A Free Man

“People on the internet
A new life for the intellect
People judge me so hard
Coz I dont floss my titty set
I was born out of dirt like im porn in a skirt
I was a little girl who made good with all that I blurt
I put people on the map that never seen a map
I show em somin they aint never seen
And hope they make it back!!!!”

-M.I.A. - “20 Dollar”

Last week was a veritable new music orgy. Between eMusic and Nectar Points (the 21st century S & H Green Stamps) I got five new albums including new records from The New Pronographers, Rilo Kiley, Teddy Thompson, Suzanne Vega and M.I.A I’ve decided to review my favorite first and move down the list. Surprisingly, my favorite was one I picked up as an afterthought the new M.I.A. record. “Kala” is the sophomore album from London based Maya Arulpragasam, the daughter of a Tamil militant. She lived part of her childhood in Sri Lanka before returning to London. Her first album, “Arular” received rave reviews and was a fantastic fusion of genres. I think I picked this up after MTV banned her for refusing to change lyrics that acknowledge the P.L.O. and I wasn’t disappointed.

I am not really a rap fan. There are some rappers that I really enjoy - the Beastie Boys, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Tricky, De La Soul, Arrested Development and Ice Cube - but they are about the only artists that I appreciate from the last quarter century of a musical genre. Most of the rap I hear is violent and misogynistic and lacks any socially redeemable message. The rap that I get into is politically charged and socially conscious. I’ve heard several female rappers and never really gotten into one until “Arular” came out in 2005. Even this album was a grower - took several listens until I started to appreciate it. But once I did, I was hooked. M.I.A. so effortlessly mixes musical genres and social consciousness with cheeky, self-deprecating feminism that it’s impossible not to get into her music.

“Kala” isn’t a grower - I loved it from the opening beats of “Bamboo Banga” when she creeps into a cover of Johnathan Richman’s “Roadrunner” with her sulky south London lisp and slides into:

“Yeah, I’m knocking on the doors of your hummer hummer
You’ll be hungry like the wolves hunting dinner dinner
And we’re moving with the packs like hyena ena
Barbarella look like she’s my dead ringer
When I’m dogging on the bonner of ya red Honda…”

And in these handful of lines you’ve got an idea of what M.I.A.’s about - confrontational, cheeky, self-confident and self-aware. “Kala” takes off from the opener and never really eases up. It’s sonically ambitious with African, Jamaican, east Asian, Australian aboriginal and British influences. This album feels a little fuller than “Arular”, particularly at the bass end. For example, one of the best tracks “Mango Pickle Down River” features a digerido to fill out the bass, the only time I’ve ever heard this instrument (unfortunately embraced by hippy buskers the world over) used effectively.

One of my favorite things about “Kala” is that M.I.A. has expanded the political content of her songs. “20 Dollar” - which features the chorus from The Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” (tell me M.I.A.’s not trying to cross genres) - is one of the best examples. She tackles African genocide, the diamond trade, poverty, objectification of women and global poverty in a four and a half minute pop song. But it doesn’t seem flippant and the sort of pop star cause of the week - you believe that she means it and knows what she’s talking about.

As I said, rap’s not my genre, so I’m not sure I can effectively review her sampling, her rhymes and how she fits into the different sub-genres. But to me, that doesn’t matter. I know when I like something and I know when it’s a great record - and this is a great record. It may not be a great rap album, I don’t know to be honest, I’m not sure it is a rap album. M.I.A. herself describes it as “shapes, colours, Africa, street, power, bitch, nu world, and brave.” I think that may be the best description. “Kala” may be one of those rare records that doesn’t fit neatly into a slot, and that may be its greatness.

It’s by no means a perfect album - the song chosen for the first single, “Boyz” is particularly weak. In the wrong mind frame, it could come off as aggressive and manic. She’s sacrificed some of the humor of “Arular” for a more mature political message in this album. It’s certainly not for everyone but if you a fan of rap or “world” music, or just want to try something really different then my verdict is buy it!

“Kala” is available from and Amazon and eMusic.

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