Rainbow
by Kesha
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Aug 11, 2017
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 651 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 578 out of 651
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 651
  3. Negative: 43 out of 651
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  1. DavidWasHere
    Aug 11, 2017
    6
    Let me say as someone that never loved but never had anything against Kesha back when she was a huge pop star back in 2009 and 2010, that I wanted to really love this album, or at least like it. There is a lot of potential here. The choice to go for a more rock and country direction is for the best. The instrumentation is fantastic and the composition adds a lot of energy, which isLet me say as someone that never loved but never had anything against Kesha back when she was a huge pop star back in 2009 and 2010, that I wanted to really love this album, or at least like it. There is a lot of potential here. The choice to go for a more rock and country direction is for the best. The instrumentation is fantastic and the composition adds a lot of energy, which is something that is super welcome considering how dower and dull mainstream top 40 pop music has gotten. And Kesha sounds amazing. Audotune isn't completely gone, but Kesha sounds so amazing, radiating energy and passion! It sounds so lovely! But unfortunately this has a lot of bad problems that has plague a lot of pop music. Namely lyrically which goes for vague sloganeering that tries to be cool and badass but also appeal to everyone. It's mostly a female aimed record, which is nothing wrong, but considering how shallow a lot of the lyrics on these songs (for instance Woman, which is probably the worst offender of this and really ruins the bouncy horns and composition) that are just "I don't need no man" or "I don't need these haters dragging me down" or **** you I'm awesome!" And there are a lot of F bombs that tries to be hip and edgy but just comes off as trying too hard. What is supposed to be a powerful, personal record, ends up being a shallow attempt at trying to make people feel good. Kind of this nightmarish Frankenstein monster of Lady Gaga's Jolene record with an attempt at more old school rock, country, and pop, and Born This Way, that tries to be inclusive and empowering but is just super shallow and trying too hard to please everyone. Not to mention the production can come off being electronically produced and kneecaps any of the rawer and natural songs here (unless it is obnoxious like Boogie Feet, which has the worst composition here being so grading and having a baffling awful Pepsi line drop (as well as the sound of a fresh can being opened UGH) that just makes me wonder if Pepsi payed to have her mention their soda in the song). Learn to Let Go is the worst offender here because it sounds like the awful over-produced dance-pop that this record is supposed to be the antithesis to (as well as bring up bad memories of Dr. Luke). That's not to say everything on this record is awful. Praying is still breathtaking and powerful, Hunt You Down is corny but still fun and sweet, Rainbow is a great song and shows what this record could truly be as a personal album, and despite my grievances with the lyrics, I just can't help but love Let 'Em Talk for it's addictive melody.

    Again I wanted to like this album and I get the appeal and I wish Kesha the best in the future, but there is just SO MUCH that really ruin this record for me! There's a lot of potential that is being wasted here, and that's the biggest shame here.    … Expand
  2. Jevus
    Aug 12, 2017
    5
    Irregular, it goes from genre to genre, creating a disaster and making the album tedious, if it does not innovate in anything to the music, it is more of the same, but it loses its essence with which it was born as a star and became in the artist what was it. Best song: Boots
  3. ManuelContreras
    Apr 7, 2018
    6
    mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
  4. mynameisfrenz
    Sep 1, 2017
    6
    Kesha's awaited third studio album is a body full of pop and country songs. We can divide it in two part: the first part - the pop session - have some Avril Lavigne vibes (you can hear it in Let 'Em Talk and Learn To Let Go) and some jams like Hymn and her most beautiful song in her discography, Praying. The second part - the country session - starts with Hunt You Down and contains aKesha's awaited third studio album is a body full of pop and country songs. We can divide it in two part: the first part - the pop session - have some Avril Lavigne vibes (you can hear it in Let 'Em Talk and Learn To Let Go) and some jams like Hymn and her most beautiful song in her discography, Praying. The second part - the country session - starts with Hunt You Down and contains a collaboration with Dolly Parton in Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You), written by Kesha's mom in 1980. By the way, the lyrics are so personal and emotional, she wrote the album during her rehab in 2014.… Expand
  5. itsvague
    Nov 30, 2017
    6
    Authentic feelings of a broken woman are never out of style. Kesha is unchained, controlling her own self and a big country fan (?). The recipe has been used before of course, but Kesha manages to reincarnate it flawlessly. The killer comeback song 'Praying' sums up the meaning of the album perfectly while the over songs wrap around it like the finest sweater.

    Highlights: Hymn, Praying,    Authentic feelings of a broken woman are never out of style. Kesha is unchained, controlling her own self and a big country fan (?). The recipe has been used before of course, but Kesha manages to reincarnate it flawlessly. The killer comeback song 'Praying' sums up the meaning of the album perfectly while the over songs wrap around it like the finest sweater.

    Highlights: Hymn, Praying, Learn To Let Go, Rainbow, Boots.    … Expand
  6. imaginetruIy
    Jun 16, 2019
    5
    Kesha was able to mix pop, rock and country in a very cohesive way on this album, which is difficult to do but the album did not please me very much, especially the ballads (except for Praying) and their partnership with Dolly Parton, Boogie Feat , Praying and Boots are far and away the best of the album, the highs and lows of the album that made it a medium work that could have been a lotKesha was able to mix pop, rock and country in a very cohesive way on this album, which is difficult to do but the album did not please me very much, especially the ballads (except for Praying) and their partnership with Dolly Parton, Boogie Feat , Praying and Boots are far and away the best of the album, the highs and lows of the album that made it a medium work that could have been a lot better with the exclusion of certain tracks.… Expand
  7. TheAxl
    Aug 28, 2020
    4
    I like the idea of ​​a personal album, but since Britney released Britney Jean, they all put out personal albums, the idea is not original

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2017
17
#17 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Sep 5, 2017
    75
    The album captures a mixture of genres that come together to create a really vulnerable and organic sound. Kesha uses Rainbow to let her listeners into her struggles, thoughts and true personality, something missing from her previous releases.
    Read full review
  2. Clash Music
    Aug 21, 2017
    60
    Rainbow is a muddled hotch-potch that offers little beyond the fact it heralds her return. It's great to have Kesha back--it really is--but let's hope the quality improves in future.
    Read full review
  3. NOW Magazine
    Aug 17, 2017
    80
    Throughout, on both killers and filler, the singer sounds like she’s having so much fun.
    Read full review
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