Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Not my favorite.
Truly excreable? Apologies for spelling. I imagine some coked up record executive thought this was a good idea.
I liked the dance beats.
2/5, not the worst but nah
I don’t generally enjoy the genre but it got better as it went on. The first few songs felt like M.I.A. simply saying their name repeatedly. It makes me feel like I’m listening to an advertisement.
Like it don't love it. M.I.A. is unique and fun but also kinda one note. Oh yeah, and she lost all credibility when she came out as anti-vax. Yuck.
I should really enjoy this sort of music, and at some points during this I found the beats to be really quite something, see Pull Up the People and 10 Dollar. Mostly though, ignoring her support for all things conspiracy theory in recent years, M.I.A. just cannot seem to get through to me past all the, erm, London-ness. Which seems an odd way to describe it, but that’s just what I get from it. If it’s a great beat, there’s odd intonations and lyrics to bring it down. If there’s (slightly) more pleasant occurrences of the latter, the beat is lacklustre. Occasionally the two combine to produce such a song as Hombre, which is fine both instrumentally and vocally, but just fine. In the end, I think the instrumentals win me over. But there’s nothing really here that I’d consider listening to again outside of this context.
Cool and unique album. Standout songs: Bucky done gun Amazon Bingo
I haven’t gotten the other M.I.A. album on this list yet but I’ve heard it before and enjoyed it a fair bit. Much more than this one.
good stuff
09/10/25 #15 Favourite Tracks: Bucky done Gun, fire fire Rate: 6/10
I remember liking M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" song back in the day. It's catchy and fun to dance to. However, I always felt like the song goes on for too long and is way too repetitive. Turns out, that's pretty much M.I.A. in a nutshell. But, it's even worse because the songs tend to be more annoying than catchy. Yeah, there are some good songs but they are still repetitive and overstay their welcome. Then there are the annoying songs that are also repetitive. It's definitely a cool, original sound, but that doesn't mean I need to like it.
An enjoyable listen
Great elements but not sure I enjoy the whole.
Banana Skit n/a Pull Up the People 1.6 Bucky Done Gun 1.8 Fire Fire 1.4 Freedom Skit n/a Amazon 1.5 Bingo 1.2 Hombre 1.4 One for the Head Skit n/a 10 Dollar 1.5 Sunshowers 1.3 Galang 1.4 M.I.A. 1.2 Score: 1.43
Honestly better than I thought it was going to be, generally not a fan of this type of dance vibe. But was able to work to it and it was fairly upbeat. Might put it on again but wouldn't for a routine 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.
No, just fuck no.
I’ve listened to this one before! There’s nothing else that sounds quite like it, it’s a real talent
Uniq for sure
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, uh, uh, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, uh, uh, hey, hey, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, uh, uh, hey, hey, hey, hey Hey, hey, hey, hey, uh, uh, hey, hey, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey Uh-huh-uh-huh-uh-huh, hey, hey" Your honor, the prosecution rests. ONE STAR
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
Not my jam…..
I hadn't heard this era of M.I.A. Super solid debut. 3.5
while fully admitting that i am perhaps just not exposed to similar stuff, M.I.A. strikes me as one of the most unique artists of our time. Not everything here is good to me, but a lot of it is and all of it is interesting.
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.
I guess it's electronic, but it feels more like rap. Not really my jam.
452/1001 🤦♂️ 🌗🌑🌑🌑🌑
Bit rough to rate this. I listened with it as background muaic on a car trip so tough to give a proper listen. As background muaic, it was a bit same same.
this is so far from me than i’ll ever get 😅 only way i have made it through is background music for minecraft. ⭐️
This album really surprised me in a good way. It was really good.
WHY? Utter rubbish
2.5 stars. Decent minimalist hip-hop. Activist-heavy lyricism. OK overall eve if there are some duds ("Pull Up the People", "M.I.A"). "Bucky Done Gun" is the catchy standout.
It made me tired after 3 tracks and after 4th I gave up. The only good thing about it is the diplo/major lazer touch and first minute of her vocal which becomes irritating and boring afterwards.
I usually like this kind of sound but this one just repeats itself to much
très expérimental Y2K mélange de sons très bon et très mauvais fais aussi partie de l'ost de mignight club 3 ptdrrrr la nostalgie son préféré: bingo
super hip hop
I guess I generally like M.I.A., though none of the songs on this album compare to Paper Planes and the nostalgia that comes with that song for me.
Surprisingly catchy
A lot of fun. Interesting beats and I like the attitude of the lyrics. I never would have listened to this record, even if given the task of checking out MIA. I really enjoyed this and see how she made it onto the scene with this one.
Not a fan
lol
i don't think i necessarily disliked this but i found myself becoming increasingly angry as the album went on and anxious for it to end, so i guess i did dislike it lol
Excellent, absolutely unhinged.
Really good album
Cool, refreshing, exciting.
I have to presume this album was made by people whose only fleeting contact with the concept of music was reading a reference to it in a book - probably a book with large font and lots of pictures. I don’t know how else to explain such lyrical genius such as “hey hey hey uh uh uh” or “galang a lang a lang lang” or my personal favourite “da dang duh duh da dang”.
I don't understand how M.I.A has managed to sneak two albums onto the list, but I think she deserves credit for that. Unfortunately for her, she gets no credit for the “music” would give zero stars if I could
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.
This is cool, it's not music I'm used to, but the mix of styles really works and makes this album stand out. The lyrics are well written and the beats are mostly striking and pretty damn good. I found my favorite tracks coming in the back half of the album, but maybe I was also a bit jarred by the mix of styles at first. Nonetheless, good album.
Very good. I like it when a rapper can sing. It’s a very nice genre fusion album. Many beats are good. I like percussions as always. But I’d also understand if people recon the beats appear a bit too simple or repetitive. They’re not really layered well. But the simplicity matches the energy she brings in. Overall, it’s a pleasant listen.
this album is a banger. i was actually a bit mixed on the first few tracks, but really ended up grooving to this. i guess im probably in the minority, but i was never really a fan of the Paper Planes song, so this album really surprised me and i ended up really really liking it. its eccentric, its fun, and it just feels good to listen to.
