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Tue Aug 31 2021
1
After literally 2 minutes my first (second, third, and...) thoughts are the same as some other oddly critically-praised albums on this list... I've always considered that so-called good music has to have one critical ingredient: *the music has to be good* - crazy concept.
This first track is flat out unlistenable. Unimaginatively simple beat topped with a monotoned vocal throughout.
Wait, did I say "first track?" - scratch that...apply to all tracks...
It goes well beyond "I don't get this" for me - normally if I don't like something it's fine; there are more than a few I don't "get" or like but still can see how they might be influential but this... what I don't get here is why this is even on the 1001 list - it sounds like an undisciplined 8 year old from Birmingham got some primitive 808 machine and a microphone and was allowed to put this out. Not a particularly pleasing rapper - I'm not hearing anything interesting in the rhythm, it's toneless and bland, and altogether was a slog just trying to finish the album.
Unlistenable.
1/10 1 star.
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Thu Feb 11 2021
5
This is a sonically dense and textured albums. So many new and interesting sounds, samples, references, and interpolations of other songs and styles just come out of nowhere but it's all united by M.I.A.'s creativity and politics. Also, THAT FUCKIN' GROOVE. This Aussie gives Kala five bags of Twisties out of five.
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Mon Mar 29 2021
5
I can't get over that she used the Iron Maiden signature font for the "Fight On" text. I love it. For the actual album - it's a banger! The influence of Bollywood and South Asian and African culture on the album is clear both musically and lyrically, blending really well into the mainstream dance music.
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I love that this album was able to be made extensively with Logic. Feels like an early success story proving you can make professional music with just a computer and good software (even though obviously they didn't JUST used Logic here. But extensively!)
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Lyrically its awesome to have the themes addressing world poverty, immigration, and capitalism. Feels even more relevant today, MIA was ahead of the curve! Also obviously paper planes still whips ass. I think the music might be a 4 for me, but I want to throw full 5 at it because of all the radical outside factors that went into creation and themes!
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Wed Mar 29 2023
1
Word on the street is that 1001albumsgenerator.com got hacked and shut down for 24 hours, so its sister company 1001annoyingalbumsgenerator.com stepped in for the day. Paper Planes wasn’t enough to save the album.
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Tue Aug 31 2021
5
Clever, innovative, effortless
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Sat Aug 28 2021
2
Wow. I'm tired just listening to this album. I did like "Jimmy", which was a respite in the frenetic-ness of the surrounding songs.
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Thu Feb 11 2021
5
I'm giving two fives in a row. I really was impressed by the variety of sounds on this album. Paper Planes was the obvious track I was looking forward to, but there was a lot of great stuff on the way up to it. "Jimmy" "Bamboo Banga" and other tracks were great!
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Wed Sep 22 2021
5
Experimental while still being catchy and globally minded in its sound and message without feeling like a scold, Kala storms out the gate at 100 miles an hour with the radio on and doesn't let up until it gives an entirely out-of-place Timbaland a chance to embarrass himself in a single rhyme. This album turned my walk into a jog, and even when I was worn out, I felt the urge to nod my head. Killer record.
Key tracks: Bamboo Banga, World Town, Paper Planes
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Wed Feb 16 2022
5
I knew later M.I.A. albums were great. Don't know why I didn't think to check this one out. Probably assumed that Paper Planes was representative of the whole album. Not true.
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Mon Feb 07 2022
4
M.I.A. is a legendary artist. She's able to do with music things that few others can. This album is 15 years old and still sounds fresh. The mix of styles is so unique and one of the reasons this is called the album of the third world. Tamil instruments, Bollywood vibes, funk carioca, Sub-Saharan Africa percussion and even some didgeridoo thrown in for good measure. Most of the songs are gread, well crafted and full of layers - and "Paper Planes" is probably the best song of its decade.
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Thu Jul 01 2021
3
Voici un résumé de l'album pour ceux qui seraient un peu pressés: klingklangklang boombadaboum pingibam (beaucoup de bruit pendant très longtemps - Paperplanes - bambadakling klong (un bruit très court mais intense)
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Tue Feb 02 2021
2
Is it music? Jimmy and paper planes ok, rest is v strange.
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Thu Jan 20 2022
2
Lots of waiting around for "Paper Planes".
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Wed Nov 23 2022
2
If I had to choose between listening to this full album again or getting waterboarded for 47 minutes and 38 seconds I'd choose the latter. Paper Planes was the only song saving this from 1 star.
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Wed Nov 18 2020
1
crap
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Fri May 21 2021
1
terrible
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Mon Jan 25 2021
1
una merda!
