Katy Perry-One of The Boys [CD]

Capitol, 2008

June 20, 2008, 08:42 PM

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“Shut up and put your money where your mouth is,” Katy Perry swoons in “Waking up in Vegas”, a song off of her major label debut, One of the Boys. While Perry’s voice does put the money where her mouth is, many of her songs hold a meaning that does not pack the same punch. Boys, break-ups, puberty...all the ingredients are there for another typical pop album. This is evident in her Billboard #2 single, “I Kissed A Girl”.
Trust me, I’m all about the girl power, so there is nothing wrong with Perry emitting such a message; the problem is it is done in the same “he broke up with me so I don’t need him” with synthesized beats in the background that past artists have already done, ten times over. It seems we have not learned the lessons of our Britney Spears’ and Christina Augilera’s, or even our singer/songwriter with guitars Michelle Branch and Alanis Morissette.

Similarities aside, Perry does exude some tantalizing tidbits. Raised by pastor parents she stays true to her Christian background in her music and in all related appearances. (Sigh…Jessica Simpson rip-off too?) Most recently she has had appearances on the ABC Family “drama” Wildfire and has had songs on MTV’s “unnecessary drama” The Hills. She also had a song included on the tween-friendly Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants soundtrack.

Regardless of this good girl background, however, Perry’s sound and image does have a punk edge to it. This keeps her in the same purgatory as Paramore’s Hayley Williams. In fact, Perry’s opening song “One of the Boys” reminisces Paramore’s “Misery Business” constantly throughout. It is this punk edge that keeps Perry fresh and not sounding so 1999. Whether this is an attitude of her actual persona or a marketing ploy will only be determined after it can be seen how much staying power Perry has. Her first test will be seeing how she holds up against punk greatness on this summer’s Warped Tour.

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