AIM
by M.I.A.
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 167 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 137 out of 167
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 167
  3. Negative: 14 out of 167
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  1. eadawdaddw
    Jul 31, 2023
    10
    One of her best albums. Its cohesive, but also contains powerful songs with meaningful messages.
  2. 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 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 .
  3. y0s3m1te
    Jan 8, 2021
    9
    M.I.A. delivers another masterpiece. She delves into politics heavily making a powerful statement. Freedun with Zayn´s great guest verse, the incredible visuals behind Borders, and the Diplo assisted Go Off are just a few highlights, and the production on Finally blew me away. There will never be another artist like her, appreciate her while she is here.
  4. Raulvicktor
    Apr 29, 2020
    9
    Babadeiro, AIM pode não ser o melhor álbum da M.I.A., mas ele se destaca na discografia por ser um álbum bastante coeso e aberto a diversas interpretações. Já estou ansiosa para o M6
  5. davd123
    Jan 26, 2018
    6
    A great dance record with some thoughts in it. I feel like this is definitely not the strongest M.I.A's album at all. I didn't understand the main purpose of the album. But I did enjoy listening to it.
  6. Felipecritic
    Nov 30, 2017
    4
    Provavelmente o pior álbum da M.I.A., ela é talentosa e faz ótimas canções, mas esse CD tá ruim e sem foco, ficou um monte de galinha nos instrumentais e ela falando em cima.
  7. Evic21
    Dec 11, 2016
    7
    This album may not be her best, but there are a handful of songs on this album that are very interesting and proves that MIA is still a creative force of nature. I hope that this isn't her last album, but if it truly is, MIA can say that she went out on a positive, light hearted note.
  8. 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 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,    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 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
  9. haushu
    Nov 22, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. melhor album conceito de 2016. M.I.A. conseguiu colocar no album por tudo aquilo que ela vem lutando. Ao escutar as musicas eu consigo entender e sentir a mensagem que ela deseja passar.… Expand
  10. 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. Borders what's up with that?
  11. cfc38
    Oct 4, 2016
    7
    Even thought this is a messy and a disjointed release, you just can't escape the feeling that this is the most fun you're going to have with an M.I.A. album.
    I miss her already ..
  12. 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. 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.    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
  13. Blanche
    Sep 13, 2016
    3
    English-Sri Lankan singer/rapper M.I.A is coming to the end of her star-studded career with a new album entitled AIM which she recently announced will be her last. She has strung some of the biggest hits such as Paper Planes over the years and is renowned for possessing a slightly out of tune voice, which ironically helps her sound distinct and compliment the productions in her material inEnglish-Sri Lankan singer/rapper M.I.A is coming to the end of her star-studded career with a new album entitled AIM which she recently announced will be her last. She has strung some of the biggest hits such as Paper Planes over the years and is renowned for possessing a slightly out of tune voice, which ironically helps her sound distinct and compliment the productions in her material in a different way. Due to the occasion and predictable electronic theme of her material, I decided to roll through the record to see if it was a good send-off.

    The record features impressive, witty lyricism on a number of tracks like Borders and Foreign Friend. A good take on the tensions that have dramatically risen over the past few years regarding immigration and cultural clashes.

    The best tracks on the entire record for me are unquestionably Go Off and A.M.P. Skrillex had a hand in the production of both songs and his influence proves invaluable. The relentless intensity of the drums galvanises M.I.A.'s emphatic rapping and singing deliveries in a sharp, thrilling way. The extremely prominent autotune on Go Off works wonders and weave together the instrumentation like a web. For me it is clear that this type of production is far more catered to her strengths as her imperfections in her vocals really give the instrumentation life and more purpose.

    That's about it when it comes to the positives to take away from this album.

    Freedun, although lyrically sound, is a minute too long in length. There is absolutely no need for the same instrumentation to repeat over and over until it becomes a bore and something to skip through. The long drab, lazy, purposeless outro along with M.I.A.'s desolate, insignificant vocal snippets and chops unfortunately becomes a concurrent theme. Bird Song suffers from the same problem; the percussive synthesis on the cut is pretty good and I do like her vocal delivery but yet again it gradually becomes soulless, bland after becoming insanely repetitive from the two minute mark. If her lyricism or vocal delivery isn't going to pick up, the instrumentation should and that never really happens enough on the record to leave me satisfied.

