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M.I.A.'s ARULAR marks the arrival of an explosive new voice in popular music. The brainchild of Sri Lankan MC Maya Arulpragasam, the music of M.I.A. ("Missing in Action") reflects her harried, transient upbringing. The daughter of a revolutionary member of the controversial Tamil Tigers, Arulpragasam settled in London as a teenager, where she went on to study fine art and film at the Central Saint Martin's School of Art. After being hired by Justin Frischmann to document an Elastica tour, Frischmann inspired Arulpragasam to write songs of her very own.
The result is a dizzying assault to the senses, a sound that incorporates so many different styles it seems almost incomprehensible. Fortunately, it sounds incredible. Equal parts grime, electronica, hip-hop, dancehall, and straight-up club music, ARULAR demands listeners find the nearest dance floor and get down to it. But making ferociously danceable music isn't Arulpragasam's only goal. Spouting politically charged lyrics in an aggressive chanting style, M.I.A. reminds her audience that while music might provide a temporary escape, it can't erase the senseless violence that continues to plague the world. Powerful and gleefully audacious, ARULAR is world music at its most electrifying.Rolling Stone (No. 968, p.70) - 4 stars out of 5 - "You've never heard anything like M.I.A. - the sound of jump-rope rhymes in a war zone....[ARULAR is] weird, playful, unclassifiable, sexy, brilliantly addictive..."
Spin (p.65) - Ranked #2 in Spin's "40 Best Albums Of 2005" - "[I]mprovised, explosive, and for once, redemptive."
Spin (p.88) - "ARULAR will likely be the best political album this year." - Grade: A
Entertainment Weekly (p.143) - Ranked #8 in Entertainment Weekly's 'Top Ten Records of the Year' -- "ARULAR is the place where dance music, hip-hop, techno, novelties, and a slinky British accent meet and have a wicked good time."
Entertainment Weekly (No. 815, p.85) - "[A]s instantly infectious as it is hard to pin down. The music is literally all over the map..." - Grade: A-
Uncut (p.98) - 4 stars out of 5 - "A spiky starburst of raw beats and exotic collisions, ARULAR already sounds like a landmark debut album."
The Wire (p.43) - Included in The Wire's "2005 Rewind: 50 Records Of The Year."
The Wire (p.63) - "It's chockfull of machine gun beats, seismic sub-bass, fragments of raga and bhangra, and above all that voice."
Vibe (p.142) - "[T]he dynamo from London showcases her talent for the spoken word..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.60) - Ranked #29 in Mojo's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2005" - "[H]ell-bent on fingerpopping agit-prop like Public Enemy messing with the B-52s."
Clash (magazine) (p.75) - "[A] thumping mix of different sub-genres from reggaeton and baile funk to grime and dirty south rap, full of exoticism, raw political energy and crunching, syncopated beats."
M I A Maya Arulpragasam - Arular Songs
Arular Music Review
Average Rating: (3.9 out of 5 stars)    List All 32 Reviews Can I give it zero stars?
Bought this disc on favourable reviews in the music press. What an error of judgment!! This is COMPLETE dross and best avoided at all costs. Not sure in all my CD-buying years to have acquired such a turkey. Avoid. Avoid.
Submitted by brian (Dublin, Ireland) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
 Best album of 2005 so far!
I'm seeing her in concert this summer! That's how awesome she is!
Great Electro beats, with Indian and Reggae influences. Wow! I love how bold she is. This is a great "Political Party" cd! Pun intended!
Submitted by Asha G. (New York)
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Seriously BAAD ****
I have really never heard anything quite like this. The musical sensibility is so vivid and potent that I could hardly turn the CD player off. I was first drawn to MIA's own recordings of some of these cuts and must admit that the production sheen on the full album isn't always to my liking. I'm most fond of the jarring beats and discordant blurts of sound on, for example, "Bucky Done Gun." The more nearly original tracks like "Galang" and "Pull up The People" also cut me harder. Nonetheless, this is such infectious and almost breathtakingly original performance that I just LOVE listening! I guess the downside would be the content. This is subversive material. I sure don't intend my daughters to develop the cynicism of "10 Dollar" or the misandry of "Hombre." I also hope that youth in this world find more hope and drop fewer bombs than the mutually distrustful citizens of M.I.A.'s world. What a disc, though! Seriously BAAD ****!
Submitted by hanf (Suburban, middle class, Calgary, AB Canada)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Enri B
Love it!!!An incredible album from Sri Lanka...A superbe mix of ragga, dancehall,eastern influences,8o's electro beats and pure crazyness!Highly recommended..
Submitted by enricobenini2003 (Forli', Italy)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  World Music and independent thinking all the way!
Wow! This is so refreshing. Maya raps about things she has experienced in her place of origin, India. The way she raps about it is very empowering. She sounds strong and she speaks the truth about the world in great electronic dance reggae/indie beats.
I love the eclectic mix and i love to dance to this.
If your sick of mainstream and pop culture buy this album!
Submitted by Asha (New York)
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