Kesha’s ‘Period’ Album Review: Embracing Sass, Sensuality, and Spirituality

July 4, 20253 min read

Neighbor, would you like me to read the news to you?

In late 2023, after nearly a decade of legal battles with her former collaborator and alleged abuser, Dr. Luke, Kesha finally gained her freedom from Kemosabe Records. Following a long-awaited settlement, she dove into creating what she describes as her “first album where I’m in control of every word.” As she revealed to Vogue, she was extremely prolific during this time, writing three songs a day.

Her much-anticipated album, Period, marks her return to pure pop and is the inaugural release from her own label, Kesha Records. The album opens with two minutes of ambient gospel on “Freedom,” where she passionately sings until the beat shifts into a jazzy disco groove, setting the tone for the entire project with the cheeky line: “I only drink when I’m happy and I’m drunk right now… / Take me to the sex shop!” The holy trinity of Kesha’s artistry—sass, sensuality, and spirituality—is instantly established.

Overall, Period stands as Kesha’s most polished pop record since 2010’s Cannibal. From the wonderfully eccentric accordion-driven lead single “Joyride” to “Yippie-Ki-Yay,” which blends elements of Def Leppard and Florida Georgia Line, the album showcases a thrilling mix of infectious tracks. Meanwhile, “Boy Crazy” and “Red Flag,” along with the non-album single “Attention!,” deliver high-energy Europop anthems perfect for dance floors. Kesha confidently declares her power on “Joyride” with the line: “You want kids? Well I am mother!”

While Kesha claims to have made “the ultimate fuck-you album of all time,” the remaining tracks delve into more reflective themes, presenting a blend of slower disco and pop ballads akin to her 2017 hit “Learn to Let Go.” Songs like “Love Forever,” “The One,” and “Too Hard” are straightforward love songs but don’t capture the raw vulnerability found in her earlier works. The album culminates with “Cathedral,” a spiritual follow-up to “Praying,” where Kesha finds forgiveness for the pain she’s endured, providing a powerful moment of catharsis in an otherwise joy-filled album.

Period feels like a triumphant statement made after overcoming struggles and recognizing the transformative journey one takes. Kesha no longer feels the need to declare her status as a survivor or validate her artistry; she’s already undergone that spiritual revival with her albums Rainbow, High Road, and the recently retitled Eat The Acid. Despite the challenges behind the scenes, her music remains authentic—Kesha’s voice has always been her own.

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