album leak: mia - kala

fans of my blog know that m.i.a. is definitely one of my favorite acts around. with an arsenal of rhymes and insane beats, her 2005 debut album arular was easily the best that year. so when information came out that a new album was due for a late august release, it was enough to keep me giddy throughout the whole summer. imagine my total joy this morning when i woke up to find a copy of kala, a full month before it's street date!

recorded in india, japan and trinidad (with some US immigration issues in the process), m.i.a. once again collaborated with arular producers switch and diplo, but also threw in some sick tracks with timbaland.

the result is an adventurous collection that leaves the retro-electro of the last album behind and creates a diverse track list that incorperates hyper pop ("boyz"), some bollywood ("jimmy"), dark progressive beats ("bamboo banger") and sweet guests with a twist (like the wilcannia mob, a group of aboriginal street kids that offer up awesome rhymes in "mango pickle down river").

though the album isn't perfect, the eclectic influences of kala definitely makes this release a step up from whats out at the moment. the girl should be proud!

track listings
1. Bamboo Banga [link 2]
2. BirdFlu
3. Boyz
4. Jimmy [link 2]
5. Hussel (feat. Afrikan Boy)
6. Mango Pickle Down River (feat. the Wilcannia Mob)
7. 20 Dollar
8. World Town
9. The Turn
10. XR2
11. Paper Planes [link 2]
12. Come Around (feat. Timbaland)