User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Arular
by
Arular Image
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 326 Ratings

  • 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.

Top Track

Bucky Done Gun
London Quieten down and I need to make a sound New York Quieten down and I need to make a sound Kingston Quieten down and I need to make a... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Spin
    100
    Will likely be the best political album this year. [Mar 2005, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Uncut
    90
    M.I.A.'s vivid debut already sounds like a booty-shaking milestone to rank alongside The Streets and Dizzee Rascal. [May 2005, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. PopMatters
    90
    It's an accessible album, but one containing challenging contrasts. In the end, what's most impressive is how Arulpragasam powerfully weaves a consistent theme of rootlessness throughout the record, drawing on her experiences in both the third world and modern London, from civil war to Western urban culture, and her own, highly unique, bastardized form of pop music is the extraordinary end result.
  4. The Guardian
    80
    Shrapnel-sharp dance music that demands to be heard.
  5. The Wire
    80
    A thrilling affair. [#252, p.63]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. The A.V. Club
    80
    As an MC, M.I.A. sounds brash and sassy, a party-starter first and a polemicist second.
  7. 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: 111 out of 148
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 148
  3. Negative: 24 out of 148
  1. JM
    Jul 7, 2005
    10
    One of the essential albums of the year...
  2. janeDoe
    Aug 8, 2005
    10
    I'd heard some cuts from this album on npr this year and I thought wow.... I've got to get that record. Needless to say I was not I'd heard some cuts from this album on npr this year and I thought wow.... I've got to get that record. Needless to say I was not disappointed. Maya's mix of Bhangra, hip hop, and diy beats makes her one of the years stand out artist. Not only is her sound timeless but her lyrics are as well. She is a woman with something to say and on this record she says it loud and clear.… Expand
  4. TerronM
    Nov 29, 2006
    10
    this is the best album i have ever brought. THE BEST.
  5. RichardR
    Mar 29, 2005
    9
    This record is great. My only complaint is why no more pictures of her! She's way beyond sexy... More than half of the songs are as This record is great. My only complaint is why no more pictures of her! She's way beyond sexy... More than half of the songs are as catchy and creative as can be.… Expand
  6. NADIAG
    Sep 25, 2006
    9
    read a review on her and decided to buy the album.. One of the best albums i have ever heard. If i need to get hyped up or motivated for read a review on her and decided to buy the album.. One of the best albums i have ever heard. If i need to get hyped up or motivated for anything,thats the cd i grab..totally addictive.… Expand
  7. andpola
    Mar 26, 2005
    8
    While the beats are insane, and this girl sure knows how to rock out. I think it's too political for it's own good. The saving While the beats are insane, and this girl sure knows how to rock out. I think it's too political for it's own good. The saving grace about this is the songs are so hot you can listen to one and completly miss the undertones, but still enjoy the album.… Expand
  8. Buck65
    Mar 22, 2005
    0
    This album is not good and overrated. There are so many albums just like this and are for some reason rated differently.

See all 148 User Reviews

Related Articles

  1. Music

    The Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 21st Century

    The Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 21st Century Image
    Published: October 19, 2017
    These are the 30 highest-scoring hip hop albums released since 2000.
    More »

Awards & Rankings

8
#8 Best Album of 2005
19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2005
8
#8 Most Shared Album of 2005

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT - Taylor Swift
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
All Current Music »