The beats were super fun but I felt like a lot of the songs went on a bit too long.
The whole album was such a jam. I enjoyed it from beginning to end and it’s easy to see why she became such an international star even before Paper Planes. A strong four.
I was not expecting to like this nearly as much as I did. I came in thinking it was going to be a generic rap album, and that M.I.A. was a one hit wonder. She has a really cool sound with a blend of a bunch of genres. If you don't like it though you're going to hate this album because it doesn't change at all. Much better than I expected!
Ok, but repetitive. I’m sure if you were a part of this scene, it was exciting, and these tracks definitely take me back to that early aughts vibe. MIA really reached her peak with the single Paper Planes, which utilized my regular sandwich bodega in its music video. The best part of Arular for me was prompting me to revisit Paper Planes, and thus recall all the swirly drug induced memories that song conjures, while also firing finger pistols in the air. Love doing that cock/reload thing with the finger gun. Like I know how firearms work.
The album showed a fair bit of promise. I especially like “Amazon” and “Hombre,” neither of which were singles (hmm). M.I.A.’s voice is distinctive and interesting. But Arular is *not* quite one of the best albums of all time.
Definitely interesting…
pick all the good songs and make an album that’s 50% as long and I’d give it an extra star
Interesting stuff, I find the bedroom sound charming and I appreciate the fact that a lot of the melodies are very uhhh DIY for lack of a better way of putting it but occasionally the songs end up not really having a lot going on in terms of composition and feel like maybe they would be better turned into video game soundtrack bits or like background msuic for a kids TV show? they can never make me hate MIA tho since she made teqkilla which is probably the best song ever Fav sonG: Galang
Catchy tunes, lyrics sometimes hard to decipher, but always upbeat
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 wanted to like this but never really vibed with it. Bingo was a solid track. Low 2
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
I fully know that the whole point is that MIA is sampling in a plunderphonic type way, but it just felt a bit too all over the place for me
ho visto l'album e mi sono cacato addosso, agg itt ok è finita E INVECE FA PAUR STA TUTT SPERIMENTALE DEATH GRIPS INDIAN
Sembrano tutti brani di delle pubblicità. Mi sembrano tutti un po’ uguali e dopo un po’ ci hai ucciso. Però allegro bellino
La cosa migliore che ha fatto MIA nella vita è fidanzarsi con Diplo. Senza di lui lei non avrebbe fatto nulla e paper planes col cazzo che la creava da sola
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.
Don't really know what to make of this, it's clearly ahead of it's time and influential but didn't really enjoy listening to it
Samo gęste. Niby z 2005 a vibe jak z 2125. Mamma M.I.A.
Nope.
I know we can't exactly fault this project for including albums that were dropped by the "1001 albums" publication, but this is definitely a debut album that probably shouldn't have ever been included, despite the utterly glowing review in the 2005 edition right after this album came out. I know Maya Arulpragasam has a compelling visual-artist/activist background, but I for one don't find her choice to create an entire album with almost exclusively a sequencer and her voice (and next to no musical background) a particularly good one. "Pull up the people", "Bingo" and "U.R.A.Q.T" are perhaps the best of the lot on a remarkably monochromatic album, but not enough to even get to three stars, I'm afraid. I've always enjoyed her later track "Paper planes", so I hope that album ("Kala") is a more satisfying experience than this is.
omg I hated this so much, I'm sorry. I did listen to "Paper Planes" after (which I heard before but didn't realize it was her, and I do like that song), but this album felt like a teenage girl making songs in her room which were about as good as the songs I'd make in my room when I was a kid. Seriously, the cantankerous bitch in me feels she got an easy pass on that album because she's a minority and female and it was a sort of "fresh voice" kind of thing--I dunno. Not impressed.
Nope.
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.
Nice album. I like her release "Kala" more, but generally her sound is so good that I tend to enjoy all of her releases. The odd thing about her music is that I often don't know what it makes me feel, if that makes sense? I'll listen and think that I'm always in the middle of: - wanting to dance/groove to the music and lose focus a little - wanting to tune in more and focus on production ideas - wanting to tune in more and focus on lyrics, and I kind of just bounce around those. It feels like it feeds my ADHD a bit. Not a lot of acts do that, I think that I tend to listen to acts and they fit into buckets, but M.I.A. I'm always just floating around them. This is like a 2.7/3 for me, enough to round up to a 3. If it had more memorable tunes it could possibly be higher.
Banger. Love the strut and the wild style.
That was an experience. 2 stars.
Absolutely not for me. Sounds like random noises at times. 1.5/5
Got a bit bored of the repetition, but some of the riffs are cool.
Didn’t quite hold up
Not quite my thing but very cool vibe
An unpolished but fun, creative and somewhat charming debut. I do think its perhaps held up a little better than Kala, but it's hard to take the more political lyrics seriously after she became a certifiable 5G-gives-you-Covid-antivaxxer-nutjob.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
M.I.A. is a cultural whirlwind. Her debut Arular blends hip-hop, dancehall, grime, electro, and global beats into something that feels fresh and borderless. It’s a political album at its core, carrying the energy of her activist roots while also being wildly danceable. It’s striking in retrospect, however, as this record introduced her as a sharp, genre-smashing voice with something to say. The tragedy is how her later trajectory got overshadowed by flirtations with conspiracies and fascists, a far cry from the raw, urgent activism that made Arular such a powerful debut.
A bit surprised by this one. At one point in the album I was considering a 4, but the back half dropped off in quality a bit. Still pretty enjoyable overall, it's unique.
It’s somehow monotonous while also being quite varied in its flavours of rubbishness. It is short and no track is too long and I appreciated that, if nothing else. The creative influences do not lead to anything genuinely interesting for me, but quite aware I’m a few steps removed from the target audience. I know many others will have a different take (beyond this 1001 group) but I’d be grateful if this is the last M.I.A on the 1001, please and thank you.
