Santogold

Santogold

Downtown Records

Rating: 3/4

Santi White’s penning of passively angsty lyrics for neo-soulstress Res on her 2001 debut How I Do was just a glimpse of the talent Santi possessed. Now, transformed into the electro-new wave goddess Santogold, her self-titled debut is filled with strong lyrics, thorough beats, and a surprising blend of Santo-sounds.  Many of the tracks on Santogold have been plastered all over the blogs with a phenomenal response. The catchy rock dub “L.E.S. Artistes” opens, mixing stiff guitar riffs with throwback synths that belong in a Molly Ringwald film. In fact, much of Santogold channels that mid-eighties leather jacket/pink lipstick vibe. “Unstoppable,” with Diplo’s slick-meets-tribal production, neighbors something of an M.I.A. album cut, and “I’m a Lady” featuring Trouble Andrew succeeds in all of its Gwen Stefani-ness. The reggae-glazed “Shove It” includes production by the late Disco D and a verse from Spank Rock that strays from his usual perverseness. The original “You’ll Find a Way” is rockier and more organic than the Switch and Sinden remix (also on the album), but without the deafening psychotropic meltdown in the middle. However, it’s that LSD-laced sound that many fans are expecting, but won’t find at great length.  The good news is that many of the best tracks on Santogold haven’t already been heard. The bad news is she isn’t exactly the Santogold you were anticipating.