Reviews (page 2 of 8)
I LOVE YOU M.I.A!!!
Tough to be objective here - I think this album actually rewired my brain when I first heard it back in the day, just totally exploded my horizon for what music could be. AND it has Paper Planes, arguably one of the best tracks released during this millennial’s lifetime. Pretty sure it would still be 5 stars regardless though.
This was my first time listening to this album, and in some weird way, I almost think of this as punk rather than what it is. I very much enjoyed this, but I can see it not being to everyone's taste. It has such a wide range of musical styles and self-references to other genres that it honestly feels like a lover's letter to the music that influenced them.
Det e litt rart at æ har hørt så lite på M.I.A. i løpet av livet så langt, for æ like ho jo godt. Kanskje æ gjør nokka med det en dag.
Experimental Rap is the best rap, change my mind. Don't, there's no point. We have M.I.A.. The groove on this album is really unlike most stuff on this list. Really hard and carries a lot of interesting influences that tie back to M.I.A.'s ethnicity in a cool way. I especially like the South Asian percussion in songs like BirdFlu. Good politics, bringing attention to things going on in Africa. The whole album is really interesting to me. One of those "how did you stumble into making that sound?" kind of albums. I live for that kind of music, so this is great.
So good I listened to it twice. Am not sure whether to go 4 or 5 but maybe because Paper planes is such a great tune…
I really like this artist, gave her last album a 5. Not sure why they're both on here, good as they both are, but I'm going with the same rating.
I only knew M.I.A. from the singles ("Paper Planes," "Bad Girls", etc.) and had never listened to a full album of hers, so I didn't know what to expect. I liked this a lot! The album is named after her mother and a running theme is struggles that her mother had to go through, but this isn't a dire affair, it's a dance party. "Paper Planes" is here and it's terrific, but so is "Jimmy" (about an infatuation with a journalist covering the Rwandan genocide set to a Bollywood disco number), the bumping "XR2" (an ode to London's '90s rave scene), the sonic assault of "20 Dollar" (which references the Pixies "Where Is My Mind?") and the charming "Mango Pickle Down River" where M.I.A. raps and sings with The Wilcannia Mob, a group of adolescent aboriginal boys about catching fish, jumping off bridges and playing the didgeridoo. Timbaland was originally supposed to produce Kala, and it's a blessing in disguise that it didn't happen. The album is all over the place in it's influences, themes, and styles, perhaps reflecting the global journey by M.I.A. in recording it in six different countries, but M.I.A.'s distinctive singing and straightforward lyrics tie everything together. It's not really like anything else, and that's what makes it great.
4.5/5
Genuinely amazing album, shame she's a far right crazy now
My 2nd M.I.A. album. I think I like this one better. I really dig electronic music and the beats are solid. This isn't the type of music I'm ever putting on but I enjoy listening to it. Extra stars for the Iron Maiden font.
Wow. Heard my first MIA, MAYA, just a few months ago, loved it, and forgot about it. I find Kala just amazing. So many sounds, so many layers to explore.
I love this album and listen to it a lot with my daughter.
You know what? Hell yeah. This slaps. I knew Paper Planes going in, but the rest of this album is amazing too. (With the exception of Timbaland's bit in Come Around, but even with that, the rest of the song is great.)
Exceptional!
Man, this album takes me back. Just a phenomenal album start to finish.
love it helps me lock in
I remember that -when this came out- I ran really hot and cold on it. Loving some songs and not really caring for others. But either it has aged like a fine wine or I have (prolonged wink at the camera), because now every song feels like it is exactly what it needs to be.
I remember liking this album less than Arular, but this is a rare instance where 15+ years distance might make this a *stronger* listen rather than reinforcing what I already knew. While the songs I loved still hit (Bamboo Banga, Hussel, 20 Dollar, XR2, Paper Planes), the songs I remember being kind of dissonant and abrasive (Bird Flu, Boyz) or random (Mango Pickle Down River) sound so creative and different STILL. I mean, it's been years and I still don't think anyone has come close to the eclectic fusion that was early MIA. Having done nearly half of this insane list, I feel like I can hear influences from artists and time periods from everywhere (Khaled, Baaba Maal, that wild Shalimar album) along with funk and hip hop. I might have given this a 4 if I'd listened to it back in 2007, but hindsight makes it a 5 given no one has come close to the truly creative - but still cohesive - mix that is this music.
I think "World Music" is usually shorthand for "it isn't from America or The UK" but I think Kala is one of the few albums that is *really* world music. Denied entry to The USA due to Visa problems, M.I.A recorded in all sorts of countries most Americans can't find on a map, incorporating local artists, found sounds, and a healthy dose of the South Asian music that seems more personal to her. The result is fascinating: it's this super unapologetic like experimental rap/digital pop thing mixed with all sorts of sounds that are often not heard in mainstream pop hits (in America etc.). It sounds incredibly coherent for how "everything goes" its construction is. We have samples of birds used rhythmically, didgeridoo beats, a Pixies interpolation, and Timbaland is also here. This is the epitome of an album that bangs *because* it's sort of rough around the edges. Even Paper Planes is ultimately brought together by like gunshots and cash register noises (what a weird song to hit big by the way). I honestly love this album, there are no real low points for me. Bamboo Banga is deceptively sparse, it sounds way busier than it actually is. The rhythmic sensibilities of Bird Flu are fucking insane. Jimmy is an inspired cover of a song from an Indian "dance-action" movie, etc, etc, etc. I even like Mango Pickle Down River, with its didgeridoo and The Wilcannia Mob, a group of Indigenous Australian children who rap like it's the late '80s. Also, the lyrics are pretty in-touch, thoughtful, and on theme about the plight of "Third World Countries". This album manages to stand as a positive and inspiring force even as M.I.A's personal beliefs have recently taken a turn towards batshit crazy. I can't say enough good about this, there really isn't anything else quite like it, and M.I.A. was the perfect person to deliver this vital piece of art.
Such a high energy, fun album
really unique and enjoyable
Banger of an album. Love the funky beats, pure authenticity and fearless one-of-a-kind style. When this first came out, I remember loving Paper Planes, but now I can appreciate the other gems on this record (Jimmy, World Tour, Come Around).
This album is absolutely unreal, holds up better than I could have imagined!! So many tracks on here could/should have been as big as Paper Planes tbh.. just had a blast all the way through this thinf
honestly one of my fav albums growing up - it was really cool to me to hear 'eastern' music, decontextualized in this really interesting and cool way, and I still think its the best bloghouse album ever... honestly i love it a lot!!
The blend of different genres & sounds was delightful!!
Still an absolute banger of a record. Manages to pull from a whole range of different genres and sounds and make it work. An album that feels weirdly prescient of the music streaming era and the way it makes access to unique micro genres even easier. Paper Planes is obviously a big standout, but there's so many great tracks here. Bamboo Banga and Bird Flu open the album with a bang, whilst Jimmy is a real fun update on a Bollywood hit.
okay so I instantly recognized this album for one reason and one reason only: Paper Planes. I had absolutely no idea what to expect for the rest of the album! I was blown away. It's such a global album, so many influences from all over, such a cool concept and I've never heard anything else like it. It's fun but still very real and the lyrics are impactful. Every song has this infectious beat but is still so distinct from one another. It's so good!!! I am pleasantly surprised.
