Arular

Eclectic and energetic, but maybe less than a sum of its parts? A lot I liked about it, but not much that makes me want to return to it. 3.5*

I think this has been removed from the list. There was a time I listened to this on repeat on my ipod nano. Sonically back then something really clicked for me. I eventually saw her live in a warehouse. It was one of the most ear damaging concerts I had ever been to. I'm not so sure that this all holds up, but it has it's moments still. Bucky Done Gun,Fire Fire, "U.R.A.Q.T." and Galang As a display of the early work of Diplo and Switch it is interesting. I liked the Santogold album in 2008 more than this and their early work on Major Lazer.

Quite fitting that the first one would be from a fellow West London raised British Asian and it did connect me with the culture. Not much of a hip hop guy but I did enjoy it while it was on and was nice and upbeat.

Ok I must say I nearly shut this off early but let it rip. If anything, it's different and I've never heard anything like it. Sadly, to struggle through it again would be a chore. Going with a 3 for the sole reason it seemed innovative to me. But in a good direction? Questionable ....would have been better with Rod Serling at the beginning warning that you're entering the Twilight Zone.... ✨

Is that.... Sanford and Son?

I will say this: the "skits" were really just short experiments of some sort. So they were something I am not just going to "skip" if I decide to come back to this. For the most part, I dug this. I thought M.I.A. did a good job producing beats throughout. I liked some of the ideas used for sampling, like in "U.R.A.Q.T." It was better than I was expecting, because I was expecting something along the lines of 40 minutes of "Paper Planes," and this definitely a lot more than that. Not sure if I would come back to it, but it is better than I expected. Top tracks: "U.R.A.Q.T.," "Galang," "10 Dollar," "Bingo"

Very danceable. Very early “girl power” sound. But very repetitive. Sounds like an “album of the summer” from whatever year. This would be fun as accompaniment to a party or on the dance floor — there’s no way I want to listen to it from beginning to end. And, now that I’ve heard a few tracks, I’m not aching to listen to them again either (as a listening experience). It’s a two — i did not need to hear this whole album before I died.

Sounds like FIFA music

I tried. Really did. Kept waiting for a catch... then resorted to clicking on each song, to no avail... The Sampling was obnoxious and lame...

I know the name and I'm sure I heard some of these songs back in the day, but I couldn't tell you what any of them are. Presumably once I listen some memories will come back. Gimme 45 mins or so... First off, M.I.A is a bit thick, throwing her pseudo-intelligence behind anything she seems as anti-establishment. She has supported both Corbyn and Trump, something only a truly broken mind could reconcile. Like many children of war, she's obviously scarred, but has allowed those scars to dictate her life in some of the worst possible ways. Anti Co-vid Vax, thinks 5g is going to... something? Oh yes, she claims to have had a vision of Jesus. She is a person pulled into political discourse due to her upbringing, but has been swallowed by every black hole going, lacking the smarts to understand what is in front of her. For all the good things she promotes, this is a person who must be entirely dismissed. This doesn't mean her music is good, bad, or otherwise, but it sets some context. This album is a serious clatter, noisy, all over the place, cheap, dated, influential, pulling from all matter of sources to make something ultimately redundant. For all the fierce noise, it comes across as your local loon deciding to take a swim in the nearest bin, armed with a couple of frying pans. Something I've never enjoyed about British rap is the pantomime accents employed. This is front and centre in the vocals here, made worse by repetitive lyrics and cheap clicky beats. But that's the rapping, maybe she can sing? No, sadly no. Slurred and monotone and whining, it's the voice of a hoodie yelling 'bruv I'm not gonna lie but I'm gonna smash this here window if you don't unlock that dog, innit', after you trap them inside the corner shop they've just tried to rob. It sounds both dated and modern at once. Dated because, well, listen to it. And modern because so much of modern, viral, Tik Tok shite follows the same clicky, squeaky, anti-melodic pattern. A truly awful Microsoft paint vomit for the artwork with the approach of 'just one more CTRL V from clip art'. Turns out I don't actually remember any of this. Clearly I travelled in better circles with better taste. I can't leave with such negative comments, so I'll finish with this - plus points for some of the lyrics and lyrical themes (shame they're buried under such shite music), and I imagine you could probably have a good time dancing to some of the songs if you were off your tits or being chased by the filth.

Sounds like a toddler got access to a sound board and the want to be hip auntie making up some of the worst lyrics over the top. Doesn't even sound professional let alone great.

Hørt til og fra jobb. Mye pling-plong og mye drit. Sykt irriterende

Album 1026 of 1089 Arular - M.I.A. (2005) Rating : 1 / 5 This one was short and to the point, which I appreciated - unfortunately, that was about where it ended for me. I listened all the way through, gave it a fair shot, and it just never connected. The album felt repetitive and largely uninspiring. The beats and delivery didn’t evolve enough from track to track to hold my attention, and nothing really stood out as something I’d want to revisit. I can understand why this album holds a place within its genre and why others may appreciate what it brings to the table - it just isn’t something that works for me. Sometimes an album is simply something to experience once, process, and move on from. This was one of those listens for me.

it didn't really work for me

not a single song I would listen to again

Infâme, horrible je comprends pas comment on peut écouter ça

yuck. 0/5

utter bilge, turned it off

Ba nah nah ba nah nah ba nah nah M I A M I A M I A M I A pull up the people pull up the people bucky done gun bucky done gun bucky done gun... I can only assume this was designed and used as a torture method during the Iraq war. No.

I appreciate the artistic expression and the uniqueness. The singing is very unique as well which is cool. Well done album with a lot going on. I definitely agree this should be on the list. But my grades are based on if I like it, not how good I think it is. And this music is nails on a chalkboard for me. It gets a one even though I think it is deserving of the list.

What a load of rubbish. I vaguely remember this album being recommended in a magazine I used to read back then. I bought it and wasted my money. Even 20 years later, the album is still rubbish. 1/5

On paper I feel like I should like this album. I love experimental and weird music, especially when it is upbeat party music, and I love experimental hip hop, I am a huge death grips fan. But man... I find almost every song here to be almost unlistenablely annoying. I think it is her voice that really bugs me. I am glad I don't like this so I don't have to do mental gymnastics to enjoy a crazy antivaxer. Mid 1.

This chick fucking sucks.

Just sounds terrible. Their only good song is not on this album

I Don't want to waste time to comment this.

Felt like one endless track dragged on for the whole album. The only thing that saved it was that Sanford & Son sample.

No thanks.

I don't understand why anyone likes this. Not interesting, not groundbreaking, not influential as far as I can tell. 1/5.

