Customer Reviews

One of the Boys (Special Edition) (Incl. Bonus Tracks)

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(48)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

After lately hearing plenty of songs I like that don't have a CD full of similarly good stuff to back them up, I was pleased to finally find a must-buy when I was impressed by "I Kissed a Girl" on the radio. Katy's CD is exactly the kind of debut I like, showing off a range of song styles but still fitting firmly within the pop genre. I'll begin by debunking two criticisms I've heard: The CD is supposedly too slickly produced, and some say she tries to be edgy without going far enough. Such cookie-cutter criticisms should be saved for cookie-cutter groups. Claims of overproduction ring false when you can occasionally hear vocal slips that add humanity, and as for edginess I think one of the things that pleases me most about this CD is that Katy is very good at pulling off brash and irreverent flair without being obnoxious. I wish I could say the same of a lot of other acts.

Pop is Katy's strong suit but her songs mostly resist pigeon-holing past that point. Not a single song fits the bubblegum Disney mold, another bogus criticism I've seen aimed her way. "I Kissed a Girl" is almost bouncy rock, unlike anything else I've heard on the radio. The title track, "Waking Up in Vegas", and "Self-Inflicted" are the closest to "classic" pop that she gets; the latter two are among the best tracks on the CD. "Hot n Cold" is another mold-breaker though, reminding me very much of an early '80s sound with a more modern twist to some of the vocals. And I would be remiss not to mention "Ur So Gay", easily the most playful song on the album but one I would hardly classify as pop; hearing only this single would give anyone a very distorted picture of Katy's repertoire because it's little like any of her other songs musically, but among the rest it doesn't feel out of place.

While most of the rest of the CD is likable pop, there are a few slower ballads like "I'm Still Breathing", "Lost", and "Thinking of You". Each of these is different in some way, but "Thinking of You" has the strongest melody and complements that with beautiful vocals. Two days after first playing the CD, this song found its way back into my head and I was pleased to remember it so well.

Katy Perry is a breath of fresh air in an industry that seems to like churning out one-hit wonders with boring CDs, one-style-fits-all vocalists who have no ability to mix it up, or in-your-face yet unoriginal attitude. I like her style, range, and voice, and she manages through it all to be boisterous but not annoying. For me this is a winner.

...but somehow you get the idea that it's all in fun. This pop/rock recording makes for a fine debut. Katy does seem to have a bit of gender dysphoria...she kisses girls when drunk [and enjoys it], sometimes she feels like "one of the boys", and "ur so gay" and "hot n cold" depict her boyfriend has having some confusion of his own {PMS, indeed}. The lyrics, though are clean...well, there is a line in "if you can afford me" about not being a piece of a**...and I, at least, was left with the impression that she doesn't really mean it, and is just having a good time with us. "i kissed a girl" is not only not offensive, it's my favorite song on the album...really catchy.

Katy is a pretty girl, with a clear, strong, voice...she should go far. The album is well recorded, and presented, with great artwork. The recording may be a bit more "rock" than I like, but only a bit. She manages to take themes which some could use to gross us out, and make a real "feel good" album...that's an accomplishment, right there. You go, girl...

Addendum: I liked it when I first got it, but this is a record that actually IMPROVES with repeated listening...Very high recommendation. Six stars, at least.

There's a lot to like about Katy Perry. Her song "I Kissed a Girl" is reigning high on the iTunes chart right now. For those unfamiliar with her, I'd place her sound and style in the genre of pop. Her sound is reminiscent of 80s pop and with a bit of a edge that makes her comparable to other new acts like Sarah Bareilles. Don't be fooled by the cover; Katy Perry's music is far from frilly and girly. In fact, often times it's the opposite as she spins out songs and lyrics that have caught the attention of pop royalty such as Madonna.

