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album review
Kala and Arular are similar in that they are both wildly vigorous and wholly enjoyable albums, generous with blunt-force beats, flurries of percussion, riotous vocals (with largely inconsequential lyrics), and fearless stylistic syntheses that seem to view music from half of the planet's countries as potential source material. But Kala nearly makes Arular seem tame in comparison, magnifying most of its predecessor's qualities as it remains bracingly adventurous. While it certainly sounds like a second M.I.A. album, nothing about it is stagnant. Made in piecemeal fashion while located in several countries, Kala involves a few co-producers: U.K. "dirty house" producer Switch is the primary collaborator, while Baltimore club don Blaqstarr, Diplo, and Timbaland assist M.I.A. on one or a couple tracks each. Further variety is added vocally, not only through M.I.A.'s numerous modes, but also through feature spots from Nigerian MC Afrikan Boy and a crew of young Aborigine rappers. Roughly half the album -- including the opening three-track sequence, which incorporates Jonathan Richman's "Roadrunner," samples from two Tamil-language film soundtracks, squawking chickens, (what sounds like) yelping children, and clustered rhythmic devices that boom, stab, clap, rattle, twitter, and sometimes even prance -- is more intense than anything on Arular. The tracks are so full of chaos and jagged noise that it is disarming to reach the relatively relaxed material, especially the two tracks that resemble actual songs. "Jimmy" is a rather faithful cover, willfully chintzy strings and all, of a flirtatiously lovelorn neo-disco number from the '80s Bollywood film Disco Dancer. "Paper Planes" has a sing-songy float to it, aided by the Clash's "Straight to Hell," though it also appropriates Wreckx-N-Effect's "Rump Shaker" while replacing "zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom" and "boom-boom" with sounds from shotguns and cash registers. Like the remainder of the album's best moments, it recalls the late Lizzy Mercier Descloux, another artist who made thrilling music by mixing cultures with respectful irreverence. Perhaps some of Arular's detractors knew M.I.A. was capable of this all along. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- Arular
- Released 2005
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- Arular (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2005
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- Arular (Edited)
- Released 2005
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listener reviews
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paper planes
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- By boomer9180
- 8/30/2009 22:52:24
- paper planes got some real attention in the movie slumdog millionare. thats probubly why it is just now becoming recognized
- 0 out of 1 people
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Ra Ra Raa
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- By mikenation94
- 6/14/2009 02:22:48
- yahh, M.I.A. each song has the sickest beats, i can sing each and every songle song, without missing a lyric, get this album, its really good, its raw, i really like M.I.A... and really paper planes isnt the best....20 Dollar is
- 1 out of 1 people
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Not bad
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- By Anthony Kantara
- 6/9/2009 05:01:29
- Well i heard and like Paper planes, so i decided to listen to her whole album. Honestly, no one get pissed at me, but i didnt really like her other songs. She has good beats though. I'm surprised the album took 2 years to get famous. I was shocked when i saw that the album came out 2007.
- 2 out of 2 people
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Well...
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- By JazziiBoo
- 2/22/2009 04:30:48
- No matter what I love M.I.A. I love the beats...its different but then again its the same. I love all the songs. Kala....This album is...omg. I can't even start. I just cant believe it got so popular now then it was in '07 like how she said below me. My top favs are "Bamboo Banga" "Paper Planes" "Come Around" and "Boys"
- 2 out of 3 people
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I feel the same...
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- By Ilustra90
- 1/8/2009 04:01:44
- about the whole Paper Planes thing.But it still got her name out there more.So its alright with me.I love Bamboo BANGA.Its so bomb.This album is from 2007 and its getting popular in late 08 and and early 09.
- 0 out of 1 people
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KALA
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- By HoneyBunny3489
- 12/30/2008 18:35:54
- I was a fan of MIA back before she was a little more main stream. And anyone who has heard "Paper Planes" think they love her so much. But if I ever bring Kala they are like uh who is that?? . . . So I appreciate all the real fans, who actually listen to her albums.
- 1 out of 2 people
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Paper Planes
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- By LolPinkMe
- 11/9/2008 20:49:42
- This song rox and the video is really cool too!!
- 2 out of 3 people
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Kala
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- By CoffeeLadyBird
- 10/6/2008 22:59:02
- I love M.I.A. but I'm kind of dissapointed that everyone suddenly fell in love with M.I.A. when they heard "Paper Planes" on the radio or on MTV- Even though the song and video had been released long before.
Some hypocrites..
Paper Planes is a good song people but come on there several other great song from the Kala album. How bout giving it a listen if you love M.I.A. sooo much. - 6 out of 9 people
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Paper planes
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- By RVCASAL Inc
- 9/26/2008 01:41:26
- This song is the coolest song from M.I.A :)
- 6 out of 10 people
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