Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Bamboo Banga - This track layers like a house song. Promising so far. Kind of a silly chorus. BirdFlu - Bird sample is a bold choice. I like the ethnic flavors. The drums are cool but this one gets old fast. Boyz - I've heard this before. She hasn't shown her rapping chops yet. I think these very bold production choices would be better served with a more commanding rapper. Jimmy - A disco cut. I like the less maximalist production as compared to the others so far. Hussel - This sounds like Yeezuz before Yeezuz. The male rappers sounds better than her tbh. The chorus is kinda dumb. Mango Pickle Down River - They got the abos on this one. Reminds me of that petrol song lol. MIA sounds buried in the mix. Digeridoo is cool. I'm starting to get a third worldist vibe from this album. 20 Dollar - Death Grips vibe on this one with the synth. This is the best rapping she's done so far. Blue Monday interpolation is cool. She rips a lot of lyrics from the Pixie song Where Is My Mind. Says a lot that one of the more enjoyable tracks is ripping from two other songs. World Town - Has the same the production as fucking Shake It Off. Chorus is really annoying. Worst track so far. The Turn - Pointless track. Could have made this an interlude. XR2 - She sounds like she's falling asleep. Doesn't work with such an energetic beat. She starts dropping a bunch of acronyms, I guess she thinks it's clever. I found out she was 32 when this album dropped. Paper Planes - Her lazy delivery works with this production. It's properly airy and carefree. This track is a classic. The gunshots and cash register are iconic. Come Around - The flow on this one is actually good. They got Timbaland on this one. I would revisit this track. Overall production was really cool on this one but MIA didn't carry most of the time. She was buried in the mix and the only time she had charisma was towards the end. All this album needed was a more energetic performance. I'm curious to look at her other stuff and I will return to some of these tracks.
There was some interesting production but a lot of it didn't really hit for me. Did not care for the Where is My Mind part either.
Some pretty crazy and interesting stuff on here. 20 dollar sounded like bladee at times and was just a pixies song at times. I don’t think there are any songs I really liked other than paper planes, but paper planes is such a great song
определённый драйв есть, даже меня взбодрило, но в среднем всё равно слишком гнусаво и похоже, чтобы прям целый альбом интересен был
I respect the craftsmanship here and she is a talented vocalist/rapper but this album is too much for me.
A mash up of various sounds and styles in some sort of mad scientist approach to music. But has as many hits as misses but it all comes together perfectly on paper planes. Still 3* overall
Paper Planes is singlehandedly carrying this whole album because although the rest of the songs were intriguing, they weren't that great. Listening to this album was a bit weird, the fourth song is just annoying and is not available, but apart from that, the rest of the songs just sounded like they would belong in a movie soundtrack while something intense is happening, possibly when people are on drugs and trying to do something in a crowded area.
This album definitely took me out of my comfort zone. I did enjoy the main hit, and thought it sounded a lot different than the rest, but I already knew that I liked that one. Possibly worth a relisten.
A really interesting sound, and never boring.
timbaland drops an all-time worst guest verse on the last song
After the first track I was fully prepared to write this off as a cacophonous disaster. But MIA takes a pretty refreshing approach to nabbing music from Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, which is great. What's less great is the massive throbbing bass around the 50-70hz mark. It's overcooked, and really drives the fatigue factor. Now, I love me some sub bass. My speakers can handle 50hz with little trouble, but subbass should really be there as a feeling, not a focus. Perhaps of she dialled it back a bit, this would be a higher rating because I like what she's trying to do.
Poppy Indian - British hip-hop
Cool
Favourite tracks: paper planes
Pretty good, felt more varied than Arular. Whenever there’s a mega hit on an album it jars me, there was no flow or pomp just BAM, Paper planes like a brick through a window
Kinda dig it. Not usually my bag, but this kinda did it for me.
Different, but not great outside of a few
3.5☆/5 10.22.2024
Unique and highly bouncy in a highly disposable, fast-fashion sort of way, even if this meant to be the last word in DIY grittiness. One digs the artiness and free-flowing spirit here better than say the pretentious St. Vincent or silly Lady Gaga. Still, not exactly one's cup of chai, musically, but hard not to admire the energy and orginality, and one is just sympathetic go get why kids would like, especially a song like "Jimmy" which woulda been a hit in any era. But "20 Dolllar" is not only not twice as good as "10 Dollar" from Arular (the better record, reallly), it may not be half as good. Still, as fully globalized pop, it's hard to see this as much more than ephemera or as fully worthy of a spot on this list.
Probably the best Sri Lankan Artist ever… Paper planes blew up deservedly and a couple other cool tracks but overall not enough for me for an album.
Inventive, original, irritating. When this album dropped there was nothing that sounded like it. And maybe for good reason. The sounds she chooses for this album are often grating and annoying. But Paper Planes, Come Around and the song with the rapping kids are all pretty great tracks. Also obligatory “MIA is a nut case now so good for her”
Another one I’m not quite sure about and can’t decide if I liked it or not. The initial attack on the senses calmed down a bit and I found myself enjoying it more the longer it went on. Still not sure if it’s good or not though so going for a middle of the road rating.
Really good alternative music but it is still experimental so a little hard to get into
A bit of nostalgia with the song Paper Planes, which is the best song on this album. The rest of the album is ok, but seems somewhat immature. She's a grinder, though, and she has had well deserved success. I'll throw a 3.5 at this one.
This one made me a bit nostalgic. Being from Trinidad and with Trinidad's population being about 40 percent of people of Indian descent (dot not feather) I grew up watching shows called Mastana Bahar and Indian Talent on Review. We also got a decent amount of Bollywood movies on TV and certain radio stations would play music in Hindi. As a child I took an interest in listening to Indian music even though I could not understand Hindi, and I always liked the sounds and rhythms. The sampling of Sri Lankan music on this album reminds me of those days. She presents a unique sound with combining what I am going to guess are Bangra and Chutney rhythms mixed with hip hop and electronic dance music. I think she is innovative and original. If M.I.A has not already done it, I think there is probably a collaboration with Santigold that should probably happen.
Fun pomo stuff: an original blend of big boomy beats, hipster interpolations, slacker rapping, sewn together sound collage production and revolutionary posturing. Paper planes is A+ the rest more of a B/B+...
