M.I.A. - Arular
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Free Music Notes for Arular
Free Music Review: You had me at hello
Hit: 5 Stars
I knew within the first thirty seconds of the first track of this CD that I was going to love it. It was sort of the music-listening equivalent to "you had me at hello". The energy of this CD is so fresh and so intoxicating that it made me feel like I just drank a Red Bull.
M.I.A. is an artist who is difficult to classify, which means that she is a true original. Her music has the bravado of hip-hop, the experimental quality of electronica, the multi-cultural vibe of world music. Yet it doesn't come across as pretentious or forced at all. She's just taking what she needs to turn herself on. And the listener (me) is turned on in return. Isn't that what music is all about?
Free Music Review: no
Hit: 1 Stars
just no. not even close to being listenable. its as annoying as listening to japanese anime before its been dubbed.Free Music Review: Fresh & Innovative Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Far from the commercial drivel hip-hop has become, M.I.A has become the saviour, "Arular" is so far removed from Top 40 hits that it grows to become somewhat of a revelation. This is by far one of the most amazing debuts in recent years. A mixture of house, electronica, hip-hop and grime "Arular" is as fresh as it is innovative.
Littered with illicit instrumentation and mesmerising rhymes, this catapults M.I.A into the hip-hop stratosphere created by the likes of Run DMC and Public Enemy. Many of the songs are simply too unique to be radio friendly but songs like "Galang" and "Sunshowers" have a certain catchiness that is unmistakeable. "Arular" puts some colour into the bland landscape of British music. The tracks here are like soundscapes, very evocative and emotive.
From the Ibiza rave of "Hombre", industrial sass of "Galang" to the freakishly realistic jungle imagery of "Amazon". This just has to be heard to be believed. Everything about this album defies belief.
Never since Hole's "Live Through This" have I been so blown away by an album. Usually with an album I have some idea of how it will please me, there is a degree of certainty, however with "Arular" I was awestruck. Quite simply the best hip-hop album in history.
Free Music Review: whole cd
Hit: 3 Stars
the cd only has a few selections that are good. if you really want to hear it borrow itFree Music Review: Political messages a turn-off, but the beats are so amazing it's excusable.
Hit: 4 Stars
I'm a libertarian, which is basically about as far away politically from M.I.A's political opinions as one can get; however, I found myself thoroughly enjoying many songs on "Arular," including the socialist "Pull Up the People." I embrace most types of music, but am especially a fan of electronica, so I was quite pleased to see this masterful use of electronica in hip-hop.
Her political lyrics sometimes become nonsensical -- not in the sense that I disagree with them (I do), but in the sense that they aren't very coherent. But that's not why I listen to "Arular." Because her lyrics aren't anything masterful and her accent covers up the mediocrity involved there, I can pay better attention to the beats and M.I.A's voice, which almost operates as an instrument.
This album is filled with absolutely amazing electronic beats. The best songs on here are definitely "Bucky Done Gun," "Pull Up the People" and "Galang." The Amazon reviewer 'hit the nail on the head' when he noted that there was repetitiveness to this disc, though: "Fire Fire" could be easily mistaken for "Galang" at its opening!
Must-have for electronica fans who like some hip-hop, but, as others have noted, this is *not* for people who don't enjoy eclectic, experimental music.