On her third album Santigold shows how far confidence, talent and wittiness can take a musician. Despite the fact that the songs on 99¢ are a little highbrow they are so heartfelt that you cannot help but embrace them. All those she has chosen to work on the album with her buy into the creation of this type of atmosphere as well. Swedish hip hop producer Patrick Berger, former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij, rapper iLoveMakonnen and TV on the Radio’s Dav Sitek all contribute in their own unique ways while still all pulling in the same direction. The album starts off with a cute reggae ditty called “Can’t Get Enough of Myself” then moves on to the stirring song “Banshee” into the emotional Batanglij produced track “Chasing Shadows” and on to buoyant “Who Be Lovin’ Me”. All are very different in sound and that is what you get to you heart’s content on 99¢ – variety. Creativity runs high in this New Wave influenced pop album. Santigold solidifies the fact that she does not release poor albums and is very underrated in the music world. In the end what makes it all work is the artist not trying to be something that she’s not and being so gosh darn likeable.
Santigold – 99¢
