Santogold

While buzz built furiously around Santogold's 2008 debut, writers longing to seem in the know could not resist comparing the New York City-based singer/songwriter to M.I.A. The appraisal proved both blessing and curse; at the time, the Sri Lankan wunderkind was indie fan gold and any connection could not hurt exposure, but it also opened her to the inevitable (and grossly unfair) accusations of being a carbon copy. The two do share a producer, have frequently performed together, and on many tracks like the frenetic "Shove It" and the swirlingly hypnotic "Creator," the similarity is undeniable.
However, the mass of SANTOGOLD owes more to the reggae, no wave, punk, and synth pop coming out as the N.Y.C. of the '70s crashed into the '80s. On opening track and debut single "L.E.S. Artistes," Santogold channels Dale Bozzio over whirling, confectionary, nostalgic pop reminiscent of Missing Persons, while on the sinister "My Superman," she summons up shadows of Siouxsie Sioux. While her music owes to many sources, she places her own indelible spin on her creations and re-creations, opening herself up for one more comparison with M.I.A., releasing a record that is one of the most talked about of its year.