WHERE THE HOKEY POKEY "IS" WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

M.I.A.

Arular

  • AMG Review of Arular

    Amg
    Andy Kellman
    All Music Guide

    A cursory listen to Arular makes one wonder how it could generate so much heated, in-depth talk, as it did well before its official release. This is very direct and physical party music, with lots of slang-filled phrasings that might not have any more meaning than "The roof is on fire!" or "Dizzouble dizzutch!" to Americans. It's music that is conducive to dancing or doing other carefree things in the sunshine, rather than what you should hear most often through feeble computer speakers in dimly lit rooms. So why bother discussing it at all? Well, below the surface is a lot more than anyone's basic idea of a good time. The blend of styles -- a dense, often chaotic collage of garage from the U.K., dancehall from Jamaica, crunk from he Dirty South, electro and hardcore rap from New York, and glints of a few others -- is unique enough to baffle anyone who dares categorize it. Beats crack concrete in whomping blasts and scramble senses in exotic patterns; flurries of percussive noise, synthetic handclaps, and synth jabs add chaos; exuberant vocals are delivered in a manner that will be frequently unintelligible to a lot of ears. More importantly, once all the layers of rhythm and accents are peeled away, you'll hear that Maya Arulpragasam -- the London-based woman of Sri Lankan origin who, along with a host of fellow producers, is behind the album -- has a lot more on her mind and in her past than fun, even when she's only alluding to the violence and strife her people have endured. The images that adorn the cover of the album aren't present merely for the sake of design, either; the tanks aren't a nod to the No Limit label. (Enter 10,000-word history of pre-tsunami Sri Lanka here.) The one key definite about Arular is that it's the best kind of pop album imaginable. It can be enjoyed on a purely physical level, and it also carries the potential to adjust your world view.

Bass
over 2 years ago

The best thing about this album is the Bass. I don't find myself listening to it to often with headphones or on the computer. It's an experience, I listen to it a lot in my car with 1000 watts of bass. I feel like thats doing justice to it, there is no way they mixed this album without a sub. While there are a lot of great touches of musicality on this album, it is mainly about big emotional el...

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Throw up a Lyric!
about 1 year ago
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Whateva you're feelin', shout it out!"I salt and pepper my mangoShoot spit out the windowBingo! I got him in the thing, yo."M.I.A. "Sunshowers"

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Pull Up the People-M.I.A.
3 months ago

I never know what sound is gonna hook my ear and carry me away..

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M.I.A.
over 3 years ago
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If anybody knows anyone cooler than M.I.A. I'd like to know. I think she's easily making better music than any other girls in the music industry right now.

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london calling
over 2 years ago

and my final post until i return from my travel overseas... sometimes you save the best for last. i heard about M.I.A. in passing now and then, but a few days ago that b*tch came up and slapped me hard across the face (in case that didn't come across, that was sarcasm at its best). galang has been on heavy rotation lately, and who can blame me? it's one of the most original, creative, and catch...

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SPERMS MI A
5 months ago

HELLO THIS IOS spermsDID YA SEE THE NEW SPERMS M I A(paper planes parody)on you tube?SPERMS M I A (paper planes parody)

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Yee MIA song that goes
over 2 years ago
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Argg me matey the honorary female hyphess from over tha pond, thar she blows

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Bass
over 2 years ago

The best thing about this album is the Bass. I don't find myself listening to it to often with headphones or on the computer. It's an experience, I listen to it a lot in my car with 1000 watts of bass. I feel like thats doing justice to it, there is no way they mixed this album without a sub. While there are a lot of great touches of musicality on this album, it is mainly about big emotional el...

More >
M.I.A in The Rolling Stones Magazine?
over 2 years ago
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So as a fan of M.I.A since the very begining, I know I'm crazy glad that she's getting the recognition she deserves. I'm also glad that she's actually touring the U.S [Because as you may or may not know, the feds weren't actually going to let here back stateside.] However, As glad as I am, that people are starting to wake up to the brilliance that is M.I.A.. I still read the two glowing article...

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She's got the bombs!
over 3 years ago
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Hailing from Sri Lanka via London, M.I.A. is Maya Arulpragasam. Her early underground singles, ‘Galang’ and ‘Sunshowers’, shocked listeners with sharp lyrics about urban unease thrown on top of raw beats you could dance to, and in late 2004, as she finished her debut album for XL Recordings, she released a hip-hop style promotional mixtape showcasing her distinctive vocal style and quirky

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missing in action.
over 2 years ago
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Recently i've noticed a kind of, English Invasion Part II, and im enjoying it. Although i think i like the first one better, this one is infused with fresh beats and nifty catchy songs. i personally think its great. Back in 2004 i was turned on to this new English DJ/Rapper..i dont really know what she considers herself, but shes really fresh. Her name's M.I.A, and shes originally Sri Lankan th...

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