Super annoying, can't listen

How many ways can a headache be induced in an otherwise healthy person? Absolute kudos to this album for going above & beyond in its efforts to find out.

What the fuck was this? And why?

Bad bad noise. Hated it.

Good lord this album sucked.

I want my money back!

The music is MIA.

Bongos, Bambus und Mandoline im Zusammenspiel mit einer nervigen Frauenstimme die über Mobiltelefone und Bananen singt mit einer wuseligen Combo. Aber schlimmer geht immer - die Gute Rapt auch noch. Die Platte führte einen in die Illusion einer Fahrt mit einem verrotteten stinkenden Taxi in Mexico City und man nur einen Wunsch - Lebend raus !

This is unfortunately tailor made bait for me. Insane production, such cool risks that pay off, incredible songs, just a whole product. It really tickles the “person playing with every built in setting on the plastic keyboard” type beat part of my brain. I love it, it’s such a shame MIA is a right winger. I’m sorry if her recent (June 2026) comments were misconstrued, but someone who is doing so much to bring such diverse cultures to the American popular music scene in her early days endorsing Trump and RFK is lame as hell.

I fw MIA and I never heard her other albums now I’m gonna listen to more.

for someone who was previously only really exposed to paper planes i’m annoyed took me this long to get to MIA’s other stuff? love that she named the album after her absentee father and he reached out to ask her to change it and she didn’t. i love a petty lady, i love a fun danceable song, and imo her vocals and delivery are also very fun. reading about how she did the backing tracks for her demos in her room makes me want to go and go listen to those. would own a physical copy of this. fav: hombre

Yk at first I thought this was clunky and didn’t sonically work, especially in the earlier songs (yes that includes Bucky dun gun) but as the album went on it almost settled into a flow that is like entrancing like is it closer to a 4 than a 6 yeah but solid intro

The line between insufferable and catchy is very fine; This album uses that line as a jumprope I could not stand this record when I first heard it and yet now, it is for the exact same reasons that I cannot stop listening to it

I loved this album when it first came out. It sounded so innovative and fresh, especially her beats. I think it still holds up.

Not as off the wall production-wise as she gets on Kala but the essential M.I.A. ideas, energy and rebellious identity have all been established.

This was very interesting. I enjoyed listening to it a lot more than I expected.

Joni Mitchell’s Blue, quieten down, I need to make a sound

I can vividly remember being up too late one night in college watching MTV’s Subterranean and seeing the video for Galang the first time and being completely mesmerized. It felt so new and fun. Kala will always be my favorite M.I.A. album, but this slaps too.

Amazing album. Sick beats, several bangers, and a flow that just keeps you wanting more.

One of the most interesting and boppy albums I've heard on this list. First time listening to a full M.I.A. album, even better than expected. Great shit!

An old favorite.

Very fun listen, so ahead of its time.

Even though it sounds almost like one long song, and there isn't much range to her vocals, it really grew on me. It is a guilty pleasure.

Loved the chance to revisit this classic

ahead of its time, richtig geil und kreativ und geil

So much fun!

Great, fun album. I’ve been listening to this album on and off since it came out and it has never gotten old. Will definitely listen to it again.

Ok... after the first few minutes I was sure, I would rate this album 2 stars at best in the beginning, but in the middle of Bucky Done Gone the brazilian funk really, really "clicked" for me. I think M.I.A. hits the perfect balance of creative and enjoyable at the same time, that many artists on this list (and in general) try, but are unable to achieve for me. Never heard a song by her before knowingly and I am looking forward to explore more!

one of my all time favorite albums. 5 *

Danced around cleaning my kitchen to this. Bloody great

Yep.

I loved this. I don't really know why. The electroglam is fun, she has a fascinating way of singing and her double tracking is so not tight that it kind of riffs off the other vocals. I have no idea what she's on about half the time, but it really grooves and I found I didn't really care. There was one track iraqo or something that started a bit meh, but got better and that was my only criticism really. So much energy, seemingly so little care for what people might think of it, almost lazy in delivery, but the layers really grabbed me. I watched the video for galang too and on paper I should hate it, but the dance moves, the kind of not caring naffness of it. It came across as really cool. I love it.

Just fucking awesome. Banger after banger.

DOPE

Man eftir að hafa hlustað mikið á þessa plötu á mínum yngri árum, mikil nostalgía

(5) I love this so much and here is why: URAQT love the sample of the Sanford and Sons main theme with Red Fox saying “you big dummie”.

A crazy, exotic mix of London and all of its cultural influences. A great voice to capture it and beats that absolutely bang. Had to listen twice.

You know, when this started I almost shut it off. Stuck with it, thinking it’ll probably be a one or two. Ended up really liking it and listened a few times more

M.I.A. dope to me

M.I.A. really lit up the music scene when this debut album came out. She wouldn't achieve her greatest fame until "Paper Planes" came out a few years later. "Arular" was more of an underground success and was maybe bigger among fellow musicians than fans, but for me, this debut is still her best work. It's political, personal, and represents a uniquely diverse range of music from technology, punk, and international styles. And it's infinitely danceable. Political themes hadn't been this fun since The Clash. There's an uncomfortable connection with the militant organization The Tamil Tigers which brought some controversy (along with a reference to the PLO), but M.I.A. denies that her revolutionary father was actually engaged with violence. Giving the benefit of the doubt, challenging political energy and awareness into the dance floor is certainly more fun than keeping it to the battlefield. This album remains a powerful statement about revolution and love of music.

I liked the dance beats.

I’ve listened to this one before! There’s nothing else that sounds quite like it, it’s a real talent

ho visto l'album e mi sono cacato addosso, agg itt ok è finita E INVECE FA PAUR STA TUTT SPERIMENTALE DEATH GRIPS INDIAN

I hit play skeptically because I didn't know a single song on here (Kala is the album I know), but damn... my mind has been blown for the second time in a week. 4.5 only because I really didn't like U.R.A.Q.T., but since every other song bangs, rounded up to 5.

Samo gęste. Niby z 2005 a vibe jak z 2125. Mamma M.I.A.

10/10 I love anti-vax rap

This slapped, upbeat, lyrically random but actually really good, I love her style, good vibes, great album.

Truly unique/ahead of it's time.

This album was an achievement in so many respects. It broke ground in terms of its sound, samples, and subjects. It was largely the brainchild of one artist, and the cross-cultural flavor of this album couldn't have been done out of a traditional studio. Highly recommend the documentary "Matangi/Maya/M.I.A." to learn more about her origin story.