Indian beats?
Another one. All 5's!!!
she got the kanye disease but this album is incredible
Own it. Love it
This is such perfect music for a low-life high-tech cyberpunk setting 🥲🥹 Very vibrant and bold- chaotic explosion of sounds in the best possible way! What an absolute banger! Album rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loved it! Funky and smart, kept me moving and grooving at work
A club-educated, expertly constructed set of dayglo bangers influenced by anything you’d hear coming out of a car in East London at 2AM. Serious serious skills on display here merging tribal drumming, post-punk, grime, bhangra, baile funk and loads more into radio friendly pop about (more or less) multiculturalism. She puts together sounds that were born apart (didgeridoo bass anyone?) and finds new sounds in them.
This is really good stuff. I'd heard paper planes, but wow. Few have managed to incorporate that much eastern and western music, and those who have don't generally do it with such style. It hits hard, it has silly bits and it is thrilling when she interpolates the modern lovers and the pixies.
Interesting album nice rythems and great samples. Wink wink. Yeah liked the energy the spunk.
The BEST
I have known about this album for a long time, but I am kind of blown away by how forward thinking this is. So many elements that are in this became a part of popular music years later.
Back when I was a harsh hipster, I skipped out on this album because i felt it cheapened the Clash. Oh how dumb and how much I missed out by thinking that way. What an album of South Asian, English and American influences all coming together.
'I'm a world runner.' She means it: 'When you go Rwanda, Congo / Take me on a genocide tour / Take me on a truck to Darfur / Take me where you would go.' I can't think of a better album about moola. Foregrounding war-sponsored capitalism, Maya triumphs as few rappers do: not only is she smarter than most, she avers proudly that she doesn't read, that she just guesses ('The Turn'). Those 'guesses' figure into precise and luminous choruses that catapult M.I.A. from a 'conscious rapper' to our conscious feeler - our very own funky, can-do-no-wrong t'cha: 'I put people on the map that never seen a map.' Inimitable; unstoppable. What she doesn't do is preachify; what she does do is dig and inform. And make bangers.
She is one of the best female rappers of all time. Completely original and changed the genere amd influenced so many pop rap artists today that its insane.
Brilliant
All I wanna do is (Gunshot) (Gunshot) (Gunshot) (Gunshot) (Cash register sound) Kiss Luigi
Strong club banger start with Bamboo Banga. The first three songs are so strong! damn all of these songs are strong. The offkilter samples set up familiar grooves and gives the record this interesting sonic patina. Paper Planes certified banger. Its a shame the rest of this album got overshadowed by that one single, its awesome!
This album feels like it was made for me. I think M.I.A is the coolest. Like she's Tamil, im Tamil and idk much about her but I think she's prolly my fav famous brown person. And this album is named after her mom Kala which is literally my grandmother's name. My mom and MIA are like the same age so I imagine our Kalas are the same age too so basically this album is about my grandma. Also my mom's favorite dog growing up was called Jimmy. The sound of the album is just super homey to me
Sound like a world cup songs tf
If Arular was a raw spark, Kala is the wildfire. Released just two years after her debut, M.I.A.'s second album doesn’t just expand her sound—it explodes it. Where Arular felt like a snapshot of London’s underground, Kala ventures far beyond, weaving global rhythms, bold beats, and unapologetically brash energy into a sprawling, chaotic experience. It’s the sound of an artist hitting her stride, pushing boundaries even as her strengths and flaws grow more pronounced. Recorded across continents—India, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Australia—Kala digs deep into street music and traditional sounds, making its cultural influences feel genuine and embedded rather than borrowed. This globetrotting approach injects the album with a sense of restless energy and ambition. The production is Kala’s crown jewel. While Arular thrived on sparse, jarring beats, Kala embraced maximalism, layering Bollywood strings, African percussion, and dancehall grooves, often within the same song. Tracks like “Boyz” and “Bird Flu” are percussive earthquakes, while “Jimmy” struts with Bollywood disco flair. “Paper Planes,” the album’s sardonic centrepiece, combines gunshot and cash register samples to create a cultural juggernaut that’s instantly recognizable. Meanwhile, “20 Dollar,” with its Pixies sample, bridges worlds, teasing familiarity while remaining undeniably M.I.A. Each track pushes boundaries, even when the experiments occasionally overwhelm. What hasn’t changed is M.I.A.’s penchant for provocative, surface-level politics. If Arular felt like “a teenager cosplaying Noam Chomsky,” Kala is the diary entry after a round-the-world trip—broader in scope but still light on substance. Tracks like “Hussel” and “World Town” touch on immigration, capitalism, and survival, but rarely dive deep enough to fully realize their potential. Even “Paper Planes,” focussed on its critique of immigrant stereotypes, feels more impactful for its delivery than its depth. M.I.A. gestures toward global issues, but her voice—playful, defiant, hypnotic—often carries more weight than the words themselves. Despite these flaws, Kala endures because of its audacity. M.I.A.’s vision is fearless, her sound unpredictable, and her energy undeniable. This album is a global manifesto, pulsing with life and defiance. ⚬ Did/Do I own this release? It lives on an old iPod in my drawer. ⚬ Does this release belong on the list? Yes. This album was impossible to avoid for years, and even established artists tried to ape its sound. ⚬ Would this release make my personal list? You know what, yes. ⚬ Will I be listening to it again? In the right mood, this is an undeniable banger.
This is a Bamboo Banga. What a glow up from M.I.A.'s first album, which I enjoyed but didn't love. This one is loud, confident, full of crazy beats and sounds, and is just a kickass album through and through. Of course Paper Planes and Boyz are well known, but I liked the opener a lot, as well as 20 Dollar. This album is fully imbued with her Sri Lankan sound, which is cool for me.
Great album, lots of world music styles! Really excellent
Sometime in the hazy days of my twenties, I was somehow at a house party in the Old Fourth Ward where I didn't know anybody. Maybe I knew someone, but they left early?? I don't quite remember, but that's how things were in my twenties. Anyways, they had a DJ who was infatuated with M.I.A. and mostly just played her first album in its entirety and throwing in a song inbetween in an effort to be a "real" DJ and have an excuse to bring two turntables. After his set, I spoke with him and all he wanted to talk about was M.I.A. Years later, I heard "Paper Planes" on Album 88/WRAS 88.5 and loved it, but didn't know who it was until I heard it again while watching Slumdog Millionaire. I didn't waste time in picking up Kala. My wife (girlfriend at the time) saw the cover and thought it was some cheap basement BS and even laughed when "Bamboo Banga" first started, but we have since fallen in love with this album. The rhythmic yells and tongue rolls of children on "Birdflu" and the hanina-na-ninna-ninna, ha-na-ninna-na-ninna chanting on "Boyz" is so refreshingly unexpected in it's sophisticated synchopation, not to mention the complex rhythms and layers of drums in the hand drum ensemble (which came at a time when I was active in and studying West African hand-drumming from Guinea). Once the Bollywood samples on "Jimmy" and the Australian aboriginal children off-time rapping on "Mango Pickle Down River" kick in, we see Kala as a hip-hop interpretation of world music. It's a celebration of and collaboration with the variety of sounds that make up the global human experience. "Represent the World Town" indeed. For her part, M.I.A. plays with phrasing that wouldn't work in traditional rap, adding an extra bar or a couple beats, or singing a free-form version of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" on "20 Dollar" which ignores the trappings of needing to stay on the beat. It still works; she knows what she's doing. It's a party, and everyone is invited.