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Tue Jun 29 2021
1
I really can’t stand this music
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Wed Nov 10 2021
1
As great as I remembered it.
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Thu Jul 22 2021
Anstrengend.
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Wed Jun 30 2021
5
So glad this is on here. Deservedly so. Bringing dance hall into the mainstream
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Fri Sep 22 2023
5
"Kala" is the second studio album by British hip hop artist M.I.A. Dance, world, hip hop and pop musical genres. The album was primarily written and produced by M.I.A. and Switch. Other producers listed include Blaqstarr, Morgan's, Diplo and Timbaland. It was recorded in numerous places including India, Angola, Trinidad, Liberia, Jamaica and Australia. She wanted to record in the US with Timbaland as the producer but had visa issues related to her parents connection with guerrillas in Sri Lanka. Oh, that might come up in a song. The music relied heavily on Logic Pro and had influences from South Asia with samples from Bollywood and Tamil cinema. Some of the lyrics have political themes related to the third world including immigration, poverty and capitalism. The album had widespread critical acclaim and, commercially, reached #18 in the US and #39 in the UK.
"Bamboo Banga" begins things with a fast beat and M.I.A. with multiple voices. She begins a chant/rap. She repeats words that rhyme. A dance beat comes in midway through. I will like any song that samples the Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner." Tribal beats courtesy of the Indian urumee drums highlight "Bird Flu." A hypnotic beat. M.I.A. rapping. "Boyz" uses the urumee drums as well. Various noise samples including a pennywhistle. M.I.A. repeating "Na, Na, Na, Na." The song was influenced by her time in Jamaica and about being a female in the music industry.
"Jimmy" brings the disco and dance club beat. A synth melody. Creative use of a Bollywood song. A song she used to dance to as a child. And a song that's a tribute to her Mother, whom the album title is named for. Speaking of creative sampling, without question my favorite sample use in any song is her sample of The Clash's "Straight to Hell" in "Paper Planes." Her rapping and singing. The combining of the beats, vocals, bump bump, camera and cash register into music. The song is about her problem with visas and the perception of immigrants. One of the best songs of this century in my opinion.
This is an excellent album. A great fusion of world music, disco, hip hop and pop. The music is hypnotic, mysterious and danceable. Very creative use of samples...The Modern Lovers, Pixies, the Clash and Bollywood. A very high recommendation for all to listen to if you haven't and relisten to if you have.
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Thu Jul 01 2021
3
Faites très attention lorsque vous allez lancer cet album ; pendant les dix premiers morceaux, la chanteuse répète les mêmes mots en boucle jusqu'à provoquer des douleurs au crâne qu'aucun doliprane 1000 ou 500 n'a le pouvoir d'apaiser. Prudence.
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Wed Mar 17 2021
2
Only enjoyed a couple of the songs in the album, excluding Paper Planes
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Wed Jun 16 2021
2
I consider M.I.A.'s Kala to be a significant achievement in creating obnoxious, bloated, annoying and simultaneously awkward pop music. From the nasally sung and repetitive vocals on Bamboo Banga, to the bird-screaching and baby voices on BirdFlu, the horribly sounding soaring synths on Hussel and 20 Dollar, the horns on XR2 and the annoyingly distracting sampling on Paper Planes, I am not content. To be fair to Kala, Jimmy sounds alright, Mango has a great beat. Therefore, a 2/5 is my score.
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Fri Aug 27 2021
2
Nope, not my style.
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Tue Aug 31 2021
2
it was overall pretty bad but I did enjoy paper planes because who doesn’t know that song and some of it had an OK bit but I really didn’t like the singing and it was very repetitive
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Wed Sep 08 2021
2
Not a big fan. The odd song was OK.
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Thu Mar 04 2021
1
Style over substance
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Thu Nov 11 2021
1
It’s great that you can put records together on your own in your bedroom these days, but not everyone’s gonna like it.
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Wed Feb 16 2022
1
Not a fan. I'm British, but British Rap has always been a bit cringeworthy.
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Sun Mar 21 2021
5
Love love LOVE
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Fri Feb 12 2021
5
In a nod to the Pixies, M.I.A. poses the question, "where is my mind?". It's a question that has echoed down the generations, until now. There is only one question of any importance today - "who is Nigel?".
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Tue Apr 20 2021
5
Fantastic. A unique sound and a whole lot of energy and personality.
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Wed May 26 2021
5
Love this album. Great singles and flows well together.
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Sat Jun 26 2021
5
Fucking perfect. 10.