Versión rara de Where is my mind ... Y Paper planes me sonaba ....
Pretty tight. M.I.A. And daft punk should make an album
Artistically, this album was densely packed with vibrant and interesting sounds that really makes it stand out. The Indian samples were also a cool touch that added flavor and depth to the tracks. With it being diverse it definitely requires an acquired taste since I can see how many people would put this off since it sounds so different. With that being said I personally don't see myself listening to this album religiously but a few of these songs are definitely going in the playlist. Top 3 Fav: Come Around, Paper Planes, and Boyz Top 3 Worst: no bad songs 3.25/5
I thought I was going to vibe with this a lot more than I did. It was just okay. 3/5
I didn't have a particularly positive feeling for this album across the first few tracks, I thought it was overly percussive in an irritating way, but I was surprised to hear distinctive indigenous Australian singing voices on Mango Pickle Down River - none other than The Wilcannia Mob, who I'm familiar with. This led me to read a bit more about M.I.A. and how Kala came together, earning an additional review star out of respect.
Not every track is great, but I'd say it still holds up well.
Okay now THIS is a bop man, some of Kalas songs really just get you to move, very reggae recession funk, maybe even with some 80s Russian funk thrown in there. Im sitting here just jamming, rocking my head, only about half way through. Not surprised this album is so funky with the likes of Diplo and Timbaland producing the album. Some of the songs use some very unique instruments as well, I believe i here a didgeridoo in Mango Pickle Down River. After finishing the album, yeah, this is a good one, not every song is amazing, but the ones that are slap, i mean Paper Planes alone has almost 1 billion streams on spotify, that song was HUGE in the late 2000s. Fav Song: Jimmy (honorable mention is Paper Planes of course) 3.5
Es entretenido! Aunque un poco largo y tuve que esperar mucho para escuchar Paper Planes.
I’ve heard of M.I.A. before as a rapper/singer/producer, born under the name Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam. In fact, Maya’s big song “Paper Planes” is off of this album Kala. This is her second studio album, named and themed after her mother and the struggles she went through. I will say this album is very experimental, for better and worse. She plays through a variety of world music styles with a heavy amount of sampling, and the result varies for every song. Some songs are good - the aforementioned “Paper Planes” with the samples of gunshots, cash registers and The Clash’s “Straight to Hell”, “Come Around” with its sole Timbaland production credit, “Jimmy” with its electronic disco melody, and “XR2” with its rave music groove. Other songs are terrible - the first three tracks of this album spring to mind, especially “Bird Flu” with its egregious bird noise samples. Then there are songs that fall somewhere in the middle for me - “Hussel” and “Mango Pickle Down River” have solid melodies, though nowhere near as engaging as the preceding “Jimmy”. Also, I couldn’t ignore how “20 Dollar” sounded like an electronically-filtered hodgepodge between New Order’s “Blue Monday” and the Pixies’ “Where is My Mind?”. There is one unifying element throughout this album - Maya’s vocals. I’ll admit, I do not like her vocals and delivery - it’s not for me as it doesn’t come off as raw or emotionally drawn as it should. Not helping matters is that she has a very minimalist lyrical style, which combined with the experimentation can distract from whatever messaging she may have been trying to convey. At the end of the day, it’s certainly not a boring album. You will be engaged through the whole listen, regardless of track-by-track quality. But I don’t see myself returning to this anytime soon.
Interesting album. Very ambitious in style, but some of the songs are a little too scattered. When it works, it really works. 3/5 Probably will listen again
I’m only at a 3, which is kinda disappointing. I don’t think it’s a bad album; I’d recommend it, honestly. It just never really clicked for me as a fully cohesive one from front to back. I think there’s a lot of repetition here, but it’s really supplemented by an energetic vocal performance and a lot of great production tricks. However, sometimes those production tricks either didn’t hit as well on a few tracks, or became an outright hindrance with some awkward mixing between the percussion and the vocals or the synths that felt just out of balance enough to be distracting. I think I liked this album better when it was more focused on being a sort of pseudo-dance record; the heavier beats, the deeper percussion mixed closer to the ears, and the vocals that had just enough processing to blend in without feeling too overdone, and that’s about half of the album. In other words, I liked the songs that feel distinctly modern and about 7 years ahead of schedule for 2007 – super experimental stuff for the time that feels very common now. The other half ranges from “just not really doing it for me” to outright bad on “Hussel” (just REALLY flat for me) and “20 Dollar” (extremely overdone production, and I really did not like the “Where Is My Mind?” interpolation, even though I’m normally a sucker for that sort of thing). When the album hits, it hits really well – Bamboo Banga is a good (if slightly long) opener, Boyz feels like a great sports hype up track, Paper Planes is an all-timer, and XR2 is a perfect 90s club throwback. For me, it just only hits about half the time, and that’s why I’m at a 3. For someone else, I can hear how it might be a 4 or even a 5, but for my tastes, it just never got up there. Very solid 3 though.
Very enjoyable album that has a few sections reminiscent of 1982ish Kate Bush and of Eno/Byrne's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.
Der Sound ist fett, cool und anders. Rhythmisch und kompositorisch mal was anderes, obwohl klar Pop. Die Lieder sind aber zueinander recht ähnlich. 2,8
Toni Basil's granddaughter does D&D
Fun, “Paper Planes” +1, shallow
Yeah that was pretty good. I should have assumed it was decent because the rest of the comments were so negative. 3.16
This is so incredibly maximalist at points that I want to turn it off, but it's not exactly unenjoyable. There's some great biting cynicism and satire baked into the lyrics throughout the album, and I don't know of much else that sounded so punk in that way since Rage. All that said, I don't know that I would have listened to this again on purpose if I weren't participating in this project...
It feels like recently I got her other album. Did she need two albums on this list? I dunno... completely forgettable.
it’s cool just some of the songs aren’t fully there
Wasn’t as into this as I thought I would be. Paper Planes is great though
Fresh and consistent. I enjoyed it. “Paper Planes” is of course fire.🔥
I liked it, it was a fun album.
Way better than expected. I enjoyed her sound.
Once a culture darling/favourite. She rubs people up the wrong way but her musuc is different and interesting.
Bold to put your only banger as the last song on the album. Simpsons: No
She's back. That gobby girl who you want to talk to, but you know she's smarter and tougher than you. The mix of hip-hop beats, electronic blasts, random sound effects, samples from around the world and bratty rapping are all present and correct as they always are on her albums. She's not doing anything different on this album as she does to other albums and I'm glad. Best Tracks: Bird Flu; World Town; Paper Planes
3.5
Best Song: Come Around. I'm just a sucker for that Timbaland influence. Worst Song: Mango Pickle Down River. Good for these kids getting featured on an album like this, but I'm really not interested in listening to this kids bop stuff. Overall: A fun and banging album that, thankfully, knows exactly what it is. No mid-album slow down breaks, no random ballads. Just upbeat, bombastic pop hop. Unfortunately, some of the chosen beats and samples miss the market, registering more as annoying than enjoyable.
Ok
Paper Planes // Come Around 2.5/5
I've listened to this album some years back and I thought I liked it, but this time I found it kind of annoying. I'll be generous and give 3 cos at least it's not boring.
This is probably my favourite hip hop album so far... but still not something I'd want to listen to again.
this album is so insanely hype that it got a bit old. I never knew I could quite have my fill of bangers like this. but I like the sound, it's like a forbidden concentrate of 2007 juice that I only got watered down versions of back then. and hella bri'ish🤘
Not the most inventive songwriting, but what saves it are the well designed sonic layers behind each track that reward you for being attentive
Not bad
“Paper Planes” is the clear star of the album. The rest was pretty good.
Rap meets rave? Genesis of drill? Quite liked it, initially felt innovative but then got a bit repetitive and formulaic.
I love Paper Planes-who doesn’t?
This was better than the MIA we had before, possibly weather having an effect on how I'm reviewing it. Felt the back half picked up a bit. Not sold on M.I.A generally
this album is wild, the production has to have been an inspiration for Yeezus. the songwriting is lacking at times but boyz, jimmy, 20 dollar, world town, xr2, and of course paper planes are all strong moments. aggressive synths, unique percussive sounds, a sample from the pixies and the clash, and afro/indian world influence make this a fascinating listen, with its main detractions stemming from repetitive songwriting and some songs cooking up a clogged mix. the absolute highlight of Kala (and the song probably competing with Hey Ya (ironically from an album i got 2 weeks ago) for best pop song of the entire 2000s) is paper planes. sampling the clash (!!), Mia created one of histories most triumphant tracks. tell me you arent tapping your foot from the start with those sampled opening notes. tell me "i fly like paper get high like planes" isnt one of the most stylish opening lines you've ever heard. tell me these lyrics haven't gotten more relevant every single year since 2008. tell me that the whining guitar, the childrens choir chorus, the finger-snap percussion, the spoken word bit "i got more records than the KGB" don't create a densely layered and intriguing atmosphere. you cant tell me any of that because this song compels you to believe it all just like the bang bang bang kachink hook compels you to bust out the finger guns and mime along gunshot-reload-cash register open. bombastic, iconic, singular, eccentric, and catchy. there is no other song that sounds like paper planes.
Had headache, dnf
Didn't expect to like this.
Wasn't a huge fan
Kinda same-y
Paper Planes is easily the best song on this album. Other than that it’s kinda just okay. Not bad. Not good. Some interesting beats. Some silly lyrics
Not my thing.
A good album, I liked Boyz and Jimmy.
Álbum con sonido interesante, música para poner de fondo, 6/10
Big fan of a blend of musical styles, and this did it very well. I do wish that the lyrics didn't lean on hooks so much, quite a lot of the songs started to feel quite repetitive. 3/5. My name is MIA and Young Fathers was my idea.
Sometimes pretty interesting, sometimes pretty bad. Paper Planes is so good though. The sound of the summer in the common room.
I remember being so disappointed with this when it came out. Paper Planes was such a massive bop, nothing else on here could come close. But with a bit of distance, I can enjoy the rest of the tunes without those sky high expectations. Still nothing great, but a decent album after all.
OK.
I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this. I hated this when it came out in 2007 and “Paper Planes” was extremely overplayed. However, time and mellowing tastes happen and I don’t hate this. I probably won’t seek this out again, but it was fine for 45 minutes.
5.5/10
A lot of repetitive songs, and many of them sounded a bit the same. However, a fun album that would be good for parties and obvs Paper Planes is a great song
This must have been a really exciting album for people who make commercials. The album demands attention.
Puhh. Ret monotomt i lyden store dele af albummet, men underholdende nok til at fastholde fokus. papir planes skiller sig virkelig voldsomt meget ud fra resten, ikke noget at sige til det det blev hittet.
Album Nr. 31 Na ja. Mittelmaß eben.
Its interesting the way someone with a “new sound” can have an album where their songs sound similar on first listen, but as you listen again and again, you slowly notice the nuances of each one. I’ve noticed this on band’s I like and even some of their nee albums that tend to blur togther, only to later appreciate the differences. That was the case for me here. I overall thought it was not bad, but, again, not really for me. And, again, I don’t think it was made for me. And that’s ok. I think sometimes music is made for people of certain ages or certain stages of their lives. And sometime the point is to piss off the parents. That’s what helps us define ourselves, not being who “they” wanted us to be. Anyhow, I liked a couple somgs specifically and will give them a few more listens. Might grow on me.
Some songs just gave me a headache, some I enjoyed. As something that isn’t really my taste, this album was more fun than I thought at the outset. Favorites include ‘Boys’ and ‘Jimmy’, more than the commercial success ‘Paper Planes’. Beats were fun, almost had an Indian/Persian flair at times. I wanted to like/dislike this album more than I did
I still remember the first time I heard Paper Planes, working at a local pizza place in high school. I was shocked such a thing was considered music, but somehow that song grew on me. The rest of the album is alright, but doesn’t rise to that level.
This is a fun album, great beats.
Despite owning this album from release, I think this is my first full listen. Overall ok, but nothing amazing. Really benefits from the production. 3/5
Heel uniek wat ik wel vet vond maar kon er toch niet helemaal inkomen
Mixed feeling over deze, zitten paar echte bangers tussen: Jimmy en paper planes bv. maar ook een paar rare nummers
Track 1 banger. Track 4 Moscow Moscow vibes! Mad where is my mind. Obvs Paper Planes. Rest was ok.