Very much not my normal taste and I was only aware of Paper Planes before, but I thought this was fantastic Maybe it was the smattering of rock samples littered throughout but this was great from beginning to end
Banger
This album already gets points for me for paper planes. This came out and got really big when I was around 18, and was a huge club anthem at the time. Then there are all the little nods to other songs and artists I love -- Iron Maiden on the cover, Modern Lovers, the Pixies, the Clash... probably more that that I didn't pick up on the first listen. Then it's just kind of a cool album, very experimental, the samples are cool, I like her vocals. This one won me over.
Truly a masterpiece
Did this thing just open with a Modern Lovers reference. This thing rules so much. It’s sonically varied and interesting and catchy and chaotic in all the best ways. I don’t know if I would have had the song with Australian kids rapping, but, hey I dunno. Jimmy is one of the craziest songs ever. When those 70s disco strings came in a fucking cheered.
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.
It's a banger. I first listened to this album back in like 8th grade a ton, still sounds cool and fresh today, and you can see a bunch of influences play out.
i just love MIA and wish she would come back with stuff like this - such a creative and unique album that oftentimes has little to no melody outside of her voice yet still hits with meaningful and intentional lyricism calling out international affairs.
I really wanted to like this more than I did, this was incredibly innovative at the time it came in regard to the sound and particularly the attitude, and the plethora of other things that were fresh and new about MIA and the music she was making. Some of these songs are really great like the opening track there are definitely some bangers here but overall I don't think she truly understood the ways in which she was pushing the envelope. That opinion is largely influenced by how her career has gone since this time as well. Ultimately I think she sort of accidentally stumbled onto a massive and innovative sound that informed a decade or more of pop music to follow, and I think I love the music that she influenced a lot more than her music itself. That being said though the miserable old fucks on here that only wanna hear the same 50 blues-based white guy artists can get fucked she's getting a perfect score
I mean I'm not sure you can get much cooler, in terms of the image she's developed here. For whatever that's worth. Not sure how many of her collaborators have actually "never seen a map" haha. But yeah super catchy. Super different. At least among mainstream options here in the United States. She also just has fun musicality and I like her melodies. mOnD0 ExTra bonUs points for the Pixies and Clash references 😍
Pretty fire
Wow, what an album. I don't think I've heard anything else remotely like that. The mix of so many genres and it not feeling laboured or forced is incredible. I always think the sign of a good album is when you feel like you've only been listening a few minutes but you've actually listened to the whole album. Added to my playlist and will be a regular listener.
I knew I liked Paper Planes but hadn’t bothered to explore her music any further. What an idiot. Whilst there’s a clear debt to The Clash (and Adam and The Ants on Bird Flu) it was a joy to discover The Wilcannia Mob (and realise Die Antwoord had clearly had a dip in that river). Loved it all, immediately played it again and am pretty sure it’ll be on heavy rotation this summer.
This is amazing. M.I.A herself is good enough but what really shines on this album is the great production. These beats are so good, excellent stuff!
This is why I started doing this! I would have never thought to listen to M.I.A. if it wasn’t for this list and I’m absolutely vibing it. Such a different sound for me and I’m loving it. I knew Paper Planes and I think Boyz too but it’s all such a good sound and beat.
Great album, been listening to it for years.
BOM DEMAIS!!!!!
I'm pleasantly surprised. I know M.IA. through her radio releases, primarily Paper Planes (which, ironically, is one of the weakest songs on the album in my opinion). They're catchy, but they've never really grabbed me enough for me to seek out a full album. I can now say that was a mistake. This album is really, really good. Taking a cornucopia of interesting sounds, cultures, experiences, and ideas, she's able to weave this really catchy tapestry of sound that has kept me bobbing my head and tapping my toes. I think the first two songs got a little repetitive within themselves, but that is a small niggle, and one that does not portend further repetitiousness throughout the album. Each song sounds different, but still work really well as part of a coherent album. This is a great album. 4.5 stars.
Such a wonderful collection of joyous noise by a world music master. I’d rate it 5 stars even without Paper Planes, but that just shoves it into the stratosphere.
BANGER album. Good vibes throughout 7/7
This album is crazy in the best way possible. There is so much going on sonically and almost every song is makes you bob your head. A very unique style that pulls from M.I.A.’s Sri Lankan roots as well.
For some reason this just hit different than Arular. Was is the Pixies reference? Or the greatness of Paper Planes? I can’t say right now, but it was a whole vibe.
Hell yeah brother. Real good sounds on this one. Mango Pickle Down River is a revelation
Banger! Never listened to the entire album but it’s great!
Sure, I can try to review the album Kala by M.I.A. for you. Here is my opinion based on the criteria you mentioned: Lyrical themes: The album explores various topics such as immigration, war, poverty, globalization, and cultural identity. M.I.A. uses her personal experiences and political views to create a powerful and provocative message. She also incorporates different languages and slang terms from the places she visited while recording the album, such as India, Jamaica, Liberia, and Australia. Some of the standout tracks in terms of lyrics are “Paper Planes”, “Bamboo Banga”, and “World Town”. Music: The album is a fusion of diverse musical genres and influences, such as hip-hop, dancehall, electro, bhangra, baile funk, and rock. M.I.A. collaborates with various producers and artists, such as Timbaland, Diplo, Switch, and Afrikan Boy, to create a unique and eclectic sound. The album is also very experimental and adventurous, using unconventional samples and instruments, such as gunshots, cash registers, children’s voices, and urumee drums. Some of the standout tracks in terms of music are “Bird Flu”, “Boyz”, and “Jimmy”. Production: The album is well-produced and polished, despite the challenges and limitations that M.I.A. faced while making it. She had to record the album in different countries and studios, due to visa issues and travel restrictions. She also had to deal with censorship and controversy, as some of her songs were deemed too political or violent by the media and the authorities. Despite these obstacles, she managed to create a cohesive and consistent album that showcases her creativity and talent. The production quality is high and the sound is clear and crisp. Influence: The album is widely regarded as one of the best albums of the 2000s and one of the most influential albums of the 21st century. It received critical acclaim and commercial success, earning several awards and nominations, such as a Grammy, a Mercury Prize, and an Oscar. It also influenced many artists and genres, such as pop, rap, indie, and world music. The album is considered a landmark in the history of music and culture, as it represents the voice and the vision of a global citizen. Overall, I think Kala is a brilliant and groundbreaking album that deserves all the praise and recognition it has received. It is a masterpiece of musical and lyrical expression, that challenges and inspires the listener.
I was impressed. I don't believe I have ever heard any music by M.I.A (have heard of her though). Thank you 1001 album generator! This was a great find that I wouldn't have stumbled upon myself.
