The major issue is that MAYA just doesn’t meet expectations. After a top-10-album-of-the-year like Kala, people expected something great. And after a hit single like “Paper Planes,” people were eager to hear more accessible, catchy pop jams. But on both of those fronts, MAYA fails to deliver: this is far from one of the year’s best, and the songs’ poppy aspects are buried under misguided attempts at experimentalism. In many ways, I view it in the same light as I do MGMT’s Congratulations.

Also, I personally don’t think you can ever, regardless of genre, completely ignore the quality of the lyrics–and, let’s be honest, M.I.A. sounds like an idiot here. That intro?! “Tweetin me like tweety bird”? “I’ve got sticky icky icky icky weed”? –M.I.A. is trying too hard to say something cool/provocative but most of the time she isn’t saying anything at all.

This album is not all bad (and I think this review highlights its strengths well above), but ultimately MAYA is not what many people (including myself) were hoping for. So it’s hard not to view this album, and M.I.A. in general, with disappointment.

That being said, ‘Meds and Feds’ is the best track on this album… which is saying a lot, because I LOVE this s**t!!! Sonically, it feels like a concept album, and I think it works and I love the theme and the boundaries her producers (namely Rusko) have worked to push.

Also; does leaving this comment qualify me for the HARDFEST tickets/vinyl copy contest? That is my intent… otherwise, I normally respect that no one cares to read my opinion.