Sputnik Musik Reviews 143; Vapid And Delirious In All The Wrong Places,

[RAMROD 104,076]

 

Vapid and delirious in all the wrong places, 143 is a disastrous fatal accident for all involved - particularly Katy Perry in a leading role.

Katy Perry's new album is reminiscent of a glass of water on a scorching day: it's something, but it fails to quench your thirst. The collection serves up an unholy cocktail of clichés, with each track simply reiterating oft-heard phrases in a dull and uninspired context. This isn't just disappointing; it reflects a complete disregard for modern music trends and listener expectations.

Perry seems trapped in a self-imposed bubble, afraid to step away from the familiar pop formula that once brought her massive success. The album reveals a profound struggle with the same problems that have long plagued her career: formalism and banality. Rather than taking risks, experimenting, or offering anything new, she resorts to regurgitating her previous hits. Her vocals, usually one of her strong points, sound fatigued and lifeless here, as if she is merely reciting the lyrics rather than singing them with passion.

The lead-up to this album was marred by three lackluster singles that performed poorly on the charts and garnered negative reactions. From attempting to craft a feminist anthem with a producer accused of sexual misconduct to tackling themes of environmental disaster, the choices felt tone-deaf and misguided.

This album is drenched in the club aesthetics of the past decade, with the most notable track being "Nirvana." The song kicks off with a promising introduction, where shimmering synthesizers and deep bass create a tantalizing anticipation. However, the tragic irony is that it's a feeble attempt to resurrect the worst elements of early 2000s club music. Each second of this track serves as a painful reminder of a complete lack of taste and creativity, making it difficult to engage with.

143 had a unique opportunity to explore Katy Perry's artistic impulses in greater depth, adding thematic variety and conceptual complexity to her music. Unfortunately, it squanders that potential and is left bogged down in banality, resulting in a disheartening experience for fans and newcomers alike. The irony of this release lies in its timing; arriving a full decade after her previous successes, had it emerged then, it might have helped maintain her status at the forefront of pop music. Yet, in 2024, its anachronistic sound and lyrics serve as a catalyst for a descent into obscurity, leaving listeners to question how an artist of Perry's caliber could miss the mark profoundly.

https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/89029/Katy-Perry-143/

[DopeEnigma 858]

Fair review. The album is a mess and not exciting at all. Surely they must have known this wasn’t going to do well? Not sure what Katy was thinking. 

Edited September 20 by DopeEnigma

[Scarlet Witch 1,066]

It’s gonna be a wild ride 

[TMM90 2,973]

“Her vocals, usually one of her strong points, sound fatigued and lifeless here, as if she is merely reciting the lyrics rather than singing them with passion.“

[PEZ 6,088]

7 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

Her vocals, usually one of her strong points,

now girl c'mon

[RAMROD 104,076]

Just now, TMM90 said:

“Her vocals, usually one of her strong points, sound fatigued and lifeless here, as if she is merely reciting the lyrics rather than singing them with passion.“

 

Just now, PEZ said:

now girl c'mon

Maybe they were being generous 

[Rahrahbitchson 17,313]

Im already having second hand embarrasment from all the reviews that are coming for this album

[Ladle Ghoulash 16,153]

3 minutes ago, PEZ said:

now girl c'mon

MTE 💅🏻

[Teletubby 133,994]

this is user review, not staff so it doesn't count to metacritic

[Phoenix Rises 812]

i call shade

[Roughhouse Dandy 8,352]

Maybe this'll be the thing that will lead her to an interesting, luke-less place with her art. 

[doraemon 918]

that is not how you retire from the industry...

[ALGAYDO 29,903]

Just now, doraemon said:

that is not how you retire from the industry...

But it IS how you get fired from the industry 

[OliviaRodrigoStan 4,383]

A mess, but I'm here for the drama 

[HelloHangoverz 15,542]

Just now, ALGAYDO said:

But it IS how you get fired from the industry 

I truly think her next album will be independent. There's no way they can keep her on after this, I wonder if they're haemorrhaging money