Katy Perry - One of the Boys

[Greg Dona]

Katy Perry - One of the Boys
Capitol Records
June 17, 2008

A college student with the attention span of a preschool infant, I usually greatly appreciate albums jam-packed with hit after glorious hit. In fact, it rarely bothered me when an artist’s release sounded more like a shoddily compiled greatest hits disc than an album. Yet Katy Perry’s potential anthem fest – that would be One of the Boys – so entirely neglects to develop any sort of cohesiveness that even I can’t stomach it from it’s beginning to the bitter end.

Upon first hearing “UR So Gay” last year I lost my proverbial cool. The track was down-tempo but it somehow made me want to dance. There were hints of reggae while still maintaining an undeniably pop vibe. The lyrics were atrocious yet I couldn’t help but smile as I listened. Not loving anything this girl released from here on out literally didn’t seem possible at the time.

My adoration for Ms. Perry only intensified when I heard her first chart-topping single. The most basic beat in the history of music pushing Katy’s wonderfully hellish cries and simple guitar work made “I Kissed a Girl” an anthem for essentially every type of music fan. Yet again I found myself whole-heartedly ignoring ridiculous lyrics due to the outrageous infectiousness of the track. The elements of pop, dance, and rock made the cut irresistible to the vast majority of the United States, myself included. Katy Perry was quickly becoming a legend in my book.

Sadly, everything changed when I first spun her full album. It’s not that Katy Perry dropped off and couldn’t deliver the bombs she dropped with her first two post-Katy Hudson efforts. Instead, I found myself struggling to figure out what exactly was happening in the disc. One moment the listener’s screaming along to “I Kissed a Girl,” the next they’re drumming and whipping about an air guitar through “Waking up in Vegas,” then Katy’s got them bumping and grinding to the gentle synths of “Hot ‘N Cold”, and finally her fans hop and skip to “I’m Still Breathing.” This isn’t to say that any of these tracks isn’t good – on the contrary, I’d be extremely happy to hear any of them on a party mix, in the car, or during pretty much any other compilation of one single after another – but rather that they (and, in particular, their ordering) allow for little to no coherence as an album.

Nothing in particular stands out as the reason One of the Boys doesn’t work as a project. Katy’s voice is quite nice, guitar work excites at times while providing a sturdy background at other, and percussion and bass lay down a solid foundation for almost every song. Yet until proven otherwise I’ll have to consider Katy Perry a creator of outlandishly good singles but sadly mediocre albums. With all earnestness, here’s to hoping Ms. Perry manages to produce a more solid full-length while maintaining her ability to crank out one hit after another next time around. Only a fool wouldn’t see the potential smothering One of the Boys.

[EchoPark]

Thumbs way down for reviewing this album bro. What were you thinking.

[Greg Dona]

Thumbs way down for reviewing this album bro. What were you thinking.
Thumbs way down for using the word "bro" and avoiding a necessary question mark.

Or, if you don't fit the mold of the average review criticizer, thumbs way down (on my part) for missing the sarcasm.

[bailmeout13]

Thumbs way down for reviewing this album bro. What were you thinking.

That it is part of his job, maybe?

[makeoutmags]

agreed, 10000 percent.

good review.

[SuicideKing]

Thumbs way down for using the word "bro" and avoiding a necessary question mark.

Or, if you don't fit the mold of the average review criticizer, thumbs way down (on my part) for missing the sarcasm.

haha... excellent rebuttal

[irthesteve]

Katy Perry is not ok. The end.





Well written though

[richie]

i like this record a lot, don't care who she is and don't mind a lot for the singles, but the rest of the record is a good mix of pink-a-like songs (same producers) and theres also a butch walker track.
really good.

[richie]

...and i disagree about the lyrics; if I were a girl i'd be loving this shit

[heyzombiehitler]

Katy Perry is not ok. The end.





Well written though

Damn skippy.

[get2sammyb]

I like this album. But I do see where you're coming from on the cohesiveness. I felt there needed to be more pop on there as opposed to the Kelly Clarkson-esque tracks.

