AltWeeklies Wire
M.I.-Yay!new
"I put people on the map that never seen a map," M.I.A. boasts on "20 Dollar," her rebel yell accompanied by a distorted New Order sample, borrowed Pixies lyrics and thunderous South Asian beats that swirl behind her proclamations of dissent.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Caralyn Green |
12-04-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Music and Mythology of M.I.A.new
It was up to M.I.A. to prove that she wasn't a fluke, and she did just that with Kala, a global journey of underground dance, weaving together samples from the Clash, guest spots from Nigerian rappers, cues from Bollywood soundtracks, seizure-inducing album art, and quasi-political phrases
The Portland Mercury |
Chas Bowie |
11-15-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
M.I.A. on Making Troublenew
A kind of audio travelogue of her visits to India, Angola, Liberia, and Trinidad, M.I.A.'s excellent Kala succeeds not just musically it's one of the year's best records but as a powerful symbol of activism in an era of rampant political apathy and self-absorption.
The Georgia Straight |
Martin Turenne |
11-12-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Kala' is a Party Record with a Point of Viewnew
Arular struck just the right balance of radical politics, innovative production and round-the-way appeal for critics and clubgoers to go apeshit, and this follow-up follows suit.
Houston Press |
Chris Gray |
09-19-2007 |
Reviews
M.I.A. Creates an Exotic Dance Party Par Excellencenew
Arular, the 2005 debut by Mathangi "M.I.A." Arulpragasam, got lotsa reviewers hot and bothered (and deservedly so), but only a relative handful of U.S. listeners succumbed to its multi-culti charms.
M.I.A. Turns a Difficult Year into a Strong Second Albumnew
After breaking up with Diplo, being barred from the States and facing the pressures of the "difficult second album" (for a major U.S. label, no less) made for a very turbulent 2006. But it also produced Kala, and a work ethic that's become M.I.A.'s manifesto.
Montreal Mirror |
Lorraine Carpenter |
09-07-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
M.I.A. Turns Visa Woes into Dancefloor Glorynew
Of all the collaborators and guests on the post-colonial hip-hop hot shot's new album, one looms a bit larger than the rest -- the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
NOW Magazine |
Benjamin Boles |
08-24-2007 |
Profiles & Interviews
M.I.A.'s Neon Funknew
Kala could have been the party album of the summer
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Corey Licht |
08-22-2007 |
Reviews
