Santogold: Santogold
I am at two minds about this album cover. Part of me hates it, part of me likes it. No part of me loves it but every part thinks it’s interesting. It looks like nothing else on the shelf at HMV at at a time like this that is a good thing.
The actual music itself is pretty good also. I expected the worst then was surprised that I had heard a few of the tracks already. Damn girlfriend and her morning radio fix.
What strikes me most about this cover is that it’s a fairly unflattering photo of her and for a debut album you’d expect the standard over produced beauty shot. Not a American Apparel reject with glitter.
I heard a funny quote somewhere that “Glitter was the herpes of craft”. So true it’s hard as hell to get rid off.
It somehow reminds me of Minor Threat’s cover.
At the risk of sounding like a weirdo I just finished reading a book on body language and from what I remember the pose here is showing nervousness, the hands between the legs is to protect herself. They could be hand cuffs that were photoshopped out? The down pointed head with the eyes raised is meant to symbolize a child looking up at the parent to gain sympathy. Princess Di used this all the time.
This probably would have been the cover photo had someone wearing a suit be allowed to make the decision.
The cover artist is Isabelle Lumpkin may not have much info on here official site but she’s on Friendster although that might change once she knows you can Google her name and it appears. That’s good right?
Her site seems to match the style of the cover which makes me feel either she is really into that style or Santogold label chose her and said “we’ll have one of those”. That’s a pretty negative view but it happens! Here’s a bunch of other art done for the singles and promotion pieces. Nice to see the theme continued throughout the series.
I found this clipping from here site but unfortunately it’s fairly impossible to read. I assume it’s a tongue in cheek “How to make an album cover” guide.
While searching around I realized Santogold was also part of that Pharrell filmclip for Converse a little while back. The clip is still a fav of mine.
Check out Santogold’s Myspace page here. No official site it seems. More info on who produced the album (a all star cast it seems) here on the Wikipedia page.
I also found that Sterolab’s latest album “Chemical Chords” sleeve also features glitter and cut out typography. Designed by Intro.
Will we see more glitter in 2009? Mmm maybe not. Cut out text maybe but still unlikely it’ll catch on. Too much work in this digital design world we live in.
This is the song I got stuck in my head now
Oh wait I get it now. SantoGOLD and gold glitter!!!
And if you are wondering about the lack of updates we are working on Sleevage 2.0 right now in the hopes to make it easier for everyone to contribute. You can also follow me on Twitter to see how busy I am @100ftzombie
Final Note: Also this was posted very late I’ll reread and edit during daylight hours.
Dwayne Reed:
Thanks for the final note, couldn't help but think what a shitty review this was while i was reading it.
# 12 Jan 09 at 7:09 pm
mrtruffle:
haha Thanks Dwayne … i think. Please add your thoughts about the album cover
# 12 Jan 09 at 7:42 pm
Ian C:
I really like it, it has a distinct style and like you said, certainly sticks out on the shelf in HMV. I think the cover image is definitely the right choice, it seems more controlled and direct than the single covers, which are more rough in style, but really great as it balances out the project nicely. A great album too!
# 13 Jan 09 at 4:57 am
Kara:
“Glitter is the herpes of craft” – so very true!
I'm not hugely enamoured of this artwork, but it certainly is very memorable & striking. Triple J first introduced me to Santogold as “that chick vomiting gold glitter all overself”… Can't say it didn't pique interest.
# 13 Jan 09 at 6:40 pm
Chuck:
This is why I like this site. I didn't much care for the cover the first time I saw it, but your post made me think about it and reconsider. And the more I reconsider, the more I like it. Thanks, Sleeveage!
# 13 Jan 09 at 9:00 pm
mrtruffle:
yeah the tunes are pretty solid. Since starting Sleevage my music base has expanded heaps
# 14 Jan 09 at 3:16 am
mrtruffle:
Thanks Chuck. It's a creeper. It's not “designy” which you see a lot. It's not “polished” which you see a lot also
# 14 Jan 09 at 3:17 am
Xtal:
This wasn't taken on any expensive camera, 'cause I can see part of the date it was taken on the left side
# 14 Jan 09 at 4:59 pm
mrtruffle:
I think that was intentional no?
# 14 Jan 09 at 8:05 pm
pschase:
for sure – the minor threat reference is key – i think the cover is supposed to shout out DIY culture, considering her background as a kinda punk dub fusionist…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyt57dZGZS8
# 18 Jan 09 at 11:12 pm
dusty:
the herpes/glitter line is from (brilliant) comedian demetri martin :)
# 22 Jan 09 at 10:39 pm
mrtruffle:
ahh thanks. I love Demitri Martin. Couldn't place the quote off the top of my head :)
# 23 Jan 09 at 4:08 am
Chris:
That's gold glitter? I thought it was vomit…
# 31 Jan 09 at 6:02 am
mrtruffle:
no it's gold glitter.
# 31 Jan 09 at 10:56 pm
Joshua:
Haha the single art reallys wants to be like M.I.A's artwork, it's sad how obvious it is lol. I like the album cover, the single art really made me laugh though.
# 10 Feb 09 at 12:53 am
Col:
this is a piece of 'anti-design' shit as far as I'm concerned.
# 14 Feb 09 at 9:05 am
Steve:
I really like the design for this album. I love its constructed, DIY look, and even the pose. I think that helps differentiate it from the normal CMYK-expected type cover.
It's interesting to note what that the “things spewing out” idea was carried over from the album cover to her music video.
# 25 Mar 09 at 12:07 pm
Mogambo:
Nobody seems to know but she's actually named from an old-school fake gold product legendary for its weird late-nite infomercials…. in fact she had to change her name and is now Santigold (her real name is Santi White).
In fact the first time I heard of her was some stupid white dude going “Oh there's this rapper and he's called himself Santogold – I bet he doesn't even know what that is!”
So your review kind of ticked me off. You could at least have googled her before you wrote it and got some info. Also I like the anti-pop-star feel, a glimpse of her musical persona in fact, and the reference to DIY gold-jewelery making… there's more going on here than this sloppy article credits.
# 13 Aug 09 at 11:22 am
mrtruffle:
hey Mogambo,
thanks for the feedback. Sorry you disliked the review so much. I didn't notice the name change when I googled here as I went down the path of the designer of the album more than the artist herself.
I do google read: research this stuff :)
# 13 Aug 09 at 9:09 pm
mrtruffle:
hey Mogambo,
thanks for the feedback. Sorry you disliked the review so much. I didn't notice the name change when I googled here as I went down the path of the designer of the album more than the artist herself.
I do google read: research this stuff :)
# 14 Aug 09 at 4:09 am