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

/\/\/\Y/\ (Pronounced Maya) is the third album by the Sri Lankan rapper, released after a very eventful period for M.I.A. (The media crusade by M.I.A. against journalist Lynn Hirschberg, accused of releasing an interview full of explosive statements never made by the rapper, the censorship on YouTube of the violent video for Born Free and the frequent death threats) is the artist's most challenging album and it takes a lot to appreciate it.
In fact, this album leaves behind the exotic sound of Kala and the electroclash of Arular and makes room for distorted and chaotic beats.

The album starts with The Message, a short intro with pounding beats and the political lyrics you'd expect from someone like M.I.A. Immediately after The Message comes Steppin' Up, a totally twisted and very indigestible track, devoid of any melody. It is one of the best songs on the album and also among the most experimental. Then it shifts to XXXO, the most commercial track of Maya that mixes trendy electropop with the album's ''dirty'' sound, an undeniably catchy song but perhaps too mainstream compared to the rest of the album's sound. Next arrives Teqkilla, which is entirely disconnected and chaotic, and Rusko, the song's producer, has created a totally twisted and sick sound.

Now we reach the gem of the album, Lovalot, which has very fierce lyrics referring to the story of Dzhennet Abdurakhmanova, a child bride turned suicide bomber who blows herself up to avenge her Caucasian husband. It's a song that samples 'I Said it' by singer Opal Jones. Continuing, there's the dubstep of Story to be told (with a very interesting video) that mixes a very chaotic setting with a certain Orient-like vibe, It Takes A Muscle is a cover of Spectral Display, a sweet and easy-to-listen-to song; the only downside, in my opinion, is the vocoder used by the singer in the chorus, which somewhat ruins the song.

It Iz What It Iz in my opinion is a useless filler that doesn't leave much of an impression and could have easily been discarded. Then there is Born Free, an ''angry'' song that shows us an M.I.A. leaving her ''electro-hop'' (if you'll allow me the term) for a sound that mixes synths with a pounding drumbeat. Then comes Meds And Feds, like Born Free, a very chaotic song that mixes electric guitars with a pounding beat.
Tell Me Why is like a Paper Planes, a single ready to hit the top of the charts but, despite Diplo's touch on this piece, this track is boring, and we end with the sweet electro-lullaby Space, an excellent song to close the album.

In short, /\/\/\Y/\ is an album that tries to detach itself (except in some points) from the current mainstream. Many of its listeners could be disappointed by this total change.
In short, M.I.A. has created an album that leaves no middle ground; you either love it or hate it.