Reviews (page 4 of 9)
2.5/5 not my taste but well mixed
7/10… hip hop / new rave / *2007
own
Mixed feelings. On one hand, the sound of this album is multilayered and very interesting. On the other, I hated listening to it.
I am not a fan of hiphop but this was an ok experience.
Jeez, irritating and boring for me. I gave her other album 2 stars too, not sure why there are two albums here. Even the fact that I have heard Paper Planes before did not help.
Really starts to grab. Electronica not usually my cup of listen but this is endlessly intriguing. Shout-out to the Pixies? Didn't see that coming. Is raphop a word? Electronirap? Fun.
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…
Airplanes is a 5. The rest of the album is not as memorable
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.
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.
soo anstrengend I'm sorryyy
Oh good gosh. What an almost entirely unmitigated pile of crap this record is. I say "almost", because Paper Planes is solid work, and probably gives this record a full point better than the rest of it deserves. But I'm not sure that I was able to get through a whole track other than that one. The thing that kills me is that there are these little hints that it could be an enjoyable record if she'd just rein it in with the over reliance on random sound effects and repetition. On the somewhat rare occasion when she employs some musicality, I can see the appeal. But so much of this record feels like someone programmed a bunch of sound effects to an old Casio keyboard and then recorded their toddler banging away on it while MIA very britishly shouts into the mic. It's almost entirely unlistenable. 2/5
Talentless dribble.
Bird Flu reminded me that I'm pretty sure my sister was the only person in the country to get Bird flu Boyz sounded like the song that plays at the end of The Phantom Menace when the Gungans beat the Trade Confederation. Paper Planes is a great song but so jarringly different from the rest of the album
This was a lot better than I expected.
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.
I would give it a 5⭐️ 15 years ago but not today.
Similar to the other M.I.A. album I've had so far, it's a very interesting and eclectic album, from someone clearly brimming with ideas. Sometimes probably too brimming to be fair.
A bit intense, some interesting rhythms, but mainly over the top
Ok
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 ****.
6.5/10 The album is good but not my style, some songs I will rarely listen to... M.I.A was a great artist, but this album didn't appeal to me that much.
The Single Paper Planes is the standout track of this album The rest is cool, but no more ear-worms in this collection
fly like paper high like planes
I just don’t get it. Some songs had a nice groove but the rhyming style and lyrics just didn’t work. Cecily Strong / Gemma skits nailed the style I am referring to perfectly. Paper Planes is only bright spot. 2/5
This is possibly the worst album I've had on here. Maybe it's a taste thing?
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.
I was really surprised when the first lyrics on the album were Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. It sucked me in with that! I liked this record more than I expected. Her accent makes the vocals sound interesting and the reggae influence does the same for the music. 3.5 would be appropriate.
My god is she insufferable. I always found her annoying and felt very vindicated when she turned into a tin foil hat wearing rfk/tulsi supporting antivaxxer. One of the most overrated artists of the 21st century.
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
Seems like a relic now but was so hot back then. Album did not stand the test of time.
No thanks
Сложно оценить. Однозначно этой записи не будет в числе моих любимых. Да и танцевальная музыка не для прослушивания, а собственно для танцев. В общем, для очень редкого разнообразия подойдёт. 4 из 10.
Genuinely amazing album, shame she's a far right crazy now
Early 2000's pop jams. Very busy. 4/5
We all know "Paper Planes", and I thought I liked that song. But this album gets progressively more annoying the longer you listen to it.
I fell in love at 0:09 where she quotes Johnathan Richman.
Some decent moments but mostly unenjoyable
Paper Planes is still a banger
Paper Planes still sounds great but the rest of the album didn’t land the way I remembered. Maybe it just sounded better when I was 19 and drinking carry outs under random bridges. ★★½
I like some of her songs but not really on this album. I didn't hate it.
Production is great but M.I.A. is a bollix
I liked the different take of protest music.
paper planes will forever be a banger. Rest of the album is OK. Lots of south asian influences which makes for a fun electronica vibe.
This was an experience i did not expect. What a trip.
Like the music but not the artist. Sad.
The worst kind of weird, but not quite
I have been wanting to listen to this album because I have liked what I heard from M.I.A. The first couple songs were pretty bad. Maybe I just wasn't fully into the right mindset yet. By Jimmy and Hussel, I liked a lot about it, but still there were moments of "yeah this isn't very good". Then at World Town I had found a new appreciation for the album and every song after that hit perfectly. I'm not sure if my opinion of this album is very high, but I loved a lot from it. I think it will only get better with time as I relisten to the best and forget the worst. This is not my genre of choice today, but is not much off from what I listened to as a kid. Some of that appreciation for this type of music is still there and is shown with an album like this.
I liked it, but Paper Planes seems out of place. Good listen though
Of course I knew Paper Planes before but didn't know the rest of the album. Really great storytelling and incentive music. Enjoyed this.
Paper Planes is the big hit here. The rest is very creative and unique and I like it for that, I probably won't really listen to the other songs though.
460 albums in. Easily the worst so far. 0 stars.
z albumu znam jedną piosenkę że względu na to że przewijała się już jakiś czas w internecie, i myślę że jest najlepsza ze wszystkich piosenek w albumie. na pewno pierwsze piosenki mi się nie podobały ponieważ były zbyt techno i za mało melodyczne. ostatecznie nie bawiłam się zbyt dobrze, można powiedzieć nawet że byłam dosyć zmęczona tymi piosenkami. daje mu 2/10
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.
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"?
