Santigold does an unnamed style of music that is equal parts indie rock, reggae, dub, electronica, hip-hop, and world beat.  She is not the first and only artist to do this style – M.I.A. also does it and did it before her.

It is a good formula that results in music with great beats and fierce delivery, and Santigold’s “Master of My Make Believe” is no exception. It’s not music you’ll dance to, nor music you’ll sing along to, but rather music you can appreciate for its untypical rhythms.  The songs make you think hard. The lyrics are hard to interpret.  I don’t understand what any of the songs are about.  If they have any social-political meaning, or tell a personal story, I don’t see it.  I’m sure they do, but it’s a mystery to me currently and I’ll have to look for it. 

“Disparate Youth” is the strongest track on the album, and appropriately its first single. “GO!”, “God From The Machine”, “Fame”, “This Isn’t Our Parade”, “The Riot’s Gone”, and “Pirate In The Water” are also tracks that stood out for me.

My only complaints about the album are that it is somewhat monotonous – most of the songs have that same mood and vocal delivery. And while the formula for the album is eclectic, most of the songs have a similar fusion.

Check Santigold’s music out, if you’re looking for something only few artists can do.

(4 out of 5 stars)

Before giving “Songs” a listen, I was mostly unfamiliar with Rusko’s music (besides hearing “Someone To Love” on satellite radio). I listen to EDM music, though I’m far from an expert on it. Rusko is an icon of the British dubstep scene, and I liked “Someone To Love”, so I decided to check him out further.

Although Rusko is a dubstep artist like Skrillex, the music on this album sounds very different from Skrillex.  There are few heavy bass drops during this album, and it has more of a relaxed vibe. It also has a fair amount of vocals. That will disappoint some Skrillex fans, and please those who are anti-Skrillex.  That is evident from the reviews on iTunes. I like Skrillex (he was the one that introduced me to dubstep), however I liked this album.

“Songs” is mish-mash of dubstep, house, reggae, garage, drum-n-bass, and R&B music.  It is one of the most diverse albums I’ve ever heard.  Most of the songs are mid-tempo.  It has a retro vibe - the album sounds like it was recorded in 2001, not 2011.  It’s as if dubstep just came out and was still underground, and garage was the big thing in Britain. 

My favorite tracks on the album are “Someone To Love”, “Skanker”, “Pressure”, “Opium”, “Thunder”, “Asda Car Park”, “Whistle Crew”. “Someone To Love” combines 90s house with dubstep. “Skanker” combines dubstep and dancehall reggae.   “Thunder” is pure house music. “Asda Car Park” is the heaviest song on the album, and actually not a far cry from Skrillex’s brand of dubstep. “Pressure” and “Whistle Crew” sounds like early-2000’s garage. Many of the other tracks on the album are reggae songs.

I’ll have to check out Rusko’s other stuff.  Check this out if you are open minded and have broad tastes – including Skrillex fans.

(4 out of 5 stars)