There has been enough propaganda, from the anti-popstars brigade, about the talent of the five girls whose lives were changed forever by Times Music and Channel V but now the public decides as their debut album is out in the stores. What everyone will notice is that the girls ooze potential and are indeed pretty good at their job but as for the music director and scorers, Viva was an act of sabotage!

You'll understand what I mean when you get past the first number which has received more than enough airplay, already. In the meantime, in Hum Naye Geet Sunayein you will be dazzled by the five voices but go a little deeper and perhaps even count how many tune and tempo changes there are and you get a gist of the musical mish mash to come. 

Jahan Ho Pyar Ka Mausam comes next and is best forgotten because the vocals get a bit lazy here and nothing special comes out of that department. Jatin-Lalit who have scored here are simply awful. They shouldn't have been taken for this project. Mujhe Zindagi Mein Ek Dost Chahiye is a candy pop number that will someday have a video set in a girls college somewhere. It is a largely forgettable number with an equally boring score.

Now the next number is, by default, superb musically in comparison to what you had to go through before it. Ja Sakte Ho has a very good tempo to it and the girls sound fabulous here. Sandeep Chowta proves his excellence with each number he composes. Kisse Poochhain follows with a score that is not an absolute rip-off of Madonna's True Blue but is something inspired at some level for sure.

Again, mediocrity rules and you might even give up on the album altogether but for the next track Tumko Agar Hai Pyaar Mujhse . This is an extremely fast paced dance number with very strong tune behind it. Unfortunately, the music director botches it up here by doing some atrocious mixing that sounds like a DJ Akbar Sami in the middle of an Epileptic Seizure. That spell last for just a few seconds as the girls save the day once again with their spectacular vocals. 

The last number is Kaali Mai Diya Silai and is utter nonsense! Kersi Lord has gone out of his way to ruin this number with a score that makes no sense. The girls try and commit career suicide by singing this one. Viva's debut proves one thing. That we need more talent in the form of music directors. Perhaps we could start a Channel V Music Directors hunt next? 

All five girls do great job especially Pratichee, Mahua and Neha. If their next album can be produced by Shankar-Ehsaan and Loy or Sandeep Chowta then they are guaranteed a long life as pop stars. But what's the final verdict on the album? There are just three good songs out of eight in the album. It is a good first effort and considering that there are better things likely to come from Viva, grab it for the novelty.