99¢ (Santigold album) explained

99¢
Type:	studio
Artist:	Santigold
Cover:	Santigold - 99¢.jpg
Recorded:	2015
Length:	45:22
Label:	Atlantic
Prev Title:	Master of My Make-Believe
Prev Year:	2012
Next Year:	2018

99¢ is the third studio album by American musician and singer Santigold, released on February 26, 2016 on Atlantic Records.

Release

On November 4, 2015, Santigold announced the release of her third studio album 99¢, originally scheduled for release on January 22, 2016. The announcement was accompanied by the release of the lead single, "Can't Get Enough of Myself", which premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show.^[1] On November 25, Santigold shared "Who Be Lovin' Me" alongside a music video.^[2] On December 16, it was announced that the release date of the album was delayed to February 26.^[1] On January 14, "Chasing Shadows" was released as the third single after premiering on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show, with a music video being released the following day.^{[3] [4]} The fourth and final single, "Banshee", was released on February 11.^[5]

Critical reception

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 71, based on 26 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Stephen F. Kearse of Paste wrote, "Although the bulk of the album oscillates between sarcasm and sincerity, the most fully realized songs transcend that spectrum entirely." Drowned in Sounds Lee Adcock gave the album a favorable review, stating, "99¢ doesn't exactly deliver the discussion on commodity and the self promised on the cover, but Santigold have assembled a fine package, one which showcases White and her undeniable swagger."

Ryan McNutt of Exclaim! was more critical of the album, stating, "99¢ is an album buoyed by its sonic playfulness, but which fails to shake its playlist sensibility--entertaining, engaging but only occasionally leaving a lasting impression." Jonathan Wroble of Slant Magazine also criticized the album, stating, "More often than hitting a sweet spot in between, the songs here are overly busy (like "Big Boss") or short on ideas (the by-the-numbers "Before the Fire" and the psych-rock "Outside the War"), and the album's title turns into an unfortunate allusion to a warehouse stocked to the brim with cheap toys, none built to last."

Track listing

Notes

• signifies a co-producer
• signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of 99¢.^[6]

Musicians

• Santigold – vocals, guitar, synthesizer, instruments
• B.C. – featured artist
• ILoveMakonnen – featured artist
• John Hill – guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, instruments
• Patrik Berger – instruments
• Martin Perna – flute, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Jordan McLean – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Rostam Batmanglij – keyboards, synthesizer
• Mikey Hart – guitar, keyboards
• Linus "Style of Eye" Eklow – instruments
• Martin Stilling – instruments
• James King – tenor Saxophone, baritone Saxophone
• Fabio Santana – trombone
• Todd Simon – trumpet
• Noah Lev Beresin – synthesizer
• Ian Longwell – drums, synthesizer
• Doc McKinney – guitar
• Nick Zinner – guitar, synthesizer
• Sam Spiegel – synthesizer
• Justin L. Raisen – bass, guitar, synthesizer
• Bosh Rothman – drums
• Alexandra Shungudzo – backing vocals
• Amanda Warner – backing vocals
• Cathy Dennis – backing vocals
• Charli XCX – backing vocals
• Noonie Bao – backing vocals
• Sarah Hudson – backing vocals
• Angel Deradoorian – backing vocals
• Sam Dew – backing vocals

Production

• Santigold – executive production, production
• John Hill – production, additional production
• Patrik Berger – production
• Rostam Batmanglij – production, co-production, additional production
• Linus "Style of Eye" Eklow – additional production
• Martin Stilling – production
• Ian Longwell – production
• Justin L. Raisen – production
• HazeBanga – production
• Stint – production
• Zeds Dead – production
• David Andrew Sitek – production
• Noah Breakfast – co-production, additional production
• Nugget – additional production
• Hit-Boy – additional production
• VERYRVRE – additional production
• Mike of Uzi – additional production

Technical

• Santigold – programming
• John Hill – programming
• Patrik Berger – programming
• Rostam Batmanglij – programming, mixing
• Linus "Style of Eye" Eklow – programming
• Nugget – programming
• Martin Stilling – programming
• Ajay Bhattacharya – programming
• Ian Longwell – engineering
• Justin L. Raisen – programming, additional mixing
• Barbara Klaskin Silberg – choir directing
• Nick Rowe – editing
• Brendan Morawski – engineering, additional mixing
• Ryan Gilligan – engineering
• Dan Fyfe – engineering
• Mark Rankin – engineering
• Rob Cohen – engineering
• Jimmy Gonzalez – engineering
• John DeBold – engineering
• Zeph Sowers – engineering
• Nicolas Fournier – engineering assistance
• Martin Cooke – engineering assistance
• Danny Goliger – engineering assistance
• Ebonie Smith – engineering assistance
• Josh Wilson – engineering assistance
• Will van Boldrik – engineering assistance
• Miles Comaskey – mix engineering assistance
• Rich Costey – mixing, additional mixing
• Tony Maserati – mixing
• Mario Borgatta – mixing assistance
• Claudio Cueni – additional mixing
• Chris Gehringer – mastering

West Los Angeles Children's Choir

• Dino Barranco
• Jack Thompson
• Jair Miles
• Mason Lee
• Matthew Goodman
• Michael Yang
• Misha Reiss
• Spencer Lee
• Taaryn Cooper
• Theo King

Artwork

• Santigold – art direction, design
• Matt Meiners – art direction, design
• Mark Jacobs – art direction, creative direction
• Photographer Hal – cover art
• Avena Gallagher – styling
• April Roomet – personal stylist
• Devra Kinnery – makeup
• YUSEF – hair
• Ron Bellair – hair assistant

Charts

Chart (2016)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	64
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[8]	90

Notes and References

1. Web site: Geslanni . Michelle . Santigold announces new album, 99¢, premieres "Can't Get Enough of Myself" . . November 4, 2015 . November 5, 2015.
2. Web site: Monroe . Jazz . Santigold and iLoveMakonnen Cruise Around a Festival in "Who Be Lovin' Me" Video . Pitchfork . November 25, 2015 . August 4, 2018.
3. Web site: Brodsky . Rachel . Hear Santigold's Third '99¢' Single, 'Chasing Shadows' . Spin . January 14, 2016 . August 4, 2018.
4. Web site: Geslani . Michelle . Santigold premieres bouncy new song "Chasing Shadows" . Xonsequence of Sound . January 15, 2016 . August 4, 2018.
5. Web site: Matera . C.G. . Santigold Shares New Track "Banshee" . Pitchfork . February 11, 2016 . August 4, 2018.
6. 99¢ . . . 2016 . LP liner notes . 551867-1.
7. Web site: ARIA Albums: The 1975 Have the No 1 Album in Australia. Noise11. Ryan. Gavin. March 5, 2016. March 5, 2016.
8. Web site: Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 3 March 2016 . . August 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170214154349/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2016&year=2016&week=9 . dead . February 14, 2017.