I personally consider Boyz and Paper Planes to be stone cold classics, there are a lot of other jams here too. Gotta love the cheeky Pixies reference as well. This sound tracked the couple years after high school for me as well, so bonus nostalgia points. True millennial shit. I dig it. So take the 4, bonus points for nostalgia, bonus points for the anticapitalist themes, 4.5. Rounded up because I think it needs more love here compared to the deluge of samey rock albums. Almost forgot to mention that this spawned one of my all time favorite remixes: https://youtu.be/m9dIv-kSpEQ
This is what is lacking in this list! Give me 10 albums like this one, instead of U2. On contrast with other albums so far, this one is special. Raw energy, great grooves
This was better then expected. I knew unwound like it but I was surprised by how much I like it
I know this one so well
pioneer.
Truly visionary, this album still feels fresh almost 15 years later, which is incredibly remarkable to me
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
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.
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.
This is my thing
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.
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.
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
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
A feast for the ears 9/10
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.
2007 - Hip hop; Pop; Electronic
Stonkingly good!
Catchy, fun, and weird. Such a fun album
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.
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
A big improvement from M.I.A.'s debut. The Clash. The Pixies. Even Ottawan gets in the mix.
Never heard of M.I.A. before, but this was a pleasant surprise. Totally vibed with it.
Amazing album from start to finish
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.
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.
Watch her documentary
Paper planes is so goooood
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Bamboo banga, Bird flu, Jimmy, Boyz, Hussel, World town, The turn, XR2, Paper planes, Come around
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.
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 📱📱📱📱📱
One of the best albums ive heard on this list so far.
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.
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
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.
Refreshing deffo
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.
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.
This was a lot of fun! Quite a unique sound, with cool beats and loops.
Unique and hella catchy. L.O.V.E. M.I.A.
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!
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.
Loved it, good energizer
been a wanting to listen to this. some reallyyyy good songs proper bangers. pixies cover caught me off guard 4.5
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
Like it even more after watching her documentary
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.
Love this!
Absolute banger, I listen to this every few weeks to get hyped
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.
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.
Wow!!! Que excelente disco! Una sorpresa de lo mejor!
me acuerdo cuando salió me gustó pero no tanto. ahora que lo vuelvo a escuchar me doy cuenta que es fenomenal.
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
"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.
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.
interesting
Bangers all the way through. Love this album
Fucking perfect. 10.
Love this album. Great singles and flows well together.
Fantastic. A unique sound and a whole lot of energy and personality.
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?".
Love love LOVE
I’d want to hear this music in a club
Totally the inspo for Little Simz. I thought it was fun!
Regardless of whether you like the sound of this album, it's hard to think of anything that sounds quite like it. M.I.A. and her collaborators take grooves and patterns from around the world, particularly South Asia, and combine them with contemporary EDM and hip-hop sounds for something that splits the difference between danceable and abrasive. Rather than try to mush these styles together, they embrace how much they clash, a strategy that is sometimes annoying but frequently brilliant. While songs like 20 Dollar and the turn don't quite click for me, songs like BirdFlu, XR2, and the legendary Paper Planes brim with so much color and vigor that it's hard not to be impressed. As a rapper, M.I.A. focuses less on technical ability and more on complimenting the instrumentals. Her raw energy and stunning command of hooks more than make up for somewhat limited rapping skills. This is an incredibly unique and audacious album that always goes for big swings, even if they don't end up connecting.
Would've been a 3 but extra point for Paper Planes Still a banger
Not my thing
Love this record. Sounds like 2008.
Wow didn't think I'd get it this soon after the '05 album but cool! M.I.A. broke ground with this album and Paper Planes. Still holds up, still iconic. Love how well done this album is produced for '08. Wildly influential and always a fun listen. Not a 5 star album but a strong contender for the most progressive and innovative albums on this list.
hell yeah
We're giving this a 4, because it is ahead of its time and yet still quite successful in its time. Paper Planes was a fun song when I was a kid, but when I revisited it a few years, I realized it is a certified banger and the lyrics are a lot deeper than what I thought when I was a kid. Regardless, there's a lot of strong tracks and a lot of interesting and cool production on this album. It's a lower 4 for me, where I don't like the music as much as most 4s but I dig the vibe enough. A lot of BRATness in this album. See XR2 and others.
Pretty good album, but signed off with two worldies for the genre
This was such a fun album to listen to! There was so many unconventional sounds that really caught my ear. I would give this a 4.5 if possible (I don't feel like it is a 5).
♤◇°○
Dancing in the kitchen to this one. Great groove
good
well paper planes is one of the best songs ever made obviously. there were a couple other ones on the album i liked but that was by far the standout
As a Tamil person, there just weren't that many of us getting famous in the west at the time this album came out. Enter MIA. great musician, most embarrassing public figure. Still, I salt and pepper my mango. Fast forward to 2026. MIA has new music out it looks like, and is somehow EVEN MORE EMBARASSING. I want to write her off I really do. But Paper Planes is still a banger, and if I'm really being honest so is the rest of this album. There are zero songs on here that I would not dance to. The Timberland track — which I had completely forgotten about — is also such a bop. What can I say? Maya is our Kanye?
It was funky , an okayish tribute to indian music too.
This album is united by a crisp, energetic beat that propels it into being something very unique. I enjoyed it with the exception of only a few moments (Unfortunately I think that some of the guest artists drag this album down a bit). I also thought that the references to other famous music was really well-done and clever. Favorite track: "20 Dollar"
Reminds me of Doechii! Very repetitive, but perfect for dancing in the club.
I think Paper Planes carries this album.
This is the paper planes album! I know that song slaps, will see about the rest. It really is above the rest. Catchy album, very diverse influences, which is refreshing in a hip hop album. Highlights: paper planes, boyz (pretty catchy)
482/1089 - This seems more "world" than a lot of the world music albums on the list. Really great and eclectic production on a lot of the tracks. Some were misses for me and her voice is suuuuuper British.
Good frenetic energy throughout
MIA gets into some highly unlikely grooves with hyperactive hooks throughout Kala. The best moments of this record are the big anthems where she is using her full force of personality to completely overwhelm the senses. There are six or seven of these songs with opener Bamboo Banga standing out with some particularly peculiar, arresting hooks which make this a “must listen.” She has a great ear for pairing melodies with tones - I love the audaciousness of the horns on XR2. She's also great at manipulating sounds, as showcased by the iconic way a The Clash sample is repurposed on Paper Planes. Some of the more drawn out, patient songs are hits but others are misses - most notably the double interpolation of New Order and Pixies on 20 Dollar is a strong flavour which almost but doesn’t quite work for me.
Frenetic collage of music. Some if it hits too hard for me, but Mango Pickle, The Turn, XR2, Come Around.. and of course Paper Planes are enough to push to 4
See this is an album where I can clearly see the vision and what the experiments were trying to do. Even though they don’t always turn out (20 dollar is painful), there are some successes and one absolute all timer. Also Timbaland has the Midas touch. Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song - paper planes Least fav - 20 Dollar
she’s psychotic and a prodigy
It's too bad M.I.A. met a Bronfman and then went insane. Those first two records were really special. And I see Arular is on this list too so excited to get there. Ignoring the unfortunate baggage (which, to be fair, is nothing new when listening to a lot of artists on this list), this still sounds as exciting as it did when it first came out. I can not emphasize the impact that first Pineapple Express trailer that used "Paper Planes" had on my college dorm. Not all the tracks are winners, but damn, the ideas are bursting at the seams. I miss when music like this wasn't chasing streams and feeding the algorithm.
