Picking herself up and dusting off the emotional debris of the past year, Perry releases her 4th studio album, Prism. It's a title about 'letting light back into her life and seeing herself again', aw that's nice. This is an album destined for big things before it's even been heard; Perry being one of those incredibly likeable artists that everyone wants to do well regardless of how revolutionary (or not) her music is. The tone of the album is set by the title, there's a lot of self reflection, emotion and exposé. It's not all dark and brooding though, there's the trademark Perry Pop that's made her back catalogue so enjoyable.
Prism is an interesting collection of genres and sounds. Lead single 'Roar' is an incredibly infectious song, about self empowerment and personal growth. This is matched by the luscious hip hop production of sassy 'Dark Horse' feat Juicy J, a song so different from the rest of the album it stands out like dick on a cake. From hip hop to the Eastern sitar and drums of 'Legendary Lovers', which features a likeable chorus but lacks a solid hook.
There's a retro sound to a few of the tracks on Prism, most notably 'Birthday', one of the album's most enjoyable moments. It's one of those ridiculously catchy songs you'd only find on one of Perry's albums. 'So make a wish/I'll make it like your birthday everyday' she sings over funky disco beats that make you wish you were in a roller disco. The retro feel is extended with 90s dance inspired 'Walking On Air', which features a strong vocal performance from Katy and euphoric production from pop genius' Max Martin and Klas Åhlund.
It wouldn't be a Katy Perry album without some frivolous pop moments. 'International Smile' and 'This Is How We Do' are both likeable tracks, the former a little too random/silly/pointless for its own good and the latter a bouncy number with great 'I don't give a fuck' attitude. It's nice to have these breaks in emotional exposé, however sometimes the break isn't always necessary.
The second half of Prism is far more emotionally revealing than the first half. It's less fun and more 'here's some really dark shit'. I exaggerate a bit, as the album isn't as dark as it was made out to be in early promotion. The darkest moments are 'Ghost' and 'By the Grace of God'. Both are lovely ballads, showcasing vocal prowess from an artist often chastised for her vocal limitations. The former is about her divorce and it does make you feel quite bad for her, particularly when she sings 'I never thought you could be so cold', following an earlier lyric about being divorced by text. What a twat. The latter track has a positive overtone, but does suggest that this artist was on the brink of suicide during her marriage breakdown. She sings about lying on the bathroom floor, thanks her sister for helping her through a troubled time and then says 'I wasn't going to let love take me out that way'. It's a poignant moment for the singer, perhaps her most personal to date.
Prism is a strong 4th outing for Katy Perry. She's certainly moved on from her last behemoth album Teenage Dream, this is apparent just from the lyrical content alone. I've never felt her albums contain any filler as generally her song writing abilities don't allow this to happen. It's not perfect though, songs like 'International Smile' and 'Love Me' aren't standouts, but for a 28 year old it's a great showcase of her pop talents. Is it her best album so far? That's a toughy because Teenage Dream, the negative reviews aside, was & still is a genius pop album (I say it was a concept album). Prism is far more grown up, but it's nice to see she hasn't forgotten how to have fun and hasn't descended into an overwrought with misery musical stasis. Welcome back Katy.
3.5/5
Download: Roar/ Birthday/ Ghost/ By the Grace of God/ Dark Horse
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