[Steve Henderson]

You are a better man than I am. There is no way I would be able to tolerate this record long enough to review it.

[JRaD]

I think there needs to be a discussion on this forum, (at least if there has not already) about the importance of cohesiveness within an album. I bought this album the day it came out and it has since grown on me. I do understand the validity of your points regarding it not making sense as a whole, but why does an album have to be cohesive? I mean, I see a definitive correlation between the majority of the songs bashing an ex-boyfriend...just read the lyrics to Ur So Gay, Mannequin, Hot N Cold, One of the Boys, and even I Kissed A Girl.

Additionally, I don't really see any reason to bash Katy Perry's lyrics. Ur So Gay's "You're so sad you should buy a happy meal" and "you're so skinny you should really super size the deal" are phrases that I text my friends on various occasions. No, they aren't deep. No, they don't change the world. But they comfort and relate to the teenage drama that is (well, hopefully was) mine and many others lives...messy break-ups.

[applesandcyanid]

Good review, props to Travie for bangin' that out though, g'damn.

[A78]

The average USER review of this album is 76%?

gah.

[JackSlapFear]

this album is s so terrible. im also not down with the face that ur so gay is about chris carrabba

[CellarGhosts]

Katy Perry is absolutely horrible, but well written review.

[John JD Dorian]

isn't she on warped? if so, need to review this.

as i've said before, though, fuck katy perry.

[TooLateF0rRoses]

:thumbdwn: on the album, :thumbup: on a well written review. Dont let the haters hold you down my man.

[Greg Dona]

I think there needs to be a discussion on this forum, (at least if there has not already) about the importance of cohesiveness within an album. I bought this album the day it came out and it has since grown on me. I do understand the validity of your points regarding it not making sense as a whole, but why does an album have to be cohesive? I mean, I see a definitive correlation between the majority of the songs bashing an ex-boyfriend...just read the lyrics to Ur So Gay, Mannequin, Hot N Cold, One of the Boys, and even I Kissed A Girl.

Additionally, I don't really see any reason to bash Katy Perry's lyrics. Ur So Gay's "You're so sad you should buy a happy meal" and "you're so skinny you should really super size the deal" are phrases that I text my friends on various occasions. No, they aren't deep. No, they don't change the world. But they comfort and relate to the teenage drama that is (well, hopefully was) mine and many others lives...messy break-ups.
This is an album review, not a single review. Absolute Punk doesn't do single reviews (as far as I know). Thus I've gotta look at it as one unit, not separate songs. There needs to be some sort or link other than shallow lyrics.

"You're so sad you should buy a happy meal" and "you're so skinny you should really super size the deal" are lines that make me cringe. Teenage drama-related lyrics are trite and thus obnoxious. No offense.

Didn't mean to come off as such a grouchy, unappreciative old man; I sincerely appreciate your constructiveness.

[MADSTA]

...and i disagree about the lyrics; if I were a girl i'd be loving this shit
I am a girl, and I am not loving this shit.

[splat out path]

It seems like the 75% rating gives the impression you like it more than you do. I'd have thought below 60 was closer based on the text.

[CellarGhosts]

I am a girl, and I am not loving this shit.
Good call. I don't see why one would think girls in particular would be "loving" this. It's terrible.

And I agree that it seems like the score is too high based on the opinions expressed in the review itself. I mean it's a well written review but I can't really say I agree with it. :shrug:

[LGRE]

You are a better man than I am. There is no way I would be able to tolerate this record long enough to review it.


Yeah, but he did a really great job of it.. I bought this one on iTunes last week, and I agree with what he says. The songs stand alone just fine, but there is no flow to the album as a whole.

[Greg Dona]

It seems like the 75% rating gives the impression you like it more than you do. I'd have thought below 60 was closer based on the text.
The most important number is the reviewer's tilt. Since there's a predetermined formula to calculate the score, the numbers don't always match the words.

[JustAGirl01]

I am a girl, and I am not loving this shit.

i second this

[TRockLive]

Hey everyone!