What you'll like about "One of the Boys" is the chances Katy Perry takes with her lyrics. The song "I Kissed a Girl" isn't truly groundbreaking or edgy but it's a rock-style song with Perry bending gender a bit, taking on the position of a 'girl gone wild' whose just out to have fun and experiment rather than looking for love. The other stand-out song "Ur So Gay" plays with the beat, with Perry's voice dripping and hanging off words and phrases as she rips into her loving boyfriend whose qualities brings questions to her mind. This is what makes Katy Perry so appealing; her music doesn't sound like anything being played on American radio and sounds very fresh and appealing to all audiences. Other stand out songs are "Lost" which is rather ballad-like without being overly mushy and features some great vocal work on her behalf, the very 80s-pop orientated "Mannequin" and "Self Inflicted".

What you may not like are the down-tempo songs that definitely feel like a let down compared to her up-temp songs. While these are okay, they distract and feel like filler-tracks or like something that any other new-act would put out. They sound far too safe for an artist that has the ability to pen some great lyrics and match it to a unique and fun beat. These tracks make the cd drag out and feel a bit unbalanced.

In all, a great debut that deserves your attention and is worth your money. Check it out.

Katy Perry may have started her career in the Christian genre, but this alt-pop goddess soars on her mainstream debut in the form of One of the Boys. Her smash single "I Kissed a Girl" is one of the catchiest songs this summer, and surely received most of its attention due to its off topic subject matter. "Ur So Gay" is another gem, albeit not nearly as catchy melodically, but more so lyrically as Perry lists all the reasons her ex is "so gay" even though "you don't even like boys"; I personally don't find any anti-homosexuality remarks here, but obviously songs like this have grabbed attention from those in the homosexual community for usage of the "Ur So Gay" moniker. But "Hot & Cold" stands to be just as catchy, if not more, than "I Kissed a Girl." One of the Boys is simply a delight to the ears, a piece of rock-infused pop that displays a powerful voice intermixed with some great songs. Sure, not everything here can match the incredible heights of "I Kissed a Girl," and yet moments of brilliance permeate throughout: for example, "Thinking of You" is a powerful ballad of heartbreak with a driving bridge and knowing lyrics. Overall, One of the Boys can easily be considered one of the best pop albums of the year, and deservedly so.

Hands down, the best thing about Katy Perry--and One of the Boys--is that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Every song is based in reality and makes its point clear, but there's also a tongue-in-cheek aspect to each track as well. Yes, this is pop in every single aspect, but it's also not trying to be anything else. If you're buying this CD in hopes of hearing something that's never been done before, well, I'm sorry but you'll be sorely disappointed. One of the Boys is simply a fun CD to put on and let play.

I'm sure most everyone was drawn to Katy Perry from her single, I Kissed A Girl, I know I was. Word has it though (and by 'word' I mean Amazon's product description) is that Katy found popularity with the digital release of Ur So Gay...but that's only hear-say. Whatever the case is, whichever song you heard first, this CD basically follows suit. Full of mostly upbeat, danceable songs, its really quite hard not to like this if you give it an unbiased listen.

Immediate hits, for those of you unwilling to sit down and listen to the entire disc, include (of course) I Kissed A Girl, Waking Up In Vegas, Ur So Gay, and Hot n Cold. For those who will actually give this CD some attention, Thinking of You, Self-Inflicted, I'm Still Breathing, and Fingerprints are all slower songs that beg for noteriety.

My favorite songs are I Kissed A Girl, Waking Up In Vegas, Thinking of You, Ur So Gay, and I'm Still Breathing. One of the Boys was everything I expected. I expected a fun romp through the pop genre...I got that. I expected some interestingly coy lyrics...got that. I expected to hear some great vocals...I also got that. I wasn't planning on being blown away or anything like that, so I came out insanely happy with what I was given. Pretty sure if you did the same you'd come out pleased as well. Enjoy!

Katy Perry hasn't been one to disappoint long-time fans (including myself) in the past. That said, she doesn't do that on her debut major-label record, 'One of the Boys'.

