♫ 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.
M.I.A. co-write a few songs on the album as well!
Her and M.I.A. are really good friends, but Santi’s music is way more rock influenced that Maya’s.
I heard creator somewhere before and I just assumed it was a MIA song I hadn’t heard
Ok Santogold I will check her out.
i definitely have heard this song and assumed it was some tiny emo feist-wannabe chick… I LOVE that it’s not!
i love her song Creator. i first heard it on youtube. Luam (the most awesome choreographer..EVER) did a combo to it, and ever since, i’ve been hooked. her choreography really helped make the song imo, because even tho the song is hot on it’s own, having the visual made it that much better.
check it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=USY5xwgBHoU
=)
L.E.S. Artistes is lovely, though the XXXchange remix is way better
She the black Nelly Furtado with a Kelis imagination..this something Kanye would cosign ..not bad vid too bad the links to the songs wont work
This post is OVA late. Creator (SwitchVsSinden version) has been my jam since day dot. If you remember Res, she did nost of the writing on her album too. Really talented chick, much sucess to her.
haha #16, just read the comments and u mentioned the ‘res’ point already:)…
“I beleive in Santogold!”
@ 68. How is an album review post late? Her album isn’t even out yet. LMAO!
i love it!!!! 2 thumbs up!!!!
This is something that I would pop in the CD changer.
santi & mia are like best friends so they both have a heavy influence on each other
Angel, I meant in terms of giving Santogold some love as an artist point blank-Not necessarily the actual review itself. A la, how Brian discusses/brings attention to an artist, then follows it up with news on an album drop at a later date. In that sense.
I must say,
Her sound is different, the video is hot. . . love it!
I LIKE IT SIMILIAR BUT DIFFERENT TO MIA, I THINK I WILL BUY IT SNICE ITS ONLY $10.
OH YEA I GET THE CONCEPT OF THE VIDEO, BUT I WAS LOL WATCHIN IT IT LOOK LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A COMMERICAL OR SOMETHING, WITH ALL THAT DAMN FRUIT. LOL
This is my kind of music. She has a great voice and I will buy her cd any day.
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I just heard the cd today and I’m loving it crazy!
reminds me of joan armatrading…love it, thanks, like cold water after a dry spell!
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Good shit. I’m mad I slept on her so long cuz my man was tryna put me on.
Sorry to say, but the first thing I noticed when i saw Santogold (before i even heard her music) was that she’s basing her whole act and image off of MIA, Santogold is just a little more mild in her music and style, so she might appeal to a wider audience than MIA does. None the less, the tracks that do stand out on the album could have pretty much come straight off of Arular. I might even say the few tracks I’m thinking of might be even a slight step up from the shit on Arular.
I think the way the producers went about putting together this album was really smart – mixing trendy electro/hip-hop tracks with straight up 80s sounding tracks is a smart move to make.
I dig the diversity of the tracks on the album, but if you’re gonna have tracks like “creator” on it, the least you can do is switch up your image/dancer set-up/video, cuz theres nothin worse than being seen as a watered down version of an original trend-setter.
SantaGold and M.I.A compare and contrast:
Both women of color
Both use the same producers
Both have ecletic clothing style
The difference I feel is that SantaGold has more lyrical depth and sings waaaay better than M.I.A does.
Mia is way simple, fun, colorful like her art whereas SantaGold seems more polished like a more mature toned down M.I.A, plus you can relate to her more….anywhoo thats my take on the comparisons….
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