Matangi
by M.I.A.
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M.I.A. bestography
Matangi is ranked 4th best out of 10 albums by M.I.A. on BestEverAlbums.com.
The best album by M.I.A. is Kala which is ranked number 770 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 2,228.
(N.B. Bestographies include all albums by an artist (and their variations), but do not include albums ranked outside the top 100,000).
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Matangi track list
The tracks on this album have an average rating of 77 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).
Top-rated track as rated by BestEverAlbums.com members.
Matangi rankings
(Calculated from aggregate positions across 60,000 charts (2 million album rankings). (Last updated: 3 hours ago).
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Matangi ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this album. | Show all 95 ratings for this album.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Album ratings | Avg. album rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 06/26/2026 04:54 | Exist-en-ciel | 15,335 | 70/100 |
| ! | 04/30/2026 13:37 | Mafedere | 681 | 75/100 |
| ! | 01/02/2026 11:33 | TonySayers61 | 25,152 | 64/100 |
| ! | 10/22/2025 22:32 |  EyeKanFly | 8,848 | 65/100 |
| ! | 08/25/2025 15:40 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,776 | 82/100 |
Rating metrics:
Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)
This album has a Bayesian average rating of 73.1/100, a mean average of 72.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 73.2/100. The standard deviation for this album is 13.4.
Matangi favourites
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Matangi comments
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buzzdainer 12/02/2017 20:41 | #202536 | TOP COMMENT
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This album takes its name from the Hindu goddess Matangi, and it draws from a range of musical styles and influences that can at times be bewildering. Overall, though, I think M.I.A.'s various digital experiments and cross-cultural references result in a surprisingly coherent and successful body of work. The lead single, "Bad Girls," is an obvious high point; the ostensibly haughty delivery is perfectly suited for its subject matter, and M.I.A.'s commitment to female empowerment is made perfectly clear in the video for the song, which was shot in Ouarzazate, Morocco, in solidarity with the women-to-drive movement. An important record that is both universal and very much of its historical moment.
It's definitely a worthwhile listen, but I'm not convinced that it's as great as any of its predecessors. "Matangi" is practically as chaotic as its highly underrated predecessor "MAYA", but it lacks the diverse, sonic innovation of that album. It also lacks the fascinating political subtext of Arular/Kala, making the record feel a bit like a half-baked product.
However, there are a hell of a lot of bangers (example: brilliant lead single "Bad Girls"), most of which marry hardcore dance, chaotic beats, eastern influences & hindu culture. The summation of all of these makes for a very unique album, and is certainly interesting enough to keep the whole thing from sounding tedious, despite it being slightly overlong.
best album from m.i.a. the writting and the production is better than the others, and the overall concept is fantastic
This thing is all over "Best of 2013" lists in music magazines. For me "Matangi" is a bit flat & undeserving of that sort of attention. It seems like a step back from "Maya". "Bad Girls" is clearly the knockout single here. "Bring the Noise" & "aTENTion" are also worth hearing. This doesn't truly break any new ground OR inspire repeat listens. It's probably not worth your time if you're not a fan already.
Necharsian 11/28/2013 21:17 | #95237 | TOP COMMENT
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Dark and sexy you better believe this is one of the best of the year
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