If anyone defined middle school pop music for me, it was Kesha. Her debut album "Animal" came out in 2010 with incredible singles like "TiK ToK," "Blah Blah Blah," and "Your Love Is My Drug." You could not go to a middle school dance without hearing Kesha. 12 year old me going through an emo phase would never admit it, but I loved Kesha. Obviously I can't relate to what she was known for in 2010, drinking and partying, but she made just some fun pop jams. In 2012 she released "Warrior," which only had one major hit: "Die Young." Since then Kesha has been gone from the music industry after not being able to make music because she was in rehab for bulimia. She was also battling a lawsuit against her former producer, Dr. Luke, accusing him of sexual assault. She lost the lawsuit in 2016 claiming he raped her in 2010 and was forced to stay under his contract. In August 2016, Kesha dropped the charges, leading to her third studio album "Rainbow."

Kesha has been through so much in these past few years and it definitely shows on this album. Her voice is so much more raw and emotional than her previous records. We actually get to hear Kesha's real, incredible voice, instead of it being masked by autotune. While she's been to hell and back, there are some elements of the same old Kesha there, and she keeps an overall positive outlook on what has happened to her and where her life is going.

The album starts off with "Bastards," a soft, laid back song with just Kesha and an acoustic guitar. It's basically talking about all the mean people out there and how you should just ignore them and "don't let the bastards get you down." It's our first glance at how Kesha approached this album, more laid back and raw. It's not a standout track but it's a great opener to the record.

Next is "Let 'Em Talk," one of two collaborations with the band, Eagles of Death Metal. I absolutely love the idea of Kesha delving into rock music. She's had a few rock influenced songs in the past like "Dirty Love" featuring Iggy Pop on 2012's "Warrior" and "Party at a Rich Dude's House" on 2010's "Animal." The Eagles of Death Metal absolutely kill it on this track with the guitars and Kesha's sassy voice works perfectly with it. The lyrics are pretty similar to "Bastards," telling you to just do your thing and don't care if people talk about you. Great message, great tune, great collaboration. I hope this becomes a single because the world needs to hear rock-Kesha.

Next is "Woman," featuring the Dap Kings Horns, which was released a few weeks ago as a promotional single. This is the feminist anthem of the year for SURE. The hook "I'm a motherf*cking woman" says it all. Kesha doesn't need a man to be happy or successful. She's a woman and she's proud of it, and so should every woman. This song is so empowering and I can't help but smile when I hear it. The Dap Kings Horns sections are SO GOOD and add a whole other element of fun to this song. It reminds me of why I loved "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars a few years back. Funky horns in modern pop music just does something for me.

Next is "Hymn," which is definitely more laid back compared to "Woman," which makes for an odd transition. A more personal song, "Hymn" talks about "a hymn for the hymnless, kids with no religion." My take on it is that it's about how music can be viewed as a religion for people who don't have one. Music is so important for so many people and has had such a positive impact for so many people. It's a way for people to escape their problems. Musically, this song doesn't excite me that much but the slow tempo is what's needed for the song.

Next is "Praying," the first single released from "Rainbow," our first taste of Kesha since 2012. It's Kesha's first ballad and after a bunch of listens I still get chills listening to it. It's about everything Kesha has been through and it definitely touches upon the Dr. Luke situation. She says "I hope you find your peace falling on your knees, praying." Even though Dr. Luke nearly ruined her life and caused her so much pain, she hopes eventually he finds peace. She doesn't need him anymore and she wants him completely out of her life but there's no point in wishing harm on him. This song has Kesha's strongest vocal performance on the whole album from her vulnerable voice in the verses to her incredibly powerful singing in the chorus. The best part is the super high whistle note she reaches at the end of the bridge. Chills. Every. Time. It seems Kesha won't be performing the note high live because it took her 10 times in the studio to get it right but still, she hit that note.

Next is "Learn to Let Go." This song's meaning is right in the title; you've got to learn to let go of all the crap that's happened to you. It's an upbeat, piano and synth driven track and it's fun. What I like about the positive vibe on this album is that Kesha is still very real and she's been through some hard times but she has a great view on it all. She's not there yet because she's "gotta learn to let it go," but she's getting there and that's what's important. When people say this album is positive, it's not cause it's happy, it's hopeful.

