M.I.A.

Maya (N.E.E.T./Interscope/XL)

By Selena Fragassi
Published: August 22nd, 2010 | 1:00pm

It seems that M.I.A.’s “paper plane” took a wrong turn when the British provocateur sat down at her desk to pen material for her latest release, the oh-so-ironic character nightmare, /\/\/\Y/\ (a.k.a. Maya). The 16 tracks on the album might be better understood if they were actually scratch work or the leftover remnants of the computer malfunction she displays in her holographic cover art.

But pieced together as an official album release, Maya feels like a first exit during rush hour maneuver and a far cry from what the singer should be stamping her birth name on, especially after excavating the diamond-worthy Kala (2007) and 2005 debut Arular. Frankly, there was a devastating amount of expectation from the singer/activist/producer/fashion pioneer who may be feeling the heat from a rash of socio-political noisemakers after a three-year absence, not to mention her latest N.E.E.T. protégés, Sleigh Bells and Rye Rye.

Maya opens with “The Message,” a track that could just as well have been ripped off of Sleigh Bells’ Treats, and the album only continues with this copycat trend, although with less flattering choices (single “XXXO” sounds, dare we say it, a bit B.o.B.-ish). Other tracks (“Lovalot,” “Teqkilla”) are so noise polluted, they’re often rendered indecipherable which is off-putting considering the bombs that often drop from M.I.A’s mouth.

After reaching “Born Free,” the listener may feel they have taken many bullets to get to this tolerable track, but none that would actually be worth it. She may have “something to say,” but unfortunately M.I.A.’s controversial rants may have exhausted themselves in her public persona to even make a dent on Maya.

__

M.I.A. official Web site

M.I.A. MySpace page

N.E.E.T. Recordings

Interscope Records

XL Recordings