M.I.A.
Kala 2LP vinyl

Let's forgo all the philosophizing and speculating, and instead just say that Kala is another monster album from M.I.A. Sorry, haters - with Switch, Diplo, Blaqstarr and Timbaland behind the boards, there was basically no way Ms. Arul was gonna catch a sophomore slump. London's Switch (aka Dave Taylor) is just about the biggest dance producer / remixer and one half of Major Lazer, so his style mixed with M.I.A.'s jumble of influences makes for some seriously unique "pop" music. Totally wasn't expecting the Bolly-disco sound on "Jimmy," or the flat-out weirdness of "Bird Flu" and lead single "Boyz." (M.I.A. also seems to have picked up a fondness for regurgitating lyrics, spitting up some gems from the Modern Lovers and Pixies on various tracks.) Switch's production makes up the bulk of the album, but some real gems come when Maya branches out. "Mango Pickle Down River" is virtually just a remix of Aboroginal kiddie rappers Wilcannia Mob's "Down River," but with a song that fucking awesome to start, it doesn't matter much. Blaqstarr brings his trademark minimal spookiness to "The Turn," and the M.I.A. / Switch / Diplo power trio really tears it up on the Bmore-ish "XR2." 

NEW / Released in 2007

Tracklist:

A1 Bamboo Banga

A2 Birdflu

A3 Boyz

B1 Jimmy

B2 Hussel

B3 Manglo Pickle Down River

C1 20 Dollar

C2 World Town

C3 The Turn

D1 XR2

D2 Paper Planes

D3 Come Around