A nice listen but nothing to love, apart from Mr Blue Sky and similar sounding but slightly worse songs.
Smooth, enjoyable listen. Goes by in an instant. Murder Mystery is a classic I'll keep.
Tracy Chapman, probably can say that I’ve never listened to her and in a rare turn of events – never considered her for one of my reviews! I’m going into this blind, or deaf, and looking forward to it. What a start, Talkin’ Bout a Revolution is a pure banger, that feels like I already know off by heart. Have I heard this before? My memory would suggest so – I can’t remember. The pain she exudes in every word, it’s spellbinding, what a story. Racism shot down so easily. I surprised that the album is late 80s, it has a timeless feel of the 70s, rather than anything something more recent. I’ve skipped Fast Car, apart from the final few listens, great song – don’t want to hear it. She’s a powerhouse, the voice, the challenge, it’s not always enjoyable but it’s gripping. Then a bloody BoyZone cover. Ronan and the boys will be so proud. This gives me chills, the TC version, although I’ve queued the BZ version for the end of the review. It came outta nowhere after the devastation of the previous two tracks – pure tenderness – that will only result in me welling up. The shaking she does in her voice – wow. Mountains O’ Things give me The Police vibes. The strong messages opposing racism, poverty, and violence against women continue throughout the remaining album but the pure joy and top draw song quality does slightly fade. Why? And For My Lover ease these but we’re not on the same form we started with. Her voice never fails to amaze. Top heavy album but even an improper fraction can be beautiful.
A lovely listen but nothing that screams vital.
A new name for me, the first of many thus far, which is great. I imagine a black woman releasing this impacts the placement on the list.
Stone cold classic.
The most must listen to album ever? Yes.
The best ever? No.
Well, never listen to jazz. Sounds better than I've heard before. Soft and warm but no enjoyment for me. Background music.
First off, why call an album 10 and have 11 (plus a hidden track!) This shouldn’t ever be allowed. When this album is good, its spine tingling awesomeness, when it’s not ‘Ten’ just there. The power of ‘Black’ is a joy, and makes me feel the pain of Vedder within me, ‘Once’ really gets the party started at 100mph which helps along even flow, Porch is rocking and you cannot help but scream ‘ I’M STILL ALIVE!’ Jeremy bores me, how on earth it that one of their classic songs? The rifts are great, I’d really like to see them live, I imagine their sound comes ‘aliveeeee’ pun intended, more so than on the album. I’d even go as far as to say there’s a part of each song I really like, and starts to get me excited then inevitably lets me down (Garden, Ocean.) The end of the album is a bit of a slog that just shouldn’t be there. The themes are dark but I struggle to hear a lot of the lyrics, let alone decipher a meaning, resulting in a lack of intimacy to really feel the pain as I did with ‘Black’.
A first listen for me: what a blast. As the prototype for music as we all know today, it excels with charisma, fun and energy.
Outstanding cover to add. I wish all "jazz" and early music was this fun.
Yes, you should listen to this. A modern artist that pushes boundaries.
She certainly flies like paper gets high like planes. Nobody can say that this album isn't interesting and fun to listen to. Bamboo banger is certainly that, great way to start the album, lively - various genres and roots in the song, Birdflu and Boyz continue at full throttle, with Bollywood as the co driver, and a pint of vodka redbull to keep hydrated. Jimmy has been a stand out track all week, ear worm at it's finest. Paper planes is one of the best pop songs this millennium. M.I.A is the whole album, she's taken risks, not complied the major rules, had fun and made some bangers. Timberland pops up at the end in a totally unnecessary cameo. Especially when the cameo turns into stealing the song and the album closer. Should have ended with paper planes. God damn those major record labels! Never boring, varied, unique but for me not loveable and an uneven lsiten. I enjoyed them album and very much appreciate the artiste behind it but won't be catching up in a hurry. It did take me back to being 17/18 again when hearing MR2 which was high on my iTunes!
