♫ Album Review: Santogold ♫
In this day and age it’s refreshing to find and artist who is comfortable in their skin. No matter what phase of their career. A solid fan following drove the release of Santogold’s self-titled debut full length album from being just another throw away piece of work, to one that has anticipation behind it.
The Philadelphia native who studied Caribbean and West African drumming cleverly fuses indie, pop, and alternative rock music as if they always belonged together. Despite all those boxes to check it all seems to mesh well. Heavy on the guitars, horns, and piano keys, it’s not uncommon to hear funky contentment in songs like “Starstruck” but also playful aggressive chorus on “You’ll Find a Way”. The mantra of non-mainstream indie music doesn’t always have to be too “deep” for it’s own good, or evoke social change. Sometimes listening to a few good chords that flow from song to song almost seamlessly is just as important; and though Santogold doesn’t have a huge stand-out factor, her music seems to be just fine staying in its own lane and picking up fans along the way.
To her credit, not being a fan or even familiar with her style doesn’t render your ears helpless. Out the gate, you either hate it or you don’t. Her style is interesting and fresh without being so polished that it seems like a gimmick.
VIDEO: SANTOGOLD – LES ARTISTES
Santogold’s self-titled album is in stores April 29th on Downtown Records. Check her myspace for more info.
She’s different…I like!
dope!
hmm diff i like
I like her. She is going to be the black Gwen Stephani!
She biting off of M. I. A. with the Creator track a little bit….but she’s alright…it’s always better to hear something different though.
i like her video. I dislike to compare but she look like MACY GRAY, ay Brian or ANGEL what happen to her?
New music inde and pop music roxz
me like, it’s something different
she is like nothing else out right now but i like that alot. its refreshing…im a lady is hot!
soooooo DOPE!!!!! refreshing
i’ve been a fan of hers for a while! glad she’s finally getting love. she’s more popular with the brooklyn hipster scene
@5 um, why does she have to be biting off of MIA’s style? I hate it when people say that. Just because MIA is more famous, you don’t know who came first. And FYI they went on tour together so obviously there’s a mutual respect for each other musically
I’m feeling “I’m A Lady”.
That music review’s on this site are vague
I’m kinda feeling “Creator”!
As for “Im a lady”…..womp womp!
fiiiiire
I enjoy the sound but do have to agree, this does sound very reminiscent of MIA (‘creator’) , or visa versa.. they have the same flow.. I appreciate “I’m A Lady” much better cause it sounds fresh, this will get me geared up for summertime…lol
She actually co-wrote and produced Res’ album “How I Do” and was in another band called Stiffed so she’s been around for a minute. Nice to see the site giving some love to all kinds of black music. Keep up the good work!
She’s dope! I like her. Creator is a hott track!
I like her sound. She reminds me of Nelly Furtado a little bit.
love her. she’s quite a talent. it’s great she’s getting exposure and people are listening to what she’s gotta say
LUV IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
omgoshh im hella juiced u guys are givin Santo her props! i seen her live last year and she killed it
Creator is hot! And so is switch! Good to see all kinds of black musicians getting recognition.
luv luv luv Santogold…so happy she’s getting her due…gotta be tha freshest newbie out there…bout time we get to hear something original from the record industry.
i love her!! =]
Her sound is pretty dope. I really like “The Creator”. I could probably keep that on repeat. But, the music video is veyr weird and eerie. Well at least she stepped outside the box and did something artistic. She gets props from me for that I guess.
@16- That’s cool that she worked on Res’ CD. That CD is very well put together. I wish Res would come back out . Music is getting a little bland these days. She brought something fresh to the table like this new artist featured here.
I was never really into Santogold because I didn’t know that hype. However I took a listen to it and I’m starting to feel the chick. She did write and co-produce for Res(who is another hipster chick) and the rest is history. I know alot of people do compare her to MIA because they are both hipsters, but they are a little different because Santogold actually sings MIA chants over Diplo beats. Nonetheless it is really refreshing to see black women more creative because we tend to bitch and whine about Black women all looking the same lol
she aint bitin nuttin wat is it wit u people wit tha bitin shit why cant everyone do they own thing she got her own flavor its not a gimmick……..n to all showin love thas a good look im luvin that people are more openminded she black n she doin it james brown stepped out tha box oopps he built that shit n im luvin new artist buildin new ones DONT PUT MY MUSIC IN NO CATEGORY thas why i luvv GNARLS BARKLEY they all ova….yea diggin her n RES is sick sooooooo
I never got the hype with MIA, i just never liked her sound.
