Katy Perry’s radio-friendly smash hit “I Kissed a Girl” is the latest song to get on the annoying “pseudo-lesbian” gravy train. It’s really just a cynical product and it would be easy to dismiss it as such, but that would be selling the song short. As grating as the trend is, the song is a terrific piece of pop rock, as easy on the ears as the theme is grating and overused. “I Kissed a Girl” is one of the best songs out there on top 40 radio, but the rest of Perry’s CD does not live up to that song. It’s an uneven and mixed bag with too many producers and too many different sounds. It feels less coherent and cohesive than it should. Perry’s best strength is doing straight-forward and catchy pop rock tunes and the album is best when it sticks to that formula.
The CD starts strong with the title track “One of the Boys” followed by a few other good songs, but then something happens. The CD starts to go downhill for a few songs. “Ur So Gay” may have the Madonna stamp of approval, but it tries so hard to be hip lyrically that it forgets the first rule of pop music, which is to have great melodies. The CD rebounds nicely though with “Hot N Cold”, a pure blast of pop infectiousness. “If You Can Afford Me” is another strong song, then again the CD becomes a bit schizophrenic before wrapping up nicely with the pop rock gem “Fingerprints”.
Katy Perry’s “One of the Boys” is stacked with terrific producers like Max Martin (Robyn, Britney, Ace of Base, BSB), Glen Ballard (Alanis), and The Matrix but its definitely less than the sum of its polished parts. I do think Katy Perry has some talent and the CD is fun at times, but it needs a more consistent tone and sound. Better luck next time, Ms. Perry.
Grade: C+
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