2.5/5
Awful!!
Better than Coldplay
Pretty good. Must've been bonkers back in the day.
top
Отстойный реп с интересной музыкой. Было бы гораздо лучше, если бы они не использовали вокал
Gave this a few spins but didn’t really grab me. Some of the songs felt quite empty and repetitive. Did enjoy 20 Dollar but that might be because it lifts the lyrics at the end from Pixies. Remember her being pretty popular when this first came out, but can’t see myself returning to this one.
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.
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.
This album has so many varied sounds that make it really unique as a hip hop album. It is cool to hear the south asian musical elements and the inclusion of so many other musical traditions as well. This isn't an album I would personally be drawn to listen to again, but I think it is objectively well done and very creative. And Paper Planes is obviously iconic.
Tons of nostalgia from this one. When I was in university one of my roommates Robyn loved playing single songs heavily on repeat. Tbh it ruined some songs for me. Especially since most popular songs you already hear everywhere without even trying. So when she became a huge fan of the popular song at the time Paper Planes. I tried to overplay it for her as a ploy to ruin a song for her. Well instead it formed a deep love for the song for both of us. So now every time either of us hear the song we think of the fun times as roommates together. Years later MIA became quite popular in the outdoor film scene. Likely due to the song Bad Girls being used in an all female film. Which made me circle back to her music and dig into her discography. The album Kala overall captures MIAs style well IMO. But out of all her music I tend to visit and play more music off the albums AIM and Matangi. They tend to come off a bit harder and genuine She is also very well known as a filmmaker herself. So make sure to check out her music videos. She has a documentary that I’ve had recommended to me before as well. But I haven’t made the time to watch yet.
This was a fun dance album
Personally, I think this album was really fun overall. It had its dips, and songs that weren't working). But when the bangers bang like the stars on this album do, they can carry the rest of the album on their backs. Some favorites being Boyz (feat JAY-Z), Mango Pickle Down River (feat. The Wilcannia Mob, 5 9-14 year old indigenous boys from Australia lmfao), and of Course Paper Planes. The features from Afrikan Boy and Rye Rye on Paper Planes on D2 are dope. I ventured into both of their discographies years ago through that song. Rye Rye especially having such a unique cadence that I really dig. Not to forget about you M.I.A, you're good too I guess. This would score a 4 for me if I was dancing or groovin on my feet to the sick drum patterns and unique instrumentation. But if you're sitting down or just chillin, its a 3. I was sitting down for most of it, so... I'd still give it a 3.5/5 though, as it had me moving around. Rounding down for the fluff in here.
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
I love this album and listen to it a lot with my daughter.
At the time and place this record hit, now listening back it is good but feels of it's time
Paper planes
I was going to dismiss this album because I am so not into Hip Hop. However, I totally dig "Paper Planes" - it lifted my overall impression of this album - in addition to the solid production skills overall.
We've once again arrived at an album by another English artist I only know one song by, which happens to be on said album. Magnificent. I was 10 years old when Paper Planes came out. Though I hadn’t really started listening to music recreationally at that point, it was honestly never one of my favorite hit songs. It’s memorable and has a fun gimmick (in that half the chorus is just sound effects), but it’s not something I’ve ever intentionally put on during my leisure time until today. Part of me has a lot of respect for Kala – some really left field decisions went into its production and I can’t think of many enduring pop albums from this era that took those kinds of risks. However, another part of me finds many of the resulting tracks somewhere between mildly annoying and near unlistenable (which doesn’t bode well for its rating, regardless of anything positive I can say about it). The highest praise I can give M.I.A. here is that I feel like she walked so Charli XCX, SOPHIE and 100 gecs (artists who released some of my favorite albums of the last decade) could run. Kala may sound a bit primitive by comparison, but it was ahead of the curve back in ‘07 and it’s got a couple fun tunes here & there. Highlights: Hussel, XR2, Paper Planes
A mi ya de por si me cuesta escuchar musica distinta, pero ni las canciones mas famosas me gustaron 😭 asocio Paper Planes con trends de tiktok y el resto es como que me shockearon no se como explicarlo, capaz es un album para escuchar un par de veces ya habiendote acostumbrado al sonido. Tengo entendido que ella es de Sri Lanka y que eso influye en el estilo, no me enganchan facil cosas que son tan exóticas para mi lol Ademas suelo chusmear el album en aoty mientras escucho y me desmotiva un montón cuando veo que la cancion mejor rateada es de las primeras y encima ni me gustó, deberia dejar de hacer eso porque después estoy un poco pesimista
El motivo y el mensaje detrás de este album me parece extremadamente necesario y ojalá fuese lo habitual en la música y en el arte en general. Dicho esto, aunque la musicalidad es interesante por lo poco habitual de los ritmos afro-asiáticos en los que se basa, se me hace demasiado repetitivo cada track, donde, como tantos otros fokin músicos, se agarra a una sola idea y la extienden 3 minutos. Aun así, hay temas que funcionan e incluso se me hacen muy disfrutables en según qué contextos, en una ball room, por ejemplo (me creo de Chicago ahora). Las que no me cansaron: Bamboo Banga, Jimmy, XR2, Paper Planes (lo descontextualizada y tergiversada que está esta canción es heavy, malditos anglos)
Pues uno de esos discos que, aunque no terminen de dejarte loco, es imposible no respetar. Es literalmente la globalización sonora antes de que fuese la norma, hay una variedad envidiable de beats de todo el mundo y eso le otorga muchísima identidad. La consecuencia es ser puro collage, claro: brillante por momentos (véase Boyz o Paper Planes, icónicas), pero también agotador en su saturación. Bajo la máscara de DIY hay un juego constante entre ser agitadora política y popstar a la vez, y aunque la mezcla a veces funciona, en otros tramos abruma y descentra un poco. Aun así, hay que reconocerle que este disco suena a mundo. Genuinamente único, y eso ya puntúa. Favs: Boyz, Paper Planes, Come Around (me gusta prime Timbaland, sorry)
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!
low 5 knew this album would slap and it does. hopefully i get really into it over the next few weeks and i increase the rating further.
