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MAYA
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MAYA Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 120 Ratings

  • Summary: The Sri Lankan-born, UK-based rapper releases her third album of eclectic, bold beats featuring production by Blaqstarr, Switch, and Diplo.
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Critic Reviews

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.
  2. musicOMH.com
    90
    It's less digestible but it's tauter, more metallic and yes, industrial.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    80
    As long as her music remains as bold, inventive and occasionally thrilling as it is here, long may that continue.
  4. RapReviews.com
    70
    Favoring melody over raucous beats is a risky strategy, but she just about pulls it off.
  5. Billboard.com
    62
    Although MAYA is an undeniable testament to M.I.A.'s inventiveness, the album is so jam-packed with beats that any statement that she is making gets lost in translation.
  6. Slant Magazine
    60
    It may be an above-average album, but its aesthetic matches her persona only at its shallowest levels, in the thinness of its ideas and the often-forceful ugliness of its message.
  7. cokemachineglow
    35
    MAYA, M.I.A.'s third and so obviously worst album, is the sound of a devoted audience getting f***ed over by a musical sociopath.

See all 41 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 24
  3. Negative: 2 out of 24
  1. Renatus
    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
  2. AntonioJilian
    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 TRACKso 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… Expand
  4. gagathenewclass
    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 ofThe 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… Expand
  5. cartmenez03
    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 /' isVery 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".… Expand
  6. iamtrent424
    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 listenTop 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… Expand
  7. gabrielpuche
    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 workMAYA 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
  8. 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 thatThis 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

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Awards & Rankings

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