ALBUMS CHART
ALBUMS CHART
ALBUMS CHART
review 1: 76
Now, this is what I call a good Electronic album! Which is something that Troye Sivan missed on. The best thing about this album is that this is just a good Pop album with quirky lyrics that shows Katy's true nature as a songwriter and the great production also makes her shine on it. "Dreams" proves that an album with 90's Dance music can still be cool to listen to in this day and age and it'll work on Perry's favor as the album also has a great commercial appeal. I have to say that "Disco Fling" is one of my favorite tracks released this year because it reminds me of Giorgio Moroder's early work which could be easily given to someone like Donna Summer and you'll have an instant classic. Even though Katy's vocals haven't always been the center of attention when it comes to her music, this Genre does fit her so much and this album shows that she's here to stay making it one of the best debut albums released this year. I also want to say, that maybe Perry's lyrics could be polished, but it's her debut album - everyone starts from somewhere and you know that after reading/listening to this album Perry knows what she's doing and that she's going to have a great year.
Getting into the album, I noticed this song called "Can't Read You" which is a cool song but the lyrics.. Katy girl, this could be a stain on the album easily but anyways, I do feel that if you put in one side the amount of good songs that this album has, you'll forget about the song. This album really, really impressed me! I am in love with the production which has literally overtaken the songwriting from Katy (which in some songs, it could be hit or miss) but it's just a good album. "Dreams", the title track has to be my favorite song from the album! I know I said "Disco Fling" was my favorite but as I keep listening I find more and more cool songs to add on my playlists and hear every single day. The reason why I don't give this album a well deserved 90, is because there are some songs that throw the album down like "Body" and it's production which, don't get me wrong, it really is a good bop, the intro of the song makes it be one of those songs that you listen to one time and then get over it which is sad because Katy, Ariana and Cardi's work on the song is really good and the intro is the only thing I'd change from it. Also, Zara Larsson's collaboration is great but, did miss Larsson just wrote a verse without even looking at the song? Because she seems so off on this song. This could've been a great collaboration if Zara would've put more effort on the song but it's just a "passable" song I guess?
Anyways, I don't want to drag this anymore. I feel that people should give Katy Perry a well deserved welcome and embrace her music because even though there's still a lot of room to grow for the singer, she definitely made a statement with this album which was making the other girls know that she's here to make it clear! By the way, "Attitude" is the standout of the album next to "Dreams"! Some lyrics were the problem, but the production save it.
review 2: 65
Preceded by the singles Disco Fling and Attitude, Katy Perry has brought on a very clear, original and distinguishable aesthetic to her music which is something that few artists can say. Going into this album, I was curious to see where she could take that sound and how it translates across a whole album.
The first track on the album, Breakdown is a collaboration with Charli XCX. It’s cute and has well written lyrics for the most part, but doesn’t scream standout to me, and probably could’ve been replaced with a better album opener. Disco Fling follows, a track we already know is great and I wish could’ve been an even bigger success. I really enjoy the concept of What You Need, and I appreciate the honesty. But I think that the lyrics could’ve been executed better. Some of the lyrics just seem a little forced, as if there was nothing else to say. I think a little more attention to detail could’ve been used here. Can’t Read You is much better to me, the lyrics first verse in particular is effective and I enjoy the way the production builds at the very beginning. I think that Leave This Town is one of my favourites on the album. The production is probably one of the best on Dreams, and the lyrics/concept as a whole are really sweet. Body is kind of… disappointing, considering the features. Don’t get me wrong - it’s fun. But that’s about it. There just isn’t an awful lot to it. I’m sad to say the same thing for the following track, You Don’t Know Me. This middle section of the album sadly has a dip in quality, I think.
Luckily though, this is then saved by Attitude which is a great single choice for this album. The production is excellent and I love the lyrics. Gone also has good production, and some of the elements on this are slightly more interesting than anything else we’ve heard so far. However, I can’t help but feel like the album could use a slight change in pace by this point. I didn’t particularly enjoy Always There - it feels like filler, and I think the album could’ve done without it. Dreams, the title track, is definitely a highlight of the album. The concept is strong, and I love the idea of taking actual dreams and using them as a way to describe a relationship. Really clever. The album closer, LSD, has a great message, but I feel like it could’ve used a more subdued to discuss these kind of themes in a more heartfelt way - particularly as an album closer.