Interesting blend of styles and it's a creative album.
Quite interesting
Really dense production. Some songs have too much going on, and most of the lyrics leave something to be desired. But there are a lot of world music influences on this album, including a feature from an aboriginal rap group. Overall it really isn’t great, but it is interesting. And I really do like the Paper Planes song 🤷♂️
кал, который невозможно слушать. его название «kala» полностью описывает альбом
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.)
paper planes is the obvious standout and i don’t even really like that song too much. it was cool enough but it never really went anywhere for me. low 3
No doubt about it, M.I.A. is a complicated and often problematic artist. But her songs are fuckin' bangers.
Highly recommended you listen to her interview with Rick Rubin. She is a fascinating person.
I like parts of this album, but it's all just a little too frenetic for my taste.
Not for me
Bamboo Banga - 5/10 I can appreciate the experimental aspect of this song but the first minute actually was very hard to stomach. if that wasn't enough I don't think she said anything at all to be honest BirdFlu - 7/10 Boyz - 7/10 Jimmy - the synth was nice touch but its kind of boring 7/10 Hustle - Afrikan boy was lowkey the best part of this song 8/10 Mango Pickle Down RIver - Was gonna say this song has no redeemable qualities and then some kid dropped the hardest bar "And when I catch a fish, I put it in the fridge" still 3/10 20 Dollar - The concept of the song is cool and I think the message of the song is really important but I think some of the lyrics are a bit corny but it was still solid 8/10 World Town - not much to say was decent 7.5/10 The Turn - this is the experimental I thought I was gonna find more of 8/10 XR2 - 8/10 it got a bit repetitive but it still went hard. Paper Planes - 9/10 song was a banger Come Around - the song was really good because M.I.A. wasn't in mortal combat with the beat 8/10 Overall the album had really lows and some high highs I would give it 6.5/10
Half is unlistenable, but enjoyed some of the experimental elements. Paper planes wasn’t enough.
Can't tell if I liked it or the change of pace
Horrible
Overall: 6/10 There were elements of this that I really loved and other parts that gave me a headache. I honestly didn't expect there to be so many elements of dance music. Lots of world music influences peaked through the cracks as well. Sadly, there were a lot of repetitive phrasing that I found pretty annoying. Paper Planes is one of the best songs of this century though. Fav Song: Paper Planes
Reviewing tge genre more than the album - I will say this is more musical than most, but never my choice.
Exceptional!
i want to like this album and m.i.a. a lot more than i actually do in practice. the beats can be so innovative and cool, and her flow and presence is really unique. but a lot of times i find her music to be a bit of a slog, this album included. it has all the potential in the world! but does not meet it for me, unfortunately.
I often wonder, how can a band or artist create one song of immense brilliance and nothing else in their career. 5 stars for Paper Planes. A generous 2 stars for the rest.
It’s like if everything I disliked about Arular was expanded and repeated tenfold, and ran for fifty minutes. I cannot believe how much I disliked this. The only saving grace is the (just OK) Paper Planes. The lyrics are consistently shallow, the beats are often unbearable, and as I said with her last album, the aggressive London-ness is similarly unbearable. Listening to this places you right in the deep end of the multitude of London high streets where you might be overwhelmed with noise. I live in a city but London is often a bit too much for me, and this album exacerbated that. I think I hated most of this. I’m impressed at that. I paid about £2 for the CD in a charity shop a few months ago. A waste.
Man, this album takes me back. Just a phenomenal album start to finish.
This is such a crazy album. I’m not sure if I like it in its entirety as some parts are a bit annoying, but there were some really interesting moments and the production is awesome. And Paper Planes is a great song, didn’t know it was by her.
Chaotic, bold, catchy, and always interesting.
So many noises. The fact that there are two M.I.A. albums is insane.
Repetitive
Dancy, dance dance
Terrible
I liked her debut more. I respect it for trying unique things but it sounded awful to me. I don't know how you can use Blue Monday and Where is my Mind in the same song and butcher it so bad. There was usually an element of a song that I liked or the song would get decent after 4 minutes of build up but even then it was never satisfying enough to warrant it. LCD Soundsystem can take 4+ minutes to get to where the song really kicks in, but his keep me interested along the build up instead of making me wince with how bad it sounds. Paper planes and one other save this from 1 star. Rating: 1.9
Classic album from MIA with some great singles .
The sort of tunes that end up on a FIFA soundtrack. And there’s a reason we all turn them off after a week. One of the very few albums I’ve had to skip through tracks. Feel like 60 seconds of each track lets you hear everything you need to know
far cry vibes
Such a shame that she’s insane now, because this was and remains an absolute blast.
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.
“Paper Planes” is pretty great, of course. But nothing else on the album approaches that quality. Still, I’d say Kala might be slightly better than Arular. I won’t be returning to either very often, though.
