Artist: Santigold
Album: 99 Cents
Santigold’s 99 Cents is self-aware in all aspects, including in its cover art, which features Santigold squeezed into a plastic bag with an assortment of knick-knacks, complete with a 99 cent sticker on the front. Aside from the cover’s immediate commentary on self-branding and humans as marketing tools, 99 Cents takes a much more experimental approach in contrast to her previous works. Since her 2008 debut, Santigold has explored a diversity of genres that is reflected in the inner workings of her latest album. The album opens and closes with upbeat tunes, including “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself” and “Who I Thought You Were,” while also carrying inert tracks such as “Outside the War” and angsty ballads like “Run the Races.” It’s Santigold’s flexibility and adventurous sound that makes 99 Cents worth the listen.