CL Summer Mix Tape: MIA
July 27, 2010 by Kaitlyn N
Filed under What We Love
MIA
After the release of M.I.A.’s wildly popular first album “Arular,” and the Brazilian baile funk “Kala,” everyone has been waiting with anticipation for Maya Arulgragasam’s newest album. The British rapper has made a name for herself by pushing the envelope with her music, which ranges from Baltimore club rap to electronic jungle beats with an attitude that basically says f*** you.
Arulgragasam’s new album “Maya,” released July 13th opens with the click, click, click of fingers taping a laptop keyboard. Then the listener is flung into a disorienting mixture of industrial clatter and synthesizer noise that is sure to leave you feeling shell shocked and confused. After bringing so much noise and rebellion Arulgragasam seems to have unfortunately buried herself in it.
The album’s theme is directed toward our generation Xers. It is about the information age, paranoia and the power of Big Brother’s digital supremacy. One of the tracks appropriately titled “The Message,” raps to the nursery rhyme beat, “Head bone connected to the headphones, headphones connected to the iPhone, iPhone connected to the Internet, connected to the Google, connected to the government.” Despite the catchy lyrics their meaning is lost behind the chainsaws, sirens, and odd mish mash of noise throughout the album.
Regardless of M.I.A’s lost in translation theme there are some gems scattered among the power tools and static noise. “It Takes Muscle” is a sweet song with video game sound effects and reggae beat. Arulgragasam sings in an electronic induced wasp, “You’re gonna live tomorrow, if you don’t die today. It takes muscle to fall in love.”
Overall, M.I.A.’s third album was jumbled and confused. Arulgragasam went in too many directions and perhaps her ambition outweighed her abilities.
Despite her album’s flop let’s not forget about Maya Arulgragasam’s amazing and fearless style! Here is an outfit based on her look that a fabulous CL girl could rock out to
To start out your MIA styled outfit I found some basic leather leggings you can find for cheap at NY & Company or Target. Next I added a funky longer top from Forever 21 for only $18. Adding to the look, I added a punk rock leather jacket. Any CL girl would rock this piece for only $33 also from Forever 21. The puffy sleeves create more femininity and soften the outfit. Next I found a great fun sandal from Charolette Russe which is really in style this summer. The shoe only cost $26. Of course to pull off a Maya look you need some great shades! The ones above are also from Charolette Russe and are a steal at $5. The necklaces you can layer to create more texture. They are both from Forever 21 and the Love necklace costs $4.80, while the simple silver chains are $6.80. Next I paired these funky dangle earrings from Forever 21’s new arrivals for $5.80. To finish your outfit I thought it would be fun to add some funky makeup. The lipgloss MAC Supergloss is $18 at Nordstrom and the bright eye shadows are Hard Candy for only $4.94 at Wal-Mart. A fashion forward Co-Ed could add to this tamer MIA look if they desired to really create a wild statement!
Music expresses that which cannot be said and
on which it is impossible to be silent
~Victor Hugo
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