Meh. There are a few songs with good beats, but overall it comes across as a techno/hip-hop/world mash up that doesn’t seem like it can really decide what it wants to be. I certainly appreciate the African/world influence, but I just wish it was done better.
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.
Other than Paper Planes, no song on this album was that good.
Sounds like a headache
Shot a few holes into the ceiling of Zaphod’s with my imaginary gun to this one… It’ll forever be the soundtrack to indie sleaze but there are some serious jams on it and love the nods to classic punk.
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.
Paper Planes is the anomaly here
I like the Sri Lankan influence but not a fan of just the noises. Paper Planes is a banger and the only good song.
Glitchy and parts are fun - but ultimately not one I will revisit often
Pretty solid, pretty interesting. that Timbaland feature could have not happened.
It's definitely creative. Some of it I actually liked, but most of it is just repetitive noise to me.
Oef, Mango Pickle Down River is gewoon echt een slecht nummer... Ik vond het vorige M.I.A. album best leuk en vermakelijk, maar deze is een stuk experimenteler waarbij het helaas vergeet dat muziek niet alleen experimenteel moet zijn, het is fijn als het ook goed is. Dit album is vooruitstrevend en nog steeds klinkt het niet als iets wat ik eerder heb gehoord. Maar haar debuut album gebruikt grotendeels dezelfde elementen maar is dan ook nog gewoon echt prettig om naar te luisteren. Dit is soms gewoon een soort futuristische brij aan muziek die vooral heel hard gaat. Bizar trouwens hoe Paper Planes echt com-pleet anders klinkt dan alle andere nummers op het album. Dit klinkt veel meer als haar eerste album en veel minder als haar futuristische gekke sound op dit album. Is dit een throwaway ofzo nog? Timba productie blijft echt top. Zou er een album van hem in de lijst staan? Dat nummer voelt namelijk als een meer focussed nummer dan de rest. Alles bij elkaar; ik ben geen fan. Ik snap wel een beetje wat het idee er achter is, maar het is mij iets te futuristisch en iets te veel gericht op iets nieuws doen. Beetje zoals sommige Björk albums. FAVO: Paper Planes, Come around
Pretty good. I had only heard Paper Planes before. Started a bit abrasive until I got into vibe
Awful
Funky from the jump. By track three I was getting full HBCU halftime-show energy—big, banging rhythms with brassy, drumline confidence. Then it moves into an international-sounding mix of sleek, progressive beats and percussion that feels distinctly African.
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.
Bulls....
This suuuucks. Bamboo Banga is one of the worst songs I have ever heard. British rappers sound corny as hell. The same way the words "my lord" said aloud in a film by someone without a British accent sound odd, rap music and British accents just sound off. Without Slumdog Millionaire becoming the hit it did, M.I.A. would just be another weird act with no following in the UK. It doesn't get better with BirdFlu. Oh my god, it's like a challenge to see if she can make each song more annoying than the last. Every song on this album is awful. Nothing screams "serious musician" like having children rap on your album. She just steals lyrics. Where Is My Mind? from the Pixies and some lyrics from Paper Planes. In '92 I was most certainly not listening to this awful, awful album. I think it would be safe to say that in America M.I.A. is a one-hit wonder and she still managed to get two albums in this project. I'm not going to say she alone calls into question the validity of the methodology used to put albums on the list...but she might be Exhibit A. Two albums? There are so few American rap albums on this list already. I like Paper Planes less because this album is so bad. Come Around with Timbaland is the best song on the album.
I mean yeah she’s crazy, but name one genius that ain’t crazy. These songs are fun. She samples The Clash and interpolates the Pixies! Favorite songs were Jimmy, 20 Dollar, Paper Planes, and Come Around.
Has one massive hit, but the rest is annoyingly repetitive.
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.
love it helps me lock in
Yeah, no. As always, MIA's is more grating than enjoyable. I don't know what we're supposed to take away from sample on sample on sample. There's so much happening in every track that nothing really takes hold and sticks with the listener, even if there's a solid hook buried in the mix somewhere.
I’ve no inherent issue with repetition, but I do when the sounds and loops are this uninteresting.
I don't get it. Low 2. Shrug
An eclectic mix of styles: electro-pop, rap, bollywood, disco. I appreciate the effort but I can't stand the result. If martians find the list of 1001 albums after humanity has disappeared, and check this album out as one of the 'must listens' they will certainly scratch their little green heads and blink their transparent eyelids in disbelief.
Below mid for me
Hated the first song at first, then grew to enjoy it by the end of the track. I could see myself liking it more in the right environment. Lots of unique vibes, even the songs I wasn't a fan of (almost all of them) felt like they had something interesting going on behind them. Really loved the songs I did like, but won't be rushing to listen to the rest anytime soon.
Weird one for sure. Wasn't really a fan, but i would be interested to hear some of her newer stuff potentially. I like the craziness of it, but it feels like the songs aren't really ones that I would turn on much myself
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?
Extremely one note, but I do like the note
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.
Well produced, interesting blend of styles. However, I'm not a fan. The music is fine at best for me. Fave track on this listen: Paper Planes
"This is when "filling a quota" becomes more important than actual talent... one star... at best. this album is a lot... of nothing."
Not as bad as I expected, but still not good at all. Most songs I could only listen to halfway through. Just annoying and I was not impressed with her lack of flow.
I enjoyed the album. Not the usual type of music I listen to so I am glad I was introduced to something new.
