Santigold’s visuals for “The Keepers” is a haunting social critique

We here at HotW are pretty much in love with all things Santigold this year, and her new video for “The Keepers” is no exception. If you had previously listened to the song and wondered what Ms. Santi White was trying to say with her slightly cryptic lyrics, the video spells it out in numbing clarity. An all American family (50’s style, that is) is presented in a green tinted light, the family digging into their gluttonous amounts of food while the mom shows off her new body parts. At a certain point a drive by happens, and the family drops to the floor, only to resume eating as if nothing happened (perhaps a comment on how living in the American bubble can at times make us oblivious to the hardships going on around the world). It’s definitely a disturbing and haunting visual, made all the creepier when laced with Santigold’s poppy rhythms and dance moves. Granted, that’s just my interpretation – give it a watch and see what things you get from it.

Oh and just for fun – we saw Santigold in Baltimore a couple weeks ago and she was phenomenal! So here’s a little clip to give you an idea of just how great a performer is – make sure to catch her on tour if you can!!!

Album Review: Santigold’s stellar ‘Master of my Make Believe’

Santigold‘s long awaited follow up to her 2008 debut album Santogold, has come at last. Fans of the singer have had to wait what seems like an excessively long time for this album, but personally, I think it was worth the wait. Master of my Make Believe delivers big not just because it enhances some of what made the debut so solid, but because it shows a maturity and evolution of Santi White as a musician.

MOMMB has been generally positively reviewed, but with one resounding criticism – across the board people seem to think that Santigold has lost the “fun” that was so prominent and in your face about the first album. But really, a record so fully entrenched in Caribbean flavor would be difficult to classify as anything but FUN. Plus, the crafty weaving of the intricate eclectic beats with pure island groove make this album not just enjoyable but easily listenable in just about every possible situation (I used it for a weight workout and for cooking dinner!)

While I’ll agree that there aren’t many “fun” fluffy songs, I would argue that that’s a good thing – as they’ve been replaced by songs with greater depth. Songs like “God from the Machine”, “The Riot’s Gone” and “This Isn’t Our Parade” should be commended – they are filled with lyrics full of perspective and reflection, painting images of dissatisfaction with societal issues and how they can effect personal struggles. And it’s not like the fun isn’t there – “Big Mouth”, “Look at These Hoes”, “Go!” and “Freak Like Me” will have you dancing the night away with their MIA-esque hooks and beats. But even some of the higher energy songs contain clear signs of a more grown up Santigold – “Fame”, “Disparate Youth”, and slightly off tempo “The Keepers” maintain a high energy while simultaneously making genuine statements about culture.

After listening to the album heavily for the last five days, I must say I’m impressed. Throw out any previous conceptions of what Santogold was – MOMMB introduces us to the new Santigold: full of fun but majorly introspective, reflective, with poignant things to say.

Though I think the entire album is pretty awesome, stand out tracks that I can’t seem to get enough of include the militaristically timed “God from the Machine”, the rock anthem island laced “Disparate Youth”, and the popping hip hop lyrical quirk of “Look at these Hoes”. Check each of them out below.

Santigold flips Creedance Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” on it’s head with smashing results

Santigold‘s awesome new album, Master of my Make Believe, is out next Tuesday, and if you haven’t had a chance to stream it yet, you really should head over to NPR to do so. In anticipation of the release, we’ve got a brand new cover by her that will likely surprise and please you. On a visit to BBC Radio 1’s studio, she put a spin on the classic Creedance Clearwater Revival track “Proud Mary”. Rather than trying to meld herself to the original formula for the song, she turned it on it’s heels, blending thumping fuzzy beats with her signature vocals capturing the lyrics in a new way, bending them around the hip hop beat with ease. This cover not only reminds us of how great classic rock is, but how a great artist can really masterfully amp up a song into anything she imagines it to be.

Santigold – Proud Mary (Creedance Clearwater Revival cover)