Kala
by MIA
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Album details
US: 21 August 2007 on Interscope
UK: 20 August 2007 on XL Recordings
Timbaland, Switch, and Diplo are among the producers on Sri Lankan artist Maya Arulpragasam’s sophomore set, which follows 2005’s well-reviewed but divisive debut "Arular."
The critical consensus
The Casio-meets-world-music beats and lyrics ranging from politically-charged verse to nonsense that were the hallmarks of Arular seemed to win MIA as many enemies as fans, and Kala certainly doesn’t back away from the formula of its predecessor, although the additional producers–and the fact that the disc was recorded on multiple continents–do seem to expand her sound quite a bit. How would the critics react the second time around–especially when MIA makes herself an easy target in her own press notes, where she claims to be speaking for the entire third world?
Actually, it seems as if MIA has another winner on her hands. "’Kala’ is pop music without the vapidity, and political music without the condescension," states Eric R. Danton of the Hartford Courant. MusicOMH praises Kala as "a record as substantive as it is stylish," while PopMatters comments that it is "full of innovative, endlessly pleasurable songs." The Washington Post hails it as "outrageously good," and IGN uses the term "near-brilliant." Jon Pareles, writing in Blender, states that "the impact of M.I.A.’s music isn’t in what she says, but how it arrives: in tracks so irritating they’re irresistible." The Boston Globe actually prefers Kala to its predecessor, while Drowned In Sound concludes that the new album is "more varied and adventurous than Arular yet still ridiculously danceable." Similarly, the Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot finds Kala "less immediate" and "more ambitious" than Arular; as a whole, the "audacious" new album "brims with odd but catchy little hooks, and delirious arrangements." The Guardian likes the album despite some flaws, noting, "even at its weakest moments, Kala sounds unique - and, thrillingly, like an album that could only have been made in 2007."
Amazon generally likes the "dynamic" album, but finds it a bit "exhausting," noting, "there isn’t a moment when it doesn’t feel like you’ve unintentionally invited an entire carnival into your home." Entertainment Weekly–finding the album good but flawed–comments that "even when M.I.A. fails, few manage to innovate quite so bravely." The New York Times finds that "in spite of exhilarating moments like ‘Boyz’ and ‘BirdFlu,’ the album is less unified than its predecessor, and in some spots commits the grave sin of being undanceable." Likewise, Slant notes that Kala is missing some of Arular’s "keen pop sensibility" and is a "somewhat less satisfying" album as a result, while the Associated Press adds that unlike the previous album, "’Kala’ is infectious, but not addictive."
Additional criticisms from many critics (even those who loved the disc) included comments about MIA’s voice, occasional inane lyrics, and the lack of any melodies or true songs. Vibe just doesn’t seem to get MIA, commenting that "the beats are mostly middling" and "the majority of Kala… is limp and unfocused." And CokemachineGlow criticizes MIA for a lack of focus, and asks, "What happened to the sense of humor? The fun?" Oh, and almost nobody enjoyed the Timbaland track ("Come Around"), so if you are looking for a download, avoid that one. (Try "Paper Planes" or any of the singles instead.)
It’s an album detailed enough to work as a mind-trip on headphones, and boisterous enough to blast at a jam-packed dance club.
- Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune
Review roundup
- All Music Guide, 4.5/5
- Artist Direct, 4.5/5
- BBC Collective, 4.5/5
- Drowned In Sound, 9/10
- Hartford Courant
- IGN, 9.1/10
- Los Angeles Times, 4/4
- Metromix, 5/5
- MusicOMH, 4.5/5
- The Onion AV Club, A
- Pitchfork, 8.9/10
- PopMatters, 9/10
- Prefix, 9.0/10
- Rap Reviews, 9.0/10
- Rolling Stone, 4.5/5
- San Francisco Chronicle, 4/4
- Spin [Sep 2007, p.127], 4.5/5
- Stylus, A
- Treble
- Urb [Sep/Oct 2007, p.129], 4.5/5
- Washington Post
- Amazon.com
- Associated Press
- Austin Chronicle, 4/5
- Aversion, 4/5
- BBC
- Billboard [1 Sep 2007]
- Blender [Sep 2007, p.123], 4/5
- Chart Attack
- Chicago Sun-Times, 3/4
- Chicago Tribune
- CokemachineGlow, 87%
- Dotmusic, 8/10
- Drawer B
- Dusted
- Entertainment Weekly, B
- Gigwise, 4/5
- The Guardian, 4/5
- Hot Press, 8/10
- The Independent, 4/5
- Lost At Sea, 8/10
- Mojo [Sep 2007, p.104], 4/5
- NME, 8/10
- Observer Music Monthly, 4/5
- Q [Sep 2007, p.89], 4/5
- Slant Magazine, 3.5/5
- Sputnikmusic, 4/5
- Stereogum
- The Stranger
- Tiny Mix Tapes, 4/5
- Uncut [Sep 2007, p.87], 4/5
- Under The Radar [#18, p.74], 8/10
- Washington Post
- The Wire [#283, p.57]
- Vibe [Sep 2007, p.133]
Tracklisting and media
- Bamboo Banga
- Bird Flu
- Boyz
- Jimmy
- Hussel
- Mango Pickle Down River
- 20 Dollar
- World Town
- Turn
- XR2
- Paper Planes
- Come Around
Please, please, please don’t listen to the hype! This album is nearly unlistenable at times and at its very best is only mediocre. It fails as a dance album and as a hip-hop album. Avoid!
Don’t ingore the Hype this album is Pulsating attack on the senses that leaves you blown away!! - The fact that Erik and a select few haters want to comment on it show that is is not by any means mediocre, I mean when something is mediocre it just doesn’t catch anyones attention! This Album most definitely does catch your attention regardless to whether you love it or loathe it!
Production wise the switch tracks have just stepped things up a gear - I mean Timberland and Pharrell have been so hot with chart toppers but innovation wise the sound has become stale, so to hear a producer like switch is a revelation and if he was behind the big hitters, music will become exciting once more..!
This is a 19/20 album and succeeds as a dance album and as a Hip Hop Album. A Must!
i’m so thrilled with m.i.a.’s sophmore album. with the attention the first album got it would have been so easy for her (or anyone) to take a turn to the mainstream. instead m.i.a. and switch chose to continue to be master innovators and challenge our senses once again. this music is truly cutting edge. regardless of if you love it or hate it there is no denying that this is music like you’ve never heard. it’s innovative, it’s exciting and a breath of fresh air in today’s dull homoganised market. on top of that i’m personally elevated by the fact that this lady is out there representing female artists and challenging the way mainstream music sees and hears female artists.