Santogold

(Downtown)

Santi White has been hailed as visionary, creative, genre-bending, and inventive – America’s answer to M.I.A. – but despite Santogold’s bloggorific buzz, her eponymous debut, while diverse, is no revolution. Aside from dubbed-up standout “Shove It,” the Philly native and former A&R rep forgoes 24 karat for gold filler. Opener “L.E.S. Artistes” could be a Yeah Yeah Yeahs outtake, “Creator” and “Unstoppable” water down Maya Arulpragasam’s politics, “My Superman” oozes Siouxsie Sioux, and “I’m a Lady” sews the three into a well-dressed, hypnotic frock. It might seem lazy to pull the comparison card, but the inflections are impossible to ignore. Santogold’s nothing more than catchy, simple, dance-worthy trivia that the kids will probably eat up with both hands whether on the dance floor, falling in love, breaking up, trying on American Apparel deep-Vs, or experimenting. There’s nothing offensive to speak of, just pure product. Don’t let the “indie” label fool you.

**

This article appears in April 25 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US