Santagold is ok i guess, might possibly grow on me. And she does sound like Macy Gray
I’m a laaaddyyy is sick haha. Me like longtime.
I Will be getting her album! Check out Shuv it by her, It’s another tight song.
And Res
Lovin both songs.She sounds like something fresh, new and Different.
homegirl is fresh! love it. shes dope. i would say shes like a M.I.A. but shes not really like her…M.I.A. is dope, but santogold is dope in her own rite. I hope she blows up, shes unique..she adds a breath of freshness to the industry i think.
She reminds me of the Canadian girls Tegan and Sara.
OH THANK GOD…IVE BEEN NEEDIN THIS IN MY LIFE FOR A WHILE NOW…IM REALLY LIVIN NOW! YES
I LOVE SANTOGOLD and i’ve been waiting for this album for a while now…can’t wait!!!
Noooooo, hell no.
to the person who asked, i’m pretty sure MIA came first
but anyway i’m such an indie fanatic so i’ve liked santogold for a while now. i’m not amazed by her just b/c most indie acts have similar styles but it doesn’t change the fact that she’s a pretty cool chick. i like “i’m a lady” the best b/c “les artistes” sounds like so many other indie songs and that other song sounds too much like MIA. “i’m a lady” sounds the most different
@Jamila B. vocally she sounds a bit like tegan and sara (the scratchy vocals). i don’t get the macy gray comparisons that ppl are trying to make though. her and macy sound nothing alike to me
I kinda diggin her. She bringin that late 80s/ early 90s sound back.
plus if anyone really likes indie music or just anything that isn’t being played ont he radio, you should listen to music on the website hype machine. sometimes they have pretty annoying music (not all indie is good) but some of the tracks are amazing (like “i’m a lady” was featured in the beginning of this month)
LOVE THE MUSIC…I AM SO FEELING HER SOUND..BUT I HAVE TO SAY I AM HEARING SOME SIMILAR’S TO M.I.A…JUST CHECK OUT HER MYSPACE PAGE IT HOT..I WILL BE LOOKING OUT FOR HER
Something about “Creator” makes me wonder what happened to Res! I miss her!
This chick is ok.
Santi White has been around for a while now. She was in the band Stiffed and she wrote and executive produced most of Res’ album How I Do. Her boyfriend Trevor Andrew is the guy you hear singing on “I’m a Lady”. Trevor is a profesional snowboarder and has a band called Trouble Andrew check out their myspace page- cool stuff. They are such a dope musical couple! I love Santi! Support good music and buy her CD!
I’m so feelin” this chic! She’s different & I like it. Reminds me of M.I.A. but she’s hott as well. Damn sho different. But, in this case, different is good.
TEAM Santogold !
Ummm Macy Gray? No And her & M.I.A. are friends…. Yeah Res’ new album is amazing for the people that know her.
love.
I absolutely LOOOOVVVVEEEE this chick… her video for Les Artistes is AMAZING!!! Its so creative and shes probably the most refreshing girl artist I’ve seen since the debut of Kelis and M.I.A (another artist people sleep on)…
She reminds me of M.I.A! especially the Creator song! she’s not orginial! M.IA. paved the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
she’s been around for a while, her cd’s with the band Stiffed, and she wrote that cd everyone loves by Res. their voices are very similar too.
Santogold is DOPE!!!!
Shove It is my shit
She is amazing !
creator was played on entourage right? the season 4 finale when vince and them reach cannes.
les artistes sounds a bit 80′s pop. Cool!
I love her!!! Heard her a while back on Myspace, unique with a cool sound!
Her video is ill
she’s sumthn different
i love her music its so fresh.
it reminds me of m.i.a mets uffie alot but
it is better. her lyrics and beats
are amazing !
what the hell is that coming out of her mouth on that album cover???