MiamiNights - Miami Night Clubs, Nightlife

Let’s get started on the right foot with this review. Being an established fan of Miss Arulpragasam, upon receipt of the album I’ve jumped for sheer joy, and I’ve already “played that shit out”!

“M.I.A. is coming back with power, power!” chants the Sri Lankan princess of all sorts on the albums opener Bamboo Banger. On her sophomore effort she has cited the album as “shapes, colours, Africa, street, power, bitch, nu world, and brave.” With the enlisted help of the UK-based DJ/Producer Switch you most certainly get a feel of each once Banger has come to an end. I won’t go into the next two tracks Bird Flu and Boyz thoroughly as I’m sure we probably have all heard each and weren’t exactly thrilled with the results of these two simultaneously released tracks. M.I.A. rhymes over both tracks as smoothly and seamlessly as she jiggles on stage, yet other cuts off Kala would have made for better first singles. Then comes what most would say is probably M.I.A.’s most radio friendly tune and my favourite, Jimmy. A reworked cover of a song featured in a 1982 Bollywood film, its Middle Eastern disco at its best! Jimmy is a song where the beat is the main chorus, such an infectious beat it will either drive you up the wall or right onto the dance floor. Hussel which features South London’s very own grime MC Afrikan Boy (is to me one of the weaker tracks off the album, yet still a declaration to speed it up). Mango Pickle Down River features Australia’s Wilcannia Mob (this is yet the most innovative song that makes the cut, anything with kids under the age of 10 rapping sure is fantastic).

Down River is the most reminiscent of anything off of Arular, kick drums and massive 808 loops with a rifle ready to be shot (be sure to have your hands up and guns out while grinding your booty against someone else’s). On Kala Arulpragasam has re-invented her self with a bit more of a hip-hop flavor as The Turn provides, but we are immediately reminded of what this little creature is all about with XR2. She glides over off beat hand claps and triumphant horns and reminds us all that back in the day “MTV had A.D.D.”. In the year we call 2007 a new album would not be complete with out a Timbaland collaboration. Come Around which features the man of the hour himself closes out the album, unfortunately not in a very impressive way. Timbaland is genuinely so hot at times, but the tracks last 40 seconds are the only time we can hear his charisma and why he is the most sought out producer of this era. Kala opens with a banger and sets the mood straight for the rest of the record. Don’t let her troubles of getting into this great country or the fact that she is no longer with Diplo fool you. M.I.A. is definitely back and in action. To this day she is the mastermind. Hence, why her devotees would never dare try to categorize her into a specific genre. The album may not ignite the fascination in her work that Arular first did, but it sure as hell goes to show…she’s still one bad colorful bitch.

myspace.com/mia