Kala
by M.I.A.
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 37
  3. Negative: 1 out of 37
  1. Vibe
    30
    The majority of Kala is limp and unfocused. [Sep 2007, p.133]
    All this publication's reviews

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best Album of 2007
20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2007
3
#3 Most Shared Album of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 325 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 288 out of 325
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 325
  3. Negative: 23 out of 325
  1. LuizCC
    Oct 2, 2011
    10
    Epical! It's just the adjective I can use to explain the mixing of references and beats that one of the most reminding singer ever done. MayaEpical! It's just the adjective I can use to explain the mixing of references and beats that one of the most reminding singer ever done. Maya Aralprugasam a.k.a. M.I.A. returned after her acclaimed start "Arular" with more power (like she herself says in "Bamboo Banga", one the greatest songs of this album). When the urban culture got down with the African beat, it turned into a CD that contains pearls like "Paper Planes", "XR2", "Jimmy" e "World Town". The great difference for the first CD is that this one bring the power of the streets, and not just the powerbeat from Africa. This mixing is the special thing, the X-Factor, that makes this, one the shinny albums ever.… Full Review »
  2. DizzY.
    Aug 27, 2007
    9
    Vibe listen carefully, open your mind. MIA is great.
  3. All_ButTrU4
    Feb 26, 2022
    8
    8.8/10
    M.I.A emerged with a fully formed original kaleidoscopic sounds but on her follow up she ups the ante. Named afrer her mother    8.8/10
    M.I.A emerged with a fully formed original kaleidoscopic sounds but on her follow up she ups the ante. Named afrer her mother fittingly as it explores the challenge of trauma and assimilation for refugees. It's a difficult yet accessible record that sounds like the result of hip hop coming in contact with diffrent cultures and genres. To attach a genre to this would be reductive as it doesn't confine itself to one. Going from the dizzying opener "bamboo banger" that reverberates with a fierce swagger to the Tamil inspired "bird flu" & "jimmy" which include samples and urumee drum. When it searches deeper into her cultural background the records heart is unearthed. The deceptively jovial "boyz" is a weary remuneration of the demands placed on her as a woman for:having to prive herself to men despite her talent It's hard to convey just how fresh this sound was and still is. It erupted with purpose and ego not caring if you listened leaving a blue print for much of modern day experimental artists such as Deathgrips,tune-yards or Jpegmafia.

    A fascinating layer to this record strength is it's searing indictments such as on the breathtaking industrial "20dollars" which critiques the ignorance of the 1st world of the consequence of capitalism. Its moments like this and "paper plane" that cement this record as a must hear protest record . Even years later a record hasn't achieved what M.I.A did on her two parent records.    … Full Review »
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