Katy Perry - Prism

Half-tempted to make a T-shirt that says "I survived the Teenage Dream album campaign". So arduous and try-hard was it - and its unfortunate consequence of matching Thriller's record of most #1 singles from an album (although I had to chortle at her failing twice to beat it with The One That Got Away, the album's dullest moment) - that it completely destroyed any appeal Perry may have had for me. That said, I remember doing a half-hearted review on another website for it at the time of its release where I failed to identify Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), the title track and E.T. to be the excellent pop songs they are. It's this hit-and-miss approach to pop excellence that defines Perry, and Prism looked set to be a continuation of the trend.

And then came Roar. Well, if that was the lead single I think we're done here. Let's get this wrapped up.

That single in question is obviously conceived as a well-intending anthem about loving onesself and - as its lyric video suggests - was aimed squarely at the teen market with the intention of putting bullies out to pasture, which is of course all very lovely and commendable, but it wouldn't kill Perry to make such a message either memorable or tuneful. She's done it all before, of course - on the inescapable and shrill Firework, most notably - and 'Roar', aside from a rather blatant hijacking of a Sara Bareilles melody (I won't pretend to have heard of it prior to Roar, but at 10 million views she's hardly obscure), is wholly lacking in hooks. It's pleasant enough to sing along to, though. Her tampering with others' music verges on the borderline offensive with her comments regarding 'Legendary Lovers' but otherwise is careful - too careful, actually - not to let anything intrude on her brand of Max Martin-penned electrononsense. In terms of potential singles, 'Birthday' and 'Unconditionally' seem the most viable candidates for my "they irritate me now, but I'll love them when they're hammered into me 30 times a week" category; both are simple, straightforward creations that aim for fun, dancing and hairbrush karaoke but - once over - struggle to resonate.

In fact, it's Perry's dabbling with house music that works as the most successful change of tone: promo single 'Walking on Air' is a breezy, Italian disco, club-ready bit of breathlessness that, for this reviewer, is just about the only thing I'm still singing or humming when going about washing the dishes and other such moments. Similarly exhilarating is 'Ghost', a lovely bit of chillwave with a satisfying chorus, and 'This Is How We Do' is another highlight, bouncing along courtesy of a fine Klas Ahlund production (his only other contribution here is Walking on Air, go figure). Much of Teenage Dream proved that Perry, if nothing else, has a decent pair of lungs on her, and 'This Moment' is a strong contender to be the album's most evocative ballad.

It's just inevitable, then, that much of the rest stands to make these brief highlights more bittersweet; whilst there are fine elements of house music, there's also the rather desperate clinging onto Daft Punk's coattails of 'International Smile' (not to mention an unfortunate reminder of Scooch's cringeworthy air-hostess announcement). There may be cute ballads, but there are overwraught dollops of sentiment too in 'Love Me' and 'Double Rainbow'. But worst of all are the tracks that just totally pass you by and leave absolutely no impression: 'Dark Horse' and the final ballad 'By the Grace of God'.

The problem, as has always been with Katy Perry, is that this is just a selection of songs touted for future success by a group of producers and writers who are reaching the tailing end of their heyday. Max Martin, Dr. Luke and StarGate are now struggling, and however fast their singles sell to the impressionable teens, the trendsetters and the new talents are turning to much more engaging genres. Even for a dying movement, Katy Perry struggles to stand out above, say, the dancey ubiquity of Britney, or the no-holds-barred fun of Ke$ha: she's just an awkward personality trying to join the party.

Rating: 3/10
Highlights: Walking on Air; This Is How We Do; Ghost; This Moment
Avoid: Legendary Lovers; Birthday; By the Grace of God; Double Rainbow

Artwork Watch: Looks more like the front of a shampoo bottle. A shampoo bottle with terrible fonts.
Up next: Icona Pop