This Sri Lankan-born and London-based sensation is one of the hottest things in music right now, and for good reason. Her instant buzz preceded Arular by nearly a year with the release of the disco-drenched "Sunshowers" and dancehall grime of "Galang." Those singles along with the M.I.A. and Diplo's mixtape, Piracy Funds Terrorism, Vol. 1 were only a glimpse of Maya Arulpragasam's talent and immediate magnetism. The fact is that with its immediacy, creativity and cheeky confidence, Arular is a refresher course in rare originality.

Visually, she might remind you of the attractively awkward foreign exchange student trying to fit in with your Phys. Ed. class way back in 1987. She was sporting the brightest neon green shirt with stonewashed Guess jeans, neon pink and green friendship rings, bracelets, and anklets, purple Converse high-tops, braces, and curly dark hair with six inch bangs playing double-dutch with the other outcasts of the class. It's 2005 now, and even though she might be wearing the same clothes, she's greatly matured.

With Arular, Arulpragasam meshes the worlds of hip-hop, dancehall, electro and grime with a punk-rock mentality that puts her at the top of her game. The entire album fuses her non-intrusive, yet poignant politicized views with an incomparably unique musical style and vocal delivery. It also bears a strong resemblance to the lyrical bravado that early hip-hop pioneers displayed over 20 years ago. That coolness shines through on joints like "Pull Up the People" when Maya rants, "Yeah, me got God and me got you / Every day thinking bout how me get through / Everything I own is on I.O.U. / But I'm here bringing you something new."

M.I.A. is indeed something new. She's a purely original, innovative and evocative leap forward in dance music today. Even with its politically charged heart, Arular will go down as the biggest party album this year. Colossal, irregular beats engaged with pounding bass lines, a significant politicized message and a powerful delivery makes this one of the most momentous albums this year.