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Music

November 03, 2008

Katy Perry
One of the Boys
(EMI)

By Cheryl Leong
Our Rating: 7/10

Choice Cut : Ur So Gay, Hot N Cold, Lost, I'm Still Breathing

Official website: http://www.katyperry.com/

Despite being born into a Christian household, Katy Perry decided to break out of gospel altogether, fancying herself this generation's Madonna or Alanis Morisette. This 24-year old rising star has been called everything from "fiesty" and "cheeky," to "controversial" and at best, "quirky."

With an album chock-full of rebellious and provocative lyrics, this retro-glam babe delivers tunes that are impossible to dislike. With an infectious charm and an arsenal of self-written, moderately risque and humorous lyrics, Katy Perry certainly ups the sass factor.

Nowhere near as egdy or in-yer-face as her predecessors, her appeal lies in her characteristic contralto vocals. It has a certain unpolished and raw quality that helps invest a modicum of emotion more than your usual pop-rock fare. It also has a varied and supple stretch that molds itself to convey the respective emotions of the song.

The title track of her debut album One of the Boys is an infectious sing-a-long that echoes every tomboy's conflicting desire to be "one of the boys" while at the same time, getting them to sit up and take notice. Next comes 2008's hottest summer single "I Kissed A Girl," which helped propel her into popdom. Sexy, electrifying and definitely loop-worthy.

The slower-paced, acoustic "Thinking Of You" features an interesting use of metaphors. With equally clever lyrics, "Mannequin" starts off quiet before bursting into a throbbing pop rock lament on unresponsive/passive men. "Ur So Gay" is a shoo-in for Breakup Song of the Year. It has an uniquely haunting piano and horns arrangement that plays out to a deliciously caustic but humorous diss on her metrosexual ex.

With an '80s-inspired Mambo beat, "Hot N Cold" kicks in with an electro chorus that makes for a very good screamfest in a club. Get your best gal pals and roll out in a convertible with the top down, blasting "If You Can Afford Me" for all the little boys out there to hear. "Lost" is a melancholic slow-drumming number with a tinkling melody, evocative of an outer space kind of loneliness.

Gently headbang to the bubblegum rock of "Self-Inflicted," before easing into the pensive "I'm Still Breathing." The lyrics are not overly sentimental, thus rendering it even more wrenching and identifiable. The album closes with "Fingerprints," a guitar-riff heavy track, with Perry "leaving her legacy" that'll have you "remembering her."

Well, that's easy to do. Katy Perry is a breath of fresh musical air, pound for pound worth more than the myriad of factory-produced pop rock that's been churned out lately. Thematically speaking, Katy has a lot on her plate here. You have quite a diverse collection of girl-power, lovelorn ballads, and diss tracks. With such a 'funtastic' debut effort, nobody could forget Katy Perry.

User Reviews
 
Reviewer: XtremeGirl Friday 06 March, 2009    Rating: 10 / 10

"sweet..i use hot n cold as my ringtone too..i love her!"


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