Katy Perry has been knocking out singles faster than Michael Jackson. With her last album Teenage Dream she managed to break the record of singles on a single album. Now with her newest album, Prism hitting shelves that record could be broke once again with Prism being chalk full of catchy, fun and classic Katy Perry music.
Roar
Perry was smart to start off the album with the lead single, it's familiar and catchy. It doesn't do much in the way of vocals as a lot of it is masked by auto-tuned mumbo jumbo, but the beat is fun and the song opens up the album quite well. 3.5/5
Legendary Lovers
Track 2 takes the album into a whole new direction, it's much more dark and personal side to Katy Perry and it reminds us of songs like 'ET' from her past album. The pre-chorus is immense and it leads into a haunting chorus with some strong, albeit fairly dark lyrics (Take me down to the river/Underneath the blood on the sun/Say my name like a scripture/Keep my heart beating like a drum.) It's a solid subversion from what we might have been expecting from Ms. Perry. 5/5
Birthday
If I heard this song on my birthday I'd probably punch them. It's bad, the lyrics are simply atrocious, I hope it didn't take seven writers to spit this one out. It's obviously a very sexual song, and it it's just as catchy as Katy Perry is capable of, but it's simply filler. Frosting on the cake. Once you hear the 80s like synths, you know you're in for something bad. 2/5
Walking On Air
This one should be on radios quickly, it's got everything a single should have. Incredibly vocals that we finally get to hear to their fullest, solid lyrics and an insanely catchy chorus, and nice lead-in pre-chorus to boot. Expect to hear 'Walking On Air' next on radios. 5/5
Unconditionally
This is Katy Perry at her most mature. The lyrics are finally at their pique strength and the overall flow of the song is at a high for Katy. It's a sad, yet hopeful love ballad that'll make you want to give Katy Perry a hug by the end of it. Don't be surprised to see this one hitting number one on the singles soon either. 5/5
Dark Horse
At this point in the album we're about half way through, and Katy Perry still manages to be catchy as hell. 'Dark Horse' takes a haunting pre-chorus and exemplifies it into almost a key change, but hangs on as we're thrown through an intense lung crushing range of vocals. This is simply Perry at her best. And another ridiculously great song on Prism. I wish I could say the whole thing was perfect, but featured artist Juicy J takes the song down a notch and ruin the last quarter of the song. 3.5/5
This Is How We Do
Katy Perry brings us back down to a cliche, unoriginal level with 'This Is How We Do.' Full of auto-tune and uninspired vocals, and repetitious lyrics. It's got a basic song structure that really just gives the album filler. The first skip on the album. 1.5/5
International Smile
We get a throwback to Teenage Dream with 'International Smile' its upbeat, fun and kind of kooky like her last album. That being said the song is beyond catchy that'll have teens and young adults screaming it out of their windows for a long time. It's not entirely deep, nor does it progress Perry's sound in any way, but it is much less tacky than the last song, it's a good reminder that she still have some crazy left in her. 4/5
Ghost
What's a pop album without a break-up song? 'Ghost' is the signature "Hey I've had my heart broken, too!" song. It's not bad, but it's cliche. Every teenage girl will be singing and sympathizing with Katy soon enough. It's still got the tropes that make her music good, but it's not as inspired as it could be. I'd still take Ms. Perry out to a nice dinner after listening to this. 3.5/5
Love Me
What's the best way to follow up a break-up song? A love song! Actually a really great love song too. The second half of Prism is a bit slower and bit less unconventional compared to Perry's other albums. 'Love Me' is a hard hitting song with a message of 'love who you are' with inspiring lyrics (But now, I don't negotiate with the insecurities/They always seem to get the best of me/I found the head to love myself/The way I want you to) that'll be sure to lift your spirits. It's another highlight to this already impressive collection. 5/5
This Moment
Starts off with a catchy synth beat that reminds me of the beginning of Drive, but the creativity goes downhill from there, 'This Moment' falls into generic once again, it's still pretty catchy and is a nice break from the sadness of the last two songs, but it's nothing memorable. 3/5
Double Rainbow
I really didn't want to like this song just because of the name, but this song is insanely good. Katy Perry's vocals absolutely soar, the lyrics are surprisingly good despite being on the strange side. Everything just flows, and the bridge is simply gorgeous. 5/5
By The Grace Of God
This is it. Katy Perry's magnum opus. I'm not ashamed to say I had a couple wet spots in my eye. It's a song on her divorce with Russell Brand, and it's utterly heartbreaking, and raw. Katy Perry lets down her defenses and belts out some of the most beautiful and emotional lyrics in her career. To call this song perfect wouldn't be enough, this is Katy Perry at her most unrestrained. It's the perfect album closer and will go down as her best song. 5/5
Overall Prism is great. Katy Perry gives us a much more mature and broken side to her but isn't afraid to break out into the old, fun and crazy Katy Perry we're familiar with. It's a change that needed to happen, and it's one we can all get used to. Prism may suffer from the usual pop filler, but that doesn't change that fact that it's Perry's best work to date with enough catchy singles to break any records in the near future. You go Katy. I give Prism as a whole 4.5 stars out of 5.
Photo Courtesy of Amazon