kala

m.i.a.'s new album, set to drop 8/21 in the states...

bamboo banger
bird flu
boyz
jimmy
hussel (ft africkan boy)
mango pickle down river (with the wilcannia mob)
$20
world town
the turn
XR2
paper planes
come around (ft timbaland)

there is an excellent description of tracks here and also here. i kinda want to talk about each individual track here, but i will hold back because this would turn into the longest entry ever.

i am FREAKING OUT over this album. it is SICK. the single most surprising, unexpected and amazing track has got to be paper planes. in the nylon magazine interview, m.i.a. said the song was inspired by a new years celebration that involved firing ak-47s into the air and then watching footage of african relief efforts. when i read the article, i was skeptical. but i hadn't heard the song. it makes sense now. and it's such a great song.

i was also surprised at the disco influences in this album. especially with "hussel" and "jimmy." jimmy is both bollywood and disco, which is pretty delightful. i was also very very excited to hear some influences from the pixies and new order in $20. (!!!) it is an amazing track.

the coolest thing about this album is that m.i.a. is not just sampling lyrics, a sound, or a musical style... she makes these musical influences her own. i think when you hear a song, you first hear the sample and then recognize the artist who is using it. that was not the case for me here. i heard m.i.a. first and then recognized the influence second. m.i.a. has her own voice and you hear it loud and clear.

xoxoxoxoxo to m.i.a. for this awesome awesome album. i love it.