Katy Perry: Teenage Dream Review
Katy Perry has evolved from Lolita-themed fruit land princess to cotton candy queen in a very short period of time, and this is ever evident in her latest release
Teenage Dream.
Teenage Dream, Perrys third studio album release, is an evolution into dance-based pop, with synthesisers and drum beats being the basis for the majority of the record.
Perry is well-known for her do-it-yourself attitude, as a skilled guitar player and as always having a hands-on approach to producing her music. This time, shes gone for a more European-styled sound, packing in a lot of drum beats and keyboard chords.
Teaming up with producers Max Martin and Dr Luke, among many others, Perrys latest offering explores the idea of first love and feeling like a teenager again, pushing boundaries and self-empowerment.
Its a drastic change from One of the Boys where songs, such as If You Can Afford Me and Mannequin, were band-heavy and focussed on the frustrations of relationships. Taking a tongue-and-cheek approach to life made One of the Boys an album for younger folk. Its obvious Perry now realises her audience is growing up and maturing at the same time as she is stepping up the tone and quality in her music.
California Girls, the lead single from the album, is of course a summer anthem but still managed to hit number one down under. The track doesnt really set the tone for the record, however, as many of the songs take more of a serious note.
Stand out song Firework, for instance, shows Katy Perrys ability to sing about more than just food and frustration. She takes the moment to tell her friends and fans how important they really are: Youre not a waste of space, youre original, cannot be replaced. Surely this will become the anthem for many!
The ballad Not like the Movies brings the quality of the album down a lot. It slows the albums momentum down, when Perry had every opportunity to finish off with a bang. However opportunity not taken, meaning the listener feels totally let down in the end. There are all these great, fun tracks and then a ballad that does nothing more than move along slowly and in a dull way.
If youre a long-time fan of Katy Perry then I hope you are not disappointed with Teenage Dream. There are the fun moments most of the time but a letdown near the end. Still, its definitely one of the best releases of the year.
Review by Jess Cann