I hadn’t heard this album in 20 years. I like it even more now. I didn’t have the back story before about M.I.A. teaching herself the drum machine. The production is so cool—each track has great beats and so many creative and unusual elements. Plus her delivery, the subject matter - global revolution, poor people rising up - and her heritage as a Sri Lankan, whaat? 5 stars

Kind of strange and different, I love it, interesting mix of genres

Ja ti ne mogu opisat koliko sam volio ovaj album kad je izašao. P. S i dalje je super iako je ona prolupala

I was today years old when I realized M.I.A. is Missing in Action and her persona is antiwar protest? She's not just an incredible beat maker and producer, she's also an incredible activist and political dissident. Amazing.

Mia is a game changer. This album is very underrated commercially but you can tell how many artists she influenced when this came out. From Taylor Swift, Kate Perry, Rihanna, Minaj, Cardi B and other recent superstars. This album is a melting pop of music and culture from Sri Lanka, England, American, European it has freestyle with hip hop, old school rap and a bit of dancehall. She made sure to cover all the bases and fussion the generes like rice and beans at a puerto rican chinchorro. Really impressive and unexpected makes this a 5 star album. Pure talentand energy

bangers.

Loved this back in the 2000s, and coincidentally I revisited it within the last couple of months. Hell of an album. To really enjoy it, I have to take a deep breath and put aside that A) M.I.A.'s more recent music was all very disappointing; B) she seems to have become a crazy conspiracy theorist who sells anti-5G tinfoil hats or something. Once those things are out the way, man this still sounds as good as it did in 2005. The production is infectiously fun, but still heavy-hitting; it's hard to think of anything else that gets this mix of dancehall, pop, garage, hip-hop, and other electronic styles sounding so effortlessly good. Song-writing are delivery are both fire: cool, vibrant, fun, but with a hint that M.I.A. wanted to be a spokesperson for the globally poor and disenfranchised. Amazingly balanced debut album which will always sound great. 5*

A breath of fresh air after the last album. There is certainly something I enjoy about MIA's music and style. I didn't get quite into this one as much as Kala but it's strong for a debut. Faves: Pull Up the People, Bucky Done Gun

9.5/10. What did I just listen to? Whatever it was, I loved it!!! The production of this album sounds so ahead of its time, possibly even ahead of today's time! It appears that M.I.A. had a clear artistic vision, and it was executed very well. If Björk were a rapper, I'd imagine that her music would sound similar to this (she would probably do it better, since Björk is un-matched). There is so much epic energy in this album!!! Also, I heard that Trent Reznor praised this album, and I love Nine Inch Nails. TL;DR, this SLAPS!!!

That was a lot of fun

Очень понравился альбом, много треков добавил в избранное

One of my favorites albums since I was a teenager. It's a shame M.I.A. turned out to be a weirdo.

Cure for cerebral palsy 👍

Wow! So refreshingly not a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young for once. Electronic Music? Tick. World Music? Tick. Bit of Hip Hop? Tick. Sense of Humour? Tick. Politics? Tick.

9/10…indietronica / alt.hip hop

Comenzamos el mes de mi natalicio con el debut de M.I.A.. La conocí hace unos años a través de un documental y luego caí en la cuenta que ubicaba uno de sus hits posteriores. Una artista zarpada, adelantadísima a toda la movida actual del trap/hip hop/neo soul (en el caso de mi país, imposible no relacionarla con Nathy Peluso y con el resto de las pibas de su camada). Me vuela la cabeza que lo haya producido con una máquina de ritmos re sencilla y que sean ritmos bailables con letras barderas. Me recuerda también a las raperas de los 90s y, en el caso argento, Actitud María Marta, Miss Bolivia o Sara Hebe. Muy bien 10.

9.5/10

Weird

This was so novel when it was released. Exciting, different, challenging and bold. The videos were intense and dazzling. These days, this feels almost quaint. Still lots of fun. Bold choices.

Arular thrills. 🔥 I do not tire of M.I.A.

Loved it. I only knew Paper Planes (from her next album) but she is way more. MIA is clever as hell and mixes those great lyrics with groovy beats. In her words, its hard to dance to political songs and she wanted to change that. Mission accomplished - to a tee. When Apple played its randomly selected similar songs after the album ended, I also came to realize how influential MIA (and Gwen Stefani) were on a bunch of female artists of the 2000's - think Fergie, Iggy Azalea. MIA is better because she doesn't seem to sink to pop lowest common denominators. It's lyrics first, beats to fit it. To me, she's just as good as Missy Elliott. Not the same, but damn good. And if this album wasn't as influential as Missy's Under Construction, it should be. Special shout out to the most wicked songs on this album - Pull Up the People, Bucky Done Gun, Sunshowers, Hombre, URAQT, and Galang.

It’s rare to get an album that is completely new to me that I listen to twice in a row, but this is one of these. This debut from M.I.A takes glitchy, catchy dance beats and layers on lyrics that range from cheeky to sharply political. Maya Arulpragasam experienced life as a refugee from the violence in Sri Lanka when she was just 11 and this plays out in her music, but it’s done with irrepressible charm and wit. I absolutely love this!

A visionary debut that mixes rap, world music and indie.

*insert lady gaga gif* talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, etc etc

This is great. Love the beats and there is a lot of wit. It’s just a very engaging listen.

Banana.

galangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalangalan

It's just ace. She's stayed close to this standard for 20 years while maintaining an indie career that has been brilliant. Conversely, Diplo has become more and more bland and dull while achieving mainstream success and ridiculous money. This is why I think we should let climate change win.

Today's album is like trip hop. It's not bad at all. But it full of dumb fucking skits. Man I hate those, but at least the skits maintain a beat. They aren't just random fucking noises or nonsense, just kinda like super short songs. I still don't like skits, but it didn't detract from the album the way other skits do. I haven't got a bakers fuck of an idea what the singer is saying, but it doesn't matter, because the beats are solid. The album cover looks like something someone made using Microsoft Word and clip art. It's actually really fuckin good though. The music is such a vibe. Has a world music feel to it. Pretty solid! U.R.A.Q.T sampled the Sanford & Son theme song! You can hear Fred Sanford saying "you big dummy" throughout the song lol Favourite songs: U.R.A.Q.T., Bucky Done Gun, Sunshowers, M.I.A, Amazon, Bingo, "Fire, Fire", Galang, Pull Up the People Least favourite songs: Banana, Dash the Curry, One For The Head (fuck skits) 5/5

Very very good

Love it. Way ahead of its time, especially with the instrumentals. Creative, one of the few albums that I wish didn't end and leaves me craving for more. Love the mixing of electro sounds with hip-hop. Fun

9/10

Mid 2000s dance music. This thing feels like it was made in someone’s bedroom, they had their electronic instrument and used every single sound available on the thing, but in a good fun way like on Bucky done gun the shitty horns sound like they belong on a flash game. Lots of good throwback sounds and it’s so absurd it would fit in with modern dance music. Not so hidden messages in the lyrics but since pulling apart lyrics isn’t my thing I’d say it’s just a really cool idea.

