Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Arular - M.I.A.
Arular Image
Metascore
88 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 203 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: This short but wildly eclectic debut album from Maya Arulpragasam, a Sri Lankan-born, London-based artist and daughter of a Tamil Tiger revolutionary, is preceded by enormous buzz in both the U.K. and the U.S.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Stylus Magazine
    100
    It's a swaggering, spitting, utterly contemporary album of politically dissident, sexually forthright Anglo-Sri Lankan dubstep bhangra hip-pop IDM in which M.I.A. stars as protagonist, antagonist, chanteuse, MC, exotic schoolgirl tease, graphic artist, chastiser of the immoral, and fun-loving London-living party girl. And all in under 40 minutes, too. It's special. We've not heard it's like before.
  2. Spin
    100
    Will likely be the best political album this year. [Mar 2005, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Q Magazine
    60
    M.I.A.'s style mag-cool pop-rap doesn't have the substance to carry the dark subtext of the title. [May 2005, p.107]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 108 out of 137
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 137
  3. Negative: 24 out of 137
  1. JM
    10
    One of the essential albums of the year...
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. ElkDog
    5
    Wow, this cd was so annoying. It has a lot of forgettable cheap sounding drum beats with this chick going lalala bakka bakka wicka pricka lacka lacka. I have no idea what the hell she's saying. Very annoying. I can't believe the rating it has on this site.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Anonymous
    0
    Can anyone even understand what she is saying? I am shocked to see that so many people like this kind of music. And I use the term music lightly, because to me this is just random noises thrown together. If anyone listens to Dane Cook, then they will understand when I say that this is the kind of noise that makes you want to punch a baby.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

See all 137 User Reviews

Recommended Products

  1. Kala - M.I.A.

    • Release Date: Aug 21, 2007
    Kala Image

  2. Vicki Leekx - M.I.A.

    • Release Date: Dec 31, 2010
    Vicki Leekx Image

  3. MAYA - M.I.A.

    • Release Date: Jul 13, 2010
    MAYA Image

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. Tago Mago [40th Anniversary Edition] - Can
    Metascore: 99
  2. Live in Europe 1967: Best of the Bootleg, Vol. 1 - Miles Davis
    Metascore: 99
  3. Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 96
  4. The SMiLE Sessions - The Beach Boys
    Metascore: 96
  5. National Treasures: The Complete Singles - Manic Street Preachers
    Metascore: 95
  6. Achtung Baby [Super Deluxe] - U2
    Metascore: 93
  7. Some Girls [Deluxe Edition] - The Rolling Stones
    Metascore: 93
  8. Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down - Ry Cooder
    Metascore: 92
  9. Unto the Locust - Machine Head
    Metascore: 91
  10. Quadrophenia [The Director's Cut] - The Who
    Metascore: 90
  11. Rio [Live] - Keith Jarrett
    Metascore: 90
  12. Bitch Magnet - Bitch Magnet
    Metascore: 90
  13. What Were You Hoping For? - Van Hunt
    Metascore: 90
  14. Charity Starts at Home - Phonte
    Metascore: 89
  15. Nevermind [20th Anniversary Edition] - Nirvana
    Metascore: 89
  16. Journey of the Deep Sea Dweller, Vol. 1 - Drexciya
    Metascore: 88
  17. Bad as Me - Tom Waits
    Metascore: 88
  18. The Singles - Goldfrapp
    Metascore: 88
  19. Undun - The Roots
    Metascore: 88
  20. The Wonder Years - 9th Wonder
    Metascore: 87
All Current Music »