I listened. And listened. Credit where it’s due. Not sure when I’ll receive my medal? OBE for services to music, perhaps? It’s like listening to a foreign singer trying to break into the English music market, using words out of context, incorrectly, or just outright making them up. Immature nonsense that similarly comes from my young kids. My kids drive me mad by the way and less endearing than say baby babble. Maybe Shakira could get involved (another well-known artist with a limited grasp of the English language). They could collaborate on their “Le-do-lo-le-lo-le” — you know, “my breasts are small and humble” and all that jazz. Get a child on a keyboard and boom — another entry sorted for 1002. How. Baa, naa, naaaaaaah. NO!!!
I tried hard to be open minded after the listening to Kala some weeks ago... I took a deep breath, started listening and the first song sounded like it was written and performed by a special needs Tellytubby. At 36 seconds, this was my second favourite track on the album. If you really want to lose some brain cells, do as I did, get the lyrics and read along. I kept an eye out for a particularly stupid verse to include in this review but there are so many laughably terrible ones I couldn't possibly pick one. The majority of it is utter nonsense: "My mum plays bingo, I'm watching Pingu, gimme that thang, yo. This is my gecko" (In case you go looking, I made that one up). I don't know what the process is for inclusion on this list, but I can only assume that someone was trolling when they managed to sneak not just one, but two M.I.A albums on this list. Fair play to you, you got us.
Sounds like the Spice Girls doing electro-reggae. Not my vibe. Some songs seem vaguely racist, or at least culturally insensitive.
Urbano, fresco, divertido, creativo. Es como una versión mejorada de princess Nokia. 4 estrellas.
Eccentric, but overdone. Lacks the polish of her other album on the list and lacks definitive standout songs. At least it was lively. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
Not my thing
What the hell happened from this record to the next. This review should be about this record but I cant detach it from how overwhelmingly shit the next record is. I might be in the minority the one with paper planes is awful. This may not be my favorite thing in the world but its leaps and bounds better than what came after it. Sure it doesnt have a cerified classic like paper planes but it has rhythm and tone and just makes listenable songs. Like nothing is all that amazing but comparatively this is a masterpiece. Better in every single way. This is fun and makes actual songs. Hot damn thats a low ass bar but it does that and then some. I actually saved a few tracks here that were fun and worth listening to again. I dont know her music much at all but maybe she has a backwards trajectory. Best in the beginning and only worse from then on. Idk but maybe
holy shit this was annoying. It wasnt the worst but wow I thought this would be better. What did everyone love about her outside paper planes?
Thought I was an MIA fan. Turns out I’m not! This album was not good and really makes me question why we propped her up when she came out. Paper Planes did wonders for her career evidently
есть в ней что-то, но также есть гнусавость и сложно читать под неё
It does deserve the spot on the list, but it isnt something I'd hear all the time. 3/5 I wish Paper Planes was on this album, but that one is on the next one, that is also in the list
10/10 I love anti-vax rap
Don't know M.I.A. outside of paper plates, but this album is super catchy.
not my cup of tea
One massive song and a lot of other interesting times, very time and place record for me personally
While I wouldn’t say this is my jam, I would say this is a well-made, unique pop album and I’m glad I listened.
I didn't like it.
wow, what a shame that MIA disappeared mysteriously after 2009, never to be seen again... unfortunately (because the trajectory her life has taken since the mid-aughts is as baffling as it is disappointing), this is a great album. not all of it is super fun to listen to - some of those early tracks are downright unpleasant. but i remember thinking that this sounded like absolutely nothing i'd ever heard before at the time. tracks like Galang and Hombre still feel fresh, energetic, electric. i'm surprised to see this album on here - i figured we'd only get kala, which is even better. but it's complicated. it leaves a bad taste in my mouth listening to this and remembering that she, idk, got a traumatic brain injury or something in the past few years that's making her act this way. i blame her finding jesus, personally. RIP M.I.A., you were a real one for a while.
unfortunately this has the problem that a weirdly significant chunk of 2005's popular music has which is... where are the instruments?? why is everything so stripped down and just... empty? there's so much emphasis on the unique sound M.I.A. brings to the table (which is fair) that the fact that the songs don't really have anything beyond the political message, assuming it's not just yelling nonsense anyway. also M.I.A. is the perfect example of an artist who had a ton of goodwill and inertia early on, then spent 20 years blowing it all by going crazy deep on controversies and conspiracies. yikes. favorites: bucky done gun, galang
Like most people, only knew paper planes from MIA going in. This was different than most electronic/hip hop of its time. 3*
Energetic debut from M.I.A blending contemporary pop and world music. Smart lyrics alongside great beats. U.R.A.Q.T was great fun and Galang a clear standout.
M.I.A. absolutely is influential enough to appear more than once
I don't think I've ever heard anything from her outside "Paper Planes" before this so I was surprised she got 2 album on here. She has an interesting sound but doesn't really do much with/ past it and is a... weirdo about vaccines. Still an interesting sound though 6/10
non mi è piaciuto, non nel mio genere, lei brava ma musica stile africano un po’ elettronica
It's different from the other albums I have heard so far.
Wasted potential atm, MIA should get her shit together.
not really my vibe
Not my taste sounded good tho
In a very particular mood I could listen to this, but most often not. Very cool, experimental beats, but this really isn't my thing.
2.5-2.75??? It starts strong, very idiosyncratic, but it doesn’t really offer anything meaningfully different as it goes on. What you get at the beginning is cool and different, but the songs all kinda sound like that. It’s short and listenable for sure, I’m just not sure how essential it is! Shame MIA became a maniac because she IS certainly talented.
I can appreciate listening to something different, but it was actually hard to get through the entire album. 3/10
not my style of music.
It’s ok, that’s all I have to say
Very cool, this. And she's got a cracking back story as well, which makes this more enjoyable. It's not totally my thing, but it's also really enjoyable and admirable.
It's fine...
Reading the wiki entry post-listen I'm really surprised that this is a political album. I listened on YouTube so also caught a few music videos and picked up on no political messages. Outside of the message here, this feels like the type of music that would appeal to teenage girls in the 2000s. Similar vein as Shakira. Not really my thing. I didn't hate it but probably won't revisit.
