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M.I.A. - /\/\ /\ Y /\

With two previous albums that earned more critical attention than public, Maya Arulpragasam finds herself inbetween a rock and a hard place. There's going to be the inevitable expectations to continue making the artistic and pointful music she's earned such praise for (Arular and Kala both performed highly in end-of-the-decade critics' lists). But a surge in public attention due to the genius single "Paper Planes", showcased in more films and promotional pieces than you can shake a stick at, has made her music a whole lot more mainstream.

Indeed, her media presence thus far this year has not been ignored. She's inescapable - one week she's ranting about the state of Lady GaGa, the next she's producing Christina Aguilera songs. The video for her single "Born Free" has drawn millions of complaints and controversy with its depiction of ginger-haired people enduring the same kind of genocide and army persecution that other races have.

So what of the music?

The album opens with 'The Message' and its computer keyboard-tapping and lyrics "head bone connects to the neck bone. Neck bone connects to the arm bone. Arm bone connects to the hand bone. Hand bone connects to the internet bone. Internet bone connects to the Government bone." set over loud synths and heavy drumming. A brief glimpse of the album's experimental (with instruments) sound, and a rather critical stab at Google for (as she's mentioned in interviews) its neglect to provide much in the way of coverage of Sri Lanka (her home country)'s violence.

"Steppin' Up" has been confirmed as the second single and it's not hard to see why. With catchy hooks and lyrics (rub-a-dub-dub) and a distinctive pneumatic drilling sound, M.I.A. is full of confidence in her assertions that "you know who I am", in what is further evidence of this being her most energetic and 'loud' album yet.

Next up is her first single, "XXXO", a satirical piece taking the style of almost every popstar's single - using fashionable memes (xxxo) and parodying other artists' singles such as Lady GaGa's Pokerface and Love Game. "You want me to be somebody who I'm really not" perhaps a hint of her uncomfortability with mainstream attention. It's one of the year's catchiest singles thus far, and demonstrates anything they can do, M.I.A. can do better.

'Teqkilla' follows with further dubstep influences and a tribal-sounding drum beat. Electronic beeps and whizzes are thrown in almost at random giving the track a crazed feel, helped by M.I.A.'s almost menacing vocals, but at over 6 minutes long it's easy to lose track. 'Lovalot' follows and concentrates further on her more satirical and political sides, namedropping the Taliban, Hu Jintao and Mecca. Delivering these so casually along with the line "I fight the ones that fight me" give it an intense feel.

'Story to be Told' offers a more traditional sound that is a lot easier on the ear, still catching attention with sounds of aeroplanes taking off and sirens, as Maya retails "all I ever wanted was my story to be told". With her preceding albums named Kala and Arular after her parents, /\/\ /\ Y /\ is all about establishing M.I.A.'s own identity and you can sense her urgency in doing so here. 'It Takes a Muscle' follows, with bizarre distorted vocals set over an exquisite and almost reggae electronic tune, helping to cement her universal appeal.

'It Iz What It Iz' is a more conventional modern tune in its use of a synth-laden beat and in that sense it's a disappointment. However, 'Born Free' follows and its sample of Suicide's "Ghost Rider" is put to fantastic use. Full of energy, Born Free is a demonstration of M.I.A.'s (i hate to use the word but it fits here) swagger and the power she can, and wants to, assert. "I don't want to live for tomorrow, I push my life today, I'll throw this shit in your face when I see you, 'cos I've got something to say" particularly stands out.

'Meds and Feds' follows and with a return to the more industrial sound, with heavy electric guitars and electronic jumps that gives it an equally energetic (as Born Free) feel. Its hook makes it one of the album's stand-out tracks. 'Tell Me Why' follows and with a much more laidback feel, with M.I.A. reverting to singing rather than her typical rap delivery. However, all of its simple appeal is unfortunately overshadowed by confused and rather directionless lyrics.

The album finishes on 'Space' and continues with the singing and infectious electronic sound. The lyrics "my lines are you down, you can't call me" hint at a detached M.I.A. - or at least from modern technology, which is something she hesitantly attacks. Of course, the problems often outweigh the benefits, but when said benefits are helping her career, it's a difficult pill to swallow.

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In conclusion, /\/\ /\ Y /\ is an extremely strong follow-up. In some respects it even outweighs its predecessors, particularly in energy and popular appeal. However, I get the sense it's going to lose many of her older fans in doing so. But eh, there're some who only want to cling on to the trendy and unknown. Some of the songwriting here is the best of the year by miles, and M.I.A. is nowhere near past her prime just yet.

Highlights: XXXO, Steppin' Up, Meds and Feds, Lovalot, Story to be Told

Avoid: Tell Me Why

Rating: 8/10