classical music:

	Kala M.I.A. Interscope Records, 2007 average customer review:based on 74 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

M.I.A. is hailed as one of the most freshly creative artists to hit the scene, paving the way for fierce and adventurous females to break the mold. With KALA, she pulls even more globe-trekking, and genre bending into her musical mix.

Recorded in India, Trinidad, Australia, London, New York and Baltimore, M.I.A. has crafted an international sound that is as excitingly undefineable as it is infectious.

The first single from KALA, "Boyz" was just listed at #1 Rolling Stone's Hot List, and #1 song of the Month in Blender magazine!

"Electrifying" - The New York Times

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Fresh, new, invigorating

This cd is great. It's fresh, new, invigorating, original, and fun. Personally, I love it for upbeat workout music. If you like M.I.A., check out Santogold as well.


This rating is subject to change at any time, for any reason...

I'm intrigued. I have put myself into the position of responsibility to purchase a wide range of music that I might not otherwise be familiar with, and Kala is just such a purchase.

Quite honestly, I love her accent, and I love her quirky sense of style and artistic chaos. And that translates to the music. The irony being that the music is so "happy" and up-beat, and contrary to the opinion of another (obviously rhythmically challenged) reviewer, it is incredibly dance-able. In fact, if you do not move, then you either detest the music, or you have no sense of rhythm.

From the perspective of a musician and a bit of a "purist", the concept of sampling is a turn-off to me. However, when looking at the genius of such artists as John Cage (love him or hate him, he was groundbreaking, and the real father of techno-beats) and other such innovators, I can appreciate someone who can take a wide range of sounds and styles and incorporate them all into one place (this album). Of course, it is a bit chaotic, but I think that's exactly what M.I.A. had in mind (have you SEEN her wardrobe?). She wants you to think. She doesn't care if you like it or not, she is more interested in getting a reaction... mission accomplished.

The Timbland track was just a marketing trick to get more exposure... genius, sweetie! She put it at the end, so it has no real affect on the overall feeling of the album, and still the name of the US artist will bring more people to her music.

Despite the concern that she was unable to spend time in the US working on this album, I think that was actually one of the best things that happened to her in this case. Had she come here, the sound would have been diluted and made entirely too common. Instead, we have originality.

No bones about it, girl can't sing. But she's not marketing herself as a singer, but as a musical artist. She is able to create tracks using the tools available, and not being a musician to speak of, she simply takes existing sounds and arranges them into a tapestry of sound that is jarring, pleasant, irritating and endearing all at the same time!

This is a study in sound variations. Good job!

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It's okay, BUT -

if you like this type of music then I think that you might like Crystal Castles better. I think the beats are much better, the vocals are more interesting and the creativity is just, overall, stronger.

ALSO - CC is on a non-RIAA label. If that matters to you. It does to me.


reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10



Tracks
Bamboo Banga | Birdflu | Boyz | Jimmy | Hussel | Mango Pickle Down River | 20 Dollar | World Town | The Turn | XR2 | Paper Planes | Come Around

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