Santigold

Halfway through writing and recording her third album 99¢, out today, February 26, Santigold came to the realization that the record was becoming centered on a singular theme: the notion that everything in modern culture is a finely curated, assembled package. Instead of fighting against it, the Philadelphia native embraced that ethos, crafting a buoyant, exuberant pop album that criticizes the look-at-me generation by participating in it. (She took a literal approach with the album art, which features her likeness shrink-wrapped alongside a mess of sneakers, rings, and license plates.)