Arular

M.I.A. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Xl/Beggars US
• ASIN: B0007KIFLO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (166 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,732 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Banana Skit

2. Pull Up the People

3. Bucky Done Gun

4. Fire Fire

5. Freedom Skit

6. Amazon

7. Bingo

8. Hombre

9. One for the Head Skit

10. 10 Dollar

11. Sunshowers

12. Galang

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

157 of 185 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three Stages of Acceptance, April 3, 2005

By 

Benjamin Norman "Trance Pants" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arular (Audio CD)

When I first heard of M.I.A. through word of mouth and anticipating articles, I sort of formed this opinion of this interesting, yet ultimately disappointing electronic outfit.

I listened to the single, "Galang" and was very put off.

So...don't ask me why I decided to buy Arular when I found it had placed #2 on my store's top 10 dance albums. *Something* compelled me. So as I took it home and listened to it, I found I was seriously not in the mood for it. I wanted something melodic, and this album is anything BUT melodic. On top of that, her accent and the amount of violence really made me worry that I wasted my money.

Yet I found I couldn't put it away. It constantly finds it's way on my stereo, and then I started really listening to the tracks, and I found that I really do love this CD. It's seductive, it's sleek, it's sexy, and it's BLUNT. Another reviewer put it perfectly about the artist post 9/11. The first skit, "Banana Skit" had me captivated simply by the use of beats. That she's teaching us how to pronounce Banana only makes it better. "Pull Up The People" had a driving and seductive beat with an extremely relevant message. Actually I believe her entire album has a great message.

Bucky Done Gun uses a weird horn sample during the song which I actually can't wait to hear whenever I listen to the music.

All of the songs share the inventiveness, creativity, and desperation of an artist craving to express herself. This album isn't for everyone, but it should be.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular Arular, October 3, 2006

By 

konekochan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arular (Audio CD)

this album is great! its refreshing to discover a strong female artist who's unwilling to use her sexuality to sell records. think about it, there are really very few out there who aren't shaking their [...] to hide that they have no real talent. heck, i can drop it like its hot, it don't mean a thang. so i heard "galang" about a year ago and was blown away - awesome! i had to have the album so i scooped it up and from the first "ba-na-na" i was hooked. MIA throws down great lyrics, rapping, singing, chanting. really fun stuff, despite the content at times. i don't know that this album is appropriate for kids, but nowadays not much is. MIA's association with the Tamil Tigers (her father is/was a member) seems to be a basis for much of her writing and there is a fair amount of violence. MTV refused to play the "sunshowers" video because of her reference to the PLO. and MIA would not edit the track, except to remove an F-bomb or two. good for her!!! no compromise! so the album is full of gritty beats, danceable and interesting. Diplo mixed and if you are a fan, i recommend getting your hands on the ultra-rare "piracy funds terrorism" - (re)mixes mostly by Diplo of Arular songs and a TON of extras. "pop" and "ladykiller" are worth it alone. but back to Arular - if you're into strong ladies, socially conscious lyrics and funky beats, check it out. my fave songs include "sunshowers" "fire fire" and "amazon."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivated by Arular, August 16, 2006

By 

DixPix "DixPix" (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arular (Audio CD)

My 10 year old daughter and my 61 year old butt can't get enough of Arular. Masterfully edited - as tight and rich as the Beatles at their peak. The dad loves the mechanical electronic aspects. The girl has to sing along with the singsong poetry and just dance to it.

Maya's voice is awesome. My brother's reaction was that he doesn't like foreigh sounding funny voices in his music, so this isn't for everyone. But it's not just for open minded college students. This is the real thing. This is a most favored treat in our huge and eclectic music collection.

As with other reviewers, we, too, are put off by the violent images, but for us it has the authentic feel of a window into the revolutionary third world.