MAYA - Matangi - All Tracks Reviewed And Analysed

6. "aTENTion"

This song is a solid example of something that occurs frequently throughout the album: taking the popular elements of current dance music (overuse of Autotune, off-beat vocals slightly out of sync with the rest of the song) and shaking them up a little, overlapping them in an unlikely sequence in a way that commands attention normally not demanded by a dance song. It's a slice of music that lives up to its name, surely.

7. "Exodus" ft. The Weeknd

Critically acclaimed rapper and singer The Weeknd guests on this track (and the closing track, "Sexodus"), with his ghostly stylistic trademarks fitting in perfectly against the background of M.I.A.'s pleading skepticism: "You keep telling me you wanna have it all. Tell me what for." "Exodus" has several bits of strong imagery from all over the world, making the title even more apt as it evokes images of travel as part of a greater narrative of conformity. This is arguably one of the best songs on the album, and The Weeknd contributes fantastically to it- at the end of it you're left wishing there was more.

8. "Bad Girls"

One of the catchiest songs on the album, the distinctly Arabic-sounding hook in the background is an earworm that won't leave, and the chorus is the stuff that tramp stamps are made of: "live fast, die young, bad girls do it well." The video set somewhere in the middle East, M.I.A.'s signature over-the-top fashion, neon lips and all- these are the makings of a quality single. WARNING: watch for prevalent side effects, such as involuntary hip gyrations and singing the chorus to yourself while at the copier at work.

9. "Boom Skit"

A blistering commentary on America's inescapable racism, "Boom Skit" is, put simply, awesome. It's stylistically sparse, but the words are where it thrives- "boom, boom, jungle music, go back to India," she spits, imitating Americans in that endearing nasal voice of hers. After the debacle with her giving the middle finger during the Super Bowl Halftime Show, and the egregious lawsuit that followed, it's not hard to understand why she may feel unwelcome in America.

10. "Double Bubble Trouble"

A high-power buildup leads into a deceptively slow reggae beat, the AutoTune in full-force. Slowly, the song builds up energy to peak at the very end in a nonsensical and abrasive beat that's difficult to listen to without being reminded of a migraine or a bad DJ at a lousy club. Not my favorite track.