Is it possible to both like and be annoyed by an album at the same time? That's how I'm feeling about this one. Sometimes it felt intentionally grating and other times it just has this cool groove to it that I enjoyed. Crazy to me that "Paper Planes" is track 11, but then it does at least give the back of the album a real banger. Not sure how I feel about the use of those Pixies lyrics in whatever song that was. Hmm.
Krasse Beats. Krasser Bass bei Boyz. Klassiker Paper Planes
3.5 One classic song. The rest is pretty good.
Monotonous. Most of the songs lull you into a bit of trance, largely just because the vocals roll on, the beats roll on, the melody rolls on, etc. I want it to be cool, something about it is exciting and there is a unique energy in the songs, but it never actually hits or reaches the point of feeling like something I want to listen to again. Paper planes is cool but feels like someone wrote it as a single, it really doesn’t fit, and it is coincidentally the only catchy song and her only hit.
Characterful for sure
Dunno what to make of this quite honestly. Could probably do with more listens. I can hear its influence on the likes of Gwen Stefani and Beyoncé. Idk if that’s a Timbaland thing
There are some songs on here that are pretty tiring, same ol' MIA shit that I used to really like when she first came out but stopped seeming very unique after a couple albums. That said, I also still enjoyed a decent amount of it.
Faced again with being kind of a basic bitch about a few things, "Paper Planes," overexposed as it is, is both very different from the rest of this, and also I like it more.
I like the individual songs in this but there's not enough variation to make it a great album. Paper Planes is a banger though.
Definitely one I need to listen to again. It feels like the album is wrestling with two different versions of itself, the first half having a much more experimental and interesting production while the second half has a lot more bonafide "hits" with less crazy instrumentals but ending up more catchy and memorable. In the end it manages to produce great stuff in both ends, with the really odd beat and feature of "Mango Pickle Down River" and the huge chart-topper "Paper Planes" (by far the best track here), but in a single listen it's not giving me too much more than that. By the end of the album I was definitely feeling it a lot more than the start, so most definitely one for a few more listens.
Solid listen. This one is more my time period so I was already pretty familiar. Enjoy the experimental sounds and of course the favorite "I've got more records than the KGB"
I've never been a huge fan of M.I.A, though I did find some of the tracks here really worming there way into my brain (in a good way!). Maybe I need to listen to more of her material.
was aight
Suomuista, eli ei takerru jos myötäkarvaan antaa mennä.. Tiedä mitä sitten jos kriittisesti yrittäis arvostella...
love the production of these songs layered and engaging music. only knew paper planes but liked the album as a whole not usually my cup of tea but fairly solid
Not my thing - but some good tracks, and the album is interesting overall
Not bad. Not hip hop as I think of it. Interesting rhythms combined with some good melodies.
3.5/5
Sonically all over the place but the good tracks are great, pretty of an era.
Saw M.I.A. this summer open for LCD soundsystem at red rocks. It was kinda like this album, okay 3.5
Last few songs are awesome, first few are not my fav
nostalgic. paper planes represents prying for acceptance to a state of unnatainable euphoric perfect youth but we dont smoke cigarettes in joppa anymore, we guitar run spanish guitar run spanish
At first I was like "again? A third album?" While I don't know if they all deserved to be on this list, I can see why they were picked because the artist showed great versatility and craftiness with them
pretty enjoyable. the big song "paper planes" that everyone knows i've never thought was a big banger, but i did enjoy "jimmy" and "XR2".
Bamboo Banga! Solid album full of heavy drum beats like being at a carnival.
It was pretty good, much better than I thought it'd be.
5.5/10 just not my type. quelques bonnes chansons.
Fun little reminisce with Paper Planes and Come Around
again?
It's great for a few songs then get a bit old
Eerste 2 nummers vind ik maar niets. Daarna betert het wat met iets meer uitgesproken sound van wereldmuziek.
Pretty disappointed, honestly. 3 stars for having Paper Planes though.
Some good songs, some I didn't enjoy as much but overall not bad.
Interesting one this. Obviously Paper Planes is so ubiquitous it's hard to look at it as anything other than standout/separate from the rest of this album, but on first listen it's pretty samey apart from these last two or three tracks - I feel like that would change over time with more listens. There's a lot to like on there and it does whip along nice and quickly.
Decent enough and interesting in places.
buckydonegoneonandonandon
Funky stuff here, lots of cool beats, samples and collabs - cool to hear an indigenous Aussie group in this!
first time listening have heard paper planes favorites paper planes come around
Props for how unique the beats are on this one. Sometimes it was pure hype. Other times like what's going on. Didn't love the tracks with little kids rapping. But a cool blend of electronic and middle eastern.
Definitely interesting. Some songs are way too repetitive for what they have to offer, but there are a few legit bangers here. More than anything I appreciate how unique the blend of styles and influences is. Best song: Paper Planes
Versión rara de Where is my mind ... Y Paper planes me sonaba ....
I'm gonna lie if I said I enjoyed the whole thing. But I greatly appreciate its uniqueness and its daring attempt to incorporate Indian and African sounds into electronic-dance music. It's quite a refreshing and adventurous album and I love it for that.
Huh, electronica fused with world music is usually my jam, but this doesn't quite hit the spot. The beats are a bit basic. The rapping is extremely basic. I enjoyed the novelty of the different influences being mixed in, but I reckon repeated listens to this would actually drop my rating rather than raise it, as the novelty would wear off and it'd start to grow irritating... 🤔 So, I'm giving it one play through a 3, and M.I.A. should count herself lucky... Fave track - "Paper Planes" was the only one I knew before hand, and it is kinda a tune. Liked the Bollywood of "Jimmy", and considering "20 Dollar" is a mashup of New Order and Pixies you'd think I'd like it more...
Despite having spent much of her time on England when developing her hip hop sound, M.I.A. pulls from her formative years spent in Sri Lanka to develop a unique blend of UK hip hop and various traditional folk music genres from the global south. Quite a bit of her work is politically changed as well, likely as a result of her father's political activist roots. While M.I.A.'s production and stylistic choices are certainly innovative and different, it's largely hit-or-miss on the quality of the songs. If you were around radios in the late 2000s then you couldn't escape Paper Planes, but Boyz is also worth it's salt. Otherwise, much of the album is messy.
