This week we step into a whole other dimension, departing wildly from the groups I've been covering. This week's album is titled 'Santogold' and it's from a singer who calls herself... well, Santogold. Originally her name's Santi White so it's not too far of a reach, I suppose.
When I ordered this CD I couldn't be sure exactly what I'd be getting, but I'd seen Rolling Stone and some other music magazines making a little noise about Santogold so I wanted to give her a shot. The descriptions left a lot to the imagination. Her work's been described as everything from hiphop to retro 80's pop mixed with punk. Definitely difficult to put a finger on.
First, let's clear something up: Santogold is neither hip hop nor R&B in any way. I've read that she's been annoyed by critics trying to box her in with those genres due to her ethnicity. As an African-American woman she finds this offensive and, I feel, rightly so. I'd term her sound as dancehall punk with an 80's pop sensibility. She's a solid songwriter and a powerful vocalist with a very recognizable voice. Once you spin this disc you'll see why she's got a track ('You'll Find a Way') on the video game FIFA '08 as well as in commercials already.
Did I mention she only first appeared on the scene in 2007? Yeah, Santogold's moved that quickly! This album showcases the range she's capable of. You'll get everything from slower songs such as 'My Superman' or 'Starstruck' to more upbeat numbers like 'Lights Out' and 'The Creator'. Many of the songs reminded me of dub, dancehall or ska tracks and are extremely danceable. 'Shove it' and 'Unstoppable' are probably the most likely to get thrown at a dance floor. The song 'L.E.S. Artistes' strikes me as a possible Santogold anthem, with the line "I can I hope you will be worth what I give up."
All in all, Santogold's definitely fun and a few of her songs also have videos available on YouTube and unlike a lot of pop musicians these days she's got some truly artistic and interesting music videos. I definitely think that if you like loud, fun music with a punked out funky twist, you'll dig Santogold.
I have to say I don't really care to have a remix of a song on an album and a couple tracks were less than interesting to me personally because they lacked the spunk of the rest of the album. Also, the CD's jacket doesn't contain the lyrics which is something of an obsession for me. Those are my only warning flags.
With lyrics like, "we think you're a joke shove your hope where it don't shine" it's tough not to be captivated with this sassy singer. Plus she's puking glitter on the front cover, what more could you ask for, really?
