Santogold

Santogold

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2008)
• Original Release Date: April 29, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Downtown
• ASIN: B0014DC046
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,263 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #18 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Alternative Styles > Rock > Garage Rock
  #22 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Alternative Styles > Alternative Dance
  #24 in	Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Electronica

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk

Don't call Santi White an R&B artist: on her debut album Santogold, this former music biz A&R and pop songwriter for hire is challenging race stereotypes and playing fast and loose with genre, mashing up dub, punk, and electronics to make an energetic, anger-fuelled music that blurs the lines between the dancefloor and the moshpit. Comparisons to MIA hold some water, especially on the bullish "Creator" (it's worth noting that Santogold features production turns from sometime MIA collaborators Diplo and Switch). For the most part, though, Santogold's debut follows a quite different path. "L.E.S Artists" is stirring new-wave pop that builds to grand, tearful choruses reminiscent of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, while "You'll Find a Way" and "Say Aha" are propulsive ska-pop numbers that hark back to its creator's previous band, Bad Brains-influenced punks Stiffed. But it's not just skilful genre-skipping to recommend this record, though: White is the rare vocalist that can sound empowered and vulnerable within the space of the same song, and it's her force of character that places Santogold ahead of the pack. --Louis Pattison

Product Description

"The future of music, today" - Rolling Stone 10 Artists To Watch. "Singing in a haunting, sensual wail...she adds a layer of softness to an unusual mix of synthesizers, dance hall rhythms, and percolating new wave" - NY Times. "Future-pop princess...next big thing" - Spin. "Santi White is Santogold...the collaborators and players may change, the sounds may shift, but at the center is one woman's indelible vision" - The Fader. SXSW / Coachella shows, 2007 tours with Bjork, M.I.A., songs featured in Entourage, Grey's Anatomy, Grand Theft Auto.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Gold!!, May 17, 2008

By	Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I first heard of Santogold late last year when a few sites, Rolling Stone and The BBC included, raved about her being one of the faces to watch out for in 2008. I later found out she contributed her vocals to "Pretty green" on Mark Ronson's "Version" album.

First of all, I was amazed to find out she's American, I think she sounds very British, not unlike M.I.A. whom almost everyone keeps comparing her to, but with more pop appeal. Her voice is something of a raspy yell, not unlike Gwen Stefani's, and her sound is a hodge podge of eighties music styles.

Determined not to get pigeonholed as an R&B singer on account of her race, she tackles electro dub; the moody "Shove it", "Creator" (laden with electronic buzzes and effects), the fantastic "Unstoppable" (with jittery sounding synths, a favourite of mine), and the remix of "You'll find a way". The last pair are the most M.I.A sounding on the album.

The rest is electro rock/pop. Opening cut "L.E.S artistes" has chugging synths and wouldn't sound out of place on a No Doubt album. Bouncier are "You'll find a way", and "Say aha". "My superman" (with a laid back vocal delivery) is a creepy sounding song with an echoing riff, it sounds like the soundtrack to some spy thriller and is a favourite of mine.

"Lights out" has her singing in a smooth cooing voice not unlike Debbie Harry in Blondie, set to a chugging riff (and jangly guitars). "Starstruck" is a slow grinding number with moody sounding synths and electro flourishes, and also downtempo is "I'm a lady" (think Gwen Stefani's "Cool"), and the mellow "Anne" with ghostly wailing and a gently pulsing synth riff is awesome.

Listening through the entire album, I found there wasn't any single track I wanted to skip. Diverse sounds and intelligent lyrics which all stand well together. Pure Gold in my opinion, and yes, she's definitely one to watch out for!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great new Artiste, May 1, 2008

By	cxd "cxd207" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

I too saw Santogold open for Bjork last year and have been eagerly awaiting her debut CD. I bought the singles when they became available a while ago & now the entire CD. I am not disappointed in the least! Great music, infectious beats, a truly distinctive voice - the CD is 5 Star all the way. I cannot wait to see her in person again. Hopefully she will come back to her native Philly!

Standouts are L.E.S. Artistes, Creator, and Shove It!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recycled 80's (voices), yet fun., May 16, 2008

By	Charlotte C. Banks "ccbanks7004" (Central Cali) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I bought this cd, there was a sticker from the New York Times that said "Singing in a haunting sensual wail . . . she adds a layer of softness to an unusual mix of synthesizers, dance-hall rhythms and perculating new wave." Yeah, Santogold's voice is haunting and that is because nearly every song reminded me of another singer. Most of the time she sounds like Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons with Toyah's loud vibrato. On "My Superman" and "Starstruck" she sounds like Siouxsie Sioux (Sioux's Red Light and Lunar Camel come to mind). On "I'm a Lady" she has a laid back vocal like Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. Haunting, indeed.

But besides that, this is a fun disc, except for one song (Say Aha) that made me say, "ok, enough". I love Superman, Shove It (I love Jamaican dub), Creator, Starstruck, and definately okayplayer.com's pick, "Unstoppable". I have a feeling that, unless it has already been done, a creative cheerleader is going to make that one into a staple cheer song like Micki or Pump Up the Jam.