A decade ago a blonde Christian girl named Katy Hudson released an innocuous 10-song album that sounded like Alanis Morissette finding God. Changing her name and ideals as easily as her hair colour, 2008’s million-selling major label debut One Of The Boys launched the newly christened Katy Perry into the commercial stratosphere via unbeatable pop singles such as I Kissed A Girl, Waking Up In Vegas and Hot ‘N’ Cold. Two years on, MasterChef is still giving the latter tune more blanket coverage than a Pakistani relief effort.
Teenage Dream ups the sweety-pie-and-sauce routine, but many songs lack the sassy ingénue qualities of their predecessor. The brash and fun wink of I Kissed A Girl has been replaced with an overt sexuality which isn’t as flavoursome as the candy-scented CD would initially suggest.
Whereas the comparatively chaste Waking Up In Vegas gave a perky recollection of a night on the tiles, its Teenage Dream counterpart Last Friday Night raises the stakes with a ménage a trois. In an obvious outcome, the reality doesn’t match the fantasy. Even more disappointing is Peacock, which even Perry’s friend Ke$ha would surely baulk at. Considering the comedic prowess of Perry’s fiancé Russell Brand, it’s surprising the green-eyed gal would go for this half-entendre nonsense.
While Perry’s musical mojo decreases the more clothes she sheds, Teenage Dream’s still comparatively stacked. ET’s robotic glide harks back to tATu’s Russki treats, Hummingbird Heartbeat’s set to take over radio with the force of an aggravated home invasion and Not Like The Movies is a lovely piano lullaby finale that shows the sweet Katy Hudson hasn’t totally been lost in the glitz. Best of all is Circle The Drain, an awesome, angry kiss-off that sends loser ex Travis McCoy from Hero to zero in 270 seconds.
Equal parts steamy and dreamy, Perry’s lolly pop remains a guilty pleasure.
Scott McLennan

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