Track-by-Track: Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Despite helping to define her era of pop with a strong string of singles, Katy Perry's debut album suffered from a lack of consistency. Teenage Dream is much stronger. The goