MAYA
by M.I.A.
  • Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: Jul 13, 2010
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 120 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 108 out of 120
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 120
  3. Negative: 5 out of 120
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. WhiteCannon
    Sep 28, 2010
    2
    This album is full of unbelievably boring, stale harmonies and meaningless, vague, droned lyrics devoid of human emotion. I'm astonished that something so poor could come from someone so talented as MIA. Alas, while performing at the Oya festival, she "threatened (according to Pitchfork)" that she would do XXXO, but for the fact that she would have to lip-synch it like a real pop song.This album is full of unbelievably boring, stale harmonies and meaningless, vague, droned lyrics devoid of human emotion. I'm astonished that something so poor could come from someone so talented as MIA. Alas, while performing at the Oya festival, she "threatened (according to Pitchfork)" that she would do XXXO, but for the fact that she would have to lip-synch it like a real pop song. Upon reading this, everything made sense to me: this is an album people are meant to hate. Congratulations, Maya, you have succeeded.… Expand
  2. All_ButTrU4
    Sep 12, 2022
    3
    M.I.A new electronic industrial sound isn't far removed from the breakout fusion of world music and hip hop. But here it's directionless ,the intentions that fortified her previous releases was it's political force,it barbed the edges of songs like 20 dollar or paper planes but on MAYA she's less focused. Instead shes paranoid and ridiculous such as the opening "the message" whichM.I.A new electronic industrial sound isn't far removed from the breakout fusion of world music and hip hop. But here it's directionless ,the intentions that fortified her previous releases was it's political force,it barbed the edges of songs like 20 dollar or paper planes but on MAYA she's less focused. Instead shes paranoid and ridiculous such as the opening "the message" which disappoints not only through it's nursery rhyme interpolation but it's so called message. Or "story to be told" catholicism critique that doesn't say anything interesting let alone sound so. The aforementioned missfires are many but the few successes are still worth hearing such as the destructive industrial rage of "Meds and Feds". The lyrics are still empty stating the obvious as something revolutionary but like on most songs here it can still sound well made and abrasive. I think M.I.A conspiracy obsessed ideologies have warped the creation of what could've been an exciting statement on rejection of elected powers and institutions.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Most Discussed Album of 2010
32
#32 Most Shared Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 41
  3. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Jan 5, 2011
    100
    Just play it a few more times than the fools who clocked dollars for the job and you'll get your money's worth. And I do mean on all 16 new songs‑-three of the four bonus tracks are upper 50th percentile for sure.
    Read full review
  2. Austin Chronicle
    40
    She's certainly eyeing global pop domination. Therein lies Maya's conflict.
    Read full review
  3. cokemachineglow
    70
    This is exactly the subjective realm that MAYA taps into: it puts its listeners in a position where opinions are formed in large part by predetermined prejudices. Of course, this is true for most music in general, but what makes MAYA tacitly brilliant is that it forces us to engage with those prejudices in a way that pop music typically does not.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »