Gag Order
Three years before *Gag Order*, Kesha released 2020’s *High Road*, a cheery-sounding LP that attempted to return to her early party-pop days, despite the clear-eyed courage of its predecessor, 2017’s soulful *Rainbow*. After the “TiK ToK,” Jack Daniel’s-swilling early days of Kesha’s career came very public litigation with her former producer and label head Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual assault. It’s not something she can legally address on record, but the title of her fifth studio album is a not-so-thinly-veiled reference to her ongoing battle. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album is her most innovative to date. There’s the minor-key, Auto-Tuned ode to hallucinogenic transcendence “Eat the Acid” and the indie-folk neuroticism of “Living in My Head.” The minimal synth turned explosive experimentalism of “The Drama” was co-written with Kurt Vile and includes an inspired interpolation of the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated.” If early fans celebrated Kesha for her bravado, now they’ll find her fearlessness expressed in both new sonic textures and a new emotional vocal performance: laid bare, raw, undeniable.
Swerving away from party-pop irreverence, Kesha collaborates with Rick Rubin on a spare and eccentric album about coming to terms with ambivalence.
Never has Kesha's music felt as inspiringly rich as it has with Gag Order. The aspirational return contains all the potential of once again making her a staple on the music scene, and this time even beyond pop.
Her fifth album, produced by Rick Rubin, features sonic risks and strange subject matter. It mostly works.
This new album, made with legendary producer Rick Rubin, is a disorientating listen
Loaded with deliciously weird hooks, ‘Gag Order’ showcases a singer who is just getting started
It's called Gag Order because Kesha feels she's been restricted in her speech due to her ongoing litigation with her former producer Dr. Luke.
How does one end an era working under the thumb of your alleged abuser? This will be the last record popstar Kesha releases on Kemosabe, the record label
The pop survivor addresses past traumas on her powerful fifth album, with lush production by Rick Rubin
Kesha's ‘Gag Order’ articulates a working thesis for the singer's artistry that exists independently from commercial exhibitionism.
Is Kesha's new experimental art-pop record, 'Gag Order', a cautionary tale? A cry for help? A cathartic release? Most likely, it's all of the above.
Gag Order by Kesha album review by Sam Franzini. The Multi-artist's LP is now available via Kemosabe/RCA Records and DSPs