While many reviewers of this particular record have thrown around the words 'attention-seeker' and 'desperate' (rather loosely, I might add), I disagree. The album's tongue-in-cheek and sometimes controversial lyrics give it a unique touch among countless teen pop and bubblegum-flavored albums, which are essentially a dime a dozen in today's modern pop world. The album is hook-heavy and slickly produced, but Katy's raw, genuine talent for both singing and writing are quite apparent, mostly in the cleverness of songs like "Waking Up in Vegas" and "Fingerprints", which rank among the album's top songs. Songs like "I Kissed a Girl" and "Ur So Gay" (not-so-ironically, the album's lead singles) give the biggest dose of controversy to the album, with Katy (embarrassingly yet humorously) yelling the word "penis" at the end of the latter track.

While hardcore fans of Perry have long embraced her quirky personality, one worry that I have personally is that incoming fans may be turned off by it, especially since her persona appears on ever square inch of the record from front to back. Nonetheless, 'One of the Boys' places Katy in front of today's modern up-and-coming female solo artists such as Colbie Caillat and Sara Bareilles because the album has serious tracks (including standout "Thinking of You') and fun, upbeat tracks ("Hot N Cold") that combine all that is popular on Top 40 radio at the moment - pop, rock, and dance music.

In "Fingerprints", Katy sings "I want you to remember me"; well, that's exactly what I predict is going to happen for years to come. Welcome to the big leagues, Ms. Perry.

When I heard Hot And Cold on the car radio I recalled liking I Kissed A Girl during summer 2008, so I bought the album on the strength of those two songs, on the offchance that I would like some of the rest of it.

I must add here that I am a 56-year old male British accountant, with taste firmly rooted in the 60s, and the last album I bought where I unequivocally enjoyed every track was Blue Hotel by Fox in 1977.

Well, now there is another one. One Of The Boys joins a very small club - there isn't a track on it which I don't like.

Let me get my reservations out of the way first. While I very much like the quality of Katy Perry's voice - she's a husky pop shouter with a delicate breathiness in her upper register (I suspect, from Youtube clips, that she requires some studio assistance to deliver a vocal take with no tuning issues, but that's not a major problem on a record!) - I don't much care for a) the Alanis Morisette-style vocal mannerisms (viz. the register-changing yodel), b) the croaking groan at the ends of lines and c) the intakes of breath (stylistic choice, or poor mic technique and/or poor production?). I'm also not a big fan of breaking words up ar tificially (if you see what I mean).

But I love the songs - each and every one of them. Every one has a strong melodic hook, and I love melody more than anything. The lyrics, though sometimes gauche, are funny, witty, and often heartfelt (and, even when not, they still tell an entertaining story - how can you resist an album where the second line is "I can belch the alphabet, just double dog dare me")?). And they are delivered with gusto and good humour in arrangements which are mostly spot on, if occasionally a little anonymous. I was delighted to see that Katy had a hand in writing all of them (and two of them solo).

I had a quick look at critics - they seem to be centred on ciriticing the fact that these songs are exactly what they are - fun. I don't think any big statement is intended here. After some seesawing back and forth, Katy has found the image she was looking for - Fruit, Betty Grable, big eyes, Minnie Mouse bows, and good-humoured theatricality, and this is reflected not only in her visual impact, but also in the material presented.

I loved every second of this album, and I can't wait for the next one.

You can't help but like Katy - except for the people who don't. There's not an original thought going on in this CD, yet she still manages to make it all her own. Sure, "I Kissed A Girl," steals both its title and its theme from a better song, and "Ur So Gay," seems to have offended some who can't recognize the tongue-in-cheekness and recognize it for the novelty tune it is; sure, she sounds at times like a less-enthused Avril or some girl who's barely managed to escape the garage band she gigged with for 6 months... But Katy's tunes lodge in your head, there's enough clever word-play to make you smile, and she seems sincere enough. She might be this season's "Mika" - too soon to tell - but, like that disc, this one is fun and fanciful.

