Kesha - . (2025) (Hi-Res)

Who is Kesha? That’s the question . (Period) seeks to answer, after a decade of high-profile lawsuit battles that resulted in the singer and her longtime (former) producer Dr. Luke settling their messy litigation in 2024. Her last album, which was also her final entry released via Dr. Luke’s imprint, found the party girl toning everything down and trying out folk, gospel, country and acoustic elements. But Period is a whiplash back to Kesha 1.0. "You want kids/ Well, I am mother," she sings on "JOYRIDE.," reminding us all that she is the original brat, years before Charli XCX (who paid homage by featuring Kesha on her "Spring breakers" remix). But their connection, at least as it manifests here, is more spiritual than sonic.

Produced by Charli collaborator Zhone, "JOYRIDE." is trying hard to be a lot—a magpie’s nest of honking accordion and swooping synth, heavy sighs and a horror-camp singing style. It’s sweaty, glow-stick EDM x fun-house polka that follows a familiar Kesha lyrical formula: blasé boredom ("This party sucks/ I’m 'bout to ditch") alternated with the constant quest for hedonism ("I’m just looking for a/ Good time tonight"). "Boys are my cocaine/ Bikers and the dumb bros, daddies and the gym hoes," she declares over the racing hyperpop rhythm of "BOY CRAZY.," her voice tweaked to sound like a femmebot. "YIPPEE-KI-YAY.," a "good goddamn yeehaw" produced with Nova Wav (the duo with multiple credits on Beyoncé's Renaissance), jumps on the Shaboozey "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" trend but amps up the clap-and-stomp rhythm to a boom. Kiss-off "DELUSIONAL." ("Now you're just another song on my setlist/ Now you're just another charm on this necklace") is built on layers and layers of booming bass, slamming door beats, loops and heavy effects—but also fluttery synth that suggests, if you stripped clean all the whiz bang, there might be a pretty song underneath … and then, miracle of miracles, all that artifice falls away for a minute and it’s true. And you’re reminded that Kesha can really sing, not just with walloping power or that one-too-many slur she’s perfected. "THE ONE." is clearly Kesha's liberation anthem, a modern-day "Roar" that’s already been used in an empowering espnW ad. Laden with majestic Rocky theme-style horns, a popsicle-melt chant and bass reverberation—as well as a breakdown with bird song—it features our boy-crazy heroine finding true love: "I'm the one I run to/ The one that I chase/ I am the savior and I am the saved." © Shelly Ridenour

Tracklist
1. FREEDOM. (06:24)
2. JOYRIDE. (02:30)
3. YIPPEE-KI-YAY. (02:37)
4. DELUSIONAL. (03:34)
5. RED FLAG. (03:34)
6. LOVE FOREVER. (03:44)
7. THE ONE. (03:24)
8. BOY CRAZY. (02:28)
9. GLOW. (03:31)
10. TOO HARD. (02:41)
11. CATHEDRAL. (03:55)