Santogold (album)

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Santogold
Santogold cover
Studio album by Santogold
Released Flag of the United States April 29, 2008
Flag of the United Kingdom May 12, 2008
Recorded 2007
Genre Indie Rock, Dub, Electronic, New Wave, Punk Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Length 41:19
Label Downtown Records (US), Atlantic Records (UK)
Producer Diplo, Disco D, Freq Nasty, John Hill, Jonnie "Most" Davis, Santi White, Switch, Chuck Treece, Steel Pulse
Professional reviews
Singles from Santogold
  1. "Creator"
    Released: March 25, 2008
  2. "L.E.S. Artistes"
    Released: March 25, 2008

Santogold is the eponymous debut album by alternative American artist Santogold. The album was released on 29 April 2008 in the United States,[1] and May 12 in the United Kingdom.[2] The album features appearances or production work from Bad Brains's, Chuck Treece , Cliffored 'Moonie' Pusey of Steel Pulse, Diplo, Disco D, Freq Nasty, M.I.A, Naeem Juwan and XXXchange of Spank Rock, Radioclit, Sinden, Switch, and Trouble Andrew.[3] The album leaked to p2p networks on April 17, 2008.

Contents

[edit] Background

Santogold's goal of the album was to "help break down boundaries and genre classifications" who wasn't "a black woman singing R&B or hip hop."[4] "The cool thing is that I was able to work with all these genres that are typically sub-cultural, like dub or punk or something, and then, by writing in a way that had hooks, made it accessible to everyone."[5] When Santogold had signed to Atlantic Records, the album was "pretty much done and they already loved it. They asked me not to change anything on it."[6] The writing and recording process took eight weeks.[6] Santogold had tried to work with her friend Mark Ronson, whom she collaborated with for his album Version, but "it wasn't possible timing-wise."[6]

[edit] Critical reception

According to review aggregator Metacritic, Santogold has been received positively, with a score of 78%.[7] The album was given four out of five stars by Rolling Stone, saying that Santogold "mixes dub, electronic and indie rock for one of the year's most unique debuts." The Hartford Courant agreed, continuing that no songs are alike, "yet they fit together to form a cohesive whole".[8] PopMatters opined that "if this is the struggles of urban artists" Santogold's "anthems ensure that starving will never go out of style."[9] Entertainment Weekly also gave the album an A-. "The album is hardly flawless, but in an era that retro-fetishizes rock and whitewashed pop, Santogold feels both raw and real".[10] NME felt the album "reveals a glittery crazy-paved path towards a brave new musical future."[11]

[edit] Track listing

# Title Writer(s)
[12]		 Producer(s)
[13]		 Featured Guest(s) Time
[14]
1 "L.E.S. Artistes" John Hill, Santi White Jonnie "Most" Davis - 3:24
2 "You'll Find A Way" C. Feinstein, J. Hill, S. White Jonnie "Most" Davis, Switch - 3:00
3 "Shove It" J. Hill, Naeem Juwan, Dave Shayman, S. White Disco D, Switch Spank Rock 3:46
4 "Say Aha" J. Hill, S. White Switch - 3:35
5 "Creator" Darin McFayden, David Taylor, S. White Switch, Freq Nasty vs. Switch & Freq Nasty 3:33
6 "My Superman" J. Hill, Wesley Pentz, S. White Diplo - 3:00
7 "Lights Out" C. Feinstein, J. Hill, S. White John Hill, Santi White - 3:12
8 "Starstruck" J. Hill, S. White Diplo, Switch - 3:54
9 "Unstoppable" W. Pentz, S. White Diplo, John Hill - 3:32
10 "I'm A Lady" Trouble Andrew, C. Feinstein, J. Hill, S. White John Hill, Santi White Trouble Andrew 3:43
11 "Anne" J. Hill, D. Taylor, S. White Switch - 3:28
12 "You'll Find A Way" (Switch & Sinden Remix) C. Feinstein, J. Hill, S. White Switch, Sinden - 3:12

[edit] Charts and certifications

Chart (2007) Peak Position Certification
Belgium 25[15]
France 110[15]
Irish Albums Chart 45[15]
UK Albums Chart 26[16]
U.S. Billboard 200 74[17]
U.S. Billboard Top Electronic Albums 2[18]
U.S. Billboard Top Independent Albums 6[19]

[edit] Personnel

  • Vocals – Santi White
  • Featured vocalists – Spank Rock, Trouble Andrew
  • Bass – John Hill
  • Guitar – Chris Feinstein, J. Salomao, John Hill, Santi White
  • Horns – Alfonzo Hunter, K. Louis, L. Benjamin
  • Keyboards – Alex Lipsen, John Morrical, John Hill, Santi White
  • Organ – John Morrical
  • Percussion – Chuck Treece, M. Dilan

[edit] Production

  • Executive Producer: John Hill, Santi White
  • Producers:
    • John Hill (tracks 1-4, 6-11)
    • Santi White (tracks 1-4, 7, 10, 11)
    • Diplo (tracks 6, 8, 9)
    • Disco D (track 3)
    • Freq Nasty (track 5)
    • Jonnie "Most" Davis (tracks 1, 2)
    • Switch (tracks 2-5, 8, 11, 12)
  • Mastering: Ted Jensen
  • Programming: Disco D, Dr. Israel, John Hill
  • Artwork by: Isabelle Lumpkin

[edit] References

  1. ^ Santogold. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  2. ^ Santogold. HMV. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  3. ^ Samuel Strang (2008-04-23). Santo Claws: talking S1W, M.I.A. and Mark Ronson with Santogold. Drowned in Sound. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
  4. ^ Tom Thorogood (2008-04-23). Santogold Interview. MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  5. ^ Rebecca Nicholson (2008-05-19). Santogold and the genre problem. The Lipster. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  6. ^ a b c Peter Robinson (2008-05-13). Santogold discusses Ashlee Simpson, Mark Ronson and her current illness. PopJustice. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  7. ^ Santogold. Metacritic. CNET Networks. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  8. ^ Eric R. Danton (2008-05-01). New On Disc: Santogold, Lyfe Jennings. The Hartford Courant. Tribune Company. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  9. ^ Alexis Pauline Gumbs (2008-04-30). Santogold. PopMatters. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  10. ^ Leah Greenblatt (2008-04-18). Santogold (2008). Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  11. ^ Priya Elan (2008-05-08). Santogold. NME. IPC Media. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  12. ^ Santogold. All Music Guide. All Media Group. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
  13. ^ Santogold. Discogs. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  14. ^ Santogold. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
  15. ^ a b c Santogold. aCharts.us. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  16. ^ Santogold. ChartStats.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  17. ^ Billboard 200. Billboard.com. Nielsen Company (2008-05-07). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  18. ^ Top Electronic Albums. Billboard.com. Nielsen Company (2008-05-07). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
  19. ^ Top Independent Albums. Billboard.com. Nielsen Company (2008-05-07). Retrieved on 2008-05-12.

[edit] External links

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Santogold
Studio albums
Santogold (2008)
Singles
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