#ohmni

The rollout for M.I.A’s AIM album in 2016 made it seem like that was going to be her last album and I am grateful that it wasn’t, not because I am a big fan of hers but because that album was very uneven. There were some good songs on it but it was a pretty disappointing album especially coming off Matangi which came out three years prior and is one of her best albums. In the six years since her last album, M.I.A. has become a born-again Christian which is a revelation that has an impact on her newest album, MATA. It’s not like she’s preaching the gospel or anything, but you can tell there is some spirituality in songs like the album’s closer, Marigold. She sings, “the city’s in trouble / we’re gonna need a miracle.” The song K.T.P. with the children singing on the hook sounds like it could’ve been inspired by her christianity.  I absolutely love this song as it sounds nothing like she has already done; it’s such a wholesome song. Her restored faith however, does not take away from the classic M.I.A. sound where she’ll make really catchy and simple pop songs with some abrasive production with lyrics about political and social issues that she feels attached to as well as celebrating her own heritage. I loved the way the album started with the somewhat Brazilian-inspired instrumental on FIASOM Pt. 1 but was not ready for the screaming hook on FIASOM 2, which is a really great-energetic song. I love the explosive instrumental and the way M.I.A. was flowing over it. The scream on the hook isn’t something I particularly enjoy but I still like the song. 100% sustainable was such a cool song and I feel like only M.I.A. could find a way to rap perfectly over a group of Bali women chanting. Even when the tempo changed, she did not miss a beat. Beep reminded me of the parts of AIM I did like as the production is a little more modern but still good. I wish it was a little longer and I liked the reggaeton style-drum beat on it. The song Popular also reminded me of what I liked about AIM. I didn’t love the sample on Energy Freq but I liked the way it was chopped in the beat and I liked M.I.A.’s hook but I didn’t love the melody very much. I did get some Kala vibes from the vocal sample. The One is an absolute banger. It’s a little more downbeat for M.I.A. but the vibes are definitely there. The autotune on her voice on this song may be an acquired taste but it really works on this song as it is so catchy. MATA LIFE is an amazing song that gave me Matangi vibes where M.I.A. just goes so hard over a strange beat that only she could find a way to make a song over. Songs like Zoo Girl and Time Traveller remind me of the parts of AIM I didn’t particularly like as they sound like unfinished ideas that could use some better production. The fact that MATA is only 13 songs and 33 minutes in length really plays to its advantage because some M.I.A. albums that run a little long leave more room for error while this album’s tracklist is lean and I like the majority of the songs on this album and that is why I think MATA is easily the best albums that she has put out in a really long time and I would rank it high in her discography but obviously not high enough to dethrone groundbreaking classics like Kala. I really like the direction M.I.A. took on this album where there were some risks taken but she played to her strengths and what her fans want as well as making an album with minimal skips and filler.