Gag Order

by Kesha

Overview

It's called Gag Order because Kesha feels she's been restricted in her speech due to her ongoing litigation with her former producer Dr. Luke. Those lawsuits prevented her from speaking directly about the events at the root of her personal trauma, so she winds up writing around the problem on the album, focusing on the emotional aftermath instead of the instigating events. Given the anger and sadness roiling in her psyche -- feelings only intensified during the isolation of COVID-19, a pandemic that hit just weeks after she delivered High Road in 2020 -- it's not surprising that Gag Order is a twisted ball of fury and sorrow. Her inner turmoil is conveyed through washes of electronics, contorted Auto-Tunes, spectral samples, and a keening performance from Kesha, whose passion cuts against the dour atmosphere. That's by design: the amorphous swirl captures torment, the singing suggests perseverance. These are the qualities that sustain Gag Order, carrying it through 13 tracks so tightly intertwined it's difficult to tell where one begins or ends; it's as much a complete body of work as Paul Simon's concurrently released Seven Psalms. All that torment and atmosphere amounts to a journey lacking such expected signifiers as hooks or even melody. Gag Order discards these pop niceties because it's designed as a purge, one that delivers catharsis for the artist without much consideration for the audience. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/30/2023
Label:	Kemosabe / Rca
UPC:	0196588011412

Tracks

1. Something To Believe In
2. Eat The Acid
3. Living In My Head
4. Fine Line
5. Only Love Can Save Us Now
6. All I Need Is You
7. The Drama
8. Ram Dass Interlude
9. Too Far Gone
10. Peace & Quiet
11. Only Love Reprise
12. Hate Me Harder
13. Happy

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kesha   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Stephen Marcussen   Mastering
Kesha   Executive Producer
Mark Springer   A&R
Rick Rubin   Composer,Producer
Scott Sylvester   A&R
Jason Lader   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Eric Lynn   Production Coordination
Justin Tranter   Composer
Shawn Everett   Composer
Kesha Sebert   Composer,Producer,Vocal Producer
Drew Pearson   Composer,Producer
Pebe Sebert   Composer
Gregg White   Assistant Engineer
Hudson Mohawke   Producer
Stuart Crichton   Composer,Producer
Brian Roettinger   Creative Director
Kurt Vile   Composer
Colin Willard   Assistant Engineer
Everett Romano   Composer
Frances Bowdery   Production Coordination
Ajay Bhattacharya   Composer
Kathleen Ross   Composer
Jeremy Hatcher   Engineer,Additional Production
Jussi Karvinen   Composer
Ross Birchard   Composer
Tom Kahre   Engineer,Additional Production
Caroline Pennell   Composer
Skyler Stonestreet   Composer
Dave Hanych   Production Coordination
Rex Kudo   Composer
Matt Dyson   Vocal Engineer
Stint   Producer
Jussifer   Producer
Dylan Neustadter   Engineer
Kennedi Lykken   Composer
Blake Slatkin   Composer
Gabriella Grombacher   Composer
Jonathan Pfarr   Assistant Engineer
Luke Reynolds   Engineer
Bobby Mota   Assistant Engineer
Olivia Painter   Mixing Assistant
Matt Prater   Production Assistant
Jack Ross   Production Assistant
Hollis Howard   Production Assistant
Cole Hopcus   Production Assistant
Brennan Rubin   Production Assistant
David Cesareo   Production Assistant
Vantablaqjunglekat   Composer
Sofia Staedler   Production Assistant
Ray Braungart   Production Assistant
Vincent Haycock   Photography
Niki Roberton   Creative Producer