I reviewed M.I.A.'s Arular about 300 albums ago, and I thought it was fine. However, I own a copy of Kala, but it's been a hot minute since I've listened to all of it. I don't really remember much about it, outside of "Paper Planes," but I never chucked my copy in the trash, so I must have found something on it worth keeping. Let's catch a paper plane back to the aughts! I don't regret my decision to hang on to my CD of Kala, but I also wouldn't shed many tears if I'd manage to lose it somehow in the last decade. There were some things about Kala that were great, but it a few negatives as well. A for the positive, the bass beats stood out to me as really great on this album, there were some excellent samples and added sounds on some tracks, and the production was consistently good. However, M.I.A.'s rapping and vocals were pretty sub-par to me, and she relied too much on the bass to drive the sound of this album, and didn't branch out much, creating an album that could be bland for stretches. Kala started off pretty good, with "Bamboo Banga," "BirdFlu," and "Boyz" being carried by some excellent bass elements. Of that initial run though, "Boyz" was easily the best, with the added horns and cheering sounds elevating its overall sound, and giving it a fun vibe. "Jimmy," though, was awesome. It had a great dance beat, and the string samples kicked ass. Hearing this song was the strongest factor outside of "Paper Planes" for owning this album. The humming bass on "Mango Pickle Down River" was really unique, and I liked the song structure of M.I.A. adding her own rap in between verses from the group she sampled. "20 Dollar" made excellent usage of sampling The Pixies, and I enjoyed the slower tempo to the main melody. "World Town" was a solid jam as well, with some excellent bass and percussion elements. But the crown jewel of Kala is still "Paper Planes." The sample usage, pulsing bass sounds, and sound effects all combine to make this song incredibly fun and memorable. I will never pass up a chance to listen to "Paper Planes." Even though there was plenty of stuff on this album that I liked, it wasn't really enough to make me want to listen to this regularly. Kala is a bit of a one-trick pony, and I feel like it could have been more if M.I.A. had been willing to experiment a bit more.
This hit me like a Bamboo Banga. Don’t tell the Boyz
Ihan ok hiphop-levy. Yllättävää, miten erilainen Paper Planes-hitti on verrattuna muun levyn tekstuuriin -- veikkaan, että jokunen levyn ostaja pettyi, kun muut biisit onkin muuta. 3/5
this is what I imagine bad bitches listening too like around 2010
Enjoyed
Paper Planes is the only song on here that doesn't sound like incoherent noise. Not my cup of tea at all.
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
Fed! Følte mig lidt gammel da jeg regnede ud (quick mafs) at den her plade er 18 gammel. Beholder mixtape-energien fra hendes tidligere dage, hvilket både betyder at det er super kreativt og at der er noget fjollet filler.
This album is so god damn annoying.. I don't even know how to describe it.. I just hate it. Paper Planes is cool, but not nearly enough to justify bringing this album above 1 star.
I suppose this deserves credit for being creative - smashing together so many genres and styles is brave, but this album is diabolically executed. Paper Planes is obviously the highlight, but it isn't nearly strong enough to carry the rest of this record
Listened Before? N It was fine. I really like Paper Planes - the rest was meh. Kind of a one hit wonder. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Paper Planes
Amateurish and unfocused, yet has something unique about it that draws you in at times.
I made it 3 songs into this dumpster fire before calling it quits. Repetitive, and a ful. Then switched to just the “highlight” paper planes. I can not freaking do it. This sucks so bad. And 2 disc worth. No thanks 1001 album worthy: no - 108/203
Not my jam, I liked one song, but nothing else clicked.
Don’t believe the hype.
Oops! I must have chosen “1001 Albums To Never Listen To Before You Die” by mistake. Awful..
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.
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.
Sometimes decent, sometimes just bad. Barely a 3.
album is kinda of all over
Most of it was annoying. 2 stars
no thanks. made it four songs in.
This is the third album I was proposed and the third that would not be on my list. I was aware that there would be albums I do not know yet and I was not going to like them all. But I was not prepared for something this bad. Not sure if I should adjust my earlier reviews now. Oh, seems I cannot send with zero stars...
It's a mad record. The sonic variety is a bit bonkers and at times a bit hard to listen to. But hey, it's cool. Sort of becomes more compelling towards the middle end. Jimmy made me laugh out loud. It's just hilarious. The last two tracks almost feel like they shouldn't have been on the album, they're so polished and pop compared to the rest. Paper Planes being a classic and all almost felt as if it should have been somewhere else. Overall, I enjoyed the record, although wouldn't listen to it throughout maybe that much.
I really like the beats, don't love the vocals. Lyrics are super repetitive.
Little bit crazy sound, feels like African hiphop music.
This is why I always listen to an album all the way through. I hated this at the start, but I kind of talked my way around into giving it a somewhat reasonable rating by the end. Let's start with what I don't like. It's repetitive, kind of shallow, and the lyrics are complete dreck. But man, this album is forging its own path and doesn't give a single shit what you think, and that's kind of marvellous. It's weird, but weird and owning it. There's lots of world influence, all kinds of musical approaches, time signatures, sound effects, soundscapes, big synths. Lots of it is disjointed but in a way that kind of works. The repetitiveness even has a kind of charm about it once you tune into it. It's deliberately out there, and it has attitude, and it's doing its own thing. And I celebrate that.
After listening to Kala, I completely understand why "Paper Planes" was the hit, but only knowing that song Being only familiar with "Paper Planes" caused me to have some misconceptions of what an M.I.A. album would sound like. It's a lot more percussive than I thought it would be, drawing from Indian musical tradition, as well as from other South Asian nations, while combining it with contemporary club sounds. In some cases, it works splendidly ("Bamboo Banga"), while others lack the same cohesion, or feel too repetitive ("BirdFlu"). In truth, the strength of "Paper Planes" causes the rest of the album to feel unfinished, or like a vehicle for the hit song, rather than a well-thought-out album of good songs. The whole thing feels half-baked.
