REVIEW: Katy Perry matures with ‘Prism’
Tuesday marked the release of the much-anticipated new Katy Perry album. The new record, “Prism,” is the international pop star’s third full-length album. There has been a lot of buildup to this album, especially with Katy releasing the catchy new single “Roar” that reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart just a few weeks ago. After playing through this album a few times, I think it is safe to say that music listeners will not be disappointed a bit with the tracks on “Prism.”
Katy Perry has come a long way since I saw her live on one of the small side stages at the Vans Warped Tour in the summer of 2008. This was right after she “kissed a girl,” and I don’t think many of us there expected the incredibly successful career that the following years would bring her, but I was impressed with her incredible voice and presence on stage. Even on such a small stage, she knew how to captivate an audience. My one buddy is still convinced to this day that she winked at him during the show.
Very simply, this album follows suit right with her previous release “Teenage Dream,” but at the same time, there are some notable differences. The first thing that stood out to me is the fact that Katy seems to slow down a little bit with “Prism.” There is a more thoughtful, even nostalgic feel to this record – especially in the second half of it. In a lot of ways, Katy Perry is growing up with this album. With that being said, it is still that same Katy the music world fell in love with after “Teenage Dream.”
One indication of this growing up is a slight shift in lyrics and subject matter. Immature, semi-crude songs like “California Gurls” and “Peacock” won’t be found on this album. Katy, for the most part, went with a more inspirational feel comparable to her previous hits like “Firework” and “Part of Me” with captivating tracks like “Unconditionally,” “Double Rainbow,” “The Grace of God” and “Spiritual.”
Of course, Katy Perry didn’t completely bail on the party scene. Tracks like “Birthday,” Walking On Air” and “International Smile” keep the party she started three years ago rolling. But the one that really brings back that up-to-no-good, “T.G.I.F.” feel is “This Is How We Do.” When this track is released as a single, it will probably be the song all the high school girls will be jamming out to while cruising the town on girl’s night out.
My personal favorite track is the second song of the album, “Legendary Lovers.” It is the epitome of everything I love about Katy Perry. Her killer voice is on full display. The beat holds a perfect balance of being super catchy but not monotonous, and then she depicts a hypnotizing fantasy that can only be described as a “teenage dream.”
The mainstream pop-radio, overplayed stuff usually isn’t my scene at all, but there has always been something about Katy Perry I have loved. I don’t love every song she records, but in my opinion she really does offer a unique sound that everyone can appreciate. I have to give “Prism” an A+. I would highly recommend this album to anyone, but if you are the type that gets sick of hearing the same songs played on the radio over and over again, then take your time, because we are going to be hearing singles from this one for years to come.