I've only ever heard Paper Planes before from this album, and probably one more well known track from this artist at all. The first two songs were very unimpressive but it got better as it went I think Saved tracks: Jimmy, 20 Dollar, XR2, Paper Planes, Come Around
I think I might have heard Paper Planes 500 times in my life and it still has not gotten old. Some track get a bit repetitive, but M.I.A.'s blend of styles still feels fresh today. 3.5/5
Kinda funky, not sure if it’s for me 5/10
Paper planes alone makes this album a 8/10
'Paper Planes' is iconic and most of these are stand-alone bangers, but listening to one after the other is a sensory overload. I think it's good and I appreciate that it's included, because this type of music doesn't frequent the list, but I didn't love this album as an entity.
Buen disco, sonidos experimentales aunque a veces peca de ser muy de los 2000. Mezcolanza entre hip hop noventero y ritmos africanos. Bastante interesante por más que no pareciera tener una propuesta artística más trascendental. No volvería a escucharlo
Dancier than I realized, not my style but clearly solid musically and culturally notable.
Jájá, af hverju ekki? Alveg hresst svona einu sinni amk., þótt þetta sé ekki alveg mín tónlist.
Dig some of the production, though this isn't my thing.
Energetic, Took a while to get into.
super experimental con el hitazo de ariplanes m gusto por mas que sienta q muchos temas quedan claramente como relleno los 3 ultimos temas los mejores del disco
kala... minkäslainen vonkale... lohta vai siikaa...heh...ei tykkää rokotuksista...heh meikääkin itkettää...vaikka terkkari sanoo että on ohi kohta....eka puolisko hyvä, loppupuoli heikompi jimmy
This album was a lot. A lot of good, and a lot of awesome innovation. Also a lot of styles/sounds I didn't love.
Some of these songs are a little hard to listen to, but delightful once you get into them. This album’s surely not for everyone, but I thought it was pretty fun. Obviously Paper Planes is great, but other songs like Boyz, Mango Pickle Down River, and Jimmy certainly don’t get enough recognition. Manor complaint was that it got very repetitive and had hardly any range. 3/5
This is a tough album to review. What do you do when a revolutionary turns out to have feet of truffle oil? Shut up and dance, I suppose. The mix of global beats and aggression still slaps. The content rings a little hollow in hindsight.
Not my kind of music, but still a very interesting pop album. Quite refreshing and out of the ordinary.
When "Bamboo Banga" started I thought I was going to hate this album. However, as the album progressed I found myself slowly enjoying it. I wouldn't listen to it again but overall I thought it was surprisingly decent. Highlights were "20 Dollar", Paper Planes" and "Come Around".
Heard it before?: yes Enjoy it?: Yeah it’s not what I was expecting, some interesting elements and an easy listen Favourite track: Track 11 - Paper Planes
Paper Planes and some other pretty good stuff
This album is a vibe with very danceable beats. That said M.I.A's rapping is a bit hit or miss as she sometimes gets drowned out and she can be a bit repetitive at times which doesn't really work for me.
I enjoyed this one today.
Some nice surprises here, such as finding that MIA is of Sri Lankan background, and discovering rhat annoying song Paper Planes was one of hers. Not my type of music but I do appreciate the lyrical themes, musical creativity and diversity of influences.
I never really knew what to think about MIA - and I still don’t. In a way, this album is kinda childish and stupid and chaotic, but - at the same time - there’s a structure and some thought and some real artsy uniqueness to it. Definitely worth a listen.
Lots of world music sounds, particularly Brazil and India. Unique and fairly upbeat. I liked it better than I thought I would.
9Interesting enough but some of the samples or covers or whatever you'd call them were fucking awful.
Halfway through the first song I expected to hate this. To my surprise, as i listened, it grew on me by the third track. The Indian music samples, melodies, and rhythms are well incorporated and this is genuinely engaging. However, her singing is horrible and so are the vocal effects which sound so dated and cannot cover up her lack of pitch. I can understand anyone who finds this irritating because it teeters on that edge for me as well. Terrible album design/art. 2.5/5
Några spår är alldeles fantastiska typ Jimmy och Paper planes. Köpte singeln på Jimmy när den kom och jag älskar den fortfarande. Ett par spår till som är ganska schyssta.
At first I was like "ok this is gonna be a rough one to get through..." but somehow it started to grow on me the longer I listened to it. I don't know if it grew on me enough to say I liked it necessarily, but I can at least appreciate it for being fresh and innovative.
Was one of the better representations of a very particular trend of pop music from 2006-2010ish. Brought back memories of working at a mall.
experimental, distinto, está interesante y cierra con broche de oro en una palabra: diferente
Paper planes! First time listening to this album. Mia is of Sri Lankan descent and after growing up in UK she decided to sing and rap about socially and politically delicate subjects. Paper Planes is one of those songs. Unfortunately, I never cared about the lyrics to it before, but with that knowledge, it gives an another meaning (on top of very catchy tune). The rest of the album follows suit, with a small exception, that you can't find anything catchy, just your average fillers with an interesting agenda. A little bit dissapointed.
So. MIA clearly has something going for her. But her albums always remind me of a snarky schoolgirl armed with lots of toys. (XR2 proves this point in more than one way). Paper Planes is a song for the ages, all the above notwithstanding.
Enjoyable enough, though this isn't something I'll listen to often. Not a fan of rap, but could do a lot, lot worse than M.I.A!
Paper planes is a brilliant tune
I think I liked this?
It’s great !
My perception has been that Paper Planes was the mega hit. Reading about this album it seems like there were others and that she's been more musically active since then than I thought. I don't think I had ever listened to the album, but I did recognize some of the other songs. This may prompt a deeper dive into her discography.
Such an unusual album. An album that slides across lots of sounds and samples. The Clash's, 'Straight to hell' is used brilliantly in 'Paper Planes' and there's notes of the Pixies and New Order in this album too.
Was expecting this album to sound more like paper planes so was pleasantly surprised. A great sound but maybe got a little repetitive by the end.
Absolutely massive in 2007
I appreciate the unique sound.
