Email This StoryM.I.A. brings action with second album
Aug. 28, 2007
By Amanda Robison
Entertainment editor
On her sophomore album, rapper/singer/producer Maya Arulpragasam (better known as M.I.A.) proves to be anything but MIA, showing up consistently and seemingly effortlessly on each beat-infused track.
M.I.A., who lived in civil-war-torn Sri Lanka until she was 6 before moving to London, offers an intriguing blend of cultures in her music.
It is pretty difficult to place her energy-filled music into one particular genre, as each song seems to cross into several areas as it takes you on a global journey. Kala, which is named after her mother, is the follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut album, Arular, which was named after her father.
In the popping beats of the opening track, "Bamboo Banga," M.I.A. chants about "going 100 miles per hour," setting the tone as she barrels full-speed through each vibrant track. The energy level is high throughout the album, and the clever and cultural rhymes and funky, hard-hitting beats are there to match. Political undertones (sometimes subtle and sometimes in your face) are also present in nearly every track.
M.I.A., who produced or co-produced all but one track on the album, obtained her global sound and influence partly by accident. She could not get her work visa approved to be in the United States, and instead ended up recording in many different regions of the world.
Her father was a member of a militant group in Sri Lanka, and no doubt influenced her politically charged themes. In the track "20 Dollar" -- which also samples the Pixies song "Where Is My Mind?" -- she tells of the $20 cost of AK-47s in Africa and "lootin' just to get by."
In a New York Times interview, M.I.A. describes her aim: "I'm trying to create a third place, somewhere in between the developed world and the developing world," she said. This is manifested in her pop/dancehall-style beats that connect to her socially conscious and slyly stunning lyrics. "World Town" has her calling for "hands up, guns out, represent the world town," with catchy clapping pumping her along.
Once you get past the catchy hooks and crazy compilation of sound effects, the lyrics hit you like a ton of bricks. The seriousness of the subject matter is almost hidden underneath a surface layer of sound that is certainly dance floor-worthy.
"Paper Planes" offers a less subtle look at her worldview and issues with violence and militant gun-toting. The chorus, which is reminiscent of Dr. Dre's "Zoom," has M.I.A chanting sarcastically, "All I wanna do is (boom boom boom boom)" with the "boom"s as gun shots.
Each track is filled to the brim with drums and energetic beats. And her sound is definitely unique. The distinctive musical elements and cultural diversity that are clearly evident are really what make this album a stand-out. It is nearly impossible to pick a favorite track because each contains such unique and innovative elements.
To give you a sense of how dominating the beats are, the track that is actually the least beat-intensive comes from the so-called "King of Beats," Timbaland. The track, called "Come Around," presents a more mellow vibe, with a distinct change in pace and lyrical content. Timbaland offers his usual "I'm the man ... Baby girl ... let me hit that" lines which seem to contradict the rest of the album.
Overall, Kala will flood your senses with an innovation of sound and make you dance, think and feel like you've been on a global journey.
M.I.A. takes the game to whole new level and no matter what kind of music you're into, nearly anyone can feel this album and appreciate its substance.
Grade: A
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