An Album to Forget: A review of Katy Perry’s new letdown album, “143”

Katy Perry released a new album, “143,” on Sept. 20 and to put it simply — it was a huge disappointment. Its lackluster lyrics, absence of rhythmic variety and attempt to be relevant to the younger generations — created an album that altogether sounded flat and unoriginal.

As I listened to all 11 songs on the pop album, it seemed as if Perry tried to convey a “disco feel” with vibrant and catchy beats. But this only led to the album to sound like EDM — electronic dance music and techno — with most of the songs sounding identical and monotone.

Even Perry’s collaboration with notable artists such as 21 Savage, Kim Petras, Doechii and JID, couldn’t save it from its complete absence of creativity. The songs all sound like they came straight from a DJ at a high school prom.

In “I’M HIS, HE’S MINE,” I could hardly differentiate the voices of Doechii and Perry. The song has little lyrical variety, with almost every other line being “La— da— dee, la—da—da,” while the other verses are mostly cliché — “I’m his main, I’m his side, I’m every woman that’s in his mind.”

Listening to “LIFETIMES,” I initially thought the song could have potential, with the introduction beat sounding softer and less flat than her other techno beats. However, her lyrics were uninspired and didn’t bring life to the song. Perry often repeated the same chorus repeatedly, which wouldn’t have been a problem if it hadn’t been for the underwhelming lyrics — “I’m gonna love you till the end and then repeat it, I know you feel it.”

Perry’s whole album lacks a creative depth, which could’ve been obtained through lyrics with more meaning. In “WONDER,” she starts well with lessons on staying innocent in a dangerous world but ends the song with overused rhymes: “One day when we’re older, will we still look up in wonder?”

After listening to the whole album, I felt that it was unfinished and overall forgettable. Even with impressive collaborations and aggressive advertising, the album was disappointing.

What should’ve been a hit turned into a complete mess. It’s unbelievable how Perry and her team could allow “143” to be released with no substantial message, theme or meaning behind any of her songs. The album seemed rushed, showed little of Perry’s personality and fell short of high expectations. I think I’ll stick to listening to “Teenage Dream” for now.