Pretty crazy album. Almost tribal in a lot of the tracks. I liked it, didn't love it.
Paper planes is catchy AF and Boyz is solid. Otherwise nothing really to write home about.
I really liked the beat of Mango Pickle Down River. She kept things interesting with all the different elements mixed in to each song, though it could be too much at times. Would probably listen to certain songs again.
I think I basically only know Paper Planes from this, so excited to hear the rest. Basically, the songs all kinda sound the same, but I like their energy. I kinda feel like Paper Planes is like, the perfect emblem of this album, but you don't need to listen to the whole album--but it's still kinda fun to listen to. Like the Pixies reference in 20 Dolla. Like the last song a lot.
Not bad. Kinda fun beats for background listening. I had a rough morning so really wasn't focused on the music, but that's fine. Nothing that stood out overly to me, but I do enjoy Paper Planes somewhat.
Helvete vad mycket jobbiga låtar. Dock är paper planes ruggigt bra
The playful attitude (bar some darker themes) combined with the particular minimal(?) sensibility of the music makes for a memorable whole……. I dig it
A decent hip-hop album is a rarity.
Interesting. 6/10
Average pop rap album. Paper planes is a great song and will be played for a long time. Most of the album is hit and miss. Some songs are catchy with cool beats. Others can get annoying and feel repetitive. Album could’ve been better if it was shorter and trimmed some songs. 5.6/10
Enjoyed some of these songs but overall it felt a little too abrasive. Would probably enjoy most of the tracks more individually but the whole album felt like a slog
energetic; kinda weird & ratchet vibe;
OK - though in some ways delivers less than it promises. Love Mango Pickle with the Wilcannia Mob though!
So while I love Paper Planes, that's how I discovered this album years ago...the rest of the album is rough to listen to. 3 for Paper Planes.
Some real bangers although not as groundbreaking as Galang
Nice to see a more diverse offering today. An interesting bricolage of styles, if a little repetitive at times. No, I didn’t feel every song on the album. But M.I.A. is clearly doing something really different and special musically here. Even almost 15 years out it’s a fresh sound with an uncompromising perspective. The beats are solid and the non-Western influences and samples make for a distinctive sound. Some of the songs (like the first three, unfortunately) were a drag on the overall pace and flow. That group of songs were all distinct from each other, but all repetitive in the same way, which was just tiring to listen to. She shines on songs like “Jimmy” and “Hussel” though, when the pace picks up and the sound gets way more complex and interesting. I enjoyed this. It's a little outside my regular listening, but that's why we all came to 1001albums right? Fave Songs: Jimmy, Hussel, XR2, The Turn
The Album is a giant cauldron of artificial, natural, social and musical sounds that come from distant lands and distant contexts. Ultimately, though, it is her style and attitude that make it stand out. (6/10) FT: Paper Planes, Jimmy
M.I.A. is one of those artists where I like all the elements of the music, but I can't really get into it.
6/10
It was good at first but the more I listened to it the less I liked it.
Whilst paper planes is the standout thanks to a significant clash sample I also have a soft spot for XR2 having spent many an hour in one of these bad boys back in '92. As Ali G would say aiiiiiii
Электроника не мое
Really not for me, just couldn't get into it. It's still pretty and I did end up enjoying the sort of middle of the album. I don't really feel comfortable giving it more than 3 even if this is a really good album idk.
An average album saved by a much better 2nd half than the 1st. The rapping about the fish though😂👌
Pretty interesting but really a bit much for me. 6/10
It’s pretty decent, wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did but I didn’t love it. Some really cool sampling and sound manipulation, especially with songs like “Jimmy” and “Paper Planes”. 20 Dollars was alright too; but just sounded too much like Blue Monday and made me wanna listen to New Order instead. That being said, some of the tracks on here are flat out skippable, and just seem like a hyper mixed and over produced house songs that overstay their welcome with how long they are. All and all, didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Some cool influences, check it out for the Afro Caribbean and eastern rythems/instrumentation.
Paper Planes is still dominant. And i definitely like the world flavor mixed with electronic music that really takes off at the start of the album. I don't think it holds enough all the way through, though there is a lot of creativity and depth in the music and lyrics.
Decent enough but not really my cup of tea
Daft punk less French more Birmingham
I knew I liked MIA but hadn't properly listened to this album before and really glad I did, so varied and interesting, really felt it
This is a good album. Not typically my kind of thing and I wouldn't really put it on for fun but I can't deny how interesting it is and fresh. Feels like it was way ahead of its time.
A mix of songs that are fun to listen to and cool samples and others that are a bit dross. I remember seeing MIA at Bestival and Josh spent the whole time waiting for Disparate Youth as he thought she was Santigold
- innovative, creative and distinctive - 20 Dollar a strong standout - competent mixing and orchestration
This album is a mixture of catchy and annoying. Not too sure how I feel about it.
Pretty damn good album of dance tunes interesting and provocative. Love the samples of Roadrunner, Where is My Mind and of course Straight to Hell which I actually already knew of. 3.5 stars
Interesting world music influences. I had heard Paper Planes many times before. It's not as much like that as I would have expected.
the fusion of hip hop/electronica w different sounds from more traditional world music is awesome. i can imagine m.i.a. had a lot of fun w this album. however, track-by-track, it is fairly hit and miss for me.
Rapera inglesa también totalmente desconocida por mí. Su música me recuerda mucho a la BSO de la tercera peli de Too Fast Too Furious en Tokyo.
Great beats to their songs. I knew nothing about M.I.A, main artist is from Sri Lanka and has pulled in influences from all over the place to create this album. Kind of a multitude of messy layers but I came out liking it
this is fun but its not as good or exciting as Arular. its just a bit too polished.
I gotta give it credit for trying to be unique, but it is grating at times
Some of the fusion with world beats works very well. I just find that aside from a couple of highlights, the album doesn't work for me.
Started strong with “Bamboo Bangaa” I like the beats and world-music influence but the rest of the album didn’t build or improve from there. It’s not bad, but I didn’t really take notice again until the last track with Timbaland. I was surprised to read how well received this album was back in 2007 - often picked as one of that years best. Ok, but not great.
