Katy Perry

I got this for my daughter and it is great and the price was even better.

The world of pop music is fickle and many musicians/artists who are invited into it every day are ruefully spat out in a year's time, music's future one-hit wonders. Some pop songs can really speak to people on a grand scale while others are facetious and empty, a short and satisfying burst of aural energy to an ear that's hungry for an infectious beat. The same can be said for singer Katy Perry's debut album "One Of The Boys", an LP chock-full of short, catchy compositions devoid of sentiment. With a somewhat limited vocal range and a plethora of songs that practically blend into one another, Perry is easy to peg, therefore easy to forget.

The title track has Perry singing about shedding her tomboy ways, desperate to get the attention of a guy that sees her as "just one of the boys" (i wanna be a flower, not a dirty ring/i wanna smell like roses, not a baseball team/and i swear one day you're gonna wanna make out with me), followed by "I Kissed A Girl", by and far the album's best track musically and lyrically. "Waking Up In Vegas" is just plain boring, another upbeat track on an album full of rousing songs containing humdrum guitar work and Perry's facetious trilling.

"Thinking Of You", one of the album's three total ballads, is a lament of a lover she never should've given up, dwelling on him even as she embarks on a new love affair. "Mannequin" decries an emotionally numb man and "Ur So Gay" is an insult to the ears (not to mention offensive to homosexuals for the misuse of the word "gay" - there are now commercials that denounce people as rude and stupid for using the word "gay" to describe something).

"Hot N' Cold" speeds things back up and brings some value back to the proceedings with its admirable production and toe-tapping beat, its accompaniment reminscent of The Killer's heavily-synthesized rock. "If You Can Afford Me" disgusts nearly as much as "Ur So Gay", the first-person perspective of the song revealing a woman who thinks much too highly of herself. "Lost" is a cringe-worthy ballad made for its teen audience by bemoaning the sacrifice of the self for popularity. "Self-Inflicted" makes no point, nor does it make sense lyrically. "I'm Still Breathing" foretells the death of a relationship and "Fingerprints" is Perry's rebel yell, a last hurrah on the album about leaving your mark on the world.

Perry's first album brings with it a slew of songwriters and producers, giving "One Of The Boys" the misfortune of being overproduced. As a result, the album fails to make a grand impression on a more discerning listener and is primarily aimed at teenaged consumers, a demographic whose musical tastes are inconstant and often lesser-minded. The few songs here that show promise are the playful, erotic kitsch of "I Kissed A Girl" as well as "Hot N' Cold", both of them written and produced by the same people.

Though Perry's schtick seems to be "sexy and salacious", her music can come off downright obnoxious and uninspired. This "pretty punk" routine has been done to death with artists like Pink, Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson, so what Perry and her unusually large amount of collaborators give us on this 12-track disc is nothing new, nor is it notable. In fact, the aforementioned singers have far more introspective and/or clever ouevres than Perry does, and that is largely due to a wise choice of songwriters and producers. This is one of many of the album's faults, along with repetitive instrumentation and Perry's ball-busting vocals. This consistent wailing of hers can grate the nerves, as can the stale instrumentation in each track (with the exception of "I Kissed A Girl" and "Hot n' Cold"). Even the CD's booklet features Perry (an attractive, well-endowed woman) leisuring in form-fitting ensembles, her broad-billed hat, fire engine-red lips and perfectly coiffed tresses resembling a 1960's pin-up. Perhaps her production team thinks she can sell her image to sell the music, but this is lost on people like me. If you can't sing and you don't have something important to say, than I ain't buying it - LITERALLY.

It's clear Perry needs some serious help with songwriting when she's coming up with embarrassingly awful lyrics like this:

"You're so sad maybe you should by a happy meal/You're so skinny you should really Super Size the deal" (Ur So Gay)

Bottom line: If Perry wants to be more than just a flash in the pan, she'd better write some more self-exploratory songs as well as find a better team of producers who can vary her sound a bit and expand her musical style. Older pop music fans, pass on this one - you'll be wasting hard-earned money on an album that with either be traded in or accrue a thick layer of dust in your music collection.

Katy Perry's One of the Boys is definitely one of the top CDs of 2008.

Why? Because her lyrics are crisp, witty, & genuine, the music bright & foot-tapping memorable, and the studio production masterful. Taken together, this is a great example of a true artist who holds nothing back & brings a fresh energy to an increasingly self-absorbed & cliche music scene.

I myself enjoyed all of the songs. My favs of course are "I Kissed a Girl" with it's driving beat & haughty lyrics and "Ur So Gay" with it's clever quick fire lyrics sung with emotional exapseration ... & I love the horns & great production on this track. The production of the entire CD really brings out everything that Katy puts into the lyrics and music. Listen with your headphones to see what I mean.

It's an album which never runs out of energy or authenticity. "One of the Boys", "Thinking of You", "I'm Still Breathing" & "Mannequin" each has a story to tell both in words and music. Perry's energy & intuition flows through each song.

Not all may like her edgy delivery, but as a singer/songwriter, Katy nails it. Don't take her lyrics literally, they're more an exploration of emotions & ideas . . . though I do feel sorry for the guy with no penis.

a great step into the light, she can talk about "things", and still keep style and class. i really hope her next recording is just as good, she set the bar high with this one!
Dr.Joe DJ/MC

This album is completely offensive. I'm glad I listened to the clips and read the lyrics before I bought it. I would never give her my money.