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Sun May 30 2021
5
Bangers all the way through. Love this album
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Mon May 24 2021
5
interesting
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Tue Jun 15 2021
5
Love this album for introducing me to more world hip-hop sounds. As a huge Clash fan, I always loved Paper Planes for sampling them. But the whole album is a banger.
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Tue Aug 03 2021
5
"And we're hittin' our records like a tennis player
And the drummers do the shit like the macarena" (Bamboo banga)
"When you go Rwanda Congo
Take me on a genocide tour
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Take me where you would go
Got static on ya satellite phone
Gotta get you safe at home
Gotta get you somewhere warm
So you get me all alone" (Jimmy)
Buah, resulta que la amo.
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Wed Sep 22 2021
5
No le tengo peros a este disco, de mis favoritos del 2007; engloba muchas cosas que puedo disfrutar bastante en un disco y, además, tiene "social critique", jaja. El sonido es lo máximo y es una M.I.A. ya muy segura de su arte, su música, su imagen. La quiero mucho y este disco me hace muy feliz. No hay skips para mí y a ratos me he obsesionado con distintas canciones de este disco. Favorito total. 10/10
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Wed Sep 22 2021
5
me acuerdo cuando salió me gustó pero no tanto. ahora que lo vuelvo a escuchar me doy cuenta que es fenomenal.
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Sun Sep 26 2021
5
Wow!!! Que excelente disco! Una sorpresa de lo mejor!
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Fri Nov 19 2021
5
Man, two days in a row with absolute bangers. This is a great album... love the beats... I don't think she's the very best rapper ever, but still very creative, and the album is a good holistic listen.
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Sun Nov 21 2021
5
Yeesssss. After too much 60s and 70s albums recently, this hit extra hard.
I love percussion heavy music anyway, and MIAs delivery and subject matter appeal to me too.
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Mon Dec 13 2021
5
Absolute banger, I listen to this every few weeks to get hyped
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Thu Dec 30 2021
5
Love this!
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Wed Feb 16 2022
5
One of the first albums here I was already quite familiar with - loved this album when it was new and I still really enjoy it.
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Thu Feb 24 2022
5
Like it even more after watching her documentary
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Fri Mar 04 2022
5
Now That's What I Call Globalisation...
I bloody love this album. Straight shoplifts from Bollywood (Jimmy), Australia (Mango Pickle Down River, New Order and Pixies (20 Dollar) and Africa (tons of tracks) and makes a masterpiece out of the pieces.
Didn't even mention the massive crossover single here, did I? All I wanna do is [GUNSHOTS] and [CASH REGISTER] and talk about how the rest of the album is just as good as that huge Clash sampling banger.
MIA is still creating great music today occasionally (between sabotaging her career with her politics, which in her case is actually fairly noble, even if sometimes it veers a little into Trump/Rogan territory). Sad to think that the reverse happened with Diplo, who has got bigger and bigger, pays the artists he steals from less and less and has been accused of some horrible #metoo behaviour. Loved him back in the day.
Did I mention that while this album is brilliant, it's not a patch on her debut, Arular? But it still gets full marks from me
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Wed Mar 09 2022
5
been a wanting to listen to this. some reallyyyy good songs proper bangers. pixies cover caught me off guard 4.5
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Sun Apr 24 2022
5
Loved it, good energizer
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Fri Jun 17 2022
5
Thought of this artists as a novelty one hit wonder before. Was unsure on the first song as thought it would be too experimental, however it grew on me very quickly.
it's just so different from everything else on this list, evoked everything from Abba to Digeridoos and crucially had multiple great tunes. Have to give it a 5.
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Fri Jul 15 2022
5
I was familiar with a couple of songs off this album from a performance I saw from M.I.A. at a music festival shortly after its release. I love it! Never got bored, really great beats and instruments, and interesting lyrics. The guest artists are great (love the Wilcannia Mob!). Fantastic and fun album!
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Fri Jul 15 2022
5
Unique and hella catchy. L.O.V.E. M.I.A.
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Fri Jul 15 2022
5
This was a lot of fun! Quite a unique sound, with cool beats and loops.
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Sun Jul 31 2022
5
Listened to this a bit before but only a bit.
Love the rhythms and fusion. Boyz is great, Jimmy is spectacular.
Wasn't sure 20 Dollars worked as a lifelong Pixies/New Order fan, but on repeat it's a banger.
XR2 is parp-tastic
Paper Planes is a classic. But it's sampling the Clash so of course it is.
It's a great record.
Shame about the whole antivax bullshit, but you can't have everything.
