| | M I A Kala CD M I A Discography of CDs
(8 Customer Reviews)
Even before M.I.A. (Maya Arulpragasam) debuted in 2005 with ARULAR, the blogosphere was already abuzz about her, engaging in the kind of discourse normally reserved for academic dissertations. Whether hailed as a canny postmodern pastiche or dismissed as inauthentic cultural pirating, the music, a lively pan-global mash-up of regional dance music styles, seemed to be emanating simultaneously from every ghetto, favela, and council-flat within earshot. As if to call out her detractors, M.I.A. returns for another shot of explosive, politically charged and globally conscious dance music on her second album, KALA.
Lacking the patchwork quality of the debut, KALA is a more cohesive and polished affair, though it matches its predecessor for shear visceral thrills. Recorded across several different continents, and featuring the production talents of Timbaland, Switch, and Blaqstarr, as well as longstanding collaborator Diplo, the globetrotting beat makers mine sources as varied as funk carioca, Baltimore bounce, and the occasional ludicrously placed sound-effect (a squawking chicken). The gloriously bombastic lead single, "Boyz," kicks off the party with a blaring horn loop, carnival percussion, and a stuttering Bollywood vocal sample, while M.I.A. merrily chants the chorus in her sing-song faux patois. The twittering, beat-heavy "Bird Flu" sounds a bit like what you might expect--jagged beats create syncopated poly-rhythms, while birds chirp feverishly against Arulpragasam's bratty invective. But the irreverent cultural re-appropriation doesn't stop at her borrowing from the third world; clever nods to the Clash, New Order, and even Jonathan Richman appear in unexpected and cheeky combinations, offering further proof that M.I.A.'s potent cross-cultural grab bag is as sonically audacious as ever.
The album was first an idea that Producer and saxophonist had to produce a Holiday CD for his mom, Christine Davis. Then there were a couple of songs that was going to feature his remarkable niece and "Label Artist", Chynna. Then there were more ideas of duets with family members. 5 out of 6 of Christine and Bobby's children are featured on the CD. There are 5 out of 6 grandchildren also featured on the recording. The songs chosen and performed are a beautiful match and perfect ingredient to a wonderful Holiday delight! The producer, David Davis (Christine's 4th production) has traveled internationally and have recorded for over 10 years professionally. He has 8 solo Cd's under his belt already. Christine Davis is a Co Pastor, Songwriter and author that has been ministering in churches and in music for over 40 years. "My mom was my first musical influence and idol. I used to watch her play the piano and organ at the house in awe. The sound that was coming from the instrument and her voice made me feel soooo good. I never wanted it to stop". I found out later after being a musician that she named me after an organist and prayed over her belly when pregnant with me to ask God to make me a musician. It freaked me out at first when she told me, but after while it helped me realize why I loved and understood music and sounds so much. All of the Davis' are talented and gifted. There is a special power and presence that a person feels when they are in the same room together, much less on a recorded piece of history making music.
Audio Mixers: Switch; Mark "Spike" Stent.
Photographers: M.I.A. ; Liz Johnson Artur; Michael Kamber; Janette Beckman.
Personnel: DJ Ability (scratches); The Wilcannia Mob.
Additional personnel: Afrikan Boy, Timbaland.
Rolling Stone (p.65) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "It's heavier, noisier, more jagged....KALA strikes deep....A riot of human, musical and mechanical sounds bubbles underneath these tracks." Rolling Stone (p.107) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Top Albums of the Year 2007" -- "M.I.A.'s second album was an international block party with a sonic imagination nobody could match all year." Spin (p.127) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "M.I.A.'s border-crossing dance pop is a revolutionary manifesto set the victory party vibe of the future." Entertainment Weekly (p.133) - "KALA is propelled by genuinely stellar moments: the manic thrall of 'Jimmy,' the ferocious gunshot-chorused 'Paper Planes.'" -- Grade: B Uncut (p.87) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] head-spinning equatorial dash....She twangs the boundaries of taste both lyrically and musically. But a knockout's a knockout..." The Wire (p.57) - "She has kept her globetrotting spirit intact in later years -- for Kala she's harvested inspiration and sounds from streets on every continent." The Wire (p.37) - Ranked #8 in The Wire's "Top Ten Records of the Year 2007" -- "[The] album saw her in transcontinental globetrotting mode in search of the tribal beats, engine sounds and local pop samples mishmashed into KALA." Q (Magazine) (p.76) - Ranked #34 in Q's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2007" -- "[H]ip hop by way of Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent..." Purchase Kala CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Arcade Fire Funeral CD (2004)
Kala album
$12.05 This Montreal ensemble's fiery debut is marked by surging guitars, soulful strings, driving drums, brilliant bass lines, and the quavering vocals of married couple Win Butler and Regine Chassagne. The ...
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Kala CD music
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Kala music CDs
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Kala songs
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| | Special Ed Are You Ok? CD (2005)
Kala music CDs
$16.45 InstrumentationEd Roman Bass/ VoxMike Freedman Guitar/VoxDave Patel DrumsBiographySpecial Ed & the Musically Challenged is a dynamic and eclectic group out of Toronto, Canada. Combining musical styles ranging from rock and jazz to funk and folk, Special Ed makes it all come together in an organic fun and jammy atmosphere. The word "musical" best describes this band-they are as capable of loud and raucous as they are of soft and macabre or lilting and melodic, depending on the mood called for in the moment. The band is comprised of Ed Roman on bass and lead vocals, Dave Patel on drums, and Mike Freedman on guitars and vocals. Though the group formed in the late 90's, the three musicians have been close friends since their early high school and college days. In the years that have transpired since, they have amassed a wealth of life and musical experience, which is evident in the depth and originality of the music. Since the band's formation, Special Ed & The Musically Challenged has recorded two full-length discs. The first self-titled disc combined Ed's basement tapes with some band performances lending to a very organic feel, reminiscent of the values of the band's members. Their second release, Are You Okay, received considerable airplay on CBC radio and positive press reviews, as the song State Of The World became a favourite among local and regional college radio stations. Each of the songs features Ed's very distinct lyrical and musical style fused with Dave's strong backbeat and Mike's dynamic and textural guitar sounds. The messages within the songs are relevant and powerful and speak to current and personal issues and the members' true desire to make an impact on peoples lives and the world, through their musicSpecial Ed & The Musically Challenged has been active, playing gigs in the Southern Ontario area, and has become well known for their live and energetic performances. The trio transition between styles and moods with ease capitalizing on their strong creative energy and keep the music and live performances engaging and captivating with the use of odd off-time jams and improvisational prowess.In ...
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Kala songs
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