2008 Woodie Awards
M.I.A. - Kala
XL Recordings (5 Stars)
John McMillin
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: |exclaim|ation points
With "Kala," M.I.A. not only evades the dreaded sophomore slump; she presents a record that surpasses her first.
Tracks range from massive clubbangers like "Down River," to more subtle tracks like "Paper Planes," with its gorgeous melody and chorus featuring the ring of disquieting gunshots. Now, I listen to a lot of music with percussive gunfire, but the contrast here between the song's bittersweet melody and deafening shots does something wonderful: it disturbs, just as gunshots should.
In a recent interview, M.I.A. voiced dissatisfaction with the way she and her art are portrayed in media. "I just find it a bit upsetting and kind of insulting that I can't have any ideas on my own because I'm a female," she said.
M.I.A. is responsible for some of the most forward-thinking, exciting sounds in contemporary music made by any artist of any gender: and, trite or not, this has little to do with whether she pees sitting down.
Tracks range from massive clubbangers like "Down River," to more subtle tracks like "Paper Planes," with its gorgeous melody and chorus featuring the ring of disquieting gunshots. Now, I listen to a lot of music with percussive gunfire, but the contrast here between the song's bittersweet melody and deafening shots does something wonderful: it disturbs, just as gunshots should.
In a recent interview, M.I.A. voiced dissatisfaction with the way she and her art are portrayed in media. "I just find it a bit upsetting and kind of insulting that I can't have any ideas on my own because I'm a female," she said.
M.I.A. is responsible for some of the most forward-thinking, exciting sounds in contemporary music made by any artist of any gender: and, trite or not, this has little to do with whether she pees sitting down.
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