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.
It’s like the last 5 minutes of 28 Years Later was turned into a 45 minute album. It even has a Jimmy song.
Paper Planes is good. Not a huge fan of the vibe, but it was a solid listen. 5/10 overall. Paper planes saved the album.
Sounds like the 21st century – that is, strident and shrill, lurid and clangorous, multi-layered and mostly non-melodious, exhibitionist as much as energetic, chaotic, and borderline beserk. Full marks for originality. Not hard to see how/why it (and "Jimmy" in particular) resonated globally.
45 minutes of my life that I'll never get back
Never enjoyed M.I.A.’s style, and after learning more about her Anti-Vax stance, support for RFK Jr., and Trump… Fuck this cunt
Such a high energy, fun album
Really cool, definitely going to listen again.
Whilst i enjoy this album it’s not something i listen to as a whole album on a frequent basis. It’s a good occasional listen to appreciate the artistic intention but not something I consider easy listening and it’s therefore rare I listen beyond the singles and more precisely Paper Planes. The innate catchiness of Paper Planes should not distract from what is a really strong and varied album.
I remember when “Paper Planes” came out - it felt like I was the only person who wasn’t a fan of it. Listening to it now, and the album in general, I’m still not a fan.
I only knew Paper Planes before this listen. I really loved Boyz, which musically just feels full of joy (though is lyrically sparse to say the least). Jimmy, despite being Bollywood inspired felt all ABBAy and 20 Dollar samples Blue Monday (and obviously interpolates The Pixies) which surprised me, but the obvious constant in the album are the drum beats which reflect her heritage. I think I wanted to like this more than I ended up doing (I really didn't like XR2, which I found really grating) but I end up thinking its fine, no better no worse 3/5
I applaud the experimentalism, but unlike others, I've never ever enjoyed "Paper Planes". It doesn't seem to have the vague quality of greatness that turns a song from okay into an earworm. I'm not convinced this is Hip Hop at all. It is British Bolly Pop, and there is nothing wrong with that, but let's be honest about it. I enjoy the world music influences, of which there is not enough on this list admittedly, but why go with the faux versions that M.I.A. offers up for sale? Why not include some of the best Bolly Pop, African Pop, and Australian Pop on list that is straight from the source. I also did not find her cover ("20 Dollars") of The Pixies "Where's My Mind all that enjoyable. Honestly, I will probably never seek this album ever again, but if someone forced me to pick one track, I guess it would be the disco glitter of "Jimmy", although I am not a fan of the lyrics, or maybe "Boyz".
Back when M.I.A's first album came out I thought it was absolutely fantastic. This one was a bit of a disappointment in comparison, too monotonous and paired down.
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
Who doesn't love Paper Planes?
Was not expecting the first lines of this album to be from The Modern Lovers' Roadrunner! I appreciate the innovative use of sound she employs here. It's not always something I find pleasing to listen to, but I do appreciate it. While, overall, this isn't really my thing, I did enjoy it. Paper Planes is just an amazing track. Standout Track(s): Jimmy, Paper Planes, Come Around
I like her other albums better
Some songs are good, probably the Timberland ones. The vocals though, are very grating.
This was a fun listen! I was pleasantly surprised by the opening track ("Bamboo Banga") using the lyrics to "Roadrunner" by the Modern Lovers, I wasn't expecting that! Overall this is a fine album, it sounds like what you'd expect from M.I.A. "Paper Planes" still holds up.
I’ll be honest, the only feeling this album arose in me was boredom. Paper Planes was ok, and maybe felt somewhat familiar, but otherwise I found myself waiting for this to end. To my little cauliflower ears, this was just uninteresting, which is probably one of the worst things music can be. I don’t even know what to talk about in this review.
I respect it, but I don’t like it
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.
One or two songs + nostalgia are doing the heavy lifting here.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Low key banger
I loved this album when it was released and listened to it so much. I still have a lot of nostalgia for it and love parts of it but it doesn't quite hold up. I got to this one before Arular and wasn't connecting as much to that album. Today, looking back, I can see that Kala is the weaker album and the luster has dulled a bit. Maybe my perception of this album has been somewhat influenced by the disappointment of where M.I.A.'s career (and politics...) have gone since (although giving the superbowl halftime show the finger was cool). Still a bop though.
She brings the energy, but I don’t find it a behooving listen.
7/10
Really solid album. Cacophonous and unique. Some solid tracks and no wasted space. 4.5 but on the 4 side.
Interesting album, but in the end, not for me. I can respect the experimentation with different genres and there are some very interesting moments, but there are also some almost unlistenable moments. The production is great. It's a sonically very strong album and omages to other artists are fun. A 2.5/5, a thing of personal taste. Someone who has a preference for this will probably rate it better.
bbbbbah
really unique and enjoyable
Mid
maby tomorrow
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
Holy crap this is good. It's kind of a unique listening experience because I'm listening for the first time and every song is new and exciting and then randomly there is one song that I've heard hundreds of times against my will.
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!!
Annoying in quite a good way. Annoying in all the right ways. Good singles, interesting samples, good beat, good vocals. Interesting High 3 lad
Day592 - there should be a zero star rating
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.