Sure - I guess M.I.A was big enough/interesting enough to warrant two albums on this list. The mid-2000s were an interesting transition period, and this probably exemplifies the emerging aesthetic - although her follow-up is arguably more demostrative and important.
Interesting fusion of a bunch of sounds. Not bad. Not sure how it holds up as an album though. 3-4?
Hadn't heard this particular album of hers. Lots going on but mostly pretty catchy.
It’s okay. I want to like it. I’m told by influencers, critics and gatekeepers that I should like it. And the beats slap. But I never long to return to it.
I was trapped in a plane for 2 hours and I just downloaded this album to hear it during the flight, what a f*ng nightmare
Had never really listened to MIA (other than Paper Planes just through pop culture). Gotta say, I’m impressed, especially since this is the debut album. I’m not a hip-hop connoisseur, and while I like some hip-hop, it’s not my go to music. But this album is good! Groovy, makes you want to move, and feels like something unique. Might have to do a deeper dive in M.I.A.
Fun danceable electronic beats, catchy, gritty street smart rap singing. Definitely worth listening to, great pre-party music.
This felt painfully repetitive. I assumed that paper planes song would be on here and then found out this artist has two albums on the list. That's insane. I have no understanding how that happened. This has some semi-unique elements but I can think of 1,001 albums not on this list to go ahead of at least one of the two of this one.
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.
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.
So yeah this was a great album! It was so unique. Her voice and style of singing was what captured me the most. But also the beats and she even had one where she had some spanish lyrics. Good stuff. 4 stars
As a newcomer, I found this quite full-on to take as a whole album, but its energy, originality and creativity were obvious. Really interesting (as is her back story); and, good, albeit not quite my thing overall.
Way preferred Kala; this was extremely samey.
When this first came out it was such a breath of fresh air. I really loved it. Her batshit 4G tinfoil hat (literally) conspiracy theories and schizophrenic pivot to born again Christianity are so disappointing because she comes across like a grifter now (again, literally, as she sells $150 tinfoil hats and as far as I can tell it’s not ironic). She doesn’t deserve two albums appearing on this list but this one definitely rates.
In a nutshell: ambitious and haphazard passion project number 1. Overall: 1/10
The lyrics seem more interesting than the music, but it didn't work out for me.
I can’t imagine this was popular or influential enough to justify including two of her albums in this list.
This was so not my jam.
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.
Each song is too similar to the next, not in a great way Best Song: Fire, Fire Rating: 6.0/10 (Good) Stars: 3/5
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.
This was stupid.
Fine. Catchy at times, although sounds kind of dated. Knowing about them and anti-vax/5G/alex-jones takes off some of the shine.
Fun stuff, but tainted by M.I.A.’s anti vax controversies.
I’ve been having heavy M.I.A. confirmation bias this week. I felt like I was randomly hearing about her all week and then got this. Not sure what’s up with that. I’m not sure why this is on this list, except that the editor is British and loves British rap. It was fine. I didn’t not like it.
1/10
I don’t know who this album is for. Nothing stood out at all to me, just felt bland
Garbage
NOPE
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.
I do like MIA but the glitchy grime vibes is exhausting after a while.
At first, you can hear a fresh, wild energy. Then, so much repetition. Repetition between songs in mostly the same beat and within songs where the same lyrics are just repeated over and over again. I myself will not give this a repeat listen.
Good on MIA for doing her thing. Every time I try to listen to an MIA song that is not Paper Plans or Bad Girls I realize I am not the target audience for MIA's music.
I guess there's some interesting beats... kind of? It's shit though.
на любителя. слушать было не очень приятно.
I had only heard Paper Planes by M.I.A., and this album is a radical departure from that. I like that song, and I also really enjoyed this album. The musical range that M.I.A. shows is cool and fun to listen to. The uptempo energy carries the album. Great stuff!
great
61/100.
I want to embody this album as my alter ego
Some interesting tribal style rhythms that keep this album moving along but at the end of the day it just isn't my style.
I’m so confused right now. This album seems to be a fusion of things that I generally don’t like all that much. Electronica, dance music, hip hop, and her voice is incredibly annoying (the upward inflection at the end of most of her bars is infuriating). But somehow it seems to all work together? I think I like this album? Probably not enough to really ever listen again, but a lot more than I expected.