Mango Pickle Down River is one of my favorites, I haven't heard it in a few years, the flow was great but I think the kid's voices are the best, especially because it's about the things they like to do. The whole album feels guerilla. 20 Dollar's chorus is from the Pixies, it's an original take, but I don't like the take. Of course "Paper Planes" was the popular track. The last track "Come Around" has over-singing on the melody that is great, and an awesome sound. I wish the rest of the album sounded as well produced as the last track.
I like the Slumdog soundtrack better :)
Different that I assumed. Track with Timbaland is trash, a few of the other tracks are annoying, but they have good backing that would probably cause me to hang around if I hit them on the radio. Of course, I wouldn’t, because Paper Planes is the only song from this album played on the radio
PAPER PLANES IS AN ABSOLUTE BANGER! Apart from that I remembered this album being much better than it really is. I loved M.I.A when I was 18-19? But now all I listen is noise and it really pisses me off. Thought it was more melodic/musical/harmonic. But, still PAPER PLANES IS AN ABSOLUTE BANGER! FOR THE AGES <3
skilled performance, well written but annoying AF to listen to 3/5
Sounded a lot like KKB at some points, her voice is very unique
Not really my favorite. I appreciate it being impactful but not likely to listen to it again. Jimmy is probably my most enjoyed track.
Solid, but didn’t love it
Started out good got repetitive
Production is great, nice time capsule of party vibes from my 20s.Paper planes is a solid jam and quite the standout. Decent but I don’t know if it should be in the 1001 of all time
Great mix of influences stirred together and dashed with some off-the-wall production. Some of the more minimal tracks tend to grate with annoying samples/vocals, but the others lean fully into a complete wall of sound and clever drops that make this a joy to listen to.
I liked it. I wouldn't have usually listened to this but now i will be seeking out more by this artist
From reading about the album and from my love of one of the singles, I thought I would enjoy this more than I did. Maybe I overhyped it in my mind? It was good, but didn't knock my socks off.
Pretty wild mix. Need to give it a few more listens, but pretty funky all over. Paper plans as big hit, probably because it's most approachable.
Последующие её альбомы получше будут
At first listen it sounded like a baby lite Die Antwoord, but it was enjoyable.
ecclectic, experimental, experiential. She's more than paper planes. Still felt messy but not in a good way.
Listened to it after I bought the CD when I was living up in Edmonton 2015-16
Simultaneously futuristic and tribal. I like the little flairs of disco, Madonna, and Pixies (??) here and there. M.I.A. isn't a super electric performer and I think that the legacy of this album subsists on the music. A lot of it is very cool and I haven't heard anything like it prior. "Paper Planes" is still a good track but I could go a little without hearing it again. Favorite tracks: "Bamboo Banga", "Mango Pickle Down River", "Come Around"
Decent tracks, albeit a bit too repetitive for my liking at times. An interesting atmosphere compared to what I typically listen to, though.
Eminently danceable for the entire time. Everything else is quite eclectic. The opening couple tracks are quite abrasive, then interrupted by a more melodic song. The production on the first half seems quite a bit more lush (at points I found myself thinking of it as presaging hyperpop), while things get more minimal later. Mango Pickle Down River seems to require particular context about the '07 world music zeitgeist to appreciate. Fourteen years later, Maya still sounds vital, but Kala can't hold my interest as an album.
Very disorienting sound at first. I think I could get into it with more listens. Paper planes by far most catchy song
A lot of the songs on this album are pretty annoying, but I appreciated the Bollywood influence on her sound. 20 Dollar was ok and obviously Paper Planes, but other than that this was not my favorite. (2)
The only song worth listening to on this album is Paper Planes. Talk about a diamond in the rough.
What happened between M.I.A.'s first album and her second album? The first did a really good job of blending different genres and styles from around the world. This one just feels like a mess. Maybe I'm in a different headspace this time around, but it just doesn't work for me. Paper Planes still slaps though.
2.21 for this album. while there are some interesting tunes, most of them got super annoying past the 2 minute mark. Paper Planes seems to be only decent track on this. The rest is random African beats and just general annoying lyrics and electronic noise. At this point, I'm starting to realize that not everything from England needs to be put on this list. Unfortunately, I'm almost 500 albums in, can't stop now.
90% infuriatingly annoying music, mixed in with one of the greatest songs ever made. A weird listen. Best Song: Paper Planes Rating: 4/10 Stars: 2
Kala was an album that i was hoping i would enjoy but after seeing all it's flaws, i just don't think i did enjoy it. I've heard snippets of these songs before but never actually heard the full songs. So many parts of this album just have at least some kind of issue that really drags it down. The production, while interesting at points, has points where they try too much and it ends up bringing the songs down. The lyrics are also insane and nonsensical for a good majority of the album. But the biggest problem is the vocals as M.I.A. herself just sounded so bored throughout the songs. It still has that strong grime vibe that i enjoy which is why this album is spared from getting a 1 but it is still not very good. Best Song: Paper Planes Worst Song: World Town
Best electronic album so far, still not my cup of tea 2.5/5
Paper Planes is a masterpiece and she duped everyone into thinking she was good at music
Outside of the cash register song nothing on Kala really stuck with me. I can see why it's considered influential, but M.I.A.'s views and public behavior make it difficult for me to separate the artist from the music, so I can't rate it higher than two stars.
40 Minuten foltern lassen, damit man sich Paper Planes verdient hat. Nächstes mal lieber meine Eier durch Glasscherben ziehen lassen
Second MIA album and I like this one less than arular despite it having paper planes on it. 4.5/10 Top song Paper planes
Ok but not brilliant dance style covers of songs. Not a burner
I’ll be honest fam, i didn’t do this one as Ms. Arulpragasam’s antics are still very fresh and still happening, i’d JUST gotten a Kanye and an Arcade Fire album (which i also didn’t listen to when they came up but i know both those records backwards and front) and when this one generated for me i had a visceral reaction of disgust. I only knew a couple tracks off of this one but i can’t see myself being able to not think about anything other than how this is all coming from a whacked-out moron who this person would have despised if i were to try and play the whole thing. I have to admit i’m kinda coming at this one differently than those other two but again, the wound is still pretty new. You really let us down, Mathangi.
Too Electronic not enough Hip Hop
Mostly, I just wanted it to be over. I can't handle the repetitive nature of this music.
