Kala

Overall, this is seriously bland. This album has few bright spots- the brightest of which, "Paper Planes", leaves all other tracks in the dust.

This could've easily been a fairly solid EP of 5 tracks, but as a 12-track album, this is desperately lacking substance. Desperately. It appears as though she rushed this release to take advantage of the hype brought by her debut.

Disappointing.

M.I.A.'s sophomore album "Kala" continues some of what people knew her to be during the first album. This is still dance stuff, filled with certain samples that range from monotonous to interesting, with all kinds of tracks. And what separates her from many at times is the bigger use of world/tribal sounds at times. I am not as big on this album as others but it doesn't mean that they're wrong or anything.

The "low" (for some) rating has more to do with it being a mixed bag for my money than anything else. It's an album where a lot of the more listenable moments come later rather than in the first half. "Paper Planes" is understandably the hit here, with a sample of the Clash's guitars and awesome gunshots used in the chorus. The sound effects actually turn out clever, way more interesting than what you'd hear on a lot of hip-hop records. Add that with the Timbaland production "Come Around" and you get a nice two-punch for the album. It's probably more streamlined sounding than the rest of the record, although since she intended to enlist him the record would have perhaps sounded more like this. However, the end result is probably a lot more unique. You gotta dig the synths on "XR2" as well as it's catchy lyrics. For me it's like this album's "Bucky". But there's good enough songs at the first half, like "Hussel" which uses the tribal beat thing to a good measure. "Bamboo Banga" is a nice way to kick off the album.

There's some stuff I don't really like all that much, like the many guests (kids, in particular) rapping on "Mango Pickle Down River," which lacks a lot of direction, but I suppose this remix was intended for the album's use. If there's a track I skip here it's probably this one. It's an unpopular opinion but I'm not really big on the whole with the kind of redundant ideas on "Boyz" and "Bird Flu" which kind of give me a headache after three minutes or so. Some people like those, just not myself. And some stuff is kind of just there. I like that she interpolated "Where Is My Mind" for a song but unforunately that song ("20 Dollar") is kind of boring.

It is sold pretty cheap so even if you hate it there wouldn't be too big a fuss for getting it. And I do recommend "Kala" on the whole. For me it doesn't always hit but sometimes it does, and enough to keep your attention.

loved Arular, listened to it a hundred times easily. full of hooks and attitude, lots of energy, very original to my ears. This album feels like outtakes, or an imitator. I guess she believed the hype and lost her scruffiness. Don't believe me, listen to the samples here. The Timbaland track is ok, but I'm not going to play it again. the rest of it, totally forgettable.

This album is solid and is unique because there is not a particular style that the songs follow but each song is good.

M.I.A is a very interesting artist and she is a good example for the word cause she truly has an artistic spirit. I never heard her first release but heard some singles off it. Sadly for me those singles weren't that strong to take a chance and buy it. With Kala I swear to you that it will be a very different experience than you have had with your normal genre. She is incredibly cool and has the nicest beat flow I have heard in a while.

First to get started she did a great job with her production. I heard Bird Flu and Boyz a lot a year ago and loved them. I had no idea that Paper Planes was on the same album. I had to have this after finding this out. After you figure out just exactly what she is saying, you start to enjoy her lyrics as well. Honestly I am still having trouble figuring out what she says on some other tracks. The hot thing is that she never loses the beat and never loses her rhythm. She stays on the beat on ever track. She has an amazing talent in producing cause these beats are hot.

I love that she brings out not only her culture but some others in these instruments and songs. She is progressing into a really good artist and I hope that she keeps doing what she's doing. Hey, she is good enough that Kanye has sampled her voice right? I definitely give Kala about a 4 1/2, I hate the song jimmy and that's really it. I think that she could have made a much better track than that one but overall this is a great album.