Warrior - Ke$ha
  • Band Name: Ke$ha
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Dec 4, 2012
Metascore
71 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 18
  2. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Dec 3, 2012
    80
    It's a wall-to-wall party for the freaks, burnouts, outcasts, and misfits and if you don't get it that's your fault, not hers.
  2. Nov 30, 2012
    70
    Taken as a whole, this is another surprisingly enjoyable album from a pop singer who has managed to broaden her approach without losing her USP.
  3. Dec 4, 2012
    81
    Warrior is a pure pop album with rock influences, despite Ke$ha's attempts to make it the inverse.
  4. Dec 6, 2012
    70
    Too many cooks in the kitchen notwithstanding, it amounts to 12 songs here with some 40 perfectly crafted hooks.
  5. Nov 30, 2012
    80
    Warrior is never dull, always fun, and frequently a thrillingly unpredictable ride.
  6. 75
    Ke$ha's filthy jokes may be what separates her from her peers who practice ghost abstinence.
  7. 88
    By stomping just at the edge of parental propriety and sneaking in (mostly) well-crafted lyrics, her new record confirms her place as the loosest of the dance divas, one who not only preaches on the art of the party like few since Andrew W.K., but who also delivers the message through inventive, beat-heavy musical cannonballs, most produced by hitmaker Dr. Luke, that pummel with pleasure.
  8. Dec 17, 2012
    60
    The naff raps and Auto-Tuned gloop can't spoil the addictive rush of the air-punching, get-pissed-destroy-a-bus-shelter anthems that abound here. [Jan 2012, p.93]
  9. Nov 29, 2012
    60
    Although the new direction isn't revolutionary, it's natural enough and distracts from some of the filler.
  10. Dec 4, 2012
    70
    Not everything works, but for a major label pop album, the ratio of material that succeeds is notably high, as on her sophomore release, she's already willing to take some risks with her sound.
  11. Dec 11, 2012
    60
    Warrior, a moderate improvement of her disappointing debut Animal. [Jan 2013, p.106]
  12. Dec 4, 2012
    70
    Warrior doesn't hit the giddy peaks of 2010's Animal, but it has a crackpot sense of rock history.
  13. Dec 3, 2012
    60
    Most of Warrior sticks to Ke$ha's tried-and-true formula.
  14. Dec 3, 2012
    70
    Warrior is likable enough, but not only can't it match its predecessor, it's not nearly as exhilarating or disruptive as what fellow slizzered California trashdancer Dev or assorted K-poppers have done in the past two years with basically the same raw materials.
  15. Dec 4, 2012
    75
    Anyone up for giving her a second chance--or recognizing she has actual singing, writing, and performing talent--just might be pleasantly surprised.
  16. Nov 29, 2012
    40
    Auto-Tune, deployed all over the record, turns Kesha's voice into a robo-squawk, and not in a good way.
  17. 70
    There's no revelation here, only strong fun.
  18. Dec 10, 2012
    40
    Really, though, her graceless output remains unaffected.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 128 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 48
  2. Negative: 5 out of 48
  1. This is one of the best albums of the year, and definitely the best pop album of the year. It has so many standout tracks, they are all good. Recommend it strongly. Full Review »
  2. 10
    Best. Album. Of. The. Century. Ke$ha cooks up a wild party for everyone with her new album. Rather if it's "War-ior-ior-ior" or "let's make the most of the night like were gonna die young" or even "all that matters is the beautiful life!" You will be jamming your ass off. Full Review »
  3. 8
    Well, the party girl is back and with this album she did a great job. with the early singles I didn't expect a good album out of her, but when I listened to the album I said "Wow!!! now it sounds good." there's no doubt that "Warrior" is her best record yet and it's so fun that she gets emotional on some tracks like "Love into the Light" and a deluxe edition track "Our Last Goodbye". she's still fun. she's here to rock the party. Full Review »