Ke$ha: Warrior

"In interviews over the last year she described the new music she was working on, with her executive producer Dr. Luke, as guitar-based rock ’n’ roll. That’s not quite what happened. It’s more Dr. Luke music: a vivid, synth-y throb with titanic vocals. In several songs ('Warrior,' 'Wherever You Are,' 'Supernatural') there’s a strong influence of the French electronic duo Daft Punk — not exactly a rock band — including very Daft Punk-like melodic interludes in the middle, crazy with digital micro-edits. There are some slim-lined rock aesthetics, in a Strokes-like song called 'Only Wanna Dance With You,' using that band’s drummer, Fabrizio Moretti, and singer, Julian Casablancas, and borrowing the narrow dimensions of their sound. And there’s Iggy Pop, who is a guest on 'Dirty Love,” with a rhythm reminiscent of his 'Lust for Life.' He lends it an abstract importance — a master thrill-seeker’s seal of approval, maybe — but the song has no weight, nothing recognizable as rock power; it seems to evaporate as it plays. There’s no revelation here, only strong fun. Always, she’s loud; using several different voices, she pins you. In songs like 'Die Young' and 'C’Mon,' in party-defiant mode, Kesha bellows her hooks, full and clear; the tone and body and trueness of pitch don’t seem to be faked" (Ben Ratliff, "Flip Side to Her Wild Side," New York Times, 12/3/12).

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