It’s a pain to tear up a South Asian artist like I did, but M.I.A. ‘s output has been disappointing in the last couple years.
M.I.A’s mix of ethnic and counterculture themes isn’t as novel as it was when I first heard “Sunshowers” in 2004. The fresh energy concealed her lack of talent back then, as it does with most young punk artists. However, that energy is gone and all she have left is cheap, empty gestures, like her middle finger stunt on the Super Bowl.
As I say in the article, she has a long row to Jai hoe.