Release Date: 2007
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

Impressions: Intriguing hip-hop British/Indian multicultural mash up. Opening songs like “Bamboo Banga” are fragmented, percussive, cool but can get a bit numbing, “Jimmy”opens up into a disco cover. “Hussel” sounds of 2007 with big throwback keyboards and tribal drums, yet still unique. Sometime M.I.A.’s rapping veers dangerously close toward Debbie Harry “Rapture” style, but generally she gets by pretty good and sometimes sounds like a Brit-accented Missy Elliott. Trippy, ever-shifting kitchen sink production soups up the whole album and keeps it from getting boring. Borrows liberally from everywhere. Bollywood musicals, modern hip-hop, rock, whatever…”20 Dollar” quotes the chorus from Pixies “Where Is My Mind.” “World Town” is a poppy bumping beat. Love the anything goes aesthetic, aggressive and go for broke. Not for everyone, (might not even be for me) but I’m kinda enjoying the visit. “Paper Planes” had me with the Clash sample but it’s the track where M.I.A.’s whole deal comes together. A modern classic. Ends with a Timbaland track.

Starred Songs: “Paper Planes,” “World Town”
Sneaky Track: “Jimmy”
Should this album be on the list? I don’t see this lasting the test of time, but I’ll leave it on for now
Will you listen to this again? Strip for parts, more than likely
Verdict: Fun, collage-like mix of British, Indian, American musical influences that is all-over-the place, probably will age rapidly, but not too bad for a spell.
Stand out Lyric: “I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name” — “Paper Planes”

Rating:  ★★★1/2