Speaking about the album in more of a general way, I think that Katy’s clear established aesthetic for Dreams both sonically and visually is really impressive - it definitely has it’s own identity. However, I feel like the quality of the lyrics isn’t as consistent as those two things, and for that reason the album loses major points for me. I also feel like the production was too different throughout the album. Even one ballad or something like that would’ve broken up the constant pace of the record which ended up being a little samey.
Overall, Dreams from Katy Perry is a very strong and impressive debut, but it seems unlikely to set the music world on fire. Given the level of substance and quality of lyrics seen throughout the album, however, I’m sure the second release from Katy will be a substantial improvement and I personally can’t wait.
review 3: 73
1 Breakdown (feat. Charli XCX) 6/10
So this starts off Dreams with a “PC Music inspired” sound which is basically a club track? I get that you probably can’t find an actual instrumental of PC music so I’ll just pretend I’m hearing Charli’s irl mixtapes. I read the track-by-track prior to listening to the album and I think the framework behind it is kinda cute! We start here with like a post-breakup rip out your broken heart kind of banger, weird that your supposed first track ever on your debut album is a feature but issa cute feature! Other than that it’s an alright song in general, highlights include the bridge and the kinda snatching verse from Charli, but the rhyme scheme of the chorus feels weird, at least when we don’t know what the melody is like.
Standout line: Felt the knife in my back before / But the tears I cry, never felt more sore
2 Dicso Fling 4/10
This is the debut single - kinda lazy to just copy and paste the second half of the first verse (also the chorus nn) but it’s a debut single we know that it’s the urge to start playing! Nevertheless with another disco banger Katy is establishing a fun, upbeat atmosphere for her debut album, and a carefree pop album is always welcome. I do hope she starts adding some diversity in the sound palette though because it might get boring quick.
Standout line: Tonight I want to dance away every little thing / You can be my disco fling
3 What You Need 7/10
Oh well the music did get switched up, it’s like darker and shit which I’m alright with, but god this is a THROWBACK. Okay regarding the lyrics, Katy keeps the fun but gets more reflective with this little piece of self-doubt, as Katy ponders on whether her talent defines what she must do in her life. The title and chorus would’ve made me think that this is some song saying a man is what Katy needs to be happy, but I’m happy it turned out more empowering than that. I like this one more than the last two!
Standout lyric: Thrown in this world, don’t know what I want to do / Expectations that I must fulfil
4 Can’t Read You 5/10
Ooh I quite like the instrumental, when that first chorus STRUCK. Other than the pure lie of “I don’t need you” in the chorus (you said you really like him like five lines ago Katy don’t act all independent!), I feel like Katy is kind of trapped by how every line needs to be equal in length or format or rhyme, that some of the good lines are drowned in the other lines that feel forced, and this is something that I felt for the songs before already (e.g. the repetition of stranger stranger, tiger tiger, ever ever etc. on disco fling). This is a nice song with a good concept, it’s only this holding it back.
Standout lyric: But you turn away into the blue / Before I can say a word to you
5 Leave This Town 8/10
Ready for a beautiful midtempo Miss You More-esque banger with this song title! After clicking the play button on the instrumental yeah this is on the right track. Lots of very cute and innocent lyrics here (besides the Martini line, don’t drink kids!) Generally cute song. Won’t say more because I’m getting bored of typing! On to track sex!
Standout lyric: What if we don’t stay in one track, confuse every radar
6 Body 10/10
Well this is definitely my most anticipated track, and the most hyped track from Katy herself. I’m expecting upbeat unapologetic bop with hot flirtatious lyrics in true Hector, I mean Cardi B and Ariana style. Well this instrumental is def making my head nod! THIS IS WHEN I FOUND OUT YOU MADE YOUR OWN TRACKS AND I’M KINDA SHOOK. Maybe Katy’s better at going down this sexual route, because this is hot as hell. Ariana and Katy’s verses both compliment each other, none of them feel out of place or overshadowing, and wow I want to hear Hector rap that Cardi verse : ( This is a home run.
