M.I.A -/\/\ /\ Y /\ (Maya)
Metacritic: 68/100
RateYourMusic: 3.00/5
Okay, let me start off by saying that M.I.A’s third album is very clearly her worst. That isn’t to say that it’s a bad album, her previous albums (Arular and Kala) were both fantastically enjoyable, but this album is a bit of a let down. The infectious, chirpy hooks of her previous albums have been replaced by driving guitar distortion and ear-piercing mechanical noises. The album as a whole seems soulless, shallow, and intentionally grating at points, especially on Meds & Feds. If you pick up this album expecting anything close to Paper Planes or Galang, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
However, this album would have made a fantastic EP. Born Free is a standout track, M.I.A. mixes fuzzy, distorted beats with her signature vocal style to create an unforgettable track. But, unfortunately, most of the album really feels like filler. Space is boring and unremarkable, Steppin’ Up is plagued by what seems like a pretty lazy hook (A-rub-a-dub dub dub, rub-a-dub dub…), and Meds & Feds is grating and unremarkable.
The album seems very confused, and never really finds a definite tone or identity. The distorted, scrambled Steppin Up runs right into the radio-friendly XXXO. M.I.A’s lyrics are also extremely shallow, much like her knowledge of the current conflict in Sri Lanka. She seems to hint at a deep political meaning, but never really elaborates. It seems like she’s just vocalizing general, anti-establishment platitudes in an attempt to seem deep, without having to say anything at all. The beats, however, are superb, Blaqstarr really did a great job on this record.
Overall, this album has a few great tracks, but they’re buried under all the filler. Hopefully this album was just an experiment, and not M.I.A. being crushed by the pressures of fame.
My Rating: 65% D
