Katy Perry Album: “One of the Boys”

...but somehow you get the idea that it's all in fun. This pop/rock recording makes for a fine debut. Katy does seem to have a bit of gender dysphoria...she kisses girls when drunk [and enjoys it], sometimes she feels like "one of the boys", and "ur so gay" and "hot n cold" depict her boyfriend has having some confusion of his own {PMS, indeed}. The lyrics, though are clean...well, there is a line in "if you can afford me" about not being a piece of a**...and I, at least, was left with the impression that she doesn't really mean it, and is just having a good time with us. "i kissed a girl" is not only not offensive, it's my favorite song on the album...really catchy.

Katy is a pretty girl, with a clear, strong, voice...she should go far. The album is well recorded, and presented, with great artwork. The recording may be a bit more "rock" than I like, but only a bit. She manages to take themes which some could use to gross us out, and make a real "feel good" album...that's an accomplishment, right there. You go, girl...

Addendum: I liked it when I first got it, but this is a record that actually IMPROVES with repeated listening...Very high recommendation. Six stars, at least.

Katy Perry may have started her career in the Christian genre, but this alt-pop goddess soars on her mainstream debut in the form of One of the Boys. Her smash single "I Kissed a Girl" is one of the catchiest songs this summer, and surely received most of its attention due to its off topic subject matter. "Ur So Gay" is another gem, albeit not nearly as catchy melodically, but more so lyrically as Perry lists all the reasons her ex is "so gay" even though "you don't even like boys"; I personally don't find any anti-homosexuality remarks here, but obviously songs like this have grabbed attention from those in the homosexual community for usage of the "Ur So Gay" moniker. But "Hot & Cold" stands to be just as catchy, if not more, than "I Kissed a Girl." One of the Boys is simply a delight to the ears, a piece of rock-infused pop that displays a powerful voice intermixed with some great songs. Sure, not everything here can match the incredible heights of "I Kissed a Girl," and yet moments of brilliance permeate throughout: for example, "Thinking of You" is a powerful ballad of heartbreak with a driving bridge and knowing lyrics. Overall, One of the Boys can easily be considered one of the best pop albums of the year, and deservedly so.

According to popular consensus, this album has been something like three or four years in the making; the MATRIX's number one maven Katy Perry finally drops her debut album (at least under the name she is currently going by these days), and it is nothing more than a ho-hum affair.

Perry strives to be Pink (the artist as well as the color), but only gets halfway there, ending up a cross between Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne. The album has a little more of a dance vibe to it; the hooks are typical MATRIX stuff. These tracks (including the trashy hit single "I Kissed a Girl") have all been done by someone before in some form or another. The actual title of that song was even done before, by Jill Sobule in 1995. It is the same concept, not the same song (like you'll care about concepts if you are buying this CD anyways).

So, years in the making, Katy Perry finally hits the scene, and it is now apparent why there were so many failed attempts before. She has nothing to say - at least nothing new. And after her album and image has been panned by critics all over the world (she was actually referred to as a "trollop" in the Allmusic Guide), of course she becomes a number-one hit. She should enjoy the ride now, because it will be brief. Strutting around poking fun at gays, geeks, and ex's might work if you are a second-rate stand-up comedian, but not if you want to maintain a long-term chart performance. If Britney Spears would have released a song as vulgar as some of these, she would have been exiled. It's a double-standard. Katy Perry is manufactured and fake, just another marketing tool (with the primary focus on TOOL). And as many other former faded vixens of the past (see Ford comma Willa) can attest, Katy Perry won't be in the spotlight for very long.

My impressions of Katy Perry were pretty much limited to the release of her previous singles of "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl" before listening to this album. If going by the measure of those singles alone, I would have likely labeled her in the progressions of artists like Madonna or Cyndi Lauper, producing fun, upbeat catchy power pop melodies but having little personal impact.

Yet, if you look a little deeper into "One of the Boys" as an overall album, you see she goes beyond and intentionally crafts the album as one that's distinctly tongue in cheek, taking influences from artists like Alanis Morissette or perhaps even Fiona Apple. Is she as strong as the aforementioned artists? Difficult to say, but the album on the overall spectrum provides an interesting listen for a debut. I found it interesting that she also cites Paul Simon and Queen as influences on her musical style overall.

