The closest thing to a misbegotten compromise here is the disposable "Come Around," featuring a too-long Timbaland cameo; it's the last track, making skipping easy. Lead single "Jimmy," built on a sample from the '80s-vintage Bollywood cult flick Disco Dancer, is also a mixed bag — but if Arulpragasam's wispy singing is less convincing than her vigorous chanting, the track's cheekiness makes up the difference. Better yet are "Boyz," "World Turn" and "XR," whose electro-instrumentation sports an Eastern edge as fresh as it is vital.
Statesiders may still balk at Kala — but at least they'll be rejecting something close to the genuine item rather than a watered-down capitulation to the marketplace.