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Thu Aug 25 2022
5
M.I.A has made such a memorable album, crammed full of influences from a range of genres but in a style distinctly her own. The swagger and attitude is infectious and tracks like Paper Planes and Bambo Banga fair jump out the speakers. Global, iconic, anti capitalist and a tribute to her mother, M.I.A delivers an iconic album.
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Fri Sep 02 2022
5
Refreshing deffo
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Thu Sep 15 2022
5
Wow amazing from start to finish - I think this is one of the most British albums ever recorded.
Lyrics awesome - production perfect - Mia’s delivery is constantly on point while also bring tongue in cheek - the influence varied and global in reach …
The references to Modern Lovers, Pixies and of course the perfect use of the sample from ‘Straight to Hell’ in what probably is one of the most anthemic songs of the late noughties ‘Paper Planes’…
It’s made me plenty sad because I have not known this album for the 15 years it has existed - sad that I won’t have the joy of listening to it for the first time again and be blown away at every corner with every track … but hey now I can make up for it.
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Thu Sep 22 2022
5
hell yeah, I loved that more than I was expecting to
(obviously,) the only song I knew beforehand was Paper Planes so I was just expecting a fairly simple hip-hop/pop album
but it’s so much more experimental than that, which I think is awesome!
yeah I really loved it, no complaints
10/10
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Fri Oct 07 2022
5
Top 20 album for me. Maybe top 10 if not for that terrible Timbaland verse. All of these beats are precision engineered to deliver the maximum amount of dopamine possible. It’s also a fun musical journey when you delve into the cross references. For instance: Paper Planes samples the Clash. It was produced by Diplo whose Essential Mix includes an awesome remix of Boyz. Diplomat’s Son by Vampire Weekend samples Hussel. Etc. MIA embraces musical traditions from India and samples from sounds around the world (as seen in her movie), but her mix of rap and pop is also super original and prescient of current internet DIY music trends. Iconic voice, iconic lyrics. We still like MIA and we still look fly.
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Sun Oct 09 2022
5
One of the best albums ive heard on this list so far.
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Sun Nov 13 2022
5
There are certain songs that hit you so hard, that you'll never forget when and where you were the first time you heard them. Despite already being well familiar with M.I.A., "Bamboo Banga" was one of those songs for me. And as if that wasn't enough, she follows it up with 40+ minutes of the freshest, hardest beats that anyone was making at the time. The lyrics are equally hard hitting and shine a light on the injustices of the world that we in the west often turn a blind eye to. Her flow may be simplistic, but it suits her style and her beats so damn well. 15 years later, and this album has not lost it's freshness, nor unfortunately, the relevance of it's message.
5 burner phones out of 5
📱📱📱📱📱
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Mon Nov 14 2022
5
Obviously am super familiar with Paper Planes, a track that still slaps after nearly 15 years.
But this whole album is straight fire. I love the mixes here, infusing hip hop and world music in really creative and enjoyable ways.
The track with the rapping childen is SO CUTE but also badass.
Very happy with this one.
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Wed Nov 30 2022
5
Rating: 9/10
Best songs: Bamboo banga, Bird flu, Jimmy, Boyz, Hussel, World town, The turn, XR2, Paper planes, Come around
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Wed Dec 07 2022
5
Paper planes is so goooood
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Sun Jan 08 2023
5
Watch her documentary
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Wed Jan 11 2023
5
i’ve always loved mia. this is clearly her best work, and it’s one of those albums where i wouldn’t change a single thing. perfect sound, perfect production, perfect lyrics.
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Wed Jan 11 2023
5
I initially didn’t understand why MIA was included on this list but, my preconceptions were quickly dispelled when I actually listened to the album.
The album should get a five just for its novelty, I’ve never heard anything that sounds like it. But the album is more than just a cool sound, it’s solid all around.
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Fri Jan 20 2023
5
Amazing album from start to finish
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Thu Mar 16 2023
5
Never heard of M.I.A. before, but this was a pleasant surprise. Totally vibed with it.
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Thu Mar 16 2023
5
A big improvement from M.I.A.'s debut. The Clash. The Pixies. Even Ottawan gets in the mix.
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Fri Mar 24 2023
5
What a frickin’ sweet record. Catchy and in-your-face and rhythmic and fun and fancy and just gooooood. It reminds me of how I felt after Stankonia - just in awe at the beats and wild production. 9/10
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Tue May 16 2023
5
Wow, what a great album. Been a while since I listened to this album. I thoroughly enjoyed this session.
Fave tracks are Boyz, 20 Dollar, XR2, and of course Paper Plans.
