GENRE | ON THE LIP OF INSANITY
VERDICT | WANTING TO KNOW REASON
LABEL | RCA
RELEASE | 12.4.12.
There are two ways to review a Ke$ha album: Critics can either take it for the frivolous, garbage-pop it is, or they can try to gaze into the meta-bratty, glitter-filled abyss that is the SOUL OF KE$HA and cull from the ridiculousness some semblance of emotional depth and resonance. The latter used to be done only ironically, but there’s something to be said about her insistence on being Top 40-trashy despite mounting evidence that
she’s actually a meticulous songwriter with chops and a respect for rock legends past.
See, it’s hard to be critical when she practically admits that the demons of wackness and legitimacy rage inside her. She’s making jokes about herself, so how can we make jokes about her? Is that the point, beneath the eyeliner smudges and whiskey breath? That she’s anticipated our criticisms and turned them back onto us, the criticizers? And when we gaze long into the glitter-filled abyss, does the glitter-filled abyss gaze also into us?
Anyway, Warrior contains 16 frantic, fun, catchy-as-sin tracks. I’d listen to it in the car if the windows were up.