M.I.A. is just so fucking cool she makes me want to be a criminal

I thought this was fantastic and Marxist. 5 stars.

curti, sonzao animado e gravezon

This is bad-ass. I know I missed half of what was going on here, and if I were to dig in to better understand this album, I'm sure I'd get a more profound appreciation for it. But as it is, just listening and grooving to the songs, the production, the style, the vibe, and M.I.A.'s brand of rap, this was pretty amazing. I'm out on a limb here with a 5, but I'm not sure what could have made this better.

Ok, so I rolled my eyes when I saw her come up on this list again but I had a lot of fun with this one.

genieten !!!!!!! ik kende mia wel maar wist er verder niks van, erg interessant

I love this album so much, it is the anound of summer for a couple years of my 20s and I am forever angry at Maya for becoming a conspiracy theorist anti-vax crackpot. (Insert Tyra Banks “we were all rooting for you!” gif here)

Not my favorite record by M.I.A. but a stunning debut, full of confidence. I’ve said it before, but I also love when an artist has an eponymous song.

It's unfortunate that when I saw this album come up I thought "isn't there a reason we don't like MIA anymore?" Truth be told, this is a powerful release. This listener easily is able to understand the message and emotion behind it and was even more pleased to read it was successful in reuniting the artist with their estranged father. Politics aside, this is a solid release. 3.5 rounded up.

Very fun

This album was just so fun

Takes a while to get going but once it does this is a treat, still feels fresh and innovative now. Great

Een enkele keer schrijf ik hier mijn bewondering voor een enorm sterk eerste nummer op je allereerste album. Het kan ook anders blijkbaar...Ba-na-naa. Goed het is blijkbaar voor het goede doel: Leer! Na het vorige album had ik wel interesse gekregen in Mia. Ze bood namelijk interessante bruggen tussen werelden van muziek, maar wist het niet echt af te maken. Ik heb wat later werk geluisterd en geconstateerd, dat de potentie er ook later niet uit is gekomen. Tot mijn verrassing krijg ik haar nu nog eens, maar met eerder werk. Na die banaan, volgt een bass die de haren van je lijf blaast. Ik houd wel van een briesje. Daarna blijk ik zelfs een nummer van mevrouw te herkennen. Beide tracks zijn niet helemaal gelikt, maar dat houdt het eigenlijk wel interessant. Ze hebben iets Skrillex achtigs. En daarmee blijkt deze mevrouw er toch vroeg bij te zijn geweest. De internationale bruggen zijn op dit album veel minder dan in het latere werk. Dat is een gemis. Maar tegelijk weet ze de nummers zonder die uitdaging beter neer te zetten. Eigenlijk heb ik iets meer luisterplezier aan dit album.

Low effort/ give-a-fuck-age. Good beats. Distinctive. Liked it. Cant understand half of whats being said, but dont need to. Heard a couple of songs before but the album as a whole is well listenable. Every song is decent. At the time & a few years after, loadsa music people jumped on her bandwagon, Pushing her to show how 'progressove' rhey were. That turned me off her. But suppose thats not her fault Thought it were reet good.

Good enough that even though I listened in the car on my road-trip, I gave it a full replay at home to really enjoy it.

When MIA came on the scene, it was world music that was more than somebody combing another culture for cool sounds or more cerebral moments of music. It was a refugee finding herself. She was taken on by certain folks as a banner for immigrants, women, and those downtrodden. Her existence was political. Her point of view was complex but able to be put in a box. As she has aged, her politics are once again reinterpreted by her adopted home and the listening public within their squares. They place their interpretation on her. She was never meant to be someone speaking for all these other folks. She speaks for her experience. This album is a personal and political album that you can dance to. It is hard to listen to without finding your way into trying to understand where she is coming from. It is a good album that showed a different possibility for rap. It isn't an African American perspective. Maybe other cultures have something to say while reusing and recycling Western music. It really did create an impact and underline the DIY aspects of how music is made.

Wow this doesn’t slow down does it!?! “They’re coming through your window- they’re coming through the door” This album sure is!! Would love to know how many times she spells her name throughout the album… crazy! And can’t get the chitty chitty bang bang noise out my head after the track ‘Bucky done gun’ But I love it! ‘Dash the curry’ seemed unnecessary 🤷‍♂️ Anyway Jay Z and Kanye need to listen to this album and learn a thing or too as this is how a rap album should bounce sound and feel! Best track- ‘10 dollar’ (shame she’s looking for a Yorkshire banker and not a Yorkshire farmer 😂’ Worst track- ‘dash the curry’ Feel like I’ve just completed a workout! Very solid 8/10

M.I.A. Arula Always enjoyed her stuff but never heard this debut album which has a real DIY bedroom feel to it. Right up my street. Each track is in your face (ears) from the get go. There's one idea each song and it gets pushed harder and harder. You can feel her Tamil Tiger heritage come through, and it really does have a vibe of bouncing through Sri Lanka streets on the edge of revolution. Best tracks - loads of em, Galang, Sunshowers, Amazon, Fire Fire, the funky U.R.A.Q.T. but the one that I've listened to constantly since, in every remix and live version I can find, is Bucky Done Gun. Those 'trumpets' are just killer! Worst Track - the closer M.I.A. Just doesn't quite hit like the what has gone before. 8/10

Sick summer album, I don’t know if I would’ve liked it as much if it had been selected in the winter / fall. I thought this was interesting sonically and lyrically.

Really enjoyed this one! Surprised that I liked it better than the last one, but I did!

