Written by Susie Salva
Grammy nominee and Pop Superstar Katy Perry has released her third studio album entitled “Prism,” on Capitol Records. Perry’s “Prism” is the refraction of light showing off multi-colors and textures to her melodic sounds. How do you follow the mega-successful “Teenage Dream?” Perry does so skillfully with this album of intimate introspection, EDM and emotionally driven odes to losing and finding love and discovering oneself.
The opening track, “Roar,” is the #1 single off the disc where she deals openly with her previous relationship where she felt knocked down but was able to pick herself up and dust herself off and get on with her life. It is her most refreshing and reflective track on this 13 song deluxe album.
“Legendary Lovers,” is peppered with Middle-Eastern Bollywood sounds including sitar with uptempo ballad where her hearts beats like a drum. “Birthday,” gives us reason to celebrate a Disco/EDM track describes the double-entendres Perry is known for…like her silly, “Peacock” on “Teenage Dream.” She jokes about bringing the big balloons out to celebrate and make your wishes come true.
“Walking On Air,” explores her feeling unable to take anymore by going deeper and deeper relying on EDM and summoning sounds not unfamiliar to early Madonna. While Perry may not have been thinking of that recording this catchy track it just shine through.
Her second single the haunting “Unconditionally,” is raw and stripped down revels in giving love unconditionally no need to apologize just lap it up and give of oneself. “Dark Horse,” cleverly uses Juicy J’s rap revealing the idea of being in the palm of someone’s hand to remember to be sure before you give it up. This song is fresh and delivers another side of Perry. Again, she plays with rap on “This is How We Do,” saying that it is no big deal chilling to Backstreet..she bops along on this track.
“Love Me,” again explores the reality of losing oneself when there is no more second guessing, no more questioning and being the one defining who this love is? Not needing another to define herself. Like “Roar,” she is now comfortable in her own skin knowing exactly who she is and where she is heading.
Rounding out this Deluxe Disc is the lovely piano driven ballad “By the Grace of God,” another introspective song falling back on her more religious roots recognizing how lucky she is and happy to have a sister to keep her on the straight and narrow.
For die-hard Perry fans and those just discovering her, you will find something on this album to take you on a ride through EDM and power ballads to just songs about wanting to have fun and believing in oneself. She truly has grown into a force to be reckon with proving that she has the chops to stay on top of the charts.
Katy Perry has cemented her status as a best-selling superstar with the global success of her second studio album, Teenage Dream, which debuted at #1 in 8 countries. All 4 singles released so far (“California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework” and “E.T.“) have hit #1 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart, making hers just the third album in the 18-year history of the chart to yield a quartet of #1’s.
She also holds the distinction of being only the ninth album in the 52-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart to produce four #1’s. This follows on the heels of her multi-platinum debut album, One of the Boys, which generated four hit singles: “I Kissed A Girl,” “Hot N Cold,” “Thinking of You” and “Waking Up In Vegas.”
She wrapped up 2010 in style with 4 Grammy nominations, including one for “Album of the Year.”
Katy kicked off 2011 with sold-out shows on the European leg of the California Dreams Tour, and will play sold-out shows in Australia, New Zealand and Japan before heading to North America and beyond.