**In-Depth Review of M.I.A.'s *Arular*** **Introduction** M.I.A.’s *Arular* (2005) stands as one of the most audacious and influential debut albums of the 21st century. The record is a sonic and political explosion, fusing global genres and radical lyricism into a raw, DIY package that redefined the possibilities of pop, hip hop, and electronic music[1][2][3][4][5]. Below, the album is dissected across its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, followed by a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. **Lyrics** *Arular*’s lyrics are a collage of protest slogans, street slang, cryptic jokes, and autobiographical fragments[6][4]. M.I.A. draws from her Sri Lankan Tamil heritage and refugee experience, blending personal and political narratives. Tracks like “Pull Up the People” and “Sunshowers” are direct in their calls for empowerment and revolution, referencing conflict, oppression, and resistance[6][2][4][5]. - **Political Edge:** The album is saturated with references to violence, revolution, and global strife, often delivered in a confrontational, almost chant-like style. For example, “Load up, aim, fire, fire, bo!” in “Fire Fire” and lines like “Like PLO, I don’t surrender” in “Sunshowers” directly invoke militant imagery and resistance[2][7][4]. - **Playful Language:** M.I.A. is not a technically intricate rapper, but her inventive use of slang and syntax is distinctive. She crafts memorable phrases—“I bongo with my lingo and I beat it like a wing yo”—that are as catchy as they are subversive[6][4]. - **Collage Approach:** The lyrics often feel like a patchwork, reflecting her transnational identity and fragmented upbringing. This technique mirrors the album’s musical eclecticism and reinforces its themes of diaspora and hybridity[4]. **Music** Musically, *Arular* is a genre-defying blend that pulls from hip hop, electroclash, dancehall, baile funk, punk, and more[6][1][2][7][8][5]. The album’s sound is aggressive, kinetic, and unmistakably global. - **Genre Fusion:** The record is a melting pot—glitchy electro-pop, booming Miami bass, uncompromising synth-punk, UK hip hop, and Brazilian favela funk all collide, often within the same track[6][1][2][5]. - **Signature Tracks:** - “Bucky Done Gun” features Diplo’s production, combining marching band trumpets, big bass drums, and frantic 80s backbeats[2]. - “Galang,” the breakout single, is built on jagged rhythms and infectious hooks, exemplifying the album’s dancefloor appeal and political bite[1][2]. - “Sunshowers” stands out with its alluring vocoded harmonies and rhythmic complexity[2]. - **DIY Aesthetic:** Much of the album was crafted by M.I.A. herself on a Roland MC-505 sequencer/drum machine, lending a raw, homegrown feel that’s both immediate and unpolished[7][5]. **Production** The production is deliberately rough-edged, emphasizing rhythm and texture over polish[6][7][4]. M.I.A. and her collaborators—including Diplo, Switch, Justine Frischmann, and others—embrace a lo-fi, collage-driven approach. - **Rawness:** The album’s scrappy, digital-age production was radical in 2005, standing out against the slickness of mainstream pop and hip hop[7][4]. - **Layered Sound:** Tracks are densely packed with samples, drum machine patterns, and unexpected sonic juxtapositions. The result is a vibrant, sometimes chaotic soundscape that mirrors the lyrical themes of conflict and diaspora[6][2][4]. - **Minimalism:** Despite the sonic density, there’s a minimalist streak—many tracks are built from a handful of elements, allowing the rhythms and M.I.A.’s vocals to take center stage[7][8]. **Themes** *Arular* is unified by its exploration of identity, conflict, migration, and resistance[2][4][5]. - **Revolution and Conflict:** The album’s title itself references M.I.A.’s father’s code name as a Tamil militant, and the songs are steeped in the language and imagery of revolution, insurgency, and survival[2][7][4][5]. - **Diaspora and Borderlessness:** M.I.A. presents immigrant status as a source of power and creativity, celebrating cultural hybridity and the connections between global communities[4]. - **Empowerment:** Many tracks function as anthems for the marginalized, urging listeners to “pull up the people” and challenge oppressive systems[6][4]. - **Personal vs. Political:** M.I.A. blurs the line between autobiography and activism, using her own story as a microcosm of broader struggles[4]. **Influence** *Arular*’s impact on music and culture is vast. - **Genre Innovation:** The album’s fusion of global club sounds with political pop paved the way for artists like Santigold, Diplo, and countless others who blurred genre boundaries[3][7][4]. - **Mainstreaming Global Sounds:** M.I.A. helped introduce baile funk, dancehall, and other non-Western genres to a wider audience, influencing the direction of pop and electronic music in the 2000s and beyond[1][2][4]. - **Political Pop:** The album proved that pop music could be both sonically adventurous and politically potent, inspiring a generation of artists to tackle social issues in their work[3][4]. - **Critical Acclaim:** *Arular* was widely praised and frequently appears on lists of the best albums of the decade, cementing M.I.A.’s status as a visionary artist[2][3][7][9]. **Pros and Cons** | Pros | Cons | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Groundbreaking genre fusion**: Seamlessly blends hip hop, dancehall, electro, punk, and global club sounds[6][1][2][5]. | **Polarizing style**: The raw, collage-like production and confrontational lyrics may alienate some listeners[2][9][8]. | | **Political and personal lyricism**: Tackles themes of conflict, migration, and empowerment with originality and urgency[6][2][4]. | **Lack of polish**: The DIY aesthetic, while refreshing, can sometimes feel unfinished or uneven[7][9]. | | **Innovative production**: Bold use of drum machines, samples, and unconventional song structures[6][7][4]. | **Limited vocal range**: M.I.A.’s vocal delivery is more about attitude than technical skill, which may not appeal to everyone[6][7]. | | **Cultural impact**: Helped globalize pop music, influencing a wave of artists and producers[3][7][4]. | **Thematic repetition**: Some critics argue the album’s focus on revolution and conflict can feel one-dimensional[9]. | | **Catchy, memorable hooks**: Tracks like “Galang” and “Bucky Done Gun” are infectious and iconic[1][2]. | **Difficult to categorize**: Its genre-blurring nature can make it hard for some listeners to access or describe[1][9]. | | **Authentic, autobiographical voice**: M.I.A.’s unique perspective infuses every track[2][7][4]. | **Occasional lyrical opacity**: The collage style sometimes sacrifices clarity for attitude. | **Conclusion** *Arular* is a landmark debut that shattered musical and cultural boundaries. Its fearless blend of global sounds, radical politics, and DIY energy made it one of the most influential albums of its era. While its rawness and confrontational style may not be universally appealing, its innovation, attitude, and enduring relevance are undeniable. M.I.A. didn’t just make a record—she ignited a movement.
i saw another review that said "in your face, a difficult but wonderful listen" and i agree with two thirds of that statement ...
Quite iconic, these rhymes are Rhythm and Soul in itself. Never been really into it but I value the approach
Dang, this is some hot garbage. Like the other M.I.A. album, I can imagine how some people whose tastes are veeery different from me might enjoy this one. But it's absolutely unlistenable to me. Have to give up half-way through, because this playing in the background is making me angry.
Pop rocks kind of ear candy
I've heard worse....but definitely heard better. It's like the same song stuck on a loop, but switched up juuuuust a little bit between each iteration. Not exactly annoying....but it's pushing the limit. Best part is when she hits the "hoyyeeaaaaah" on Bingo.
In what circumstance would someone want to listen to this? It seems tailor made for a trippy movie scene or something. I did enjoy the beats in a couple songs; fun and bouncy. Would be much better album if all vocals were removed.
Has some very catchy beats and hooks - unfortunately I find her rapping style very grating and it makes my ears bleed a little.
