M.I.A. Grows Darker
A strong sophomore release from the socially conscientious artist
M.I.A.
Kala
Released on Nov 30, -0001
No one can tell Maya Arulpragasam that she isn't up on her world politics and current events.
On her sophomore release "Kala," Maya, known as M.I.A., injects personal opinion and observations of the third world nations that she knows and visits often. M.I.A. puts jarring and sometimes shocking lyrics to dancehall and electronic club beats that would please even the douchebags at the club that can't even point out Africa on a map. With stand out tracks like Paper Planes, a juxtaposition of sunny beats mixed with gunshots and lyrics like "some I murder, some I let go," M.I.A. shows a much darker side of her lyricism that was missing on her first release. We had political tinged rumpshakers on her first release, but Kala delivers gunshots and cash register noises reminding the listener that life isn't always a world of sunshowers and flirting with cuties on your mobile, showing just how far Maya has come since she started recording. What's interesting is wondering how Kala would have turned out if Timbaland had produced the album as a whole.
The infamous producer guests on one of Kala's tracks, stamping his signature sound all over the album's most sexy sounding track (I'd totally get it on to the song, but then again most of Timbaland's music proves a good backdrop for getting laid). Makes one wonder just how polished and different a direction the album would have taken if M.I.A. hadn't had visa troubles that kept her from recording in the states. Instead M.I.A. kept doing what she does best, mixing tight samples and beats and showcasing lesser-known world musicians and their music. Doing in her own words, "[I] put people on a map that have never seen a map."
Maya has grown up a lot since her debut release, but the girl still knows how to have a good time and keep a club pumping into the early morning hours.
High Point
Low Point
Posted by Lisa White on Aug 22, 2007 @ 12:00 am