008) when any of the 5 nominees - guru, sawariya, omshantiom, jab we met, life in a metro - would've equally deserved the award.. And, I feel that ANY of the albums mentioned above were much better than MOST of the albums on our list below..

But... given that, there have been those albums which managed to grow on listeners.. So after careful deliberation (and independent scorings from my co-authors).. Here's the top 5 albums of 2010!..

#5 Ishqiya:

This one didn't appeal to everyone equally. Filled with a mix of Soulful numbers, and the catchy Ibn-e-batuta... Gulzar magical lyrics, combined with Vishal Bhardwaj's telling compositions created many a stories and made it a treat. The album had 2 haunting semi-classical numbers by Rekha Bhardwaj, which never caught the audience attention, but will go down as some of her best sung songs. Bravo!

#4 Once upon a time in Mumbai

Once upon a time in Bollywood, it took albums to have more than 4-5 hit songs to make it to the top of the charts.. Not anymore! Once upon a time sits tall by virtue of 1 immensely popular number - Peelu, sung by the inimitable Mohit Chauhan. The other songs - Tum Jo Aaye, and Parda worked for a shorter while and with select audiences. But overall the album did seem to impress the maases.

#3 Raavan:

The only Rehman album (including his tamil (except VTV.. maybe) / telugu albums and the commonwealth single number(s)) that seemed to live upto the mass expectation. Of course, the films poor (for the want of a poorer word) at the box office, immensely affected its reach and the ensuing response. Tremendous visual poetry of The gulzar-rehman combo, formed an yummy apitizer (Kata Kata/Beera) to a half cooked visual execution of the songs... Sigh!.. But a standing ovation to Ranjha Ranjha... THE rehman number of the year - thanks to a in-form Rekha Bhardwaj!

#2 I hate Luv Storys

This one, the opposite of the Raavan, picked up even more after the good response it had from the viewers of the movie. 4 equally popular numbers including the title track, Bahaara, Jab Mila Tu, Sajda, made it a very listenable album, high on repeat value. Very high on coolness quotient!

#1 Anjaana Anjaani

Are Vishal Shekhar the new Rehman? Or the new Anu Malik? Or.. Who ever they are, they are Gooooooood!.. Blending the quentessential Yashraj/Dharma Production melodies, with some contemporary orchestration and mixing, they dished of some awesome work. If I hate love story had the spunk, this one had the soul. The Tujhe Bhula Diya number is the highlight of not just the album, but of 2010. The Sufi factor, goes well with the audiences, apparently. Lucky Ali's Hairat, Mohit Chahans Tujhe Bhula diya.. are the highlights - both top class vocals and responsible for making it the album of the year..!

So.. what do YOU think? Did this list match yours... no? Lemme know! Take the poll on the top left of this page..