3.75/5
Interesting and experimental. Most points for her production. Some of the songs have been in my head for days after listening. Wish she wasn’t crazy now. 7.5/10
Interesting and creative thx !
I was only half enjoying this one until I realized I needed to imagine that I was dancing to it out on a sunny beach deck. Instantly gained a star!
this really sounds like one the key origin points of CharliXCX when making her style. though saying that, great use of electronics in this album, and having the hit paper planes is always a good thing
++: Bamboo Banga, Bird Flu, Boyz, Jimmy, XR2, Paper Planes, Come Around +: Mango Pickle Down River, World Town, The Turn +-: 20 Dollar -: Hussel 8,1/10
Some songs are lowkey unlistenable, some are lowkey amazing. I probably won't listen to it as much as I did with her other album, but it was still enjoyable and cool and interesting and unlistebanana And while we're at it, I want to revise my Arular rating - it's at least a 5
Found the first track somewhat grating and didn't have high hopes for the rest. Glad I stuck with it because this is a solid record with some really cool themes and sounds.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Så himla kul och oförutsägbart album. Hip hop som låter som inget annat med inspiration och inslag från hela världen. Också ett plus till 20 Dollar med sin homage till Pixies Where is my mind, fast spåret som sådant är nog inte bland de bättre på albumet. På Come around medverkar Timberland och som har ett tydligt färgat sound från början av 2000-talet, det är nog det spår som sticker ut på albumet som mest konventionellt i jämförelse med albumet i övrigt (gillar dock detta spår också). För övriga spår känns väldigt eget med instrument och struktur från världsmusik. Det får bli en 4a för detta album för detta kommer jag nog leta upp igen. Bäst är Bamboo banga, Jimmy, Hussel, Mango pickle Down river, XR2, Paper planes och Come around.
Two M.I.A. albums in a row. She's an interesting talent, standing out in a weird way. Maybe, not as striking as her debut, but this follow up feels more focused. I enjoyed what felt like Gamelan influences.
Paper Planes flashbang, shoutout Mango Pickle
Right wing super fun from the early 2000s before the conspiracies
dense international sound
Good album.
Love the album, too bad she’s insane.
So much millennial music ages so poorly, that it makes this sick out like a sore thumb. But like, sore in a good way. Sore because you were doing something cool with your thumb, like winning a thumb wrestling tournament. I liked it alright when it came out, and had a good time seeing her at a festival once, but I was a rock guy so I didn’t think much of it. Should have.
This was cool. Paper plates is the obvious standout but there are some really fun songs.
Not as engrossing to me as Arular but still pretty banging. Too bad she's a MAGA person now :(. Paper planes is still dope though.
Eclectic, fun. I always enjoyed Paper Planes and I really liked the rest of the album as well.
M.I.A. literally travels the world to refine her sound on her second album. Drawing influences from all over the world, her approach celebrates those different styles in a respectable manner and giving them the spotlight instead of picking at them and discarding them like a vulture for her own advantage. She blends her electropop style with an old Bollywood number on 'Jimmy' and the result is an infectious track that in filled to the brim with energy. I was left in a trance by the rhythmic and pulsating Indian percussion found throughout the record. She even travels down under on 'Mango Pickle Down River', a track complete with didgeridoo and a gang of indigenous child rapping over the beat. She shines a light on the African mindset and struggle on Hussel, while infusing some music of that continent into her style. This album is political yet never forgets that it wants the listener to have fun. The pros and cons of masculinity are tackled playfully on 'Boyz'. The whole record feels like a fusion of world music in the best way possible.
I really enjoyed it. Some of it was rough, but a lot of it sounds surprisingly modern. Hard to believe its almost 20 years old.
Vibey and fun would listen again for sure
Fun album
This album was very diverse and it's my first time doing this challange so here we go
Interesting songs and arrangements. Bollywood samples. Fun!
Love the different samples
Mathangi Arulpragasam, better known as Maya or M.I.A., is a remarkable woman. She was born in London of Tamil parents, and then moved with them to northern Sri Lanka when she was just six months old. They were caught up in the civil war in that country and returned to London as refugees in 1986. Her experiences directly informed her first album Arular and this one, named for her mother, with a wide range of influences and styles. The original plan had been to record in the USA, but trouble with work visas scuppered that and inspired the track Paper Planes attacking the institutional racism of the immigration system. Instead she used a MacBook and Logic Pro to capture music from all round the world outside of traditional studio environments, including Indian Bhangra, African rhythms, Caribbean beats and Aboriginal voices in Australia. She includes cheeky Bollywood and Tamil movie samples and reworkings of lyrics from Jonathan Richman and The Clash, as well as UK Grime and hip hop sounds. The lyrics draw once more on personal experiences as well as wider political topics, with the standout being 20 Dollars which tackles war and casual gun violence, inspired by the cost of an AK-47 in Africa. This is an amazingly rich and diverse album, being World Music in the very best sense of the word. More records should be like this.
An extremely percussive mic drop of loops and culture. It's thrown together influences from multiple continents confidently in a way which pre-empts many of the prestigious female artists of the past few years (circa 2026). You can hear stylistic elements later popularised by Charlie XCX and Peggy Gou peeking through undeniably naughties ideas. And for all those recognisable artefact's it still bears the hallmarks of a genre pushing record making bold and not necessarily commercial things choices. Some of the synths used absolutely scream 2007 indie in a way that now definitely falls into nostalgia for those of us who came up in the decade. I was kind of surprised to see this album pop up in the 1001 records, but now I get it. It's impressively weird. Built on loops in the early days of home production, and extremely London lyrical play and attitude often juxtaposed by their performer in various ways. The result is that it's extremely hard to only half listen to. Lets put it this way, i'm not getting any work done trying to listen to this for the first time.
I’m guessing this made the list because of Slumdog Millionaire.
Dance music so in your face and bright it borders on confrontational. The marriage of world music (for lack of a better genre term) and hip-hop beats makes for an engaging, physical listen. M.I.A. holds it together at the center with her charisma and great sense of flow. “Paper Planes” holds up. What an all-time banger. I keep thinking I’ve heard that song too many times and then I hear it and it’s like the first time all over again.
Oh cool! I like her Paper Planes song. I think I may have had one of her albums before. Lemme look... Yep, Arular, last July. Shit I guess this album has Paper Planes. Good shit mang. 4 stars. I loved all the different African sounds through out, and the references to the pixies song Where Is My Mind. 4 stars.
An incredibly varied album that overdoes it a bit at times. It's a fun listen but nothing I'm incredibly excited to hear again.
Doesn't sound like anything else whatsoever. She's a bit of a weird person BUT this is pretty good
eres todo lo que creen die antwoord que son <3
3.6
MIA is an evil woman but I love how fresh this sounds in 2026. super innovative and exciting. and paper planes
Dang, this caught me be surprise. I had a lot of fun listening to it.
