Superstar Standouts: Katy Perry's 143

    Oyy. How the mighty have fallen. It's so hard to believe Katy really can't make pop anymore. Yet here we are. In case you missed it, and there's a good chance you did. Katy Perry released her seventh studio album. And... It's stagnant. There is not an ounce of creativity here, and Perry has nothing to say. This album would be mid whether it was released in 2010, in 2024, or in 2035. 

    It starts out with the misfire that is "WOMAN'S WORLD." Then has both Perry and 21 Savage give a tired performance on "GIMME GIMME." Kim Petras just about outshines her on her own track on the following one. 

    I liked "I'M HIS, HE'S MINE." But. It doesn't save the album at all. "LIFETIMES" sounds better while playing through the album. "ALL THE LOVE" is arguably the best song here. It's not crazy special. But the transition from it to "NIRVANA" is pretty cool. 

    Everything here is just so uninspired and phoned in. Maybe she wanted to play it super safe, but now wasn't the time for that. The one thing the record has going for it is how it seamlessly transitions from one track to another. Making this arguably the most cohesive Perry album. But... What's the point? When it's so tired and lifeless. 

    Like you can't even bop to this at TJ MAXX. Even H&M will pass on this one. RIP mall pop. It has been a good one.

    I can't help but think Perry should have abandoned dance pop and restarted here. A back to roots album would have been insane here. Imagine if One of the Boys came out today? It'd still be hot. Perry feels a bit stuffy. Especially after the whole working with Dr. Luke thing, "WOMAN'S WORLD" being a 500 mile step back for equality, and accusations of being tone deaf. 

    But if she insisted on working with Dr. Luke, the man has made magic with a guitar, they should have went in the pop rock direction.

    Or if "Never Really Over" was released instead of "WOMAN'S WORLD." I think it'd be a completely different story right now.

    Perry wants to inspire. That's fine. That's great. Please do. Give the people who lack strength a pick me up. But those songs are so hard to write and feel genuine. "Firework" did it right. "Roar" did too. Here, we're lacking a punch. 

    But by gosh, I miss the Perry who made sexual innuendos and had a gritty humor. 

    We've never recovered from Witness, and we're still tripped up. Teenage Dream still holds the crown. 

Rank: Sorr-E, Katy. I gotta give this one an E Rank.

Recommendation: when you want to feel inspired, but not too inspired.

Standouts:

    I'M HIS, HE'S MINE

    And- oh. Gee, wizz. Look at the time. I gotta go!