Track 7, the halfway point of the album, and we get to our first relationship song, "Finding You." It's a song about commitment and meaning it when you tell someone forever. It starts out with a cute acoustic guitar riff and leads into this powerful piano driven chorus. An absolute jam. This is another song where Kesha kills it with her vocals. Her voice has definitely changed over time from her partying days in 2010. She's so much more soulful and she sounds so beautiful next to pianos rather than typical dance beats of the early 2010s.

Next is "Rainbow," another standout ballad, like "Praying." Kesha said in an interview that she wrote the title track when she was in rehab for her eating disorder. It's all about finding color in the darkness. "Life is scary but just put those colors on, girl, come and play along with me tonight" is one of my favorite lines. Again, Kesha has been through hell but she can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's such a hopeful song and I can see it helping so many people struggling with depression. The song is just Kesha, a piano, and a string arrangement, and it's absolutely gorgeous. The official video for this song is Kesha recording it in the studio and it's so raw.

Track 9 is "Hunt You Down," which is completely out of left field. It's a country song. I absolutely HATE country music but this song is so addicting. She said in an interview with NPR that it's a play on typical country songs that talk about men "killing" girls if they can't have them, so she switched the gender roles around on it. "I never hurt nobody, never buried a body, never killed no one. I ain't afraid to get a little crazy when I'm in love. You say you've had your fun and that you're done and I'm the one, just know that if you f*ck around, boy I'll hunt you down." That chorus is so funny and catchy, I can't get over it. It's very Johnny Cash inspired, and I love seeing Kesha going back to her roots and her true musical influences.

Track 10 is "Boogie Feet," the second collaboration with the Eagles of Death Metal. It's basically a rock version of Kesha's old party jams and I LOVE IT. It's literally just about dancing. Every pop album needs a good classic song about dancing. Kesha and the singer of Eagles of Death Metal sing "dance with me please, or are you scared of these boogie feet" in the weirdest voice but I love it. Have I mentioned that I love this song? It's a good taste of Kesha's old stuff but with her new mature sound. Kesha's still dancing at age 30, she's just not brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack.

Next is "Boots," which I wouldn't say is country like "Hunt You Down" but it has an old Western vibe. It's about Kesha's current boyfriend and how in love she is with him and that he loves her "wearing nothing but your boots." It's sexy and fun and definitely has that Kesha charm.

Next is "Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You)" featuring Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton is one of Kesha's biggest idols so it was HUGE for her to sing a song with her. Kesha's mom, Pebe Sebert, is a songwriter and actually wrote this song back in the 1980s and Dolly recorded it in 1980 for her album "Dolly, Dolly, Dolly." This is another country song because of it being a Dolly Parton song but it's not so obviously country like "Hunt You Down" is. It's a slow, easy listen and Kesha and Dolly's voices sound so lovely together. Dolly Parton is also featured on a song on Miley Cyrus's upcoming album so it's cool seeing modern artists bringing older artists into the limelight again.

Next is "Godzilla," which seems like a joke kind of song cause the lyrics are ridiculously stupid. But the lyrics are supposed to be dumb and that's okay. Kesha talks about taking Godzilla to the mall and he scares all the children. Then Kesha takes Godzilla to meet her mom and she calls the cops. But Kesha doesn't care cause she's in love with him. She ends the song with "what do you get when you meet Godzilla and fall in love?" Similar to "Bastards" this is just Kesha and an acoustic guitar. It's simple and fun and a nice change of pace for all the seriousness on this record.

Last but not least is "Spaceship," an over 5 minute song about space. Rad. Kesha genuinely believes in aliens and she's "waiting for my spaceship to come back to me" and take her back "home." The aliens are gonna come rescue her from all the crap down on Earth. This isn't one of my favorites and it kinda drags on but it's fitting as the final song on the record.

Overall, Kesha just released the comeback album of the CENTURY and she deserves all the success in the world. She's been through hell but she's stronger than ever and it shows on her best album yet. "Rainbow" gets a 8.5/10 from me.