Don’t Believe the Hype ‘05: MIA’s Arular
Tracklist:
- Banana Skit
- Pull Up The People
- Bucky Done Gun
- Fire Fire
- Freedom Skit
- Amazon
- Bingo
- Hombre
- One For The Head Skit
- 10 $
- Sunshowers
- Galang
Listen, I hate ignorant, misogynist thug rap as much as anyone. I would be thrilled if there were an alternative, a hip-hop movement based on equality, global thinking, and a social conscience (please no backpacker e-mails – I’m talking about a non-boring alternative).
That being said, MIA’s Arular is a tedious exercise in gibberish rapping and repetitive casiotone beats that would make Mike Skinner cringe. Also, there are nursery rhymes involved. It’s possible that I’m the only person in the world who has ever listened to this album all the way through in one sitting. There’s really no other explanation for the fawning reception it got all over the blogs in ’05.
Now, I understand that, in post-everything America, it’s impossible to talk about Arular as simply a hip-hop record with world-beat tendencies. No, it has to be something more. It has to be a paradigm shift. Genres must be defied, and we all have to fawn over how brave MIA has to be for being Sri Lankan and female and making a record in such a macho-man genre.
The problem, of course, is that simply not being the same old crap doesn’t automatically make this album any good. The mere fact that she’s not shaking that laffy taffy doesn’t automatically make her a revolutionary. I applaud ambition, but it comes with risks. Spinal Tap’s “Jazz Odyssey” was ambitious. So is this. Neither is overly listenable. And sure, I wish more artists possessed well-stated political views, but I think it’s okay to oppose both sweatshops and this record.
Maybe there are a couple good songs on here. I mean, I like the way “Galang” sounds in that car commercial. But this is not a world-conquering album, so please, stop shoving it down my throat. Thank you.
-- Aaron Bergstrom
December 17th, 2005 at 4:46 pm e
This album isn’t for everyone…......you either love it or you really hate it. Personally I love it, and I can say that for everyone else in the same category that we actually enjoy it musically without giving it the thumbs up simply because she’s Sri Lankan or has a heavy political focus. Easily the most divisive album of the year, and I think people would’ve enjoyed it more if they hadn’t seen all of the building praise (about a year’s worth) before they heard it.
December 20th, 2005 at 12:53 am e
I agree with Rowdy… divisive, and has a lot of merit outside of politics and hype.
I liked the album before the hype (was handed an early copy) so I wasn’t forced to have the hype-machine knee-jerk reaction (like I did with the disappointing Kasabian album… that would’ve been a much better choice for a ‘Don’t Believe the Hype’ piece.) It sounded (and still sounds) like innocence in a minefield, jump-rope rhymes in a war, which was (still is) exhilerating. “Pull up the People,” “Hombre,” “Sunshowers,” “Fire, Fire,” and “10 Dollar” are all exemplary tracks, equal to “Galang” and I can only really find fault with the ‘skits,’ which feel pointless.
Thank goodness there are albums like this every once in awhile that get both shitcanned and fawned over, otherwise where would the fun of discussing it be? I suppose we can throw the equally divisive Frances the Mute from Mars Volta into this category for ‘05.
April 22nd, 2006 at 6:08 pm e
I just don’t agree with the statement, “genres must be defied”. Music or any artform, for that matter, succeeds without limitations. M.I.A. doesn’t fit any particular category. Get used to it. Hip Hop is now over thirty-five years old. The current generation of musicians worldwide have been influenced by hip hop music, fashion and attitude. The “Arular” album is no doubt what Gwen Stephani’s “L.A.M.B.” aspired to be. It triumphed without the multi-million dollar production. M.I.A. is edgy, revolutionary (literally – read bio about Sri Lankan history), and sweet at the same time.
March 19th, 2007 at 3:29 am e
Aaron Bergstrom YOU DONT KNOW GOOD MUSIC WHEN YOU HEAR IT, A WET FART OUT OF YOUR ASS SOUNDS LIKE MUSIC TO YOU, PLS FIND ANOTHER JOB
!
June 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am e
This is everything a review should be. I agree with Aaron Bergstrom. And I didn’t even have to use all caps like a internet/telephone tough guy.