Would buy

probably my favorite artist on the list who has a questionable public persona

Ok

Cool Yeah it’s great. Apparently she’s a right wing loon now but this holds up, remember Galang coming out and liking it but listened to the whole thing without any skips and enjoyed the lot. Favourite track: Sunshowers

*drum machine, vivid, gaudy lo fi Bucky done gun Amazon

Maya Arulpragasam is an easy person to accuse - of a lot of things, but most acutely of being insufficiently committed to whatever leftist ideals she claims to hold. And it isn't difficult to see why; here are what appear to be a series of revolutionary discourses, delivered via bouncy hip-hop beats and worldbeat samples, by someone obviously capable of pop superstardom and not at all interested in the enforced humility we demand of would-be Robespierres. In this she reminds me of nothing so much as Spivak's "Can the Subaltern Speak?"; we aren't hearing from the oppressed peoples of the world, we're hearing from their coolest, smartest, prettiest, most talented, most privileged un-representatives (and make no mistake, charisma is a form of privilege). This dynamic threatens to make M.I.A.'s entire shtick feel like, well, a shtick; witness "Bucky Done Gun," where she appropriates the language of warfare in the service of seduction. Or, more broadly, the toy-piano and similarly childlike production on the beats throughout, as if the whole thing is no big deal. And then we get to "Amazon," in which Arulpragasam seems to reveal having given in to sexual coercion to ensure her own survival, and in an instant the whole thing snaps into a different kind of focus. The playfulness isn't privilege - it's a defense mechanism, a way to avoid the crushing psychic load of whatever shit has happened to her. And that gives the entire project a particularly resonant sort of realness; for someone for whom this threat is commonplace, why *wouldn't* it be something to play or joke about, the way crime scene investigators joke about blood splatter patterns? M.I.A.'s realness throws into contrast the posturing so many of her male rap and punk colleagues engage in. Without saying it directly, she points out how much easier it is to bang your head to Johnny Rotten shouting "no future" over and over when you've never had to, say, turn to prostitution to earn enough money for a visa, like the women Arulpragasam sings about on "10 Dollar." Or, similarly, that nobody *really* thinks Dr. Dre is gonna force Eazy-E to suck his dick. Turns out the truly revolutionary thing about M.I.A. is not the trauma of the Sri Lankan Civil War but the trauma of simply existing as a woman in a world where men take the things they want. No wonder the streets of London feel just as scary as those of Jaffna. (Incidentally, if I had a nickel for every time Lynn Hirschberg wrote a hit piece aimed at a female recording artist that ended up defining the artist's public image and career forever, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, etc., etc.)

not at all what I was expecting, and honestly this was quite good. 4/5.

This was overall better than Kala for me. The beats are bombastic and her vocals maintain a good rhythm that keeps everything moving. Favorites were Pull Up The People, Sunshowers, Bingo, and U.R.A.Q.T.

MIA’s current politics suck. This album was fun regardless. The amalgamation of world influences is pretty awesome.

Missed this at the time and only really knew Paper Planes by her. This is surprisingly good

Fun hip hop / electronica album. I love the different rhythms across the tracklist and the different sounds used. The lyrics can be a bit repetitive at times but that also makes the songs hookier. Bucky Done Gun is definitely the biggest earworm on the album but none of the rest really stood out.

A really fun album with some fun beats. 4/5

4.5/5

Pretty great, kinda sad in hindsight if what M.I.A is doing now but still great.

cunty in a raw way, cool vibes

It's a record that is both stuck firmly in 2005 and sounds bang up to date.

Loved this album! Some catchy hooks mixed with some creative rapping.

It’s cool and the vibe is amazing but some of the sampling got pretty annoying in a few tunes.

I liked this better than I expected. It is more "raw" than her next album that blew up on the pop charts, and I appreciate that about "Arular." It's still not going to be a favorite of mine, but I do applaud the uniqueness of it. I'd give it a 3.5 stars, but I'll round up to 4 on this scale.

Miss Paper Planes but still a solid record

My first exposure to M.I.A. in album form. Really fun listen some of the songs get a bit annoying but generally a very enjoyable and eclectic album 7/10 Favourite: Bucky Done Gun Least Favourite: Hombre

This is fun and I had a good time listening to it, and I don't think it's meant to be much more then that.

Banging.

An excellent album, but not different enough from its follow-up to warrant both of them being on this list.

I didn’t even know MIA had an album before Kala. That album definitely was geared toward a more international audience, which is one of the reasons I like this one so much: it was authentically her. Much like Lauryn Hill, MIA attacks music in a totally Sri Lankan way. It’s a little Indian influence, some Middle Eastern flair, American rap and Brazilian dance hall all mixed into one. Damn is she blunt in her lyrics too, eg, URAQT. Key songs for me were 10 Dollar and Amazon, though Hombre was good too. I want to revisit this entire album when time provides this weekend. I have to say initial listen gets a 3.5. But since that’s not possible I’m rounding today!

The album is very cool. But this woman is crazy!! She has endorsed Corbyn and Trump. This is baffling

Love this album

I've really only known M.I.A for her big hit "Paper Planes" that was huge around the time I was in high school. Non music wise, she endorsed Trump in 2024 and went on Alex Jones's show in 2000 and I think that detracts the good politics she otherwise had. I'll choose to ignore that and focus on her early albums that this list contains. But just gotta say: not a good look. Hating vaccines is wack, anti 5G shit is weirdo crap, and I'm not gonna get in on the Assange rapist defending, just a weird mess Arular is a very creative and interesting album, blending in UK/Brazilian genres and creating some pretty funky stuff. The trade-off is that it doesn't always hit for me, but I appreciate a creative approach rather than trying to be the same as everyone else. It hits a great creative flow in the second half of the record. I think for most people it'll be hit or miss, certainly not for everyone's kind of sound. I think it's neat but not something I'd dig too further into, lest the 5G radiation will kill me or whatever

2/3. Such a cool sound; this would sound futuristic to me no matter what decade I heard it in. The sound choices are incredible, but it’s definitely an album I need to be in the right mood for. Stars aligned today, so it’s a strong inclusion for me.

This was such a great sound, second album was even better

This may have been one you needed to hear at the time as it was genuinely thrilling back then. Her brains may have been fried since but this still stands up OK (and isn't even her best album)

Pretty consistently entertaining. Production still sounds really cool and her flow (seemingly a mix of Indian subcontinent Filmi vocal style and Missy Elliott-esque street swagger) is perfect. Liked it a lot and would probably still enjoy a second time!

Quite enjoyed this, though not enough to add it to my library. Especially dug the Caribbean influences.

Listened to this on a spin bike and great music for that, got the heart pumping. Fun record

Yes, I love this album. It was on repeat in my life when it first came out.

Fierce, banging, driving, vital - organic, independent, with the spirit of The Slits, of Bjork, and many other independent originators present.

I feel like F E N got the freedom to wanna dance to this at BCR

Franchement je met une note par ce que je suis obligée pour sauvgarder mes notes d'écoute (oui c'est imporant). C'est un album beaucoup plus complexe que je ne suis capable de comprendre la maintenant. Ca a rien à voir avec ce que j'écoute habituellement du tout, mais je pense vraiment y revenir quand je serais prete, pour l'instant ça m'a juste fatiguée.

This was cool. A very unique, kind of wild approach/style.

Cool, ved ikke om både denne og Kala behøvede være med

Vild med det. Alle genrerne er med på den her plade, og den er et sjovere lyt end Kala.

