M.I.A. "Kala"

There are a lot of questions about who M.I.A. is as a person (real name Mathangi), but no questions about her music. It just depends on how Maya would like to move you. Particularly, on her second album, Kala, those moves are all going in different directions. Take “20 Dollar,” which begins with the most atmospheric opening heard in a few years on record, only to keep the song lurching until crazy synths come through and wipe the floor clean. Maya samples “Where Is My Mind?” from the Pixies and I’m wondering, where the fuck is my mind? That’s the peak of the album.

It only takes a few tracks of Kala to make a clear point. This is some serious instrumentation; forget her political views. The real sparks glow on “Paper Planes,” a song featured in stoner-dude flick Pineapple Express. All Maya wants to do is get high and “take your money”, but being high does make this album a little better than it already is. Props to The Clash for letting her sample “Straight to Hell” –– wonder what they think about it.

“XR2” is a horn contest gone right, where everyone is a true winner. Half-baked agit-pop for sure –– like this magnificent album. Kala goes out with a cool burn with Timbland helping on the knobs for “Come Around.” Maya reminds us that “the beat goes on,” but you’ll wish that it never had to stop. M.I.A. has dealt with a lot of scrutiny, but she’s building some sort of musical revolution. We should all spin this record at once and, strangely march in circles.