Ke$ha: 'Animal'

As we've all heard by now, the party don't start 'til Kesha – sorry, Ke$ha - walks in. Having introduced herself as a gobby gal-about-town on recent hit 'Tik Tok', the Texan pop starlet uses her debut album to flesh out this persona fully. She's the sort of broad who keeps a water bottle of whisky in her handbag and taunts an aging lothario with a playground chant of "D-I-N-O-S-A-U-R"... before telling him he needs a CAT scan. Actually, this couplet from current single 'Blah Blah Blah' sums up Ke$ha's schtick nicely: "Don't be a little b*tch with your chit chat / Just show me where your d*ck's at."

So, this Animal isn't what you'd call classy – it's more of a mangy old street moggie than a snooty Persian puss – but it is terrific fun. This is partly because Ke$ha has plenty of on-record personality, but mainly because her songs – co-written and produced by the likes of Dr Luke and Max Martin – are so damn catchy. Nearly everything here comes complete with a stonking great chorus to rival those on the singles, with other highlights including the clubby throb of 'Take It Off', the harder-edged electro of 'Boots and Boys' and the horn-driven 'Backstabber', which sounds like a 2010 take on an old girlgroup chestnut, albeit an old girlgroup chestnut that features the line: "Girl you're such a sh*t-talker."

Of course, there's massive potential for irritation here, but what keeps Ke$ha the right side of bitchy - for the most part, anyway - is her willingness to show her vulnerable side. She admits she can't take rejection on the country-tinged 'Stephen', pulls off the mobiles-in-the-air balladry of 'Blind', and even serenades her broken heart on the clattering, Ryan Tedder-aping 'Hungover'. Then there's the fairly self-explanatory 'Dancing With Tears In My Eyes', which features lyrics that could almost have been nicked from Hayley-off-Paramore's notepad. "With every move I die," our usually boisterous heroine sings, "I'm faded, I'm broken inside..."

Crucially, even when she's baring her soul, Ke$ha doesn't skimp on those crowd-pleasing choruses. The result? The scattering of ballads doesn't interfere with what is essentially a bop-til-you-drop, chat-til-you're-slapped, drink-til-you're-sick party record - and a very entertaining one at that. Just be grateful you aren't the one who's got to clear up after her.