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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 10, 2008

Updated: 07/14/2008 03:11 pm

SANTOGOLD:

SANTOGOLD

(Downtown) ***

If you're looking for something different yet relevant, "Santogold" is it.

Comparisons to MIA aren't far off considering Santi White worked with the femme fatal's co-conspirators, Diplo and Switch. Regardless, she has an original voice and sound on her debut album.

The new-wave pop opening track "L.E.S Artists" is captivating, and the heavy electronics on "Creator" and "Unstoppable" are addictive.

Overall, "Santogold" is a fast-moving mash-up of punk, ska and electropop. White is a strong and sensitive vocalist who has no problem setting the record straight about who she is. White definitely has staying power. The rest is up to her.

Download This: "Anne"

Sarah Hoye
OLD 97'S

BLAME IT ON GRAVITY

(NEW WEST) ***

When Rhett Miller's solo albums bookended the Old 97's lackluster "Drag It Up" from 2004, some may have wondered whether the Texas quartet was going on its singer-songwriter's back burner.

"Blame It on Gravity" puts the band back on course, as Miller delivers plenty of songwriting gems with solid support from the rest of the crew.

"Blame It on Gravity" ranks with the 97's best efforts - 1997's "Too Far to Care" and 2001's "Satellite Rides" - but it's looser and more stylistically diverse than either.

The Latin-tinged "She Loves the Sunset" sounds like the work of the Mavericks' snottier littler brothers. The desperate "Dance With Me" is punk rock without conforming to punk's musical constrictions. Bassist Murry Hammond's "Color of a Lonely Heart Is Blue" is sublime dream-country.

There are few things more heartening than hearing a great band rise from a slump, and "Blame It on Gravity" has the Old 97's back in the race.

Download this: "Here's to the Halcyon"

Curtis Ross

THREE 6 MAFIA:

LAST 2 WALK

(COLUMBIA) **

Hollywood hasn't taken the hood out of DJ Paul and Juicy J, the last two members of the original sextet. Still riding high off their 2006 Oscar, songs such as the amusingly vulgar and catchy "I'd Rather" show they haven't toned down.

But "Lolli Lolli," the second-best vocoder-assisted lollipop song in the past few months, shows they can still deliver a song with the pop appeal of 2005's "Stay Fly."

The hits are few and far between, however.

With 22 tracks, including four interludes, the CD is overstuffed, and the duo's formula of chantlike hooks can't save the monotonous material of drugs, street life and unsavory women.

Download this: "Lolli Lolli"

Joinville Michel

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