Maybe.Its.Amazing

Feels extremely ahead of it's time for when it came out and still holds up well today

I think this still sounds like it's from the future. Also, there's more Big Audio Dynamite influence than I realized 20 years ago.

Full force kaleidoscope of sounds

Hell yeah

the music ... is epic

Great! Got me productive!

Made we wanna twerrrkkk

Pretty good hip hop. I.like it.

She's so cool. This isn't usually what I like, but I liked it.

Such a fun style! I've always enjoyed MIA's hits when I've heard them but never listened to a full album. I'm going to listen to this one a lot more!

Can bad people actually create good art? Or, rather: Can you enjoy the art created by people whose mindset you despise? In the case of M.I.A., the answer, to me, is yes -- although I think she took a turn for the worse somewhere after "MAYA", I think her first three albums are amazing. Maybe the didn't revolutionize hip hop, but they certainly revived the genre, adding pop sensibilities, the heaviness of rock (see her feature with Suicide on "MAYA") and experimental world music. "Arular" probably is my least favorite of the three, yet it still contains amazing tracks. "10 Dollar" is ridiculously catchy, "U.R.A.Q.T." still sounds as powerful today as it did in 2005, and "Bucky Done Gun" hints at "Paper Planes". Not a perfect record -- but nonetheless a record that I enjoyed revisiting.

This sounded really fresh when it came out, and is still quite fun listening back. It feels as if music has moved on, partly due to this album. I like the simplicity and directness of it and there are a few bangers on there. Sunshowers is a particular highlight.

This sounds more like a mix tape than an album. I love the chopping and changing of styles and references points between each track. You can't imagine it being recorded anywhere but East London during a particular time. Like all the best albums, it borrows from just about everyone, without ever trying to hide this. It's disposable music that deserves to be revisited every now and then as a reminder of what was possible.

Det bandldido sier, bare at jeg liker det.

I can't help it, but I find M.I.A. damn attractive, just like her music.

Takes me back to highschool! Such a big M.I.A. fan back then!

Excellent rap/pop music. I am probably too old to really appreciate it in my gut. But I appreciate it in my head, and it is so original and energetic I know I SHOULD really love it. Maybe another day. 4/5

In so many ways, seems like a clear precursor to Charli xcx. Really innovative and danceable beats. Playful but understatedly meaty lyrics.

Great Album. Fav: Pull up the people

so good and weird i love it

The production is so interesting. I liked this one more than Kala. Low 4.

I love M.I.A but I rlly do not listen to her music outside of for this list. 10 dollar has lyrics that r from a Tamil nursery rhyme thing that I grew up hearing.

Я бы охуел, если бы услышал это 20 лет назад. Лучшая песня - Bucky Done Gun.

I hated this on first listen, kinda loved it on second, what’s that all about? It’s fun and I was shaking my booty. Shame she appears to have turned into a loon though

- So, apparently she said with her whole chest that "Trump is going to ride America through the most challenging 4 years coming pulling out weed , and RFK will inherit America when God is ready to replant and rebuild it righteously.” So, finally a woman on this list, and now she’s just as questionable as the men. Fair to say that she thought differently when she made this album, but it’s hard to listen to it now in the same spirit knowing this. - Nice beats and flow, and I appreciate the political bent of this album (pre the above quote).

This entire album's genre is 2000s club music fused with Hip-Hop, and Pop. Here I was thinking M.I.A. went M.I.A. after "Paper Planes". And somehow, I really liked it. Favorite Track: "Galang".

Pretty fun and very energetic.

Bangers

I actually enjoyed this but when in with low expectations

Because I guess why does politically charged music have to be punk rock? What if its dance fusion?

Exuberantly ecclecic, a kaleidoscopic blend of sounds styles and genres bombastically borders crossing and delivering playfully rebellious protest dance bangers. great fun.

Her delivery and the beats are fire. I couldn’t often connect with the lyrics but it sounded great.

- me surpreendi muito, várias estéticas interessantes, recortes regionais que não soam como apropriação cultural, pioneira no lo-fi - além disso é bem crítico e consciente, tive que ouvir a discografia inteira e acho que Kala é até melhor, mas é um álbum de estreia ótimo

This is very cool stuff, shame M.I.A. is a lunatic.

I honestly didn't know what to expect with this one but I’m totally digging it. It stands completely apart from anything else. It’s weird and wild without being alienating. It captures a specific global street vibe that just clicks. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Pull Up the People - Bucky Done Gun - Sunshowers - Galang

I had almost the same questioned reaction as one of the top reviews on this project. "M.I.A. has a second album on this list...?" I actually really enjoyed this one a lot more than the first album I got from her. (so much so I may go back and try that one again at some point.) It's a hard genre to pin-point at times, but I got a cool feeling of being able to hear the past and future in at same points in some songs. The sound of Fela Kuti, aggresiveness of Public Enemy, but also, hearing future rappers like Little Simz, and even the massive wave of K-pop that has washed over worldwide the last decade or so, you can pull similarities from this album, almost a quarter century before. (ugh) Can easily see why people rate this lower, but these type of albums make it very interesting.

Really neat, been meaning to check out M.I.A for a very long time now. My initial thought listening to this was "Wow this is so ahead of its time!" but honestly I wasn't even sure how, at least not right away. What about this was ahead of its time? I want to say it's primarily the production which is very grainy, disjointed, jarring, and uncanny that draws a lot from the world of contemporary EDM. The type of production that many experimental post-industrial hip hop and electronic artists in the 2010s would ride. The percussive work specifically stands out, it's all so subtly overdriven and chaotic like with 'Bucky Done Gun' or 'Fire Fire'. The song 'Bingo' was maybe the noisiest banger here, and my favorite song. The rapping well, it's certainly something. M.I.A is certainly unique and an acquired taste. It sort of sounds like all her verses are hooks. So her ACTUAL hooks are hard to distinguish in the mix, and the whole thing ends up feeling like this endless stream of bars, no structure in sight. That is unless she's getting melodic on the chorus like on 'Sunshowers'. This song and 'M.I.A' had maybe the most directly political messages on the album because, lyrically, M.I.A clearly favors getting her points across with the repetition of sticky lines. M.I.A, being a refugee herself, clearly holds that specific topic close, and opts to name drop it, and her home of Sri Lanka, in many of the raps here. After the first few songs, and especially in the second half, I found the album really clicked for me - there are some real head bangers here and MIA's style just starts to make sense for some reason. My brain just sort of melted into the nonsensical nature of it all. Good stuff, and again, really predictive and ahead of its time.

I actually quite liked this, which I was not expecting. For the most part (except "Hombre" and "10 Dollar") I really appreciated the lyrics or at least found them interesting. I also loved the kinda spastic beats and layers throughout the album. Her voice was pretty solid too.

