Kesha

Warrior

It's undeniably batshit insane, but Warrior is never dull, always fun, and frequently a thrillingly unpredictable ride.

Even when buried beneath the heavy synths and highly produced vocals that mark modern pop music, the spirit of an age before her birth is infusing Ke$ha’s work.

Anyone up for giving her a second chance—or recognizing she has actual singing, writing, and performing talent—just might be pleasantly surprised.

Indeed, Ke$ha’s filthy jokes may be what separates her from her peers who practice ghost abstinence.

The frightening truth of the matter is that Ke$ha is an incredibly smart woman, and with Warrior surprising us at almost every turn, she knows exactly what she’s been doing all along.

Warrior is likable enough, but not only can’t it match its predecessor, it’s not nearly as exhilarating or disruptive as what fellow slizzered California trashdancer Dev or assorted K-poppers have done in the past two years with basically the same raw materials.