I think Katy Perry is pretty good live.

Check out this videos I found on ALTITUDE TV.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=vhHNtgKikHs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hf9Ni8SnHkQ

Thank you!

[arson]

imo, this record has a few great tracks, but I agree about the whole cohesiveness problem

she was great at warped tour though =]

[Domenic182]

Is it really a 9 on lasting value?

[kjs7]

bad album, but jesus christ is she hot.

[chcougar1]

this album is s so terrible. im also not down with the face that ur so gay is about chris carrabba

really? I havent heard the song, but the title makes me think I hate her haha

I love Chris! (In a heterosexual way of course!)

[JRaD]

This is an album review, not a single review. Absolute Punk doesn't do single reviews (as far as I know). Thus I've gotta look at it as one unit, not separate songs. There needs to be some sort or link other than shallow lyrics.

"You're so sad you should buy a happy meal" and "you're so skinny you should really super size the deal" are lines that make me cringe. Teenage drama-related lyrics are trite and thus obnoxious. No offense.

Didn't mean to come off as such a grouchy, unappreciative old man; I sincerely appreciate your constructiveness.

So I thought about what you wrote, what I replied to, and listened to the entire album twice on my iPod today. My new opinion is that there is indeed a cohesiveness to the songs and the album as a whole and that it all surrounds her ex-boyfriend. Whether she wonders why she was dumped, who he really is, what their relationship was, how he can have any future with a woman, etc. it all revolves around one tangible subject. Whether or not you appreciate the lyrics or her experiences with her ex-boyfriend, it is there.

That's ok, I'll take the bullet on that one. It's what I know, it's who I am, and it is what I have recently lived through. What you see as trite is something I can relate to. While you as the reviewer are two years older, two years wiser, and have listened to two years of more music, you obviously are not Katy Perry's target audience, although her provoking you to get up and dance would probably satisfy her. I don't think her intentions were to save the world, but rather to let people know that there is more to life than just the nostalgia of an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.

Oh, I don't think you really came off as that. I just think that maybe this album and artist weren't your style, per se. But I just glanced at the other albums you reviewed, and your ratings/reviews to those, and my mind changed slightly. I don't know, but I'll just say I disagree. I even spoke to one of my friends and I started thinking...who am I, president of the Katy Perry fan club? No, I'm just a fan. But you don't see me trying to clear the record for CIWWAF or other bands with some strong amounts of hate...at least, not on these boards. Ok, done with personal rant. Nice review overall, and thanks for giving the album a listen. :)

[Greg Dona]

Is it really a 9 on lasting value?
Oh yea, definitely - these cuts are infectious as can be.

So I thought about what you wrote, what I replied to, and listened to the entire album twice on my iPod today. My new opinion is that there is indeed a cohesiveness to the songs and the album as a whole and that it all surrounds her ex-boyfriend. Whether she wonders why she was dumped, who he really is, what their relationship was, how he can have any future with a woman, etc. it all revolves around one tangible subject. Whether or not you appreciate the lyrics or her experiences with her ex-boyfriend, it is there.

That's ok, I'll take the bullet on that one. It's what I know, it's who I am, and it is what I have recently lived through. What you see as trite is something I can relate to. While you as the reviewer are two years older, two years wiser, and have listened to two years of more music, you obviously are not Katy Perry's target audience, although her provoking you to get up and dance would probably satisfy her. I don't think her intentions were to save the world, but rather to let people know that there is more to life than just the nostalgia of an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.

Oh, I don't think you really came off as that. I just think that maybe this album and artist weren't your style, per se. But I just glanced at the other albums you reviewed, and your ratings/reviews to those, and my mind changed slightly. I don't know, but I'll just say I disagree. I even spoke to one of my friends and I started thinking...who am I, president of the Katy Perry fan club? No, I'm just a fan. But you don't see me trying to clear the record for CIWWAF or other bands with some strong amounts of hate...at least, not on these boards. Ok, done with personal rant. Nice review overall, and thanks for giving the album a listen. :)
Right on. Good looks. I mean I love the songs, but listening to them back to back (and with whatever filler there is) kinda kills me. I really hope "Hot N' Cold" pops off huge.