Arular I love Paper Planes from the album after this, but I didn’t realise she had gone full 5G conspiracy, Alex Jones, anti-vax, pro-Trump nutjob. From her leftist, pro-refugee, anti-oppression lyrics on here that does seem quite the switch, but you can also get from this that she is likely one of those anti-establishment contrarians who twist themselves in knots trying to stay at odds with the status quo. Or she’s just a grifter and sees she can make quite a bit of money from selling 5G resistant hats and ponchos to confused and angry people. Aside from that I’ve listened to this a lot over the last couple of days. I took a few goes to get attuned to it, but I started to really like its homemade, scattershot charm. It’s very drum machine and percussion focused, you can sense each track was built from the beat up, and while there is a similarity of tempo to much of it I really liked the percussive feel of it all. She also keeps a consistent rapping style, but I like it and she has some great lines throughout. Once you’ve listened through a few times you there are also tonnes of little hooky earworms everywhere, I’ve been saying ‘You Big Dummy’ to myself quite a lot. Between the beats and the hooks and rapping there is a lot of density to the noises, keyboards, guitars and horns. It doesn’t sound particularly subtle, all piled up and moving swiftly between bongs and bangs, but, again once you get attuned to it, there’s some great stuff happening and some excellent songs. Pull Up the People, Bucky Done Gun, Sunshowers, Amazon, Hombre, 10 Dollar, U.R.A.Q.T., Galang, M.I.A. are all great, naggingly catchy tracks. It's full of weird and wonderful beats and noises, and some great lyrics and hooks, and I love the inventive, idiosyncratic mishmash of influences and her unique background and point of view. I can see how it might be a bit marmite, but I thought it was great, a high 4 (forgetting her nutjobbery) 🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰 Playlist submission: U.R.A.Q.T.
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.
Maybe it's the coffee but half way through I started to get it. I don't know enough about this genre to know what's new and innovative, but I know it makes me feel like I should be participating in double dutch jump rope.
boy i hope they find her 3.5*
I was reading about Progressive hip hop the other day. A journalist was saying that M.I.A. was the best example in the UK still putting out relevant work in the genre... I should find this quote... found it in the Wikipedia article on "Progressive Rap": "While arguing that American hip hop was in a creative and commercial decline, Marcus Dowling wrote contemporaneously that the English rapper M.I.A. remained a progressive-rap innovator for conceiving a globalized gaze of class- and gender inequality in a musical style that melds trap, contemporary dance, and deconstructed forms of rapping. "In the 21st century, it's entirely arguable that white is black, black is white, and things are obviously a bit difficult to understand", Dowling contended in regards to modern hip hop. "It's up to a wild, diverse, hyper-intellectualized and new-age brown woman to lead us."" (Dowling, Marcus (November 22, 2013). "M.I.A. and the Challenge of Marketable Diasporic Trap Music". HipHopDX. https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2226/title.m-i-a-and-the-challenge-of-marketable-diasporic-trap-music Retrieved July 15, 2021. The low-budget minimal production is appealing, and all these tracks are danceable. A refreshing lack of rap cliches, though she does veer a bit much to sex themes. But even those are from a subversive state-of-mind. "Bingo" is a new favorite. And while her girly sing-song voice may not work for everyone, she mixes it in to good effect. Not a lot of respect for her politics and worldview though. Kind of surprised about that.
Fantastic
Two albums by MIA is too many.
Interesting beats
After the first two songs I wasn’t feeling confident this would be a good listen but it hooked me after. A lot of catchy instrumentals and verses with some unique instrumentals. It had a lot of different drum sequences aswell throughout which was a nice way to change it up. Favourites: Amazon, Bingo, Sunshowers, Fire Fire. Overall 6/10.
not my style but pretty good
Don’t know if I’ll make it all the way through but pretty fun and creative.
Not bad
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.
Eh. Not really for me.
Not my cup of tea!!!
Really enjoyed this one, she is truly an authentic artist
surprisingly a fun listen!! has a couple of catchy songs
Not my cup of tea
Not my style not sure how this made the list.
Kinda fun for a little while but not a whole album.
This is terrible. After reading Wikipedia, I get it. Give an amateur a drum machine and this is what you get. I can't point to a single thing I like here.
Very marmite...not keen I'm afraid...admire the politics and the sentiment but I find this kind of experimental stuff painful to listen to
Not bad
Really good album. Definitely a change-maker.
This slapped, upbeat, lyrically random but actually really good, I love her style, good vibes, great album.
I don't like rap music. I like to think to myself that if a rap band was really good I might like it. But it all seems to me all words and no melodies. I can quite easily listen to a song in another language if the tune is good but find it difficult when there is nothing nice for my ears to hear. This album didn't break down my rap barrier i'm afraid, although I did like Bingo.
Wow! This is shit. Baby rattle noises mixed with an annoying voice repeating lines of text over and over. Truly headache inducing crap. This album actively fights its way in to the top worst albums I have heard on this platform. 1/10
Over her. 1.
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.
15/06/2025 Words cannot describe how much I hate this and her music.
Every vocal part sounds like a 5-year-old chanting during a game of hopscotch. Repetitive and childlike. She does an affected rise in pitch at the end of each phrase. After 5 minutes of it, I want to die. There are some interesting electronic textures, but they go nowhere. Every song feels like the dentist drill.
Suggest to rather hear her song Paper planes which is a mash up of Clash «Straight to hell» that is good tune
Tidvis lyttbart, men også enkelte låter som ble irriterende og repeterende.
Truly unique/ahead of it's time.
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.
Berk. Nul. Rébarbatif.
M.I. A. succeeded in making one of the most annoying albums of all time. One song is cool and after ten songs of the same thing just give me a Bucky done gun.
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.
Dire. Just noise
Favorite Track: Galang
Dont like it quite as much as the other one. South asian beats and her rapping still hit pretty hard, but some of her affectations get a little grating more so on this one than her second. up with the people, up with the poor
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
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.
This is #day304 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I shouldn't forget to clean my ears very thoroughly after this. Like with her previous album, which I got on my #day255, this is a 1 out of 5. This time around, though, my last song on the tracklist was the 4th one. Anyway, you absolutely mustn't hear this before you die. Looking forward to #day305.
