Prism
| Katy Perry
Prism
Prism is the fourth studio album by American singer Katy Perry. It was released by Capitol Records on October 18, 2013. While the album was initially planned to be "darker" than her previous material, Prism ultimately became a prominently dance-inspired record. The singer worked with several past collaborators, while enlisting new producers and guest vocals. Much of Prism revolves around the themes of living in the present, relationships, and self-empowerment. Many critics praised the album's lyrical content for being more "mature" and personal, while others considered Prism to be more formulaic than her previous material. --Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Billboard
These songs are not the bubblegum summer smashes of a California Gurl, but something much deeper from an artist striving to tell her full story.
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Rolling Stone
She reveals the multifaceted artist behind the fun pop sheen. And Prism is as prismatic as all get-out...
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Consequence of Sound
It lacks the pop smash depth of Teenage Dream; it’s unlikely we’ll get six radio staples out of it. But, a solid three or four stereo-rattlers is not out of the question
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The Guardian
Her latest album is her most spiritual to date, so it is claimed – but it's still mostly just songs about having it off
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AV Music Club
She’s taken to writing songs about destiny, self-love, and listening to the audiobook for The Power Of Now.
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The Telegraph
She sounds like an artist who has finally found herself on her fine new album.
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Slant Magazine
Once poised to join a long list of novelty one-hitters, however, she has managed to stretch her legs in ways “Ur So Gay” couldn’t have predicted, flexing creative—or at least professional—instincts that have resulted in another collection of three-and-half-minute potential pop hits that even cynics like this one will find hard to resist.
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Entertainment Weekly
Katy aims to please. But now she grasps that she’s making the mainstream, not just swimming in it.
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Pretty Much Amazing
It’s not the “darker” Perry one might be hoping for on Prism in light of its press materials, but it’s actually kind of marvelous, and that’s definitely a start.
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Critic of Music
She comes so close to powerful artistry, but then chooses to play it safe. There is a real artist lying underneath, and this comes so close to casting light on that artist, but close only counts in horseshoes and nuclear warfare, not music.
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Pop Matters
She is still very much in her songwriting groove with Prism, but the more time you spend with it, the more apparent it is that she's actually stuck in a rut.
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All Music
She no longer views herself as a fluffy confection but rather a showbiz staple who'll be here for years and years, and Prism fully lives up to that carefully constructed ideal.
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MTV News
For the most part on Prism, she's a champion and you're gonna hear her roar.
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Omaha
This album doesn’t just fail to live up to expectations. It falls on its face after “Roar.”
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Independent
Any tweaks to the Katy Perry formula are cosmetic on her post-Brand album. Self-help and sauce remain the remit.
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The Line of Best Fit
It shows a more mature side to the singer, an ability to really connect with her experiences whilst still producing absolute pop smashes. It’s a combination that suits her very, very well.
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Spin
This is a pivot, this record, and a shrewd one, but “shrewd” and “boring” are not mutually exclusive.
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Refinery 29
It marks the singer's maturation in the pop scene. She's grown up and away from her teenage dreams, and as much as we'd like to say time calmly nurtured them out of her, the reality is that love shattered them.
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Music OMH
There is no doubt that this will do exactly what it’s been created to do (sell millions, provide the backdrop for a lucrative tour and make a lot of money for a lot of people) but it’s safe and cold where it should have been daring and involving.
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Pop Crush
Fortunately, Perry isn't down for the count. She cycles through the grief in a few songs, and comes out the other side, emerging the victor by the time the last note fades.
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Neon Tommy
Although most of the lyrics are her usual sugar-coated pop lyrics, there are a few times she delves deep into her personal life and that is definitely something listeners want to see more of.
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Unmarced
It is a strong third album for her commercial wise, but it seems as if her songs are formulated to just become radio hits.
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Brent Music Reviews
It's a solid, enjoyable album. It is not flawless mind you, but in some respects, she has stepped up her game. It is also quite impressive that that she desires to be ‘grown up’ if you will.
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Los Angeles Times
It has neither fat nor pretense. In its own masterful way, in fact, her new work contains as much of-the-moment sonic surprise as any other modern pop album this year.
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Vulture
She sings the songs fine; she is nothing if not competent. But her voice remains pallid — the color on a Katy Perry record has to come from the songs themselves, and on Prism, her all-star collaborators have let her down.
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Source Magazine
Overall, it promotes a positive message, but the album lacks versatility.
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The Washington Post
Katy Perry grows up, gets spiritual on ‘Prism’
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Headline Planet
It is a surprisingly inconsistent album that, while solid, lacks the precision, repeatability and spark of her previous release.
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axs
Katy Perry's 'Prism' is pure pop
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What Culture
It does everything her previous albums have succeeded in doing and more as the album features a collection of poppy, upbeat tracks such as Roar, juxtaposed with emotional ballads. For pop lovers - Prism is not an album to be missed.
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Vox Magazine
All morning-after antics aside, It's as bright and shiny as the title suggests. It offers up tracks that beg you to get up and dance and flows with easy-breezy vibes.
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Tampa Bay Times
A tireless, but charming, self-promoter, She is selling it as a dark, confessional, stripped release — which is interesting because it's not really any of those things. Just as on her previous platters of pop fluff, the singer is trying to make the world sing — but here she's coming up a bit short.