The title track begins the album on an upbeat melodic note, with a rebellious tonal bite. It expresses a tear between sexual identity stereotypes that sounds more genuine than, but in the same progressive stance as "I Kissed A Girl" (which conveniently follows the first track). "I Kissed A Girl" is undeniably catchy, both in its easily recognizable chorus and melody, but only takes root in its true meaning in the progression of the album. It still feels lacking compared to some of the other stronger tracks on the album. "Waking Up in Vegas" is a nice change in tonality, an expression of escapism through a nice rock progression. I liked the track far more than I thought I would (I'd name it among the best the album has to offer), noting the power in her vocals when not covered by lavish synthesizers. I don't know if it differs too much than other songs with similar textures, but it's a nice change of pace for the album.

"Thinking of You" is strong in its lyrical construction, with a good, raw emotional feel regarding a strained relationship; it's one of the strongest examples of Perry's cited influence of Alanis Morissette. It features a pretty much cut and dry indie feel, but I don't know if it stood out distinctly to really connect with me fully. "Mannequin" I liked in the same progression as "Waking Up in Vegas", she really carries the emotion best in this song, full of bitterness and sporting some of her strongest vocals on the album. "UR so Gay" seems to be another distinctly impacting song in its overall note of controversy, very tongue in cheek and controversial, like that of "I Kissed A Girl", but has a little more tangibility because the underlying message communicates a frustration with a relationship. Strong sexual assertions here, and you can either take it as hilarious and pressing the bar or a progression of misguided stereotypes, or even somewhere between the two. "Hot 'N Cold" returns to the distinct power pop style of the opening of the album. Easily singable, catchy and memorable in that progression, and her personality comes through without being too oversteeped in its "impact for shock" value (something I found a problem in both singles for "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl").

I enjoyed "If You Can Afford Me": it never feels overdone and manages to be moderately catchy, good vocal and overall tonality, but while it makes an easy listen, it doesn't quite stand out as distinct from the album on an overall note. "Lost" is a genuine track with a calm, solemn feel. It's one of my favorites on the album because she actually seems like she feels the emotions radiated from the song, and allows it to come through her vocal as well. It's not lyrically complicated, nor overshadowed by any external elements - which makes it work all the better. I liked "Self-Inflicted" for its moderate indie rock tonality and message, decent track, but didn't so much stand out as strongly as a few of the other tracks on the album. "I'm Still Breathing" seems a stark contrast to the rest of the album, because it looks at a crushed relationship and the speaker takes on a suicidal mentality in ironic context - again not the strongest song for me personally, but I think it can find a point to connect with others. "Fingerprints" seems to wrap up the album with everything right: catchy, clear meaning in its message, and retains enough bite to let you know who Katy Perry is as an artist. And who is she? someone who definitely doesn't mind pushing the envelope a bit, radiating bitterness in the scheme of conflicting relationships.

Overall, I think she definitely has potential to grow as an artist and appeal to those in current music. Would I remember this album in a few years? Not as readily, it's enjoyable with a few hits and misses in its wake, but I'd recommend giving it a go and seeing what you can take from the album. It's not always my cup of tea, but I found it worth the time.

Katy Perry hasn't been one to disappoint long-time fans (including myself) in the past. That said, she doesn't do that on her debut major-label record, 'One of the Boys'.

While many reviewers of this particular record have thrown around the words 'attention-seeker' and 'desperate' (rather loosely, I might add), I disagree. The album's tongue-in-cheek and sometimes controversial lyrics give it a unique touch among countless teen pop and bubblegum-flavored albums, which are essentially a dime a dozen in today's modern pop world. The album is hook-heavy and slickly produced, but Katy's raw, genuine talent for both singing and writing are quite apparent, mostly in the cleverness of songs like "Waking Up in Vegas" and "Fingerprints", which rank among the album's top songs. Songs like "I Kissed a Girl" and "Ur So Gay" (not-so-ironically, the album's lead singles) give the biggest dose of controversy to the album, with Katy (embarrassingly yet humorously) yelling the word "penis" at the end of the latter track.

While hardcore fans of Perry have long embraced her quirky personality, one worry that I have personally is that incoming fans may be turned off by it, especially since her persona appears on ever square inch of the record from front to back. Nonetheless, 'One of the Boys' places Katy in front of today's modern up-and-coming female solo artists such as Colbie Caillat and Sara Bareilles because the album has serious tracks (including standout "Thinking of You') and fun, upbeat tracks ("Hot N Cold") that combine all that is popular on Top 40 radio at the moment - pop, rock, and dance music.

In "Fingerprints", Katy sings "I want you to remember me"; well, that's exactly what I predict is going to happen for years to come. Welcome to the big leagues, Ms. Perry.