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AIM
by
AIM Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 167 Ratings

  • Summary: The fifth full-length studio release for the London artist features contributions from such artists as Blaqstarr, Diplo, and Zayn.
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Top Track

Borders
Freedom, 'I'dom, 'Me'dom Where's your 'We'dom? This world needs a brand new 'Re'dom We'dom - the key We'dom the key'dom to life! Let's be 'dem We'dom... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Pretty Much Amazing
    Sep 14, 2016
    91
    So, bottom line, you’ve got a few pieces of trash, a couple of sketches whose mileage varies on how well you dig their hooks, and plenty of fantastic stuff that ranks with M.I.A.’s best work, and M.I.A.’s best work is fascinating and damned fun.
  2. Q Magazine
    Sep 2, 2016
    80
    Wildly collaborative, pan-globalistically luvvy-duvvy and heaps of fun, it just about hangs together as her best outing since 2007's Kala. [Oct 2016, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. The Quietus
    Oct 10, 2016
    70
    If this is her last record then she hasn’t gone out on her finest note, but that’s certainly not to undermine the album. Maya Arulpragasam’s body of work remains an important reminder of the exciting prospects of cultural exchange and the immigrant experience. Taken in that light, AIM is a fitting addition to her oeuvre.
  4. Rolling Stone
    Sep 8, 2016
    60
    Maya Arulpragasam's radical patter is sounding a bit ho-hum ("Borders: what's up with that?" she wonders on her fifth album). But M.I.A.'s skill as a buoyant beat-rider remains intact (the glassily thumping "Visa" turns border crossing into a party), and there are moments on AIM where the political and personal blur evocatively.
  5. NOW Magazine
    Sep 14, 2016
    60
    Skrillex-produced banger Go Off, Blaqstarr-assisted Bird Song and Visa are solid electro-rap party jams that also reference some of her past hits, while low-key dancehall track Foreign Friend and clubby Fly Pirate are among the handful of cuts that get stuck in filler territory.
  6. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 12, 2016
    60
    If this is her last album (as she has intimated), a true original bows out on a more equable note.
  7. PopMatters
    Sep 13, 2016
    40
    [The] lack of enthusiasm is all too transparent on AIM, and it renders it an absolute failure of a send-off.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22
  1. CharlieGray
    Sep 9, 2016
    10
    This si one of M.IA.'s best efforts, she slays as always, it's really politic and has a powerful meaning, and not only that, you can dance toThis si one of M.IA.'s best efforts, she slays as always, it's really politic and has a powerful meaning, and not only that, you can dance to it! Pretty cool.… Expand
  2. electraheart
    Sep 12, 2016
    10
    APAGEM ESSA NOTA 65 AGORA OU VOCÊS SERÃO TODOS EXPLODIDOS PELA MIANATION, ÁLBUM DO ANO PISA NO LEMONADE QUE TEM CONCEITO INVENTADO E APROVEITOAPAGEM ESSA NOTA 65 AGORA OU VOCÊS SERÃO TODOS EXPLODIDOS PELA MIANATION, ÁLBUM DO ANO PISA NO LEMONADE QUE TEM CONCEITO INVENTADO E APROVEITO ESSA REVIEW PRA PEDIREM A VOCÊS PARÁ COMPRAREM O FROOT NO ITUNES BOM É ISSO… Expand
  4. MrMusic
    Sep 14, 2016
    10
    1. Borders 10/10
    2. Go Off 9/10
    3. Bird Song 9/10 4. Jump In 8/10 5. Freedun (ft. ZAYN) 9/10 6. Foreign Friend (ft. Dexta Daps) 8/10 7.    1. Borders 10/10
    2. Go Off 9/10
    3. Bird Song 9/10
    4. Jump In 8/10
    5. Freedun (ft. ZAYN) 9/10
    6. Foreign Friend (ft. Dexta Daps) 8/10
    7. Finally 9/10
    8. A.M.P. (All My People) 9/10
    9. ALI R U OK? 10/10
    10. (OLA) VISA 10/10
    11. Fly Pirate 7/10
    12. Survivor 5/10
    13. Bird Song (Diplo Remix) 10/10
    14. The New International Sound Pt. 2 10/10
    15. Swords 8/10
    16. Talk 9/10
    17. Platforms 10/10    … Expand
  5. TryAgainGata
    Sep 13, 2016
    9
    1. Borders 5/5
    2. Go Off 5/5
    3. Bird Song 3/5 4. Jump In 4/5 5. Freedun (ft. ZAYN) 5/5 6. Foreign Friend (ft. Dexta Daps) 3/5 7. Finally    1. Borders 5/5
    2. Go Off 5/5
    3. Bird Song 3/5
    4. Jump In 4/5
    5. Freedun (ft. ZAYN) 5/5
    6. Foreign Friend (ft. Dexta Daps) 3/5
    7. Finally 4/5
    8. A.M.P. (All My People) 4/5
    9. ALI R U OK? 4/5
    10. (OLA) VISA 4/5
    11. Fly Pirate 3/5
    12. Survivor 4/5
    13. Bird Song (Diplo Remix) 5/5
    14. The New International Sound Pt. 2 4/5
    15. Swords 5/5
    16. Talk 3/5
    17. Platforms 4/5    … Expand
  6. Thatmoviesdude
    Nov 27, 2016
    8
    British hip - hop artist M.I.A. has come to the end of her 13 - year career, and has come up with this final fifth studio album (although sheBritish hip - hop artist M.I.A. has come to the end of her 13 - year career, and has come up with this final fifth studio album (although she has come up with mixtape Vicki Leekz). And yes, it is brilliant.

    Songs like Borders and Visa are politically challenging, and there's Freedun, a dreamy song about love, featuring vocals from pop singer Zayn Malik, and both remixes of Bird Song, which most likely breaks the world record for the song with the most bird puns in "I'm robin this joint".

    Although this is a bold and aurally pleasing album, it seems a little tame when compared to albums like ///Y/ and Matangi, having quite stationary and ostinato melodies. But overall, a great album.    … Expand
  7. BenjaminCrmx
    Oct 20, 2016
    7
    Although the album is slightly uneven, the tracks are either catchy or well thought out... or both.
    Loving it, one of M.I.A best album to me.    Although the album is slightly uneven, the tracks are either catchy or well thought out... or both.
    Loving it, one of M.I.A best album to me. Borders what's up with that?    … Expand
  8. All_ButTrU4
    Sep 12, 2022
    0
    Vivid in it's disappointing limitations. It's an incoherent watered-down left turn off a cliff. Makes you wish she could've retired beforeVivid in it's disappointing limitations. It's an incoherent watered-down left turn off a cliff. Makes you wish she could've retired before this just to maintain the creative achievements of her peak but no. Instead we are subjected to a zayn feature and bird puns. Such a fall from grace .… Expand

See all 22 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

50
#50 Most Discussed Album of 2016
75
#75 Most Shared Album of 2016

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