8/10 Favorite: Pull Up the People

Didnt know about this one by her. Very good. Great Rhythms.

awesome

Kala was a really pleasant surprise for me about 18 months ago so I was quite excited to give this a go and once again, not disappointed. M.I.A. brings attitude and humour while the production is slick and incorporates a world of influences to basically create a party. I actually think this is even better than its successor; slightly less polished and more in-your-face. Great stuff.

Cool

I miss the days when all I knew about M.I.A. was how dope her music was. 😞

MIA’s music sounds like a fun street carnival thats politically motivated. Shes really got a genre of her own going here. You can listen to this and be frustrated with how clunky it may sound, or you can take it as creative and charming, hearing sounds/aesthetics that would give was to the era of bloghouse/indietronica to come. “Sunshowers” is a wildly fun beat that doesn’t match the very *real* nature of the lyrics. It works well. That’s not the best beat though. “Amazon” might lay claim to that, with an insanely catchy chorus over top of it too. The bangers keep coming, “Bingo” goes just as hard as the last track. Last, “URAQT” stuck with me for its whimsical delivery and lighter subject matter. I think I have to 4/5 this one. A light 4. Lots of little pockets of creative production + great hooks + meaningful lyrics.

yeah it was fun

Early 2000 soundtrack

Too bad she's gone to conspiracy theories

Feeling generous and enjoyed this one a surprisingly amount. Made me a MIA convert

I liked this a lot when it came out, haven't listened to it in a long time. This was all before the brain worm. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes: 27/101 (26%) Will I get? Already have!

This was not at all one of my typical listening genres -- other than the fact that I've had Sunshowers in my regular rotation since it came out -- but I really enjoyed this. MIA's sound is so unique and really her own flavor. I don't think there's anyone else out there that makes music that sounds quite like hers. I listened to it twice. Four stars.

(83/100)

Sounds both homemade and polished at once; it’s an impressive debut. All the embellishments and noises are exactly where they should be. Would be great at a party or in the car. Felt a little weird sitting down and listening to it at the office.

This was a bit of an acquired taste so I had to listen to it a couple of times, but it grew on me.

Good fun, something a bit different, enjoyed this

I liked this. It had energy and felt a bit different. Interesting sounds.

Siempre disfruto del propio hecho de que haya álbumes más modernos y experimentales en esta lista. De este registro en particular me gustaron los ritmos tan peculiares, las sonoridades electrónicas tan crudas que fueron utilizadas y en gran parte la manera de cantar de M.I.A. Al mismo tiempo me resultó un tanto monótono en tanto que el álbum tiene un sonido diferente, original, pero no hay mucha diferencia entre tema y tema. Todos usan los mismos tipos de recursos, a nivel rítmico, vocal y tímbrico... no digo que sean todos iguales, pero se siente que no experimenta en toda la extensión creativa con las herramientas disponibles (como ha hecho Björk en "Médulla" por ejemplo). Además el álbum tiene contenido de conciencia de clase, contenido político y social contra las injusticias del capitalismo. Pero M.I.A., así bien no parece ser una figura mainstream, ha presentado una imagen superficial y contradictoria (como cualquier figura que critica el capitalismo para amasar una fortuna con su mensaje). Lo cual genera ruido a la hora de pensar en el valor del mensaje y la artista. Creo que es un buen álbum que disfruté, pero me genera sentimientos encontrados respecto del desarrollo creativo y de la transparencia del mensaje. Aún así lo valoro.

Great beats and flows from M.I.A. Funny in parts and the lyrics are generally good but I would have to give multiple listens to get the full effect.

This album sounds like 2005. Merging styles in the early days of mass technology. A left turn with political lyrics, dance music, and harsh edges to think about. Knowing this album when it came out felt like a fresh breakthrough in and left turn surrounded by roiling indie rock.

Fun, interesting and cool.

Cool and unique album. Standout songs: Bucky done gun Amazon Bingo

good stuff

An enjoyable listen

Controversial 4? I thought this album was kinda bangin. Also a sucker for dated 2000s references.

After looking on in the sidelines, M.I.A. burst onto the scene as though she were a living, breathing technological explosion with Arular, carrying information about the hardships of her people with the undercurrent of a patchwork of sounds to draw from that worked much more effectively than it would have in lesser hands. Little did anyone anticipate the incendiary career that would follow but, here, the signposts are hard to ignore. Favorites: Pull Up the People, Bucky Done Gun, Fire, Fire, Amazon, 10 Dollar, Galang, M.I.A.

Uniq for sure

Groovy, Bombastic

I cry, mia rip 😪

some of these songs sounded half finished. Weird fun vibe tho

This is a political album? I have no idea what she's talking about at any given moment of this. Eastern Anthemic pop gibberish. It's awesome

I hadn't heard this era of M.I.A. Super solid debut. 3.5

I remember being really mesmerized by the Galang music video. There was absolutely nothing like it in my pop culture awareness, and I'm guessing not a lot generally at the time. MIA has, in my opinion, continued to be one of those people who if you tried to do whatever she's doing (like the Galang video) most people would look so profoundly stupid but she pulls it off every time. The hidden track here sneaks in pretty direct critique of US politics and consumerism that I would sometimes get from Green Day or System of a Down or my directly counterculture weirdo friends but definitely not in an album of party music. I actually don't think I ever listened to this full album because, if I'm guessing, I downloaded Galang and Bucky Done Gun from Limewire and on dial-up that was about all I had time for. Good stuff. 4.5 but unfortunately some of the skits and jokier songs didn't age as well as the bulk of it so I don't know that I can give it a straight up full-album-listen 5.

This album really surprised me in a good way. It was really good.

MIA is a weird one but I do like her music. I don’t think this is as good as Kala, it feels a little less mature of an album. But maybe that’s the 5G altering my brain.

Not really my style, but I also can't believe this was a debut album. I found myself nodding my head and really listening, so I'll give it the stars for that.

I didn't know what to expect going in but I kind of love this. It's a difficult album to pin to a genre. Favorite tracks: "Amazon," "Bucky Done Gun"

Good beats. Danceable

Not quite the brilliance of Kala, but still a really fun and intriguing record. 8/10

Fun as hell and pretty unique. That she broke out with such a fresh blend of different sounds and genres says a lot about the mid-2000s era of music. It may not be her best album, but especially as you get into the second half, it bangs, it’s catchy, it’s clever. Must-listen #205.

This is awesome. M.I.A. is just so cool. She’s got so much swagger singing and rapping over these beats. And the beats are nuts — a mashup of hip-hop and electronica with a wide array of global influences. I had a blast listening to this. No major hits on this album but plenty of bangers! I always love the chaotic energy of M.I.A.’s album covers, and this one is no exception.

Wasted potential atm, MIA should get her shit together.

Fun danceable electronic beats, catchy, gritty street smart rap singing. Definitely worth listening to, great pre-party music.

This one tried really hard to be unlikable... it is loud, repetitive and annoying, but still, there is something there... It grows on you, as the record goes along, it keeps beating you over the head until you go into sweet submission... It stockholms you into thinking, that it is good to you... Repetition becomes a cushion to rest on and there are moments of beauty in between all the mayhem... It is not 5 stars (far off), but it is also not just OK. I get it, if you hate it, it has that quality, but for me, it captivated me in the moments, when it did not annoy the hell out of me and on multiple listens, I think I might actually start liking it... This shit grows on you.

Although neither the music nor the lyrics are the most creative in the world, it is M.I.A.'s voice which sets this album apart and how the songs are built and presented. It is good to see the influence of hip hop but at the same time, even more importantly, how it shifts when it is subsumed by other cultures.

Pretty fun. Sucks the artist sucks.

I liked this more as it went on, she's got a great voice and a knack for a nagging tune. Loving the lo-fi early noughties beats. Hey if everyone who has ever said bad things was barred from this list it would probably be 500 albums to listen to.

great

Quite iconic, these rhymes are Rhythm and Soul in itself. Never been really into it but I value the approach

This album is a curious mix of breakbeats, grime, dancehall and electropop. It feels pretty different to your typical British rap of the time. She feels like she was quite a singular voice in London's rap scene at the time. She also has what feels like an authentic accent, as opposed to the histrionics of the (with apologies to the real deals like Dizzee and Wiley) grime dialect disseminated by myriad wannabes. I'm on board with authenticity, with the earworms, with the retro breakbeats, with the sense of joy, the gravity of history. The album dips at points, down to a lack of variety more than anything else. But it clears the four hurdle with some room to spare. Shame she's gone full conspiracy nut. Guess her career isn't what it used to be and she needs the grift.

Fantastic

This is a complex album. On the surface, the beats are a bit repetitive, and the vocals are also a bit plain. After a few tracks, the repetitive becomes catchy, the vocals become political statements, and the layers of musical sounds become very interesting. I enjoyed this so much more than I thought.

surprisingly a fun listen!! has a couple of catchy songs

Really good album. Definitely a change-maker.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

This is the second album of M.I.A.'s that I have gotten. The first album, Kala, was one of the biggest surprises of the project for me, and I rewarded it with a 4.5/5 star rating. This album doesn't quite reach the same high standards as Kala to my ears, but that is not to say that it is not an excellent album. I feel like Kala was a bit more experimental, and really kept me on my toes not knowing what to expect from song to song. The first half of this album sees the artist very heavily leaning into a strong dancehall sound. It's quite good, and kept my toes tapping, but it wasn't particularly compelling, if that makes sense. The second half of the album, however, was magical. Bingo has production that sounds like it could be by Trent Reznor, and Amazon is as good as any song on either album. The creativity and unpredictability of Kala is in full effect. I'm certain this album is going to have a much, much lower rating than it deserves, as was the case for Kala, but anything under 4 stars would be criminal, and I am not a criminal.

Pretty good "getting things done" music for the most part.

Great record. It sounds dirty and raw, and was a great intro to MIA. Too bad she’s gone full conspiracy theory tin-foil hat crazy.

Quite fascinating. Not sure what I expected, but it wasn't this. I think I expected some kind of pop/hip-hop thing but this was far more energetic. I actually really enjoyed this. If the rest of her stuff is like this, I'm a fan.

Really enjoyed this! Bingo was my fav. Got a little old by the end but cool vibes throughout

I liked this more than expected. Bingo was my fave. Can get a little repetitive but overall cool

I liked this one, if u like MIA then check out Santigold

I already had another M.I.A. album on this list and liked it a lot more than I was expecting. M.I.A. is sweet. This album is great, always excellent lyrics, and love the dancehall and punk vibe she brings to everything. Maybe not as great as Kala, but still really enjoyed this record.

Great debut, with some really inventive sounds throughout. I hadn't really heard anything like M.I.A. when she first got big, although I think she only got on my radar with Paper Planes. Looking back though, she was really on to something here. Great fusion of genres, but a couple of the experiments don't fully pay off.

Banger after banger on this album. The lyrics, the goofy sampling (that sanford and son sample is incredible), and overall the attitude are great.

it sounds dated and fresh at the same time

Loved the vibes, but it got kind of repeptitive

Love that this is included

Catchy, danceable world fusion music, made by an artist who started out sus and has only gotten worse over time. WAY worse. There are quite a few humorless bastards on my side of the political divide who cannot handle the thought of enjoying art by artists who are shitty, shitty humans. I've been doing my best to distance myself from that crowd. I can loathe M.I.A. while liking her music.

Very fun

This wasn't quite as good as Kala, but I can see how it led there. Overall, I enjoyed it. It would have been better without the drum.machine backing, imo

between a 4 and 5 here, really vibed with this

Well that was exciting and awesome!

love MIA! this is such a percussive album. so many fun noises i don’t hear that often!

Kick ass debut. Along with the singles 10 Dollar & Amazon are two of my faves.

weird angular bops, big fan

Really great album. This had me moving along with the music and I really liked it. It is missing the real standouts to make it a 5 but a strong 4.5.

It's a great debut album mixed of hip-hop, world music, and dance. It's cool, exciting, sometimes weird, and enjoyable throughout. Now I can't remember if it is my first album by MIA or not, but I look forward to others if there are more on the list!

3.8 - I really enjoyed the first half of this, however it started to feel really similar and felt like it was track after track, instead of a really choreographed album

flawless. badass girl vibes, goes hard. gonna check the explanation, seems interesting

I like this about as much as the other one of these.

I kind of liked this album, it was fun, interesting and kind of cute!

One of those “separate the art from the artist” things for M.I.A. I like her music, but not so much her recent politics. Still, good album

The whole album has a fun sound to it, well curated and it flowed well. 4.5

The variety kept the score high

I somehow didn't hate this like I assumed I would...repetitious but fun and solid beats. Enjoyed it way more than I thought

Did not expect to rate the paper planes girls album. Super forward thinking for a 2005 album feel like this album could come out this year and feel fresh

Finally, an album to break my “meh” review streak! I didn’t know any of these songs but added a bunch to my favorites playlist. Solid 4!

Somebody in my senior thesis cohort learned I liked rap and slipped me a burned CD-R with this on it. What a kindness.