I fly like paper got high like planes
So I wrote a 'review' for this music major newsletter that my associates and I in the MMO (music majors organization) are putting together. I wrote my first review on MIA's "Kala" album, I just wanted to post it so you guys can see it. Note: I am not a music critic nor a journalist I just wrote it cause I wanted too, and I wanted the kids to add something to their musical palltet (sp?)Enjoy.
T Jones’ Musical Mayhem
Welcome to T Jones’ Musical Mayhem where I share with you a review on an album that I think you should add to your collection. The album I will be reviewing this time around is M.I.A.’s ”Kala”. Before you hear M.I.A.’s music you must know about her life, so here is a crash course. She was born Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam July 17 1977 in London, England. Maya is of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, her father was actually an activist turned Tamil militant by the name of Arul Pragasm. Because of her father’s militant stance in Sri Lanka her family was in constant turmoil causing them to move all around including Sri Lanka, India, then eventually back to her birthplace London when she was eleven years old. Back in London is where learned English and also discovered hip-hop. Fast Forward to 20 years later she is on tour with some musical buddies of hers as a videographer, she becomes friends with the fantastic Peaches who introduces M.I.A. to the Roland MC-505 sequencing machine and talked M.I.A. into creating music since this was the art form she was least familiar creating in (she went to college for fine art and film in London) the rest is…well history in the making. M.I.A.’s first album was named “Arular” named after the nickname of her militant father in 2005. You may have heard one of her singles “Galang” in the Honda commercials of that year. For such an unorthodox style of music and delivery “Arular” was surprisingly commercially successful in the United States. However; because of her highly politically charged lyrics and the Tamil militant group her father was a part of being considered ‘a terrorist-like group’ M.I.A. on several occasions was not let into the US. Two years later is her follow up “Kala” which is named after her mother was released on August 21. The best way that I can describe it is maybe a rave in the Jungle like the deep deep jungle dancing with Gorillaz eating wild bananas and berries and drinking native moonshine. “Kala” is filled with energy from the get-go with its opening track “Bamboo Banga.” This album has a variety of sounds ranging from Baltimore “B-more” Club music, syncopated African rhythms, Indian tinged music, hip-hop, reggae, this album has it all.
Some of the stand out tracks for me is “Boys”, “Hussle”, “20 Dollar”, and “Paper Planes”, but the album as a whole is fantastic. So if you want something high in energy, danceable, provoking, different music for your eardrums M.I.A’s “Kala” is it for you. Check it out and tell me what you think. For music like M.I.A’s and so much more tune in to my radio show on WVRU ‘The Hoodmetal Show’ Wednesday nights @9pm on 89.9 FM WVRU or www.wvru.org and click on the listen link [end shameless plug here] Salutations to you and happy listening.
-Tylia Jones your friendly neighborhood super senior.
tjones6@radford.edu
T Jones’ Musical Mayhem
Welcome to T Jones’ Musical Mayhem where I share with you a review on an album that I think you should add to your collection. The album I will be reviewing this time around is M.I.A.’s ”Kala”. Before you hear M.I.A.’s music you must know about her life, so here is a crash course. She was born Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam July 17 1977 in London, England. Maya is of Sri Lankan Tamil origin, her father was actually an activist turned Tamil militant by the name of Arul Pragasm. Because of her father’s militant stance in Sri Lanka her family was in constant turmoil causing them to move all around including Sri Lanka, India, then eventually back to her birthplace London when she was eleven years old. Back in London is where learned English and also discovered hip-hop. Fast Forward to 20 years later she is on tour with some musical buddies of hers as a videographer, she becomes friends with the fantastic Peaches who introduces M.I.A. to the Roland MC-505 sequencing machine and talked M.I.A. into creating music since this was the art form she was least familiar creating in (she went to college for fine art and film in London) the rest is…well history in the making. M.I.A.’s first album was named “Arular” named after the nickname of her militant father in 2005. You may have heard one of her singles “Galang” in the Honda commercials of that year. For such an unorthodox style of music and delivery “Arular” was surprisingly commercially successful in the United States. However; because of her highly politically charged lyrics and the Tamil militant group her father was a part of being considered ‘a terrorist-like group’ M.I.A. on several occasions was not let into the US. Two years later is her follow up “Kala” which is named after her mother was released on August 21. The best way that I can describe it is maybe a rave in the Jungle like the deep deep jungle dancing with Gorillaz eating wild bananas and berries and drinking native moonshine. “Kala” is filled with energy from the get-go with its opening track “Bamboo Banga.” This album has a variety of sounds ranging from Baltimore “B-more” Club music, syncopated African rhythms, Indian tinged music, hip-hop, reggae, this album has it all.
Some of the stand out tracks for me is “Boys”, “Hussle”, “20 Dollar”, and “Paper Planes”, but the album as a whole is fantastic. So if you want something high in energy, danceable, provoking, different music for your eardrums M.I.A’s “Kala” is it for you. Check it out and tell me what you think. For music like M.I.A’s and so much more tune in to my radio show on WVRU ‘The Hoodmetal Show’ Wednesday nights @9pm on 89.9 FM WVRU or www.wvru.org and click on the listen link [end shameless plug here] Salutations to you and happy listening.
-Tylia Jones your friendly neighborhood super senior.
tjones6@radford.edu