99 Cents
by Santigold
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Feb 26, 2016
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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  1. NOW Magazine
    Mar 2, 2016
    60
    It’s initially fun to play spot-the-references, but in the best moments the sounds are harder to pin down.
  2. Spin
    Mar 1, 2016
    60
    The music itself sounds a little more factory-made than White may have intended.
  3. No Ripcord
    Feb 29, 2016
    60
    Remove the four or so songs that never seem to do more than bubble happily in an unambitious realm of chanted hooks and rehearsed quirkiness, and the result is an album fit for anyone with the slightest predisposition for fun.
  5. The Observer (UK)
    Feb 29, 2016
    60
    Some of the sparkle fades as the album goes on, with Run the Races and Outside the War especially ponderous, but this is another sure-footed set aimed as much at the head as at the hips.
  6. The Guardian
    Feb 25, 2016
    60
    Tolerance will vary for her reedy and slightly hectoring voice, and there are some this’ll-do melodies with no logic or engine. But she still hints at being the omnivorous pop star we need.
  7. Exclaim
    Feb 24, 2016
    60
    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.
  8. Slant Magazine
    Feb 11, 2016
    60
    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.
  9. Consequence
    Feb 24, 2016
    58
    The fickle genres of 99¢ not only see Santigold challenging the rules of pop, but bettering herself. In writing for others, Santigold grows a backbone that defines her unapologetically bold sound, even if she doesn’t push her lyrics as far as she does the music.
  10. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Mar 21, 2016
    50
    For every song that I replay, there’s another that I skip.
  11. Q Magazine
    Jan 8, 2016
    40
    Any playfulness surrounding the album's titular pound-shop themes quickly evaporates amid a sound so spacious and tune-free as to border on emptiness. [Feb 2016, p.116]
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 3 out of 30
  1. cdsmusicchart
    Feb 26, 2016
    6
    '99 cents' is a great album hiding behind a curtain of emptiness and distant, emotionless presentation. With a few stylistic changes it could'99 cents' is a great album hiding behind a curtain of emptiness and distant, emotionless presentation. With a few stylistic changes it could easily be Santigold's best release.… Full Review »
  2. Hugonetuno
    May 22, 2019
    10
    Mesmo sendo um álbum menos cintilante, se comparado aos outros, Santigold consegue trazer uma peculiaridade particular. Nos presenteando comMesmo sendo um álbum menos cintilante, se comparado aos outros, Santigold consegue trazer uma peculiaridade particular. Nos presenteando com canções magníficas como Chasing Shadows, a hipnótica Rendezvous Girl e e dançante Banshee. Um álbum bom para se escutar algumas vezes durante a semana.… Full Review »
  3. arascic
    Feb 19, 2017
    2
    A very boring and uninvolved record. To me this is an attempt similar to Charli XCX's Vroom Vroom EP where she tried to create something edgyA very boring and uninvolved record. To me this is an attempt similar to Charli XCX's Vroom Vroom EP where she tried to create something edgy yet still pop, and she failed. I mean, both of these records want to explore the sonic boundaries of pop music, and they do accomplish that. Unfortunately while pushing the sonic boundaries they fail to produce good sounding music. There are only three songs I like on this record and those are "Who Be Lovin' Me", "Rendezvous Girl" and "Before the Fire". Even though the vocal performance on "Who Be Lovin' Me" is very weak, that same vocal performance creates a somewhat hypnotic feel to the song, and I guess I wouldn't like it if it weren't for that. "Rendezvous Girl" is the only songs that comes close to being catchy, and "Before the Fire" is a simple, slow, sincere ballad that doesn't impress nor disappoint.… Full Review »
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