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.
Convoluted and chaotic and a bit of a mess. Lots of 80s soundbites which is surprising for an album that came out in 2005. The Sanford and Son sample was cool. But overall, it doesn't work for me.
We let people get away with murder just cuz we like their accent.
Pretty good. An interesting mixing of genres.
It was pretty cool, just started to sound all the same.
3,45 Muzycznie ciekawe, wielki mash up wielu styli muzycznych. Elektronika + afrykanskie rytmy Ciekawe refreny, bardziej muzykalne niz "chórkowe"
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.
Meh. Not for me. I’m not really into this kind of “dance/electronic” sounds. There were some tracks I enjoyed like Amazon, Bingo. The whole record is very rich in sounds and different genre influences, which is pretty interesting. But overall, I wouldn’t play this again.
This is painful. The duet with Fred Sanford is mildly amusing at least. 1.5/5 #81
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
Arular is the debut album from British recording artist M.I.A. She makes a pop/dancehall version of rap, with an underlying message of liberation politics. For a dance album, Arular has surprising range; the tracks utilize rhythms from a wide range of traditions. Most of the album is closest to a dub/dancehall sound. M.I.A creates catchy melodies, and a sassy, punk-like delivery to make a unique, interesting version of pop rap.
No hate to M.I.A. but this was simply buns, had to split up listening to save my sanity
Loved the vibes, but it got kind of repeptitive
No idea what MIA was going for, maybe 2 or 3 songs were even listenable
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
Love that this is included
Real London sound to this, adds a nice touch. Whilst not a hop hop fan in the slightest I did like how this was produced, had enough hooks to keep me interested.
Fun, loved the fusion of music
Ass
Unlistenable...
Oh this is a total banger. Wow. A breath of fresh air in the rap world, M.I.A. is definitely one of the most inspirational artists of the 2000s. This album has great catchy hooks and fun verses with serious lyrics. The beats are phenomenal. I love M.I.A.
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.
It’s grown me over the years but Kala is just so good that it overshadows the debut
OK
1 - Mierda de Hip Hop
Good, but not as good as the other one and inessential. One MIA is enough.
I was initially unsure of what to make of MIA. Is she an inauthentic poseur of limited talent provoking controversy for the sake of attention (as some of her critics have implied) or an exciting artist voicing important and complex messages about globalisation (as her supporters say)? I'm not 100% comfortable with her use of lyrics and imagery that refer to terrorism and armed conflict, justified by personal connection via her father's alleged involvement with the Tamil Tigers. I understand her point that there are not clear moral boundaries in a complex world (one person's terrorist is another one's freedom fighter), but it is sometimes hard to tell whether what she says is authentic and where she is courting attention through controversy. And she is certainly not the first pop star to adopt the aesthetics of the freedom fighter and occasionally tone-deaf rhetoric to go with it (hello Joe Strummer, Bono, RATM, and a bunch of other male artists who got away with it). There is something highly performative in MIA; which is not an unforgivable sin in a professional performer. On reflection, I think she is the real deal, in a very post-modern way that conflates notions of 'authentic' and 'inauthentic'. I find her work exciting and energising, with a fascinating mélange of sounds from around the world, especially South Asia. I like the cheap-as-chips production (an aesthetic she picked up from Peaches). I really like this record, but (like I said), I'm not sure if it is genius or trash. It could be both! She obviously rubs a lot of people the wrong way and cops a lot of criticism because she doesn't play by the accepted rules. Maybe she's too female, too non-Western, too confident, not deferential enough for those critics' taste. The album plays to her strengths, which are simplicity, directness, confidence, colour, pride and openness. That said, I can see that Arular has been removed from the latest editions of 1001 Albums, rightly superseded by Kala. Kala is her masterpiece album. Not as many bangers here.
This is not my thing, but I appreciate it for what it is. The fact that this is a woman, let alone a Sri Lankan woman, making overt political and cultural commentary in the context of otherwise fun music that much of the time is either in the background or being danced to rather than thought about, is impressive. Very much appreciated the Sanford & Sons samples in "U.R.A.Q.T." - "you big dummy" hits a bit different in the context of that song. I think I might have heard "Galang" before, though I'm not sure where. Figured it out - I'm impressed with myself. Looking at my last.fm account, I've scrobbled the track a handful of times since 2008. I'm vaguely remembering that it was a free download on the iTunes store? Anyhow, probably won't come back to this, but glad to have been exposed to it. Fun stuff, with a serious side.
I like the inventiveness of this but don't feel like it comes together into something cohesive 3*
6.5/10
Yeah, maybe it’s out of character for me, but I really liked this record, you big dummy.
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.
I've listened to M.I.A before, according to my streaming history it was 2012! I had thought it was when I was discovering Björk, which was a few years later, but it was not. I had faint memories of listening to a bit of her discography quite a bit and enjoying it, to the point that she was no stranger to me as an artist - including her recent, uh... change in beliefs and business pursuits that has played out on instagram (for me, at least). Turns out it was her 2007 album Kala and her 2010 album /\/\ /\ Y /\ which I seem to have listened to enough to put it in my top songs of that year. I use stats.fm to analyse my Spotify data, and it was here I discovered that it seems to have not captured that year - I assume Spotify didn't keep good enough data back then, rather than it being stats.fm, but I also have last.fm data from that year. I was still in high school then, and I was transitioning to streaming rather than iTunes CD rips (couldn't afford to actually purchase much in those days, and I preferred physical if I was - still do!). I'm not sure why I listened to her, but she wasn't exactly unfamiliar with her success of Paper Planes (which is really the only M.I.A song that Spotify has fed me consistently in the years since) and I guess my penchant for more alternative pop and strong interest in Die Antwoord at the time led me to trying her out. I listened to Kala 4 times and /\/\ /\ Y /\ 5 times, going by the streams, between December 14-17, and a brief revisit to Kala on December 21. Of course, the streams weren't perfectly divided and some tracks have more listens - but you get the point, numbers are fun! It was nice to revisit that old memory of a very different time in my life, and I look forward to revisiting those albums too... as I had a great time with this one! Every song, minus the skits, made it into my likes during my roadtrip home. I had it loud, and immediately knew I was in for a bundle of music that i'd love. Super interesting with a wide variety of sounds and themes, hard to not dance along even while driving, with a few hooks still ringing around my head the day after. A real pleasure to listen to.
