After a summer spent suffocated by the heat and boredom of texas, I've decided that to pass the rest of the summer (and free time in the upcoming school year) away, I will start a music blog. Many of my friends are constantly asking me for new artists and my ass is tired of burning mix cds. So . . . . It is now my time to embark upon a journey . . . into the music blogosphere.
My first few posts will be dedicated to the summer 'essentials'. The albums that have made me cream my pants over and over again this summer (and i'm a fan of leaks, so you'll have to excuse my reviews of albums that have yet to be officially released)
first contender: M.I.A. - Kala
This album is bloody brilliant. Aside from the fact that M.I.A. is fabulous solely based on personality and the ridiculously colorful aesthetic she has created, this album brings it harder and and with more depth than her breakout, Galang. A few of my faves:
Hit That - Hottest.Song.Ever. Listen to this shit before you go out and you will be all over the next person that gives your lustful stare. Although its not on the album, it should have been. I've heard it wasn't included because of negative responses (god forbid she be politically in your face and in control of her sexuality).
The Turn - This track plays to me, surprisingly, like some of the hip-hop coming out of Houston in the late 90s/early00s. Fabulous
$20 - The slow synth and electro beats of this song fit in well with M.I.A.'s crooning. With lyrics like "like do you know the cost of AKs up in Africa?/$20 ain't shit to you, but that's how much they are" her lyrical skills are, yet again, placed in the context of a strong political message. The production reminds me of Heartbeats by the knife, with a more of a hip-hop influence in the beat itself (I was thinking Missy Elliot-esque, who M.I.A. has collaborated with before). The song is also danceable (for those of us who remember the art of the slow jam dance). Her lyrics even at a sense of bitter humor in them at certain points during the songs "is girls, diamonds helpin' ya?/Don't you like my bandana?/My stains hang low on my shirt like aye aye aye." This song highlights two of the reasons why I love this album so much - the fact that the music and production are amazing and the politically charged lyrics easy to pallet without feeling a part of you die inside (Kanye West also has an ability to do this well . . . Nas' I think i can is an example of when the message can go horribly wrong when watered down with sappy production and cheesy lyrics)
Paper Planes -
A. This song is about her fabricating visas . . . badass in itself
B. The chorus has gunshot and cashregister soundclips, and they actually go with the beat
C. Diplo produced it, and he clearly puts out his best for the girl who has him on a leash . . . Bitch is fuckin' fly
D. The opening lines (we'll see if you get the reference)
" I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait"
Hussel (feat. Afrikan Boy) - this track initially threw me off. The chorus with its monotone synths seemed boring, underproduced, and frankly annoying . But once Afrikan Boy joined M.I.A. with his line "you think its tough . . .come to africa" you realize that the abrasive nature of the track fits in with its central critique of the affects of capitalism. The track is a powerful and in-your-face confrontation with the music (or at least percussion numbers) of a section of the third world with Afrikan Boy taking the song to the next level. I usually find that politically charged songs (especially those in referece to the effects of capitalism in the third world - Africa, sections of the middle east, southeaster asia, etc.) of this nature tend to immediately loose their impact because of the sheer sappy nature of their aesthetic. Usually delivered by a played out musician with no career who has decided to suddenly dedicate their life to cause in lieu of an actual career (because no one seems to care about them *coughbonocough* *coughprincecough*). The brilliance and energy of this song comes from the energy and instantly credible nature of the artists themselves.
(i shall complete this post after my friends leave)
M.I.A. - Bird Flu
M.I.A. - $20Labels: Essentials, Kala, M.I.A.
