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Review: Katy Perry - Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection [Album]

Capitol Records | "Almost as if Katy Perry was reminding the listener of whom she is with old hits, as if she is becoming someone forgettable...&

by darmafall, May 8th, 2012 and has been Read 1976 times.
Last Edited by: Glen May 9th, 2012.

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On March 23rd, 2012, Katy Perry re-released her popular 2010 album, Teenage Dream. This time the album was titled Teenage Dream – The Complete Confection. This release is a special edition release full of remixes, three new songs, a seven-minute Tommie Sunshine 'Teenage Dream' megamix, an acoustic version of ‘The One That Got Away’, and of course the originally released album.

"Trying to pull a fast one? Who... lil ol' me?"*

Opening the album was popular song, ‘Teenage Dream’, followed by a number of her other girly-pop biggest hits, such as ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)’, ‘California Gurls’, ‘Firework’, and ‘Peacock’. ‘Teenage Dream’ does not sound any different than it did the first time it was released. It is a simple yet still a brilliant sing-along-song. The same could be said for the four songs that followed. Each sounded the same and was a throwback to the Summer of 2010 when Teenage Dream was originally released. ‘Peacock’ is a peppy track that has caught much attention from the public. By some, this song has been deemed as “rude” and has certainly sparked some major opinions to form.

Speaking of opinions formed, the problem with this nineteen track release is that only three of the songs are considered to be new. I am not sure why Perry felt the need to re-release this album rather than just releasing a three-track EP. Although highly catchy the original tracks from Teenage Dream are a bit outdated. Two years ago this album release was known as perfection for any pop lover, but today it is almost as if you are purchasing the exact same album that has been in your iTunes library for a while now. The remixes add to the already popular original hits, but these could be put onto a remix cd rather than re-releasing this album with three new songs. It is as if the record label is milking this already popular album. And now to the three songs that have not been overly played or overly reviewed yet, ‘Part of Me’, ‘Wide Awake’, and ‘Dressin’ Up’.

Watch: 'Part of Me'

Each of these three tracks show a different side of Katy Perry, and as many KP followers have stated, these are a “must have” for those who idolize the artist. The first of the three is ‘Part of Me’, which is as usual an infectious and catchy pop track. In fact, this track can be seen as an anthem for many of today’s teenagers. The lyrics can actually be quite meaningful if you take the time to listen to them.

The same can be said for ‘Wide Awake’. This song is much slower than a number of the tracks on this album, but it does consist of well written lyrics. And, last but not least comes ‘Dressin’ Up’, a fairly decent song but certainly not a track to be named as flawless. The lyrics were well written and the beat was catchy, but this was not a stand out track and was my least favorite out of the three newly released tracks.

The album is overall a great release; the only problem is that I was on cloud nine with this release two years ago. If the original Teenage Dream songs come on at random on my iPod or is randomly played at the club I would sound more excited, but to spend money on an album that I already have just to hear three new tracks is a waste in my opinion. Teenage Dream was a pretty rad album; in fact this album had a number of popular tracks. The album showcased Katy Perry and who she is, but since that album there has not been much out there to further introduce us to Katy Perry and who she is, instead releasing this album was almost as if Katy Perry was reminding the listener of whom she is with old hits, as if she is becoming someone forgettable. And this brings about a problem for some.

"Right... buy the deluxe album as well, or I'll cut ya, you slaaaaaaaaaaag!"*

Some fans loved this album and say that this was a great purchase, whereas other Perry fans, such as me, feel like this album is full of repetition. Adding "The Complete Confection” to the title works in a way because now the album is complete, but is adding three tracks to a previously released album really making it complete?

On that note, Katy Perry is a selling artist, Teenage Dream is a selling album, but Teenage Dream – The Complete Confectionis just a rip-off in price. Again, do not get me wrong, the three new songs are good, they just do not belong on this album, and if they did they should have been released two years with the rest of the tracks on this album.

Teenage Dream – The Complete Confection is out now.

*Not all captions should be taken seriously