ALBUMS (descending points)
1. M.I.A. - Kala
2. Times New Viking - The Paisley Reich
3. Marnie Stern - In Advance of the Broken Arm
4. Linda Thompson - Versatile Heart
5. v/a - After Dark
6. No Age - Weirdo Rippers
7. Nina Nastasia and Jim White - You Follow Me
8. Tokyo Jihen - Variety
9. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
10. Nellie McKay - Obligatory Villagers

TRACKS
1. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Umbrella
2. LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum
3. Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake - Give It to Me
4. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
5. T.I. - You Know What It Is
6. Daddy Yankee feat. Fergie - Impacto
7. Bright Eyes - Four Winds
8. Jason Fox - Aunt Jackie
9. Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head
10. Dizzee Rascal - Sirens

REISSUES
1. Young Marble Giants - Colossal Youth & Collected Works
2. Betty Davis - Betty Davis
3. Robyn Hitchcock - Black Snake Diamond Role

ARTISTS
1. M.I.A.
2. Radiohead
3. LCD Soundsystem
4. Lil Wayne
5. Ne-Yo

COMMENTS
M.I.A.'s attitudinal reference points are punk and post-, not hip-hop. Which isn't inherently good or bad, but I think the framing of her as a "rapper" just gets her wrong. She namechecks T.I., but she samples the Clash. In any case, "Kala" is way better than I expected it to be. I even (or especially) like the song with the kids on it.