Running through all the albums again, I've noticed that Arular is even more bizarre than I remembered, Kala is quite safe for an M.I.A album, and MAYA is great at the start and at the end but falls apart towards the middle and takes awhile to recover. Oh, and the fourth album has a lot of potential.
I feel like I definitely graded too harshly, because those are lower averages than her discography deserves. They do accurately reflect my opinion of the albums, though. MAYA > Kala > Arular. She seems to improve with each album, so let's hope that the 4th continues that trend. I could use something even better than the magnum opus that is MAYA.
There's still a tie or 2 too many, so I will continue to accept late rates. Stay swaggin'.
I will probably start this around 9 pm Eastern Time tomorrow. It takes about 5 seconds to put people's rates into my bomb-ass spreadsheet so feel free to send up right until the very end.
Overall I'm pleased with what y'all did so far, though there are some atrocities.
I mean, this bitches lowest rated track is a six, and it’s a mother****ing skit.
But on the negative note, this skit just isn’t very good. It’s my least favorite of the 4 from Arular.
WaiT Jameson, you say, 4? There’s only 3!
Well, allow me to escort you to a special section of my rate:
Fun fact: On the XL recordings US version of the album (most have the XL UK/Interscope US version), this track is not present, instead replaced by a skit called “Freedom,” which I personally like quite a bit. I’d give it a solid 8. How about you guys?
#42 – 6.0625/10 – ONE FOR THE HEAD SKIT – Arular – Skit Highest Score: 8 (Collin, Fozzie, Navin)
Lowest Score: 4 (ClassicMainstream, KoreanDream, Jameson Teqkilla)
Not much to say about this one. I think it should’ve gotten the vote for weakest one honestly.
Fun Fact: On Diplo and M.I.A.’s “Piracy Funds Terrorism” mixtape, this beat is mashed up with Missy Eliott’s Pass That Dutch. It’s pretty cute.
Yeah, I’d just about agree this is the best skit. There’s something kind of charming about the Ba-Na-Na Madonna chanting going on this skit, it’s a nice way to open up the album and make you go “Wait, what?” It gets your attention and that’s the best an intro can ask for.
Fun Fact: This is the lowest rating song to scare a 10, and the only skit to receive one.
#40: 6.71875 – THE MESSAGE - /\/\/\Y/\ - Skit Highest Score: 9 ( Jameson Teqkilla)
Lowest Score: 5 ( I spit on haters, Clump, Husky)
Welp. I guess it’s time to talk about MAYA kiddies. Gather round and listen to this M.I.A. stan discuss it for a minute. MAYA could have been excellent, it really could have. The concept of an electro-punk record centered around internet culture is actually pretty super badass. I felt compelled to give this skit/intro a 9 because it really does set the album up for this (and in fact, I’d say the album keeps this tone and momentum all the way up through Story To Be Told). It’s funny that she was ridiculed for being too political about the internet, when in 2012 the internet is a political battleground, no? It’s a bummer the album turned out the way it did, because there’s some amazing statement pieces and this is one of them. Great combo of dance and political, just like she’s always served. It's literally the digital equivalent to the BANANA skit.
In summary: I understand why you rated this the way you did, but y’all did it wrong.
Fun Fact: This is the last skit to be eliminated, giving Skits an overall average total of 6.2578125.
Up next, a deluxe track from /\/\/\Y/\ bites the dust as the WORST full-length song in the rate, followed by an album track that SHOULD have been the worst.. But which tracks?
Wait, what? What the hell did this song do to you guys? Like, it’s not great at all, but the worst non-skit she’s ever recorded? No ****ing way. I just didn’t expect this song at all, it’s never offended me that much. But perhaps that’s what it is no? This song is rather forgettable, so literally everyone rated it between a 6 and an 8. Almost every other song from this point on has at least a few people pulling a few 9s or 10s for it. I guess the biggest crime an M.I.A. song can have for us is dare to not be divisive.
Fun Fact: The male vocals on this song come from the producer, Blaqstar.
#38 – 7 – It Iz What It Iz - /\/\/\Y/\ - Album Track Top Score: 9 (Dephira)
Lowest Score: 2 (Jameson Teqkilla)
This should have been last. Below the skits.
Fun Fact: This song blows.
The next two tracks are tied, so I gave the one that received a 10 higher placement.
I only agree with you guys rating ONE of them so low though.
Is this the punishment I get for encouraging a new member to participate? This has always been
one of those songs off of MAYA that I felt actually managed to work on the album. It’s a pretty clever rap track too, it’s actually about a Muslim woman extremeist. “I really love Allah-I really love Allah-“ Plus, the beat just POUNDS. I can pop back and forth to this song all day. But I fight the ones that fight me…
When she performs this song live, she puts a 4-to-the-floor house kick drum behind it and it actually might be a bit better than the studio production, I must admit. It’s very hypnotic stuff.
Fun Fact: M.I.A. is the sole writer and producer on this song. When will your faves?
#36 – 7.0625 – IT TAKES A MUSCLE - /\/\/\Y/\ - Album Track
Top Score: 10 (Shape)
Lowest Score: 4 (Jameson Teqkilla)
Kiiii I hope Shape doesn’t get too mad at me. But yeah, this track is just a bit no for me. Should’ve been down at the bottom with It Iz What It Iz, maybe ranked above the skits (but not The Message). It doesn’t work, and it doesn’t make sense on the album. Honestly, this track followed by It Iz What It Iz is what completely ****ed over this album. In two tracks it manages to steamroll all the energy built up in the first 6 tracks (not to say that there aren’t a few further missteps after this track…)
Fun Fact: This is one of the songs from MAYA that was allegedly released as a “single.” I am counting it as an album track because there were like 8 singles released and only 2 of them received proper treatment and promotion (XXXO and Born Free).
One last to be cut from MAYA tonight...but what will it be?