Standout lyric: I’ve got some sugar, ooh, everything you want / Have me with a lemon slice, take me with no ice
7 You Don’t Know Me 10/10
I forgot there was a Zara collab, Zara come BACK! Sorry I’m still bopping to the Body instrumental, let me click next track. I wonder if this is one of the later made tracks? You can almost feel the production stepping the fuck up. Ugh this is beautiful. The stiffness from Disco Fling / Can’t Read You is all gone, Katy moved from newcomer to the gamechangers in the span of a couple of songs. If fallen in the wrong hands this might’ve been a cliche Meghan Trainor reject empowerment song, but with the sassiness and light humour between the lines it’s an absolute anthem. Might actually need to charge these girls for arson because this is fire.
Standout lyric: The arson lyric, guilty as charged!
8 Attitude 8/10
And we come to Katy’s second Top 10 hit (I’m fucking calling it!!) Attitude, aka our favourite zumba anthem! We’re back to the classic disco sound from the beginning of the record, with a bit of more punch to it, those zumba classes need a beat to dance to. I see the fine fresh fierce copy from California Gurls, you do have some nerve! Yeah this is still sassy as hell and I wonder if this is now Katy’s signature thing, we’re gonna pretend the capital letters at the final stanza isn’t like spelling the letters out bc that might be weird to hear but other than that, she’s having a hot streak with these songs!
Standout lyric: Don’t need designer, you’d look pretty in a sack, it’s all about your charm and how you hold your back
9 Gone 7/10
Awh this feels like a downer, I was having so much fun with those songs. Luckily the bpm doesn’t really fall through, ugh that bassline is groovy as hell. This is another reiteration that Katy has now accepted the fact that her lover has left her, it’s kinda like a 2.0 of Breakdown except she’s now fine fresh fierce and ready to get back out there and fuck shit up. Sorry idk what I’m saying. You get the point. Okay.
Standout lyric: It’s gone, it’s done, I’m never looking back.
10 Always There 7/10
Awh this is about friends! This is the first actually kinda dreamy-sounding instrumental instead of being full-on disco? Oh never mind I just reached the 1:20 mark and it snapped in my face. This whole album feels like a 80s disco flashback anyway. Wait I’m reading deeper into the lyrics now is Katy dragging this friend through the pits? welfkjwlfewk I guess that’s more interesting than a “bffs forever!!” narrative. Sounds like this friend is kinda trash! Fortunately it inspired this song.
Standout lyric: Your ego is higher than any skies, but the higher they rise the harder they fall
11 Dreams 9/10
Aaaand we’re at the title track! Wow she does love dreams a lot, look at how many times its repeated. It’s a nice concept that’s explored in many aspects throughout the song though - it’s her ambition, it’s her insecurities, it’s her lover’s feeling to her, it’s what she actually dreams at night… smart! I’m kinda interested in what LSD is so I’m not gonna dive deep in this, uh yes the instrumental snaps again.
Standout lyric: honestly the instrumental
12 LSD 7/10
I’m gonna do a lil conclusion here as well to wrap things up - I actually think that I can map out a timeline of when Katy made these songs because they’ve gone from the tracks in the beginning that might sound a bit repetitive or even outdated, or lyrics that might be awkward and forced at times, to the later tracks where I am full-on bopping to the music and impressed at the confident, cheeky, sometimes hilarious lines. I was scared that I might have to classify this as a “good first try” and “shows promise” or something generic, but this was genuinely impressive and with the production value of songs like the title track or You Don’t Know Me, plus more practice in songwriting, KP2 is looking like a home run. Not to mention the visuals are great and original as well, especially a fan of that full spread after Gone with PRISM(?) visuals reimagined into CAL Katy’s own. Anyway, on to LSD! This is the escapism closer track where Katy expresses her fear of the world and how “dreaming” a bit helps her cope with that. Only thing I’d say is diving a bit more into the trippy side of things in the lyrics can make the song better, instead of telling us what she fears in the real world - we wanna dream a bit too!
Standout Lyric: Sometimes I feel like I’m on a drug / Enhanced state of mind on which I can’t pull the plug
+ Graphics: 7/10