Spring '08 LPs From Madonna, Coldplay, The Roots, Mudcrutch, Elvis Costello : Rolling Stone

Santogold

Santogold 4/29

Before she became Santogold, the Brooklyn artist who mixes electronic beats with punk guitars and New Wave synths, Santi White worked A&R for a major label. When a pal, the alt-R&B singer Res, called for advice on finding a producer, White quit to write and produce Res' rock-reggae-R&B hybrid debut, How I Do. Now White — who went solo after singing in the punk band Stiffed — is making her debut on an album that ranges from the dub-influenced "Shove It" to "L.E.S. Artistes," which sounds like a Cars/Strokes mash-up, to "Creator," which strongly resembles her friend M.I.A.'s latest album. "Nina Simone and HR from Bad Brains are my two biggest vocal influences," she says.