• Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: Jul 13, 2010
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 120 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 5 out of 120
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  1. Mar 22, 2015
    10
    Great album! It might not be her best but it still is a great album and does deserve a 10 because of the originality, creativity and obvious hard work that went into it.
  2. Nov 26, 2010
    10
    M.I.A. brings 'Noise' to 'Music' by putting some crash metals, and chainsaw as part of the instrument. It shows how artistic M.I.A. is. From Arular to Maya, she had never disappointed me by bringing funk, alternative hip-hop, electro music in a different form. It shows that this woman does not care about commercial success. All she want is to tell her message. The album is fun, enjoying, and cool.
  3. May 6, 2013
    9
    I really don't understand why so much people didn't like this. As a eletronic album, it explores interesting things, and sounds good. Just the deluxe edition's tracks is a deception, just Illygirl have the M.I.A.'s level.
  4. Aug 22, 2015
    10
    The best album of M.I.A., with smart lyrics and some of critic, MAYA resounded even to the government, and was released in a hard time of privacy on the web, something that is explained in this album
  5. Jan 8, 2020
    10
    This is definitely one of my all-time favourite albums. She has a lot of darker lyrics in this album, compared to her previous work. there are tracks about terrorism, addiction and conspiracies about the internet being a tool for government spying, all topics which are more relevant than ever, almost 10 years on. she also uses very explosive production which was difficult to like at first,This is definitely one of my all-time favourite albums. She has a lot of darker lyrics in this album, compared to her previous work. there are tracks about terrorism, addiction and conspiracies about the internet being a tool for government spying, all topics which are more relevant than ever, almost 10 years on. she also uses very explosive production which was difficult to like at first, but ended up being the thing that kept me coming back for more. Expand
  6. Aug 17, 2010
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Every time M.I.A returns, we all get excited about the new album. This time we can cry of joy because she brought us the best of alternative Hip-Hop and Electro music, and also the best of her. After almost a year of production, the result is very clear: all of us can see that this is the best Electro record of the year, if not the decadeâ Expand
  7. Nov 24, 2010
    9
    Top five album of the year. I really love this album. The songs are really great. M.i.a is an amazing artist I think more people should listen to her. A great Alt/dance alt/hip hop album. A Must buy album 10/10
  8. Aug 12, 2010
    8
    "// / Y /", in its proper spelling, reveals the in-betweens of M.I.A.'s thoughts and perceptions when she's not saving the world one "banga" at a time.
  9. 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
  10. Aug 15, 2011
    9
    Very different to M.I.A's other works (Arular & Kala), and on that note, very different to any other album in particular. But '// / Y /' is still a very interesting listen and a great album. Standouts include: "The Message", "Steppin Up", "XXXO", "Story to Be Told", "Born Free", "Meds & Feds", and "Internet Connection".
  11. Nov 4, 2010
    10
    Different from Kala, but equally addictive. Not everyone is going to like this because it covers many genres, but I think that's why it's great. One of my favorite albums I've bought in 2010. There's no Paper Planes pt. 2 on here, but that's what makes M.I.A. so great. Instead of churning out 10 more songs that are carbon copies, she opts to continue experimenting with other genres. IDifferent from Kala, but equally addictive. Not everyone is going to like this because it covers many genres, but I think that's why it's great. One of my favorite albums I've bought in 2010. There's no Paper Planes pt. 2 on here, but that's what makes M.I.A. so great. Instead of churning out 10 more songs that are carbon copies, she opts to continue experimenting with other genres. I would ignore most professional critiques of the album as most journalists only started writing negative reviews about the album after the Lynn Hirschberg incident for which M.I.A. exposed her as a liar and proved that journalists no longer have the last word. As for regular people's reviews, not everyone is going to like this album, but I have a feeling if you give it a chance you'll dig. Don't see it as the new album from that "Paper Planes" chick, see it as a great album from a talented electronic artist. Expand
  12. Oct 2, 2011
    8
    Some say it's the most personal M.I.A. album, and i feel the same too. It seems that in this album, she could realize all the wishes she had and wanted to do on "Arular" and "Kala", but got blocked from. Maybe not her best shape, but she gave us really great musics again. "Teqkilla", "It Takes a Muscle" and "Internet Connection" are just some of this remarkable recordings of her, notSome say it's the most personal M.I.A. album, and i feel the same too. It seems that in this album, she could realize all the wishes she had and wanted to do on "Arular" and "Kala", but got blocked from. Maybe not her best shape, but she gave us really great musics again. "Teqkilla", "It Takes a Muscle" and "Internet Connection" are just some of this remarkable recordings of her, not talking about "XXXO", that felt to me like Madonna in her best way. At the end, is like a medium album, between a change of style, or the fusion of her etnical music with more powerful beats! Expand
  13. May 29, 2012
    7
    A Very Strange Album In My Opinion..
    Still A Ok Album I Enjoyed 70% Of The Songs
  14. May 2, 2013
    8
    MAYA is an internet fueled wonderland. MIA dishes the worldbeat sounds of Arular and Kala and creates a twisted and fantastic piece of work that is MAYA. The album opens with the idea of government control on "The Message," then translastes into a powerdrill garage party in "Steppin Up." The middle of the album is even riskier than the beggining with MIA's pugnacious beats on "Lovalot,"MAYA is an internet fueled wonderland. MIA dishes the worldbeat sounds of Arular and Kala and creates a twisted and fantastic piece of work that is MAYA. The album opens with the idea of government control on "The Message," then translastes into a powerdrill garage party in "Steppin Up." The middle of the album is even riskier than the beggining with MIA's pugnacious beats on "Lovalot," the reggae-inspired "It takes a muscle" and the rockish "Born Free". They say to leave the best for last, and MIA ends the album with tracks such as "internet connection" that catches the listener's attention. The production is to die for, and this is clearly the most underrated album of 2010. Good job, MIA. Expand
  15. Dec 6, 2013
    10
    Weird, fresh, crazy, heavy, mind-blowing and VERY eclectic. This is a departure from her previous albums, although this new style is as good and innovative as her first one. I won't lie, I hated this album after I had listened to it for the first time. It has a heavier "love it or hate it" sound than M.I.A.'s last albums.

