Posted on Friday, 15th January 2010 by Interloper
As it stands, Animal, is best described in Ke$ha’s own words as “electro pop magic”. There’s a distinctly european sensibility present in the sound of many tracks, that’s born from the combination of Ke$ha’s sharp delivery, relentless basslines and plenty of rising action. It’s a sound that will be recognisable to listeners who are familiar with other electro acts such as Robyn and Annie, both of whom only ever achieved moderate success in the United States.
There are moments, however brief, where Ke$ha stops acting tough and actually manages to show some vulnerability, as in the song “Stephen”, where she laments about unrequited love. It’s clear that Ke$ha has no intention of seeming vulnerable for long, however, having since revealed that “Stephen’s a loser”.
Animal has not been favourably received by everyone in the media, with many reviewers choosing to focus on what they perceive as negative aspects of Ke$ha’s character in lieu of actually writing about the album. One reviewer went as far as to describe her as “soulless”, while another claimed that she sounds “vapid and faceless”—two words that I would never use to describe Ke$ha’s unmistakably lively delivery.
Ke$ha is far from assured of her own success, recently acknowledging the possibility that she could end up a “one-hit wonder”. I am convinced that Animal is but a small sampling of everything we have to expect from this surprisingly charming party-girl. Amongst the layers of auto-tune and addictive beats, Ke$ha’s voice carries with it some unexpected shades of a young Alanis Morrisette and only hints at the true potential of this blooming talent.
There are many tried-and-true formulas at work in Animal and a number of tracks feature recogniseable elements from other chart-topping hits. This is less of a criticism than it is a nod to the skills of Ke$ha’s production team, who have managed to craft an album practically overflowing with electro anthems for the year ahead. Ke$ha’s unique vocal stylings set the tone for a new era of optimism, as she sings about a world where it’s “okay” to get hopelessly drunk and wake up surrounded by beautiful women.
Ultimately, Ke$ha’s success will depend more on the strength of the character she has created than by any in-depth critical analysis of the music itself. With the release of her debut, Ke$ha truly has unleashed the animal inside.
Now it’s time to let it live and die.
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