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Thu May 25 2023
5
Catchy, fun, and weird. Such a fun album
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Mon Jun 05 2023
5
Stonkingly good!
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Tue Jul 04 2023
5
2007 - Hip hop; Pop; Electronic
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Thu Jul 06 2023
5
Infectious, banging and annoying (in a good way). Pure brilliance. Listened to this a lot in 2007. Switch and Diplo really managed to create a global unique sound for MIA. They went on to create great things with Major Lazer. It’s the effortlessness both in MIAs rap and in the continuous experimentation with sounds and influences that makes this stand out.
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Wed Jul 12 2023
5
A feast for the ears 9/10
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Sun Sep 17 2023
5
A spectacularly crazy and highly experimental record fusing pop, hip-hop, electronica, and world music. Every track is different in structure and musical style and yet carries the same mood and production techniques, always full of intense energy and speed. Disco, reggeaton, Bollywood...
Just like Kanye, she can release innovative, catchy, and impactful tunes, and turn out to be a crazy delusionist in real life. Only downside is the middle section loses energy and focus, causing it to be too grating, but it comes back near the end.
Favorites: Boyz, Jimmy, Paper Planes
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Tue Sep 19 2023
5
A jam-packed collage of sounds, textures, rhythms and influences. By rights it should irritate me greatly, but the album brings the disparate electronic noises together brilliantly and delivers banger after banger after banger.
Although I didn't pick up on many of the lyrics (I look forward to a more active listen later), the energy of the album alone draws you in.
Yes. I think this probably is a masterpiece.
Rating: 5/5
Playlist track: Paper Planes
Date listened: 18/09/23
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Wed Sep 20 2023
5
This album is honestly incredible, both in the context of when it came out and now still today. I remember it being so intriguing, so blurring of genres and cultures and so good when it came out, and it still feels that fresh and unbelievable today. It's surprising that it didn't reach more people. M.I.A. is probably too political for mainstream success, but her lyrics and beats are up there with the best. Excellent album.
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Thu Oct 12 2023
5
An immaculate blend of hip hop and world music, sonically expansive and irreverent. M.I.A. still makes music, but she’s never bettered this album.
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Sat Oct 14 2023
5
This is my thing
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Wed Oct 25 2023
5
Like an updated version of The Clash's Combat Rock, Kala addresses an ever-shrinking globe and the tension between the rich nations and rest of the world. The sounds are bombastic and modern. The rhymes are a great example of grime in the early 2000s.
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Thu Nov 09 2023
5
I'm a big fan of M.I.A. as an artist. She has a style all her own and has produced some massive bangers. Her personal stance against vaccination is nauseating though.
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Sun Nov 12 2023
5
M.I.A is absolute 🔥, absolutely in my wheelhouse (although I’ve listened to Paper Planes too much over the years). As before, she has important strong political messages. I just LOVED this and it’s a personal 5 for me.
Listens: 2
Fave Track: 20 Dollar
Rating: 5
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Mon Nov 13 2023
5
Truly visionary, this album still feels fresh almost 15 years later, which is incredibly remarkable to me
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Mon Nov 13 2023
5
pioneer.
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Fri Dec 01 2023
5
I know this one so well
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Sun Apr 11 2021
4
Enjoyed this. A modern classic!
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Wed Sep 02 2020
4
Interesting sound. Very eclectic.
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Fri Apr 09 2021
4
i wish she wasnt such an asshole bc i love her music
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Tue Nov 24 2020
4
Great mix of music styles. Plus Paper Planes is on it. Fun listen
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Mon May 03 2021
4
Paper planes IS Pineapple Express but this album is just noise
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Tue Jan 12 2021
4
Excellent. Sweet and funky on top, dark and clever underneath.
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Mon Mar 29 2021
4
I much prefer my sad songs to not be so slow, which I know sounds silly. It was alright. I think the combination of his voice and the slowness of the songs got to me after a bit. Made it feel like it dragged on a bit. I also don’t like that it seems like he’s mumbling a bit. I don’t mind incomprehensible lyrics but this type of singing is not my cup of tea. All that being said, definitely not the worst album.
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Wed Jan 20 2021
4
So raw. Drums are nuts. The intl’ vibe is so sick
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Mon May 17 2021
4
I've said it before: hip hop isn't a genre with which I'm very familiar. However, the more I listen, the more I realize how much I'm missing out on. This album bends the genre around quite a bit with instrumentation, rhythms, and pure sounds. It's not something I can easily listen to in the background; the lyrics demand attention. Given how this album turned out, I'll be listening to other M.I.A.
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