Master of My Make-Believe

Santigold is a style-magazine editor’s fantasy come to life. Her second LP is an impeccably fashionable art-pop hodgepodge: hopped-up dance rock, dub clatter, turbulent post-punk ballads. The production credits include a couple of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, and Diplo. But who is Santigold? Too often, she’s a blank. She sings serviceably and raps quite well. Her songs sound great but feel off, merely gesturing in the direction of emotions. In the end, she’s so cool she’ll frost up your earbuds. That’s a lot more than you can say about most singers, and a lot less than you can say about great ones.

Listen to “Disparate Youth”: 

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• Photos: Random Notes