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Awards Watch
Perry and her collaborators are obviously capable of cranking out genuinely great pop tunes, but instead they settle for songs destined to be commercially huge but that are creatively quite small.
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Nouse
Her new album conveys a new level of maturity which is beneficial.
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The Celebrity Cafe
It brings a new side to her into focus for fans. She isn’t afraid to be honest, open and inspired on this record.
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Media Hype
Although fun, it feels like a long song as a large portion of the tracks seem to blur into one..
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The Daily Beast
Katy Perry Perfects the Pop Blockbuster
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Chicago Tribune
Though not exactly spiritual, it does come off as a more serious – if no less formulaic -- album than its predecessor. But being taken seriously may be her greatest challenge yet.
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Fountain Pen Girl Album Reviews
Overall, I'd like to see her take more of a hand in the construction of her album (production and composing), and perhaps take a step down from her pop-princess seat and return more to what she was like before she made it huge.
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Digital Spy
True to its namesake, the album displays the full spectrum of her emotions.
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Spectrum Pulse
Ultimately, it is a wash and it really doesn't warrant much attention in the slightest.
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Kidz World
It shows off the many different colors of Katy!
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Daily Republic
It is enough to keep Perry on the charts, but it’s time to think outside of the Billboard.
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LA Music Blog
Like an awkward date for your ears
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Frontline
If you’re looking for new songs to spice up your 2014 playlist, this new album is perfect for you!
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HHS Today
Fans will not be disappointed, this album will be on repeat in my music library for sure.
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The Burg
Actually, it’s a bit like a mullet: business up front, party in the back.
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Reverb Online
Don’t expect much from this album. It won’t change your life, but there are some good songs for when you need motivation at the gym or feel like dancing around in your room.
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Jason Von Berg
Let the light that is Prism shine in your music collection folks!
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ABC News
It has enough bubbles to ensure that her pop streak won't end soon, but at the same time, it has very little artistic ground.
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Affordable Poverty
There are only a few moments of pure euphoria, but there’s also only one dud. Everything else is easier to admire than fall deeply in love with – but when she's given space to breathe and sing from her heart, the results can be spine-tingling.
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Rob's Wall of Music
I can actually appreciate this album as an album and not just some hits wrapped in filler. Well done.
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Junkee
The first half of Prism is pretty great, loaded with the kinds of songs that are perfect for drunkenly commandeering the sound system at parties. The second half has a LOT of angst-ridden ballads.
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Inquirer
The album offers some notable diversity and that is a welcome surprise in the right direction.
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Female First
Katy's back, but not as we know her. She's moody, she's thoughtful, she's intense and she's on top form.
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Press Play Ok
Alright, straight up: Prism is a happy listen. You only need to get past that opening song Roar to Legendary Lovers to make that decision but, from the off, there’s very valid reason for people to be excited for this.
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News OK
The prevailing sentiment on this is expressed through vague empowerment platitudes.
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POP! Goes The Charts
With so much potential coming off the first eight songs or so, it could have been a much bigger record overall, but struggles to keep your attention until the very end.
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Royal Purple
For “Katy Kats” like me, this new album is a must-have. For everyone else, I recommend at least one listen.
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Thomas Bleach
From a first couple of listens I still haven’t made my mind up on ‘Prism’ because there are some fantastic standout tracks but there are quite a handful of average songs too.
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Grantland
She chose the red “solemn” pill over the blue “ephemeral” pill. The problem with Prism is that Perry didn’t need to “define” herself in this way — she was already traveling in her own clearly delineated lane lined with lollipops and cotton-candy colored kitties.
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True Music Reviews
Compared to "Teenage Dream", this is nothing. However, it is still a great album, and it definitely has its ups and downs.
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The AU Review
The interesting thing about this record is the very distinct halves, the first of which is the Perry we are all familiar with. But the second half is the more evolved and established artist who is prepared to push her song writing to the next level.
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NE Beep
The Pop Princess is back with a vengeance.
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UK Mix
Both immediately pleasing and also a long-termer in its poppy sensibilities and serious song craft, this is still worth taking the time and very little effort of getting to know.
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Love Is Pop
First she gets you dancing, then she tells you stories. And those stories alone are worth the price of the album.
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Sev Network
Overall, I enjoyed some songs. At some point it got a bit tiring but the naked-truth songs and the fun, disco like songs bumped me right back into it.
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The Verge
The only thing I know for sure about her new album is that it feels at home as a real portrait of America’s sweetheart: a capitalist diva with all the self-doubt of a teenager and the confidence to deliver all of it without the slightest hint of regret.
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Grand Central Magazine
This is a different direction for her but in a very good way. Compared to her last record “Teenage Dream”, it sounds unique. Sometimes change can be good and for Katy Perry, it really is.
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Music Is My Oxygen
She comes into her own with an honest, mature record that lives up to the hype and demands that she be taken seriously as an artist.
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10 News
What strikes us most, though, is her lust for life itself, a quality that's genuine and endearing enough to redeem a few pop cliches.
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The Spark
Includes brilliant, praise-worthy songs and uses her own experiences to give them real meaning and shows her ability to sing in a range of different music genres which is talent in itself. 4
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The Collegian
Though highly anticipated and packaged nicely, this album may be the one that got away.
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