238/1001 M.I.A - Kala Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ❓ M.I.A is one of those artists when it comes to music is someone that I admire the ethos and style of the music, but don't actually love the music produced. It's the introduction of of various styles of music from around the world and putting it all into a coherent hip hop/electronica album. This still feels so fresh, even though it's coming up to its 20th anniversary. Paper Planes is still an absolute banger.
Nice vibes, although I have absolutely no idea how I'll add those tracks to my playlist, because it's a completely new style to me.
Surprisingly loved this! Like everyone else, I've heard Paper Planes my entire life, but it's actually just one of the many bangers on here. I thought the entire thing was great and didn't get tired. She has such a unique sound and perspective - the way this ties in so many genres is so impressive, and especially love the world music samples. It feels so cohesive and just a fun experience. I already want to revisit it. Top Songs: Bamboo Banger, Boyz, Jimmy, Come Around, Paper Planes
Fair
entiendo porque odia a Rosalia la verda jsjaja
I get proven wrong a lot while doing this project & I'm glad that I am. I really didn't know this artist but assumed that it sucked. I was wrong. This is a killer album. The mixture of hip hop dance & world music is so well done. Her lyrics & flow is smooth catchy & intelligent. Im a fan!
Banger after banger. Shame she went all Alex Jones but back when she was putting out this stuff, I was a huge fan. Nothing else sounded like this.
Interesting. The hip hop and south Asian weekend work really well together.
what a weird experience it was
Good
Really a shame that MIA seems to have developed mega brainworms in the last few years. Not here to rank her poasting or her tinfoil drip though. I hadn't listened to this in a really long time, and in listening back I'm reminded that I actually bought it on CD back in its heyday, and I did so on the back of Bird Flu and Boyz; which is to say, before Paper Planes was even on my radar. And lo, the first half of the record is basically nonstop bangers. Of course, it also has Paper Planes on it.
I looked at MIA's Wikipedia and it's too bad she seems to be an anti-vax/5g conspiracy kook these days. Anyhow, wild that this album is almost 20 years old now! I saw MIA at the pacific coliseum on tour for this album when it was new*, and remember at that time feeling like it was a fantastic performance, so I have an impartial review. But I think that this still sounds good, and in terms of impact Kala was huge at the time it came out. *Old man aside: I got a free concert ticket for MIA on tour for this album in 2007 or 2008 from the Georgia Straight -- back then they used to do a ton of free concerts draws where all you had to do was enter your email, and seemingly few people knew this because I went to many free concerts this way. So this felt really nostalgic for a truly bygone era where a print newspaper passed out concert tickets like they were trick or treat candy
Beste Unterhaltung.
una figata, lunghezza perfetta, sound pazzesco
kinda really good, I liked it at the start and strong end Will I listen to again: 99%
M.I.A. packs so many things into these songs: guess vocalists, sampled voices, interpolations of indie rock classics, choruses made up of sounds effects, instrumental flourishes pulled from styles around the world. That it all comes together into songs that are not just catchy but which have undeniable hooks almost seems like a miracle. The reason it works is that everything is well-balanced. Sometimes there's a lot going on, but other times she lets the songs breathe, like on the long, building intro to "Bamboo Banga" that layers on more sounds as it goes. The percussion is a highlight of every song and is never the same. And the lyrics balance political messages with lighter topics, making sure the album is always a blast but is still meaningful. An unpredictable album that still feels fresh almost twenty years later.
Hard to believe this album is nearly 20 years old, it draws from so many diverse styles that it hasn't dated in the way that lots of noughties records seem to have. Like almost everyone else I knew and liked Paper Planes and that's still the stand out track here but surprisingly liked a lot of the other songs too
Boyz, Jimmy, Paper Planes
8 / 10
Bought this album after hearing paper planes, album still sounds great, so many great track on it
A guilty pleasure of mine. I love the drums.
07/10 27/01/25
If you go into this album expecting it to sound like paper planes, you will either be surprised it doesn't sound like paper planes OR you will be disappointed. I, however, enjoy this album very much.
Good one, 4.5
full of interesting influences
Surprisingly enjoyable.
good
Not my musical tastes, but good enough to want to listen again in the future; 4 dot dot dot dot...
First Listen: Aug 13 2021 /!\ DOPE ASS ALBUM ALERT /!\ DOPE ASS ALBUM ALERT /!\ HATERS HAVE NO CULTURE /!\ MIA (was) MY GOAT /!\ I LOVE THIS ALBUM /!\ shit makes me want to throw ass and say shit that would instantly put me on the no-fly list (she lowkey got better album than this one but shhhhh)
Was very unfamiliar with her work other than Paper Planes from this album, so I wasn’t sure what was in store. I found myself grooving by the end of the first song, appreciating the way the beat slowly incorporated other elements throughout to get my head nodding along. Each song seems to work around a different aspect of global music and I really appreciated the exposure throughout. M.I.A.’s rapping style isn’t for everyone and I found myself going in and out of synch with her vocals, which did take me out of some songs (especially Mango Pickle Down River which I think has kids rapping on it too) and keeps this from a five star for me, but I really dug it for the most part. And I was surprised to be vibing and singing along to 20 Dollar having never heard it before only to realize it is a “cover” of Where Is My Mind by The Pixies, but completely different musically.
Sigh. Really wish she wasn't so crazy.
The first MIA record was my first from this list and I enjoyed this one more, West London South Asians represent
It’s a good album just should not be on this list. There are much better and more influential works released that year
At first I thought this was going to be too high paced for me, but I really like the mixture of club music and world music, it blends together so well you can't help but groove out to it. The fast paced sample cuts with the children singing the chorus, really thoughtful and smart album. 8/10
Banger!
M.I.A. doesn’t really hit the same way her music did back in the late 2000s, but during her peak she absolutely made her mark, especially through her incorporation of underground sounds from all over the world. One track on this album that I really enjoyed, and had completely forgotten about until revisiting it, was “Jimmy.” Almost 20 years later, and I still really enjoy that song.
M.I.A.'s most successful album almost certainly achieved that status on the strength of the phenomenal single "Paper Planes". But there's a lot more happening here, a lot of which is challenging for the majority of people. But I can really imagine that a big percentage of those album sales may have some from first generation kids in London who recognized the sounds of their backgrounds blending, unapologetically, with punk and gritty dance music. A lot of albums are heavily shaped by the recording process and that's certainly the case here. M.I.A. planned to record the entire album with Timbaland but couldn't get a visa to stay in the US long enough. Instead, she travelled the globe with different producers, incorporating (so called) third world source material at every turn. Lyrically, the album is about her mother's struggles and focuses on gun violence, visas and critiques of capitalism. While I still prefer "Arular", I have to agree that "Kala" is M.I.A.'s real masterpiece.