    But there are tracks here that are less than satisfying. Or to put it better, the tracks that are quite frankly terrible. Jump In is basically equivalent to absolute garbage. Worst track on the whole record. It makes me furious and disappointed when I hear how weak and uninspiring M.I.A.'s vocals are - unfortunately continually panning and chopping them isn't going to save the overall track from being painfully bland and tasteless. This is one of those songs that desperately need instrumentation to survive. Survivor is also vomit, her voice does not in any shape or form cohere with the intergalactic themed instrumentation and it just made me cringe hearing her harrowingly sing "survivor" sloppily as the washy synthesized pads produced a completely different vibe. Ali R U OK? features more of her Southern Asian influences in regards to the instrumentation but yet again that does not save it from grace due to the obnoxiously cringy, constant "eh" spluttered across the track, which yet again is matched with very repetitive instrumentation from start to end.

    The rest of the tracks I feel indifferent to and think nothing of them.

    A good handful of these tracks would have better if they were shorter by a full minute. They were that bad. Execution is vital to allow lyricism to jab through and in too many instances did that below par element affect the other medium. The album is very unfocused. She doesn't sound half as good as she did perhaps ten years ago, and neither does the production in her material.

    Such a shame that her last album is generally sour and directionless, but the album isn't purely horrible. Apart from Go Off, A.M.P. and perhaps Bird Song, there's nothing unique or amazing regarding the production. This is a bad album.

    I will be listening to her older material from now on.    … Expand
  14. 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 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
  15. 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 APROVEITO ESSA REVIEW PRA PEDIREM A VOCÊS PARÁ COMPRAREM O FROOT NO ITUNES BOM É ISSO
  16. IzzyMartell
    Sep 10, 2016
    10
    Stop hating, guys! AIM is beyond perfection, I mean, truly. This is honestly goals, nice songs, awesome art and epic instrumentals. Just love her album. It's so iconic.
  17. Ayron_xcx
    Sep 10, 2016
    6
    ainda vou dar 6 pq eu te amo, mas porra bicha que album fraco é esse??? borders e swords são ótimas, go off A.M.P,visa e Platforms são boas, o resto é super decepcionante :(
  18. IvanMejia_
    Sep 9, 2016
    10
    For me this is one of the best albums of the year, she made an improvement over herself, Borders took that **** to the next level, however, I still don't know why she's so underrated. Bravo M.I.A., a truly artist.
  19. primadonnr
    Sep 9, 2016
    10
    PAREM DE BOICOTAR A MIA CA****** O ALBUM MERECIA 70 NO MÍNIMO, MÚSICAS BEM FEITAS, BATIDAS EXCITANTES E LETRAS MARAVILHOSAS FELIZMENTE UM DOS ALBUNS DA CARREIRA
  20. ajb2385
    Sep 9, 2016
    9
    MIA pushes the envelope with unique blend of beats from around the world in her album AIM. She's surely the most globally inclusive artist as far as her perspective of the plight and injustices of the forgotten. It's music with a social critique (as on her other albums) striving to push listeners break the status quo and question the comforts and privileges many of us take for granted.MIA pushes the envelope with unique blend of beats from around the world in her album AIM. She's surely the most globally inclusive artist as far as her perspective of the plight and injustices of the forgotten. It's music with a social critique (as on her other albums) striving to push listeners break the status quo and question the comforts and privileges many of us take for granted. Some of the tracks are less developed and almost seem to be unfinished in their messages; MIA is very intentional in her art, so any imperfection or crudeness should be seen as purposeful. I only wish her message in AIM was more definitive.… Expand
  21. PatrickCoteR
    Sep 9, 2016
    8
    Great effort from M.I.A. on this album. It misses some coherence, but I personally really like disparate songs on a single album. Awesome lyrics for most of the songs. Good job!
  22. 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 to it! Pretty cool.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. 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.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Sep 28, 2016
    60
    As ever, there is risk run by too many tracks and fatigue sets in while listening to AIM. The idea of taking any one of M.I.A.'s albums and trimming its excess to 12 of the most colorfully resonant offerings is tantalizing to imagine. The same goes for this one.
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  3. Paste Magazine
    Sep 19, 2016
    55
    AIM isn’t nearly as ambitious. It’s just busywork, M.I.A. watching the clock, scanning the news, occupied, but idle.
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