This was a fun album! It was definitely hip-hop from a world music point of view. But this is also laden with great electronic and funk sounds. It all just makes for such a fun, heavy-sounded listening experience. And of course, this album is home to M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes", which is no doubt what M.I.A. is most known for. But the general musical growth on display on this album compared to her previous studio album is also notable! That said, "Paper Planes" is a pretty good representative of the entire vibe of this album. A sonically interesting and engaging album for me!
favs: - paper planes - come around
M.I.A.’s Kala isn’t about singing it’s a noisy, chaotic art piece full of sharp political messages and global beats that hits hardest if you’re in the right frame of mind. Paper Planes is a highlight
Helt uforståelig at denne artisten er representert med TO album. 🥸
Yeah I couldn’t handle this. Some beats were really unique and really good but I just couldn’t do this style of rapping ir singing or whatever.
Went into this somewhat depressed and immediately realized I needed to get on board with it or it was just going to being really fucking annoying. And to be fair, its pretty fucking good. Really cool instrumentation and percussion in the beats, first 4 tracks are back to back pretty solid. Hit a slight downward slope toward 20 Dollar which I didn't particularly enjoy, the Pixies interpolation did nothing for me especially when it sounded out of time over what sounded like a bass boosted Blue Monday. The Turn brought it back and obviously Paper Planes is an absolute gem of a song. Overall pretty good stuff but not 100% my cup of tea.
Skipped through the tracks but nothing connected with me.
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.
"This album is so fucking annoying" - Me....a real thing I said while listening to this album. Specifically "World Town." This isn't good. "Paper Planes" couldn't save this album. Liked Songs: "Paper Planes" and "Come Around"
liked songs: BirdFlu I hate Paper Planes. Why would you want a song to sound like a shitty stock PowerPoint? There was some interesting instrumentation and rhythm, but overall this was not for me. 2
I had no expectations, but it was kinda ok!
Paper Planes was niet echt genoeg om dit album te dragen. Voor de rest wel oké om eens door te gaan, maar dit is imo een one hit-album. 2.5
3/5
Will probably never listen to this again.
It was kind of annoying at times, but I liked listening to her voice, and there were some cool sounds. I had only really heard Paper Planes (which sounds way different with headphones than on medium volume in a car on the highway), and it was cool to hear some of her other stuff. I liked the beats. 5/10
78/100. A vibrant burst of experimentation, packed with glitchy, scratchy, and explosive sounds. Bold and inventive, and for me, an even better record than her debut.
Harder music than the previous one I heard from her, and it's not my thing at all.
It's fine.....
★★★½
headache
Not for me.
Some of it I liked and some of it I really didn't, nets out to a 3
Not for me. Would give one star but Paper Planes brought it up one. 2/5
Innovative, but I also find most songs annoying. I think Paper Planes has potential, but I really hate the chorus. Jimmy would have been good too if it weren't for the vocals.
Good sound
I bought this album back in the day because of "Paper Planes" (duh) and I didn't remember liking anything other than that track, which lands very late in the tracklist. Listening to it years and years later, I kind of feel the same way. The electronic songs are fine, but they get a bit tedious. And then track 10 is this random pop/hip-hop blended banger that feels a bit out of place but is also the most interesting song on the record by miles (or kilometers, I guess). Not my favorite album.
New to me. Enjoyed it!
still think (pre-covid) M.I.A. is very cool, still think her music has a lot of abrasive (and not in a way that appeals to me) and frankly annoying sounds Jimmy is the first song here that i don't find grating and then you get a good 3 song run of that, Hussel and Mango Pickle, but following that it sort of meanders on its way to Paper Planes before fizzling out with Come Around. a fine album that's elevated by Paper Planes being a generational banger
LOVE weird, genre bending absurd music. This was not that. This was bad. Did come in bias because Paper Planes is a terrible song. Okay 20 Dollar wasn’t the worst. If more of it was like that… maybe. Sorry okay the Timbaland feature saved it.
a lot of African beats. but it's very hard to understand what she's saying. Except on the tracks where it's just very repetitive. which has been most of them. Paper Planes is really the only good song off this album. it's not bad. just not my cup of tea. and too repetitive.
This is an album I'm supposed to love, but I don't. Sound design is fun and exciting but kind of forgettable at the same time. This album, style, genre, whatever you want to call it, simply doesn't resonate for me. An interesting listen but nothing I'll want to return to.
This album wasn't my kind of music at all which surprised me since I like a lot of hip hop. The flow didn't work for me at all in most songs and the random noises made it even worse.
Interesting, I know very little about this genre and time. Pretty cool that this album was mostly made in Logic. Paper Planes is pretty iconic but all in all this is party music that I don't think I will listen to a lot. 3/5
Interesting Album, not sure how much I like it, lot of interesting vocals and lyrics are well written, but not exactly my style of music so far. Lots of cool beats that are interesting musically, but not something I would listen to for fun. Actually maybe some of the songs. Liked Hussel, and Mango Pickle down river, paper planes obv. Just a lot of noise on some of the other ones.
so so.
Very cool beats. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I wish there were half star ratings because 3 is pretty much the catchall for everything that I don't love or hate. This is a 3.5.
The blend of different genres & sounds was delightful!!
Not for me. Sounds like a low effort knock off of Santagold. A few neat production tricks but otherwise just annoying. Meaningless hip-hop lyrics over repetitive electronic beats
3/10
Boy, that was awful. But at least it was repetitive.
"This doesn't even deserve the 1 that I am forced to give it. This was just horribly awful to sit through. I can't understand the acclaim this album has gotten. It's boring. It's repetitive. From the album cover that was obviously put together by a hangry 2 year old, to the rudimentary songs and lyrics, it shows little imagination. Hot. Shit. Garbage."
I..just found it flat? Tracks to Track: Paper Planes
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.
I don’t get the hype, soz. Colourful and unique but also chaotic and noisy.
This one’s sitting right in the middle for me. The production is incredible, easily some of the best I’ve heard so far. The instrumentals carry everything. There’s so much variation and it all works in its own way, full of layered sounds that feel alive and unpredictable. The beats keep changing and each one has its own energy. The lyrics don’t do as much for me. They repeat a lot and sometimes get buried under the noise, but the production more than makes up for it. Jimmy and Paper Planes are the standouts. Jimmy feels hypnotic, and Paper Planes finally gives that payoff the rest of the album keeps teasing. It’s not a 4 for me, but it’s higher than a 3. If I could, I’d give it a 3.5
Gear: HEDD Audio HEDDphone Two Artwork: 🎨👾😎 Production: 👊😎👍 Music: 🙄😵💫😖 Rating: 🗑️(🗑️)/5
Paper planes is a great song but the rest of the album doesn’t live up to it. It is quite annoying albeit unique
I played so much dance central as a kid it’s fuckin crazy. Not much to say about this one but I still definitely enjoyed a lot of what I heard! Not a style that I’m used to listening to but made really good at driving fast in Raleigh NC! Fav Track: Paper Planes
Not good not bad just okay
Album 841 of 1089 M.I.A. - Kala (2007) Rating : 1.5 / 5 This one just didn’t land for me. It’s not really my style to begin with, but even if it were, I think it would still fall low on the list. I can appreciate the attempt at a global, genre-blending sound, but the execution didn’t hold my interest. Sometimes it felt more like noise than music. Just not for me.
Cool indie rock rap album that is great party music, good combo of alternative indie, rap, and electronic music.
I don't know if I would listen to anything apart from paper planes again, but it is pretty groundbreaking and fresh. The political context actually a bit more interesting than the music
After the first M.I.A. album I was hoping she would remain missing in action but alas she reappeared like my heat rash this summer 🤦♂️
This is the 2nd album to come up from M.I.A in my first 125. I sure hope it's the last. This is practically unlistenable. At least it sounded like she had fun making it. Bring on Napalm Death! 1/5 #125
I love "Paper Planes" and a few other songs are very good but I don't think I'd go back to listen to the whole album very often.
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.
Liked the production more than most if the vocals. Not to say that there were big misses in the album but I do feel some kind of way (not a good way) about borrowing the pixies chorus like that.
One great single, mildly annoying
Interesting electronica-hip hop with an African rhythm, Asian influence and a bit of Deep Forest. Kudos to the 1001 Must Hear List as I don’t think I would ever be aware of MIA otherwise. Come Around and Jimmy lead the way, but all good. Comes on at (2.8*s) Fight on!
Kala sounds like a thrown together mess of weak rap skills over shitty beats made on a cheap mixer. Without "Paper Planes," M.I.A. would be missing in action. Disco "Jimmy" was the only other decent track. The artist got waaaay more attention than deserved when this album dropped. Can't say I really enjoyed this...1.28 stars.
Paper Planes was absolutely everywhere in the wake of this release. I enjoy that track, but never put a second thought toward M.I.A. and don't believe I ever heard anything from her collection. Only now after listening to Kala did I realize I was missing out. This album is a bit all over the place but it's also a lot of fun. It features some of the most creative and diverse production from Switch, Timbaland and company nearly all of which works. The lyrics and vocal style are somewhat wacky but the hooks are constantly strong and engaging. I found myself getting more and more into this as the album continued. Props to M.I.A. as Kala was a fun surprise that pretty much brings it from front to back. 3.33 stars
Her voice: annoying Her beats: annoying Her music: annoying I hated her first album, this album doesn’t change anything. She might be the most annoying artist that I have gotten on this list. Her voice is like nails digging into my ear canals trying to reach my eardrums. It’s repetitive in the worst way possible. I think to find this music entertaining you might need to have a brain deficiency prerequisite. You might say “ohh but paper planes is a banger”… no, I hated that fucking song when it was popular and thought it was garbage music then too. God fuck this album and fuck M.I.A. and her trash ass music. 1/10
This is World Hip-Hop. Sounds like the music played in markets and teen/youth hangouts in action movies taking place in Southeast Asia or sub Saharan Africa. Prefer the songs with more lyrics to show off her vocal talents. The electronica/club beats are fine but not really my jam.
70% Best: Jimmy; Paper Planes; Come Around Must-Hear? No
Got two songs in wasn’t feeling it
paper planes is so fucking good it's not funny. The rest of the album... idk maaaaaaaan. Production does the rest of the work
I couldn’t get it or listen to the whole thing
Paper planes flying straight to hell.
Indian beats?
This was great fun!
I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... I know an album that will get on your nerves... 1 star
Moments but not so much
One of the more interesting albums so far—a lot going on. But I did really love the South Asian influences once I figured out what was, in fact, going on. (Don’t like British Hip-Hop) Favorites: Jimmy (!!), Hussel, XR2. Will probably take these few and go. Hip-Hop/Electronica. August 8, 2007. British/English. 12 tracks. 47:32 runtime
It was terrible.
I guess I generally like M.I.A. … this is not my favorite of hers at all, though. Does this mean she has like three albums here?