I really hated this
Very enjoyable in a mid-00's kinda way.
I was surprised to get another M.I.A. album. I was actually shocked to get even one M.I.A. album. This was more of the same. Not really my thing.
Very fun
'I've got the bombs to make you blow / I got the beats to make it bang.' Far ahead of the rest of us, Maya felt the need to regress morally and politically in recent years, but that's besides the point. This record, like the one that followed, not only gave a voice to unheard millions, but was an artistic and political statement that we hadn't heard since...who? Buffy Sainte-Marie? Peter Tosh? NWA? But this shit's globalized: 'Somewhere in the Amazon, they're holding me ransom.' It's also educational music, not protest music: 'Get yourself an education' is its flavorful dictum. It hits not b/c she has all the answers, or even wants to. It's that she's a one-off, so recognizable and thoroughly universal. Postcolonial, but mostly slamming and palpable.
Broh i cant even with this. It is too good for words. Everything about it is paradigm shifting life changing artistry. Ultimate creative genius. All my love to this artist forever and ever.
Pretty unique sound but not one that is enjoyable to me
First album 'in the future'. Some bug let me skip forward a day and listen to tomorrow's album. Listening on 5/6 I didn't finish this on the first sitting and don't have much interest in going back to finish it. It was fine, but I just feel really meh and want to move on to something new. 2 stars simply because I have no enthusiasm for it. Probably harsh and I would have felt different if I listened for longer - Well I wanted different... I definitely got it with this one - I have a hard time believing this is the "must hear" rap album of 2005. I don't think this is gonna rate well globally - I can't articulate what I'm struggling with here. Maybe it's too genre-bendy and overproduced.
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
Not my usual listen, but I like it. Unique DJ with Asian, Caribbean influences.
I don’t think this record is for me, and that’s okay. It certainly wasn’t made for me, so I think myself and this record will agree to disagree. I understand the aspects of this record that people would enjoy, and I can see how it could be fun to listen to. The snotty obnoxious vocals and annoying samples just don’t do anything for me. I will, however, admit that I really liked the percussion throughout this album, the deep kicks and over the top clicky clap tracks are super well done, and fit the vibe and style of the music incredibly well. This whole album, musically, is really well done actually, but I just don’t vibe with it. I want to give this 2.5 so bad, but I guess it’ll get rounded up.
M.I.A. is one of those artists I love but tend to forget they exist for long stretches of time, so being reminded of this album and having a reason to listen to it was very welcome. This album is a BLAST and I'm not sure it's possible to listen to it and NOT dance. It's a strange and unique mix of so many styles and it's impossible to predict what is going to happen next, but you know it will be fun. This whole album is such a fun ride, but the lyrics are also substantive. Literally every song is a banger, I have no notes.
I've gotten to learn a bit about M.I.A. through the "Paper Planes" episode of The Ringer's "60 Songs That Explain the '90s: The 2000s" podcast, so I sort of knew what to expect here. Obviously this album was pre-Paper Planes, so the overall sound is probably going to shock many upon their first listen. Despite the dancehall & hip-hop-like sound, this album is very politically charged. Themes of conflict and revolution, references to the PLO, etc. Heck, the album title is literally the political code name used by M.I.A.'s father. This...probably won't reach everyone in an influential way and that's fine. The production and mixing teeters more towards a "grime" sound at points which I don't really care for. But, using this sort of platform and genre-mixing to share these messages was certainly unique for the time and still somewhat effective 20ish years later. I can give this album some flowers as a result. Side note: Any other NBA Live 06 players recognize "Bucky Done Gun"?
MIA is a truly one of a kind artist! Arluar is a great album in her discography with lots of punchy upbeat songs. Favorite track: DASH THE CURRY 7/10
Good, nothing super special to me though
Вроде звучание неплохое, но явно не моё, не для заводского парня как я. На треке “10 dollar" я вообще напрягся и подумал что у меня резец просел
Meh
Rating: 9/10 Amazing album with innovative and fun production, and some great flows and lyrics from M.I.A.
Interesting but unexceptional IMO. I may listen to it again. It's now going to skew my Spotify recommendations.
Enjoyed this album
Went in open minded , resulted in loosing brain cells. I listened to Ms Dynamite a few weeks ago and I'm embarrassed for her that MIA is even remotely similar in genre and origin
Cool record - MIA is totally unique, no one else sounds like her. I've got a lot of time for this
Jestas! Aika Deuandra Brown vibat saan tästä. Ei ole omaa genreä.
Literal shit
Kind of strange and different, I love it, interesting mix of genres
One or two songs is fine. The repetitive beat of this album grated my nerves
Sounds like FIFA music
between a 4 and 5 here, really vibed with this
Pre-listening thoughts: uh oh trumpie alert! Post/during listening thoughts: well ya know what at least the album is terrible. Bc now I don’t have to act like I didn’t enjoy it just bc she’s a nutball, I ACTUALLY didnt enjoy it! 3/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: banana Least fav tracks: the rest
I think Kala is the better album but this one was good too. A couple of head boppers.
Ugh
Who the hell did this influence other than everyone to turn the channel when they came on the radio?
This was a tough one because I hated it but I also really hated it.
Extremely creative, and very enticing. I love listening to it!
my gut reaction here was sort of like "holy shit this album is kind of annoying" but it's also pretty cool. the beats are a bit out of left field and unconventional, but they are pretty cool. m.i.a.'s flow is fun and very sing-song-y. it does kind of get annoying sometimes. but it is a super unique album and sound. i kind of like it, i kind of hate it. but the one thing you can't say is that it's boring!
Ja ti ne mogu opisat koliko sam volio ovaj album kad je izašao. P. S i dalje je super iako je ona prolupala
Not MIA's best and a little dated honestly