And I wouldn't say I'm any wiser than anyone, ha!

[Sic Transit Zeb]

Thumbs way down for using the word "bro" and avoiding a necessary question mark.

Or, if you don't fit the mold of the average review criticizer, thumbs way down (on my part) for missing the sarcasm.

lol I agree with ya, I hate theword bro...rad is terrible too.


I do love Katy Perry with all my heart, her music is ok, but I mean her

[d00d81that]

good honest review.

[Brit0tany4]

this album is s so terrible. im also not down with the face that ur so gay is about chris carrabba

LOL WUT

[allhollows86]

one hit wonder?

[SweetThye]

I must be a fool, cause I don't see the potential in this album.

[Ailite]

This record is all kinds of horrible, but well written review.

[Greg Dona]

one hit wonder?
She's already had two Top 100 singles, so no. "Hot N' Cold" was released less than a week ago, so I imagine it'll pop off harder soon; it's better than "I Kissed a Girl."

I must be a fool, cause I don't see the potential in this album.
Cute!

[Klatzke]

Thumbs way down for using the word "bro" and avoiding a necessary question mark.

Or, if you don't fit the mold of the average review criticizer, thumbs way down (on my part) for missing the sarcasm.
Where are your RIYL sections? lol

[rocktwin22]

I totally agree with this review. She has a great voice, but I think her voice is more suited for pop songs.

[Amy Haze]

While I like "Hot'n'Cold" and "Mannequin," the rest of the album is just awful. Just *awful.*

"I Kissed A Girl" may be the most scientifically calculated pop song in the history of pop songs. She's kissing a girl, oh my! But she's doesn't even like girls, so that's okay! And "One of the Boys" is like the opposite of empowering; it's, like, *deflating.* Really weird song to start the album off on. I don't want you to like me for my personality, gosh darn it, find me pretty!!!

I guess I'm just another chick who's not feeling this shit.

Good review, though. The album does have a major problem with flow.

[Robb]

Oh yea, definitely - these cuts are infectious as can be.

I must say I don't think being infectious (or, in the same vein, catchy) can be used as evidence of lasting value at all.

[Greg Dona]

I must say I don't think being infectious (or, in the same vein, catchy) can be used as evidence of lasting value at all.
Of course not; I was simply stating the reason that the songs appealed to me in the first place. Lasting value is pretty self-explanatory, and I feel like I shouldn't have to explain why an album (or a chunk of songs from it) have ridiculous lasting value for me. I liked 'em the first time I heard 'em, I liked 'em a while later, and I still like 'em just as much.

Maybe I'm just not answering your question.

[Robb]

Of course not; I was simply stating the reason that the songs appealed to me in the first place. Lasting value is pretty self-explanatory, and I feel like I shouldn't have to explain why an album (or a chunk of songs from it) have ridiculous lasting value for me. I liked 'em the first time I heard 'em, I liked 'em a while later, and I still like 'em just as much.

Maybe I'm just not answering your question.

Maybe your answer would have been better in relation to a different quote. You used the album being 'infectious' as evidence to answer a question about the album's lasting value, when the two are not necessarily related (and more often than not, are not).

[Greg Dona]

Maybe your answer would have been better in relation to a different quote. You used the album being 'infectious' as evidence to answer a question about the album's lasting value, when the two are not necessarily related (and more often than not, are not).
How am I supposed to explain lasting value?

Is the lasting value really a 9?

Yes.

That's all I can say. The rest is self-explanatory.

[Robb]

How am I supposed to explain lasting value?

Is the lasting value really a 9?

Yes.

That's all I can say. The rest is self-explanatory.

You definitely can't explain lasting value, at least not on a new album. I think the Lasting Value metric of the review format is irrelevant anyway, since I don't think an album can be properly judged on this until, you know, time passes.

[eatbabiesyum]

i'll admit that the singles are super catchy. and actually good songs, but the rest of the album is VERYYYYY disapointing :/