In majority of his films, film maker Suneel Darshan has worked with the composer duo of Nadeem Shravan who were undoubtedly the best in the business for most of the 90s and early 2000s. More often than not, the music turned out to be the talking point about his films, even long after they were off the theaters.

Hence when Himesh Reshammiya is roped in by Darshan to provide music for his upcoming film ''Shakalaka Boom Boom'' along with lyricist Sameer, one looks forward to what''s in store. There are three reasons for that:

a) One expects to hear a different sound altogether
b) One waits to hear if Reshammiya matches up to the brilliance of Nadeem Shravan
c) One wishes that Reshammiya would again give his fans a soundtrack that they would love to sing and dance with

Write your own music review of Shakalaka Boom Boom

After hearing the album, you realize that SLBB comes quite close, if not 100%, on all the three counts.

Now that has to termed as one rocker of a song! Title song ''Shakalaka Boom Boom'' starts off with a rap by Earl who is soon joined by Himesh Reshammiya behind the mike. What may come as a surprise is the fact that Reshammiya voice does sound a little different than his trademark style as he settles to medium notes. One of the coolest songs to have arrived this year so far, it is a dance track that is bound to be a chartbuster.

Catchy, rhythmic and urban, ''Shakalaka Boom Boom'' is a track that should be a highlight of the film. Akriti Kakkar is the female voice roped in for the song and though she has very sweet vocals, the pace of her part slows down the track that seems to be a little out of place in a thrilling song like this. If only if it was a Reshammiya solo or the female portions too were as vociferous as his, the song may well have been the ''Aashique Ye Meri'' [36 China Town] of SLBB.

Remix version of the song arrives later and does quite well for itself again as a funky club track. Watch out for the faint flute sound that comes from a distance; it indeed sounds cool. It would be fun to see if the four lead protagonists - Bobby Deol, Celina Jaitley, Kangana and Upen Patel - appear in yet another music video of the song.

Lively mood continues with ''Thaare Vaaste'' which is in the same foot tapping mode as Reshammiya songs from the early years of this century. Rendered by Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan, it belongs to the simple feel-good entertaining variety rather than being intense-sufi, as have most of Reshammiya songs have been in the recent past.

This rhythmic love song keeps moving on along with the beats and though it won''t quite set the charts on fire due to its predictable nature, it is that very predictability of being a Bollywood number that makes it a good number to hear and watch. One now waits to see how it is choreographed since it has potential to be noticed if presented well in a nice package.

The remix version of the song is the first track in the album that doesn''t work since what it only does is an unnecessary enhancement to the pace with some added beats

In the same musical mould as recently released ''Dil Ne Yeh Na Jaana'' [Red] , ''Naamumkin'' is a song that deserves to be heard most for Sameer''s lyrics than anything else. A song that should come at a crucial juncture of the film, it is a painful number about a man who has lost his love and it has now become unbearable for him to live without her.

A trademark Reshammiya composed and sung number that moves on a slow note and should appear as a part of background score, ''Naamumkin'' has a good situational appeal with controlled orchestra enabling the song to move forward. And by the way, around the middle of the song, for some reasons Reshammiya suddenly croons ''Naamumkin'' in the same manner as he did for ''Ahista Ahista'' [Ahista Ahista] !

The remix that comes for ''Naamumkin'' works for it since one can sense a marked difference in arrangements when compared with the original. A track that would make for a good fodder in a club/lounge with great sound system.

On hearing ''Dil Lagaayenge'' once, you try giving it a second hearing; and then the third. Reason? Though at the very onset the song doesn''t sound anything exceptional, one tries to ascertain if the repeated hearing would bring it closer to being hugely popular. Sadly, even on repeated hearings, there is just a sense of deja vu that comes in.

In the end it is the rhythm factor that gives one some hopes that with foot tapping choreography and snazzy picturisation, this club track may turn out to be a decent watch. Coming together for both the original and remix versions, Himesh Reshammiya and Akriti Kakkar pair up for this song about ''Never say die in love'' number that doesn''t have legs long enough to take it past the movie run and may just about work well in the film if presented well.

A few years back Viju Shah had come up with a lesser known but a very well composed song called ''Main Bewafa'' for Rajiv Rai''s ''Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat''. Based on similar style, pace and arrangements comes ''Isi Umeeed Pe'' that has a club feel to it, though it moves at a moderate pace. One of the better songs in the album, it surprisingly is just 2 minutes in duration. How one wishes that Shaan would have got a longer version for this song to croon!

Interspersed with English lyrics like ''How Can I Live Without You'', ''Saathiya'' is another good number to follow which again stands at just around 2 minutes. Carrying a similar feel as ''Isi Umeed Se'', this Kunal Ganjawala/Sunidhi Chauhan number hints that probably each of these short numbers may be a part of some stage concert/music competition (going by the film''s theme) and may come one after another in quick succession.

Sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Shaan and coming close to the style of ''Ye Dil Tumpe Aa Gaya'' [Aitraaz] with a dash of oriental rhythm, ''Aaj Nahi To Kal'' arrives next and again lasts for just about 90 seconds!

Good rhythm - this is what you exclaim as you shake your neck along with the infectious beats of ''Tera Sona Sona Roop'', another duet by Kunal Ganjawala and Sunidhi Chauhan that lasts for a mere 2 minutes. Now that''s some real teasing as some of the better tracks in the album have been kept for minimal duration when one wouldn''t have minded giving them an extended hearing.

The irony continues with ''Rukhsat'', a 75 seconds solo by Shaan that fortunately makes a point even in that short duration. A track that comes easy on ears, just like others short numbers heard before, it may not have any greatness to it but does well when it comes to pure Bollywood entertainment.

To compensate for all the short numbers heard in quick succession, a ''Melody - remix'' is incorporated later in the album that features each of them as they appear one after another. A good inclusion in the album that can just be played on in a lounge by the DJ in repeat mode!

The album started off on a very good note with the title song making an instant splash. While ''Thaare Vaaste'' did no harm to the album and ''Naamumkin'' was a decent hear too, there were some doubts about ''Dil Lagaayenge''. Thankfully the masterstroke of the album came in the form of 5 short tracks lasting 1-2 minutes i.e. ''Isi Umeed Pe'', ''Saathiya'', ''Aaj Nahi To Kal'', ''Tera Sona Sona Roop'' and ''Rukhsat'' that took the entire listening experience to a different level. One can''t help but draw parallels with such back to back short numbers that were once common with Nasir Hussain movies and later experienced in one of the situations for Shahid Kapoor debut flick ''Ishq Vishk''.

Suneel Darshan, Himesh Reshammiya and Sameer have balanced the audience expectations by incorporating a couple of trademark Reshammiya numbers and also bringing on a kind of music that moves away from being conventional. Result is an urban contemporary music that caters to today''s generation and has a ''cool'' effect to it.

It must have been hard for Suneel Darshan to resist the temptation of having the kind of melodious music that Nadeem Shravan have given to him in the past but then Reshammiya more than makes up for it by emphasizing on sheer rhythm.