M.I.A. - Kala

[Scott Warner]

i get a feeling like she's painting herself as this exotic rainforest warrior for everyone

I'm not really feeling it that way. When different elements are mixed together properly you get something brand new and challenging ,which is what I think MIA is delivering here. Maybe a better way to say it for me is that if I'm not thinking "Hmmm this sounds like World Music" then mission accomplished!

In contrast to say, I dunno, Paul Simon's 'Graceland' which sounds like the musical equivalent of Michael from the Office going to Jamaica and coming back with a Steel Drum.