Pretty irritating, Paper Planes is great tho
Nah. Just not my sound, at all. It's stripper music. Not meant as an insult; there's some certified bangers that would also be stripper music, but not this for me. Nah.
Alright, this was certainly an interesting album, and honestly, I was not that big a fan of it. Although I do think that it is good that it represents the music and lifestyles of other cultures, as an album I was not too keen on it. I thought that the album had too many tracks that were high energy and had a lot of stuff going on in them, such as Hussel and Mango Pickle Down River, and that meant there was no room for the listener to breathe as they were being bombarded with all of these sounds, with Paper Planes being a standout track and possibly the only more chill moment in the album. I also thought that Mia’s voice could get kind of annoying through a whole listen, and overall I just didn’t catch anything that really stuck with me. I’m glad that other people enjoy it, but I don’t think I’ll be spinning it again.
I listened.
Paper Planes is a banger and I was quite hopeful for what a whole album may bring. As it happens, this is a very noisy, almost carnival like affair, mixing in different styles and even songs; 20 Dollar is like a bad Where Is My Mind? cover. It’s definitely vibrant and interesting but too often I just find it jarring, lacking any real harmony - except for Paper Planes which is precisely why it works so well, but maybe we have The Clash to thank for that.
20 Dollars was an interesting rendition of Pixies Where is My Mind.
Not bad.
I wanted to like this. It's interesting, but not in a way that I was able to appreciate
Came for Paper Planes and Paper Planes only. 1.5
Eh
Paper Planes is a banger and will always be a banger, but M.I.A. is a full on anti-vaxx MAGA conspiracy theorist and it’s seriously affected my ability to enjoy her music. I haven’t listened to her in many years, but I found myself not enjoying this album because she’s politically abhorrent. Sorry, can’t separate the art from the artist when you actively support MAGA.
One good song does not make a great album. I’m sure if she’s reading this she’ll just say I’m judging her for her politics. If I was I’d give it a 1 star.
Never have I wished more that an album from this challenge was purely instrumental. Some of the dirty, nihilistic dance beats are genuinely excellent, and it's an incredibly sonically dense affair which should, in theory, appeal massively to me. But I just cannot abide by the vocals.
HipHop, electr. Dance, World, 2007 -> 2
It was all right. It grew on me as it went along. Didn’t like the gun sounds.
lots of noise while waiting for paper planes
The British gave us the Beatles, the Stones, Radiohead, and Oasis. We don’t need you to contribute to hip hop. Because you don’t have good tastes, my limey friends. No, this is not good hip hop. Adding in a drum line ain’t enough.
Paper planes temón, casi no llego a escucharlo porq el disco medio x. Raro de tener de fondo y no lo suficientemente interesante para prestarle atención. Igualmente me pareció bien.
2/5
Paper Planes copying from Straight to Hell by The Clash is pretty neat I like the ascending synth sound in Jimmy that sounds like starting a new lap in Mario Kart. And some sorta interesting electronic stuff on the later tracks before Paper Planes
Some of the music is fun, I like that it has elements from a lot of different places she visited while working on the album. It's just not my thing at all. It was really repetitive and even if I was enjoying the music I really didn't like the vocals. Not something I would listen to again. Fav song: Paper Planes Least fav: Bamboo Banga
#932. Paper Planes is alright, but the rest is just as good as every other British rap music album. Which is to say- not very. 2/5: nah
Probably on this list due to her influence on hip-hop production and culture (your favourite rapper's favourite rapper type thing), but she's a born-again christian anti-vaxer now and the music isn't that groundbreaking anymore. Not maximalist enough to be Death Grips experimental and too under-produced to be SOPHIE/Charli XCX club bangers
I can almost piece together what I think she was going for with this album... And there were a few surprising moments where it almost worked... But I think she failed miserably with this one. 20 Dollar stood out more than the infamous Paper Planes (which also doesn't fly quite right), but only enough for a 2.
Just paper planes
I find this album to be quite annoying, especially with the production. I have nothing against her using world beat elements but I don't think it is done well. Paper Planes isn't even a great single...
Not the worst, but really not good too
The oddest rap album I've ever heard, freely blending worldbeat and dance. It's impressively creative but the production and vocal work are just too flat, monotone, and repetitive - so, so repetitive! - to make it enjoyable.
Obviously Paper Planes is an all time banger but this album did not do it for me
What did I just listen to?
Equal parts burbon, amaro nomino, aperol, and lemon juice. Recipe for success. The rest of the album is 2$ Bud selects.
I wanted to like this album but it was too annoying to me. Could be bc I was pissed off at work but the experimental stuff just sounded bad. I did enjoy some of the more natural percussion and drums throughout. Fave songs: Paper Planes, Come Around
Solid 2.5/5 stars from me. I feel like i shouldn't be sober to enjoy this haha. Could for sure vibe to this at a club with friends. Paper Planes should be its own single, there's some odd arrangements on this album. I do really like Birdflu and Come Around too.
Lmao this album is nothing without paper planes
Paper Planes. Had to listen to Jimmy in YT
Her songs started out fun, but then the beat or a sound just became so repetitive that they became annoying. If every song had been 2 minutes I might have been more interested. The ones I enjoyed the most were when she expanded the lyrics and didn't just repeat the same words over and over.
Thoughts before listening: Does this have "Paper Planes"? That song is awesome. Review: So it turns out that while the sound collage style with chanted vocals in "Paper Planes" works for me, it wears me down over an entire album. I didn't connect with this album at all. Plus isn't MIA a big old MAGA now? Anyway, this album is a 2 for me.
Favorite songs: XR2, Paper Planes, Come Around I wish this was MIA from this list.
Not sure what this is, I thought it was an Indian take on dance at first, then I heard a very London accent on the 3rd track. Not doing it for me
I didn't connect with this album as much as I thought I might. Dance-heavy hip hop tracks have never really done much for me, and this album is chock-full of them. The album does turn around with the last few songs being more slow-tempo and fleshed out, which I enjoyed. Top tracks: Paper Planes, Come Around
Not my genre. A couple of songs kept it from being a 1 though .
I guess I have to give it two since it has a good song
Interessant. 10 dogshit låter innledningsvis, med litt glitter på toppen til slutt, i form av låt 11 og 12...