SF doesn't exactly know how to shake its booty, but it wants to. Witness the buzz brewing over Justice at Mezzanine in October. Similarly, pasty asses got tougher and more lean in the wake of M.I.A at the Rickshaw and Amoeba last week. If you just can't get enough, peep the new M.I.A. out in two weeks. It's on the label that released Thom Yorke's solo joint. ASD's got the review below, ... cus we cool like that. -d2

M.I.A.

Kala

XL Recordings

Scheduled release date: August 21

BY OSCAR PASCUAL

Watch the video for "Jimmy":

The “World” section at your local music retailer is just a way to pile together all the stuff that isn’t from America or the UK. It really isn’t fair that Bossanova joints can be found right next to some Riverdance jams, but English-born Sri Lankan M.I.A.’s latest, Kala, truly deserves to be called a World album.

She proposes in her new disc that this is the Third World Democracy, and there’s no arguing here. M.I.A. did a lot of jumping from continent to continent for this one, and the end result captures the musical flavor of several different cultures and manages to infuse them with booming 808s and frantic rhythms.

“Bird Flu,” “Boyz,” and “Hussel” highlight the music of Africa. No, not like hip-hop R&B, but AFRICA (click on link to see Jamie Foxx explain). “Jimmy” and “Bamboo Banger” reworks Bollywood samples to get your rump on the dancefloor with a heaping bowl of chutney,and “Mango Pickle Down River” sounds like an Aboriginal “Paul Revere” with didjeridoos where Mike D expects fish and mangos rather than your cash and jewelry.

Globalization aside, Kala can pound you over the head with furious dance rhythms so unavoidable you’ll either burn your eyeballs out of your sockets with a Bic lighter from the annoying agony, or just get up offa that thang and do your best Night at the Roxbury impression. M.I.A. does provide slower pace for all you headnodders with “Paper Planes” and Timbaland-produced “Come Around,” but seem kinda boring juxtaposed to the 120 BPM-plus bangers on this disc. The final product is a fierce offering with a lot of bold, creative sound that’s accessible to whatever hemisphere you find yourself.

ASD's Eric K. Arnold spent three torturous days in weed country over the weekend watching three Marley brothers and taking photos for our Reggae Rising slideshow. Evidently there's been some beef over the event between the locals up there that's been written about in the Chron and the EBX. We say, 'Relax, Mon! Kick back, light up, and check the pics by following this link.

Sergio Ornelas of Beer and Rap is our man in charge of all things hard. He says the new UGK (featured this week in the New York Times, goddam!), "is really fucking solid" but "not without some flat points; the worst being "Stop-N-Go", which features Jazze Pha. I don’t know how the fuck this dude manages to still have a career with his sorry ass beats." Read on for more wisdom from B&R.

UGK

Underground Kingz

Jive

Released 8-7-07

Yesterday the latest UGK album dropped after multiple failed release dates, court appearances and record label bullshit. UGK has been a force in the game since '88 and they have yet to fall off. Even though it’s been six years since the last album, Pimp C and Bun B have remained extremely relevant in this thing we call the rap. While others have been slippin Bun B keeps showing rappers up on their own songs and still got paid while Pimp C pisses off entire cities with his gentle words.

After being delayed for so long they have decided to release a two-disc album featuring a bonus DVD. Usually these attempts turn out to be suspect as hell, relying heavily on half-ass filler, please see Wu Tang Forever for an obvious example, but Pimp C has definitely had a lot of control over this album which is understandable considering the cut and paste job that was Sweet Jones. The album has benefited from having a more cohesive sound, especially compared to other major albums that just sound like flipping though a rolodex of generic producers that labels think are hot. Pimp is also the focus of the album, and rightfully so since the man has been shut out of the game for four years. Not to say that Bun is disappointing but Pimp C shines a lot harder on this album. With 26 total tracks, they managed to split the album fairly evenly between guest features and strictly UGK songs.

No, not a melusine exhibit

BY CHLOE VELTMAN

It’s tempting to be snooty about Starbucks’ attempt to enter the world of fine art. I mean, it’s one thing for the caffeine giant to hock Paul McCartney CDs and Oprah-style reading material in its stores, but what gives the company license to start putting on art exhibits?

Despite certain reservations, I can’t but think that the organization’s local Avant-Grande art project is a good thing on the whole. Now in its second year, it’s an annual exhibition of visual art by the company’s San Francisco baristas. The project is being organized in conjunction with the Academy of Art University. The exhibition takes place on Saturday 15 September at Terra Gallery (511, Harrison Street in San Francisco.)

Bitter:Sweet, 8 at the Independent. $15.

"Consisting of Shana Halligan (vocals) and Kiran Shahani (producer), Bitter:Sweet is more than just Zero 7 meets the Cardigans meets Bjork. Flavored with Shana’s sultry, sweet vocals poured over Kiran’s acoustic bass riffs, smooth string arrangements and blasts of brass, their sexy, upbeat compositions make you aware that Bitter:Sweet is authentic." -- Juicy

Oliver Future, 9 at Bottom of the Hill. $7.

"Nothing sums up the essence of Oliver Future, and perhaps their mixed feelings about L.A., than the back to back dazzlers that close this suite. "Drowning Parade" is a soulful ballad that could be an Antony and the Johnsons outtake, with its smoky-lounge vocals, alto and tenor saxophones, and Wurlitzer piano. The gentle tune gives way to "The Slow Fast," filled with scraping guitar riffs, techno beats, and punk rock screams "It's a-a-a-l-l... o-o-o-n-n." This record is on alright: on point, and on its way to being one the better surprise releases of the year. To hear for yourself, simply do what I did and put Pax Futura on the stereo." -- Lost at Sea

FreekBass, 9 at Elbo Room. $7.

"Produced and co-written by the legendary bassist Bootsy Collins, former James Brown sideman and bottom end for Parliament-Funkadelic, Freekbass' Body Over Mind is the kind of straight-up funk record that simply doesn't get made anymore. The grooves are deep and, for once, the cosmic lyrics about righteousness, grooves, and shakin' one's booty make perfect sense." -- AllMusic