    It includes a big variety of genres, as electropop (XXXO and
    Weird, fresh, crazy, heavy, mind-blowing and VERY eclectic. This is a departure from her previous albums, although this new style is as good and innovative as her first one. I won't lie, I hated this album after I had listened to it for the first time. It has a heavier "love it or hate it" sound than M.I.A.'s last albums.

    It includes a big variety of genres, as electropop (XXXO and Tell Me Why), hip-hop (Teqkilla, Internet Connection, Illygirl), ballads (Space, Caps Lock), reggae (It Takes a Muscle), experimental (Steppin' Up, which includes M.I.A. rapping over a heavy drill sound) and heavy metal/rock music (Meds and Feds, Born Free). Honestly I love all of these songs. The worst tracks, however, are Story 2 be told, Lovalot, Believer and Tell me why.
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  16. Aug 12, 2013
    10
    AMAZING. M.I.A. just released the best album of 2010. What's not to like. It's M.I.A. at her very very best. Key Tracks are "Meds and Feds", "It Takes A Muscle" and "Story To Be Told".
  17. Sep 30, 2013
    9
    This album is such a decay for M.I.A.. First of all, this is just a bunch of noise. But a bunch of noise with a lot of political dark meanings. Some of these songs are unlistenable. I actually couldn't listen to the whole album.

    Look, if you have never listened to M.I.A. then you'll love MAYA. If you loved Arular & Kala as do I, you'll hate it for life. Highlights: Teqkilla 3/5 It
    This album is such a decay for M.I.A.. First of all, this is just a bunch of noise. But a bunch of noise with a lot of political dark meanings. Some of these songs are unlistenable. I actually couldn't listen to the whole album.

    Look, if you have never listened to M.I.A. then you'll love MAYA. If you loved Arular & Kala as do I, you'll hate it for life. Highlights:

    Teqkilla 3/5
    It Takes a Muscle 5/5
    Caps Lock 10/10 Tied with "Paper Planes" as her best song ever in my opinion.
    Born Free 4/5
    Internet Connection 2/5

    Tracks XXXO & Tell Me Why are ok tracks, but they sound too "radio-friendly" to me. The rest of the album is completely forgettable.
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  18. Sep 8, 2016
    5
    Muito barulhento e conceitual demais, sei lá... eu gosto desse disco porem ele me da dor de cabeça e não chega nem perto dos outros dela. Nem mesmo do AIM.
  19. Mar 5, 2015
    10
    This is the best album I've ever heard in my life, do not get so much hate for him, it is a masterpiece, wonderfu, really M.I.A. proved to be a fully -ass artist when he released this album.
  20. Mar 24, 2015
    10
    The most lovely M.I.A.'s album! Exploding beats and a very big step from Diplo's Arular and Kala. Very fresh and deep sounds. All tracks are just eargasmic.
  21. Sep 10, 2021
    10
    Critics didn't get it back then. They still don't really now. And it's sad, as this is a much more important album than people want to give it credit for. Ask anybody working in hyperpop.

    I often wonder if the early praise of Sleigh Bells, who released music under M.I.A.'s label and mentoring, was due to the ability to credit its genius to a white man, whose female vocalist was not
    Critics didn't get it back then. They still don't really now. And it's sad, as this is a much more important album than people want to give it credit for. Ask anybody working in hyperpop.

    I often wonder if the early praise of Sleigh Bells, who released music under M.I.A.'s label and mentoring, was due to the ability to credit its genius to a white man, whose female vocalist was not lyrically inputting at this point. Was it misogyny? Was it 'America's rejection of the other'. as she described in interviews was happening to her at the time? The media smear campaign is undeniable in retrospect (see also; trufflegate). Is it pretentious to go down this avenue of thinking? It certainly doesn't change anything either way. Treats is considered a classic and this is considered the album where she trolled her audience. TO BE CLEAR, both are instant classics. They deserve respect for paving a different, noisier path for internet-era alternative musicians.

    Public perception doesn't stop the very real trailblazing she was doing from cover to cover on this album. Hindsight is 20/20 - you'll find this looks better than ever.
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  22. 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
  23. Apr 29, 2020
    8
    // / Y / é a frente do seu tempo, a M.I.A. tem total consciência do que ela está fazendo no álbum, a maior prova disso é o clipe de XXXO que a M.I.A. está brega propositadamente, sendo assim, o álbum é uma grande representações do exagero, contudo, devido esse excesso, ele se perde um pouco até o final.
  24. Sep 3, 2020
    10
    so ahead of it's time.... the fact that tons of industrial hip hop artists popped up after this record was released is so INSANE, EVERY TRACK IS A BANGER
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 41
  2. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. 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.
  2. She's certainly eyeing global pop domination. Therein lies Maya's conflict.
  3. 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.