Great album
Beste Lieder: Come around
A much bigger improvement over Arular if you ask me but in the right directions. The production can still be annoying at times but for the most part it is a lot more enjoyable then Arular. The one complaint I do have is that the length is a bit much but I also knew Paper Planes was the next song when I was feeling this way so the wait was very much worth it. I am just extremely impressed with how original M.I.A. sounds, the songs have this very different feel from traditional pop and hip hop that make it feel so foreign and new. I am also extremely impressed with just how ahead of her time the production is, I don't think a single song on this album has aged poorly at all and it's over 15 years old. I can see why so many people go back to this album for more then just Paper Planes, it's a banger and a half.
idk why her other album made it to the list, this one would be enough
I've heard Paper Planes by this artist but I am so glad I gave this album a listen. The music is erratic with youth, the lyrics are in a frenzy with indignation at the state of the world, and yet an effervescent joy seeps the album. It's playful, but thought provoking. Boyz was a particular highlight, conscious and catchy. Check out MIA's other stuff too.
really cool album shame shes a MAGA
Probably would never have listened to this one on my own. The beats and layers of sounds is something I'm into. The lyrics seem as much about adding a layer of instrumentation to the other sounds as they are about moving any kind of message across. I found myself jamming to this one. 4/5
This is banging.
Holy shit, now THIS is an album. I'd heard Paper Airplanes before, but never anything else from this album, and, man, is it fantastically chaotic. I don't know what M.I.A. uses to make her beats, but they hit hard. The last song is pretty fucking weak, but otherwise, this album is solid all the through. 4.5/5, but rounding down due to the weak-ass Timbaland song.
It’s sometimes almost purposefully annoying but occasionally feels like a breathtaking new kind of music. It’s got a collage feeling, emphasizing the global south but also borrows from Modern Lovers, New Order, the Pixies, and the Clash. Like a lot of self-obsessed pop figures (see West, Kanye), she seems like a paranoid, conspiracy-obsessed creature, and ultimately kind of a tragic story of fame.
8/10 Favorite: Paper Planes
Great music to get pumped up.
Very modern sounding even today, loved the African drum influences
7/10… hip hop / new rave / *2007
own
Another great MIA record, though I'm not quite sure this one transported me the way her debut album did. Still, there are moments of brilliance on here, and I loved her cover of Where Is My Mind? She's great.
Damn..I love her! If I'm on the dance floor the XR2 hits, I'll be rolling to it all night.
Do I like MIA when I dive deeper than the singles? I guess so. It's so experimental and fun, and I love hearing all the influences.
This list does short shrift to hip-hop. And what gets included can be a little head scratching. But while I wouldn’t want to spend time in a room with M.I.A., this album is pretty damn good. The mighty have definitely fallen, but if you can separate art from the artist, this is a pretty enjoyable listen.
Really feels like I should be blaring this out of the open window of my car. You could release this today and it would feel absolutely cutting edge. Paper Planes is of course the standout, but doesn’t feel out of place on the album. Truly a unique talent.
Habías escuchado antes "Paper planes" y me encanta. Incluso este disco entero y otros suyos (creo que hay uno más por lo menos en la lista). Esta vez me ha llegado más y me he guardado: "BirdFlu" y "Mango pickle down river". Solo por esas canciones lo voy a subir a 4 estrellas ****.
Look me in the eye and tell me Paper Planes isn’t a banger. Rest of the album has some highs and lows but overall this is a fun listen that’s hard not to get sucked into.
Early 2000's pop jams. Very busy. 4/5
I fell in love at 0:09 where she quotes Johnathan Richman.
This was an experience i did not expect. What a trip.
Of course I knew Paper Planes before but didn't know the rest of the album. Really great storytelling and incentive music. Enjoyed this.
I don't love everything here, but it's absolutely insane that this is from *2007*! Some of this would still sound brand new if it were released today! Can't help but be impressed by how forward-thinking this album really is, plus who doesn't love "Paper Planes"?
Better than Coldplay
Pretty good. Must've been bonkers back in the day.
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It was fun hearing a reference to an album that we have already listened to in this group! The track "20 Dollars" lyrically references the Pixies song "Where Is My Mind?" Two things stand out to me for this album — the percussion and the choice of samples. There were some clearly intentional choices made to bring the sounds of music from cultures with roots in parts of Asia and Africa to this album, and that choice is one of Kala's greatest strengths. Song picks for me are BirdFlu, 20 Dollars, and of course Paper Planes.
I think among music circles the story of MIA’s decline is pretty well known, What I’ll say is this album isn’t bad, 4/5 I don’t know
M.I.A. has such an idiosyncratic sound - and it slaps! What's weird is that 'Paperplanes' doesn't sound like the rest of the album really. A lonely anthem on an album of bangers!
Quite interesting
Dancy, dance dance
Classic album from MIA with some great singles .
I liked this a lot. I remember Paper Planes as a soundtrack bit and liked it then. Listening to the entire album several times was a different experience. Great sounds different sounds. Great contributions. Thanks Timbaland. I enjoyed the groove.
102/1001 :: M.I.A. - Kala Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 7 Listen before you die: Yes Hadn’t listened to this in a while. It’s held up really well and the production is still top notch. I didn’t realize the sample in Paper Planes was a Clash song until recently. That’s pretty rad. I also forgot that she used lyrics from The Pixies Where is My Mind on 20 Dollar. Also rad. British born, Sri Lankan textures and American hip hop beats, flows and influence mixed together to create an album that works on a multitude of levels. That said, I do think some of the songs get a little samesie and potentially overstay their welcome at times. Either way it’s an influential album that has global appeal.
It was fine, I get why this was a big deal. Paper Planes is great, I'm not so sure the rest holds up. A bit inconsistent at times, and surprisingly slow at times.
Pretty solid, pretty interesting. that Timbaland feature could have not happened.
M.I.A. is a bit like Candy Crush and other dopamine mobile games. It's not necessarily that good, but you just can't stop. Same goes with M.I.A. Her beats are really delicious and the timing in her rap is on point, but the lyrics are complete jibberish and nonsensical - even to me who usually don't care about the lyrics. But it kind of doesn't matter because even though it's nonsense, it's super catchy with easy lines to remember. And in a way it is a bit refreshing for lyrics to not be super deep, and be about love. 'Paper planes' was everywhere when it came out, and I've heard it 10^13 times. 'Jimmy' and 'Come Around' were new for me, but really cool as well. Other tracks are decent as well. One thing I keep asking myself is how many gigabytes of gun samples she must have on her hard drive. Literally all types of claps, and most other percussive noises as well sounds like a gun. And then there's the actual gun sounds as well. While part of me feel like her music isn't particularly smart, and actually stupid and annoying in a lot of ways, I constantly find myself digging along. I think I'll just have to admit that this is actually kinda good.
M.I.A. really brought something fresh to the mid-2000s. I really enjoyed the aggressiveness and attitude in the songs and samples—they hit hard and go heavy. The rapping isn’t great, but I feel the vocals are used more like an instrument than anything else here. Much like with Justice’s album Cross, the hit single “Paper Planes” is quite a departure from the rest of the record. It’s got a great hook, built around The Clash sample and those iconic gunshot effects. That song was absolutely everywhere at the time. Fresh, fun, and clearly something different. It gets a weak 4 from me.
This was a pretty enjoyable album. Until now I hadn't heard any songs other than "Paper Planes" from MIA, nice to know she has some other decent songs.
I genuinely thought I was going to give this album a 5. It's really fucking awesome, I love the sampling, I love M.I.A. As a whole, there's a lack of cohesiveness, I think?
TBH I expected to hate this but I really liked it. Its monotonous approach is what I'm usually looking for when it comes to music, so with that it already have 50% of the work done. But also, the arab influences, the simple yet powerful bases, etc, while keeping the songs catchy is what really won me. By the way the Mango Pickle Down River song is awful with that children choruses. And Paper Planes, besides its fame, is not the best song in the album at all. Maybe I don't like children choruses? Another brick in the wall is not my thing either... Listening notes: I liked the repetitive approach, but the songs with the children (Mango Pickle Down River) was atrocious. The songs that sounded more arab were super cool. Was 20 Dollar a Blue Monday cover? Really dig it.
This hit me like a Bamboo Banga. Don’t tell the Boyz
Meget stort album for mig i gymnasiet, stadig en banger. Cool og unik i hvordan det lyder som musik en faktisk verdensborger ville lave. Lige så meget respekt for melodier som alt det metal og punk jeg lyttede til i gymnasiet (ikke ret meget) Ærgerligt at den slutter på et noget halvhjertet Timbaland feature, men sådan var det jo i 00’erne. egentlig også ret vildt hvor meget Paper Planes skiller sig ud fra resten af albummet. World Town bedste nummer
This album has three absolute bangers: Paper Planes, Come Around, and Boyz. The rest of the album is pretty enjoyable too, and very eclectic mix of influences/sounds. It's neat what she does with the Pixies song on 20 Dollar.
Really cool, definitely going to listen again.
A fusion of African beats, east Indian melodies, and funk. Will listen to again to pay more attention to the lyrics. The track XR2 is a precursor to Beyonce's marching band track.
Decent, lots of different stuff. Albums like this refresh how I feel about this list, knew a couple of singles this album felt different and fresh and one I'd want to revisit
First exposure to this group. Well, until I read that she had music on the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire. Fun to listen to the rhythm and beat. Would need to study the background to the lyrics in most of the songs in order to appreciate the depth and message. Her personal journey is interesting and full of challenges i cannot fathom. Would listen to her work again.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Low key banger
7/10
Really solid album. Cacophonous and unique. Some solid tracks and no wasted space. 4.5 but on the 4 side.
I enjoyed Kala more than M.I.A.'s first album! Kala had a lot of energy, which drew me in so much. Anybody my age will remember how big "Paper Planes" was, and now in the context of this album and with my advanced age, I can appreciate what M.I.A. was doing with that song and the whole album. The political themes, lyrics, incorporation of Indian music were very well done. M.I.A. deserve to be on this list for that alone; there's nobody who was doing what she was doing in 2007, or since. 3.5, rounding up.
Sorti en 2007, dans un paysage musical encore dominé par les formats pop et rock bien établis, "Kala", le deuxième opus de l'artiste britannico-srilankaise Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, plus connue sous le nom de M.I.A. a fait l'effet d'une déflagration. L'histoire de la création de "Kala" est fondamentale pour en comprendre la nature. Suite à des problèmes de visa qui l'empêchent d'entrer aux États-Unis pour y travailler avec le producteur star Timbaland (avec qui elle ne réalisera finalement que le titre "Come Around"), M.I.A. transforme cette contrainte administrative en une force créatrice sans précédent. Elle décide alors de faire le tour du monde pour enregistrer son album. Inde, Trinité-et-Tobago, Jamaïque, Australie, Libéria, Royaume-Uni... Chaque destination devient une source d'inspiration, un terrain de jeu sonore. "Kala" n'est pas un album de "world music" au sens touristique du terme ; c'est un véritable carnet de voyage sonore, un documentaire brut sur la globalisation vue depuis le Sud. Le résultat est un maelström sonore d'une densité folle. M.I.A., épaulée par des producteurs de génie comme Switch et Diplo, ne se contente pas de sampler des musiques exotiques. Elle les absorbe, les digère, les déconstruit pour les recracher sous une forme nouvelle, hybride et explosive. On y entend les percussions assourdissantes de l'urumee du Tamil Nadu sur "Bird Flu", les rythmes effrénés du Baile Funk brésilien, l'énergie survoltée du dancehall jamaïcain sur "Boyz", des échos de hip-hop underground, de grime londonien et d'électro abrasive. L'album est un collage maximaliste, où les sirènes de police, les bruits d'animaux, les chants d'enfants et les slogans politiques s'entrechoquent dans une frénésie jouissive. Cette approche, résolument "do it yourself" et parfois lo-fi, est la plus grande force de l'album. Le son est saturé, les basses sont distordues, la production est rugueuse. C'est un parti pris esthétique qui sert le propos : dépeindre un monde chaotique, surchargé d'informations, violent mais vibrant de vie. L'album porte le nom de sa mère, Kala, et il y a dans ce disque toute la force d'une figure matriarcale, protectrice mais féroce, ancrée dans ses racines tout en étant tournée vers l'avenir. Bien sûr, le vaisseau amiral de cet album reste l'inoxydable "Paper Planes". Sous ses airs de comptine entraînante, avec son sample de "Straight to Hell" de The Clash et ses bruitages iconiques de coups de feu et de caisse enregistreuse, le morceau est une critique subversive du regard que porte l'Occident sur les immigrés, vus tour à tour comme des menaces terroristes ou des profiteurs économiques. Le succès planétaire de ce titre a prouvé que le grand public était prêt pour des sons et des messages plus complexes, ouvrant une brèche dans laquelle d'innombrables artistes se sont engouffrés par la suite. Mais réduire Kala à "Paper Planes" serait une erreur. "Bamboo Banga", avec son rythme martial et ses paroles défiantes, est une entrée en matière parfaite. "Jimmy" est une relecture disco-pop survoltée d'un classique de Bollywood, à la fois nostalgique et furieusement moderne. "Boyz", avec ses percussions trinidadiennes, est une explosion d'énergie pure, un appel à la danse presque tribal. Chaque morceau est une expérience, une plongée dans un univers sonore unique. Alors, pourquoi 4 étoiles et non 5 ? Pourquoi ce sentiment qu'il s'agit d'un chef-d'œuvre d'innovation mais pas d'un chef-d'œuvre absolu ? Car l'audace de "Kala" est aussi ce qui peut constituer sa limite. L'album est épuisant. Son esthétique du "trop-plein" peut, sur la durée, devenir abrasive pour l'auditeur. Quelques titres, comme "The Turn" ou "20 Dollar", bien qu'intéressants, n'ont pas la force de frappe des morceaux phares et peuvent sembler être des esquisses ou des interludes dans ce tourbillon sonore. Le chaos, bien que maîtrisé, frôle parfois la cacophonie, et la production volontairement brute peut donner l'impression que certaines idées n'ont pas été poussées jusqu'à leur plein potentiel mélodique. C'est le prix à payer pour une telle prise de risque. En conclusion, "Kala" est un disque imparfait, mais son importance est immense. Il a dynamité les frontières entre pop, hip-hop, électro et musiques du monde. Il a prouvé qu'un disque pouvait être à la fois politiquement engagé, intellectuellement stimulant et incroyablement dansant. M.I.A. a créé un manifeste pour une génération mondialisée, connectée et contestataire. Ce n'est pas un disque que l'on écoute passivement ; c'est un disque qui nous bouscule, nous agresse et nous électrise. Et c'est précisément ce qui le rend si précieux et si essentiel, même des années après sa sortie.
I had no expectations, but it was kinda ok!