I love her music! Very original. My only complaint about the CD is that I didn't realise it was going to be edited when I bought it. Of course, I think there is only one or two words edited out of the whole CD so its not a big deal.

My impressions of Katy Perry were pretty much limited to the release of her previous singles of "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl" before listening to this album. If going by the measure of those singles alone, I would have likely labeled her in the progressions of artists like Madonna or Cyndi Lauper, producing fun, upbeat catchy power pop melodies but having little personal impact.

Yet, if you look a little deeper into "One of the Boys" as an overall album, you see she goes beyond and intentionally crafts the album as one that's distinctly tongue in cheek, taking influences from artists like Alanis Morissette or perhaps even Fiona Apple. Is she as strong as the aforementioned artists? Difficult to say, but the album on the overall spectrum provides an interesting listen for a debut. I found it interesting that she also cites Paul Simon and Queen as influences on her musical style overall.

The title track begins the album on an upbeat melodic note, with a rebellious tonal bite. It expresses a tear between sexual identity stereotypes that sounds more genuine than, but in the same progressive stance as "I Kissed A Girl" (which conveniently follows the first track). "I Kissed A Girl" is undeniably catchy, both in its easily recognizable chorus and melody, but only takes root in its true meaning in the progression of the album. It still feels lacking compared to some of the other stronger tracks on the album. "Waking Up in Vegas" is a nice change in tonality, an expression of escapism through a nice rock progression. I liked the track far more than I thought I would (I'd name it among the best the album has to offer), noting the power in her vocals when not covered by lavish synthesizers. I don't know if it differs too much than other songs with similar textures, but it's a nice change of pace for the album.

"Thinking of You" is strong in its lyrical construction, with a good, raw emotional feel regarding a strained relationship; it's one of the strongest examples of Perry's cited influence of Alanis Morissette. It features a pretty much cut and dry indie feel, but I don't know if it stood out distinctly to really connect with me fully. "Mannequin" I liked in the same progression as "Waking Up in Vegas", she really carries the emotion best in this song, full of bitterness and sporting some of her strongest vocals on the album. "UR so Gay" seems to be another distinctly impacting song in its overall note of controversy, very tongue in cheek and controversial, like that of "I Kissed A Girl", but has a little more tangibility because the underlying message communicates a frustration with a relationship. Strong sexual assertions here, and you can either take it as hilarious and pressing the bar or a progression of misguided stereotypes, or even somewhere between the two. "Hot 'N Cold" returns to the distinct power pop style of the opening of the album. Easily singable, catchy and memorable in that progression, and her personality comes through without being too oversteeped in its "impact for shock" value (something I found a problem in both singles for "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl").

I enjoyed "If You Can Afford Me": it never feels overdone and manages to be moderately catchy, good vocal and overall tonality, but while it makes an easy listen, it doesn't quite stand out as distinct from the album on an overall note. "Lost" is a genuine track with a calm, solemn feel. It's one of my favorites on the album because she actually seems like she feels the emotions radiated from the song, and allows it to come through her vocal as well. It's not lyrically complicated, nor overshadowed by any external elements - which makes it work all the better. I liked "Self-Inflicted" for its moderate indie rock tonality and message, decent track, but didn't so much stand out as strongly as a few of the other tracks on the album. "I'm Still Breathing" seems a stark contrast to the rest of the album, because it looks at a crushed relationship and the speaker takes on a suicidal mentality in ironic context - again not the strongest song for me personally, but I think it can find a point to connect with others. "Fingerprints" seems to wrap up the album with everything right: catchy, clear meaning in its message, and retains enough bite to let you know who Katy Perry is as an artist. And who is she? someone who definitely doesn't mind pushing the envelope a bit, radiating bitterness in the scheme of conflicting relationships.

Overall, I think she definitely has potential to grow as an artist and appeal to those in current music. Would I remember this album in a few years? Not as readily, it's enjoyable with a few hits and misses in its wake, but I'd recommend giving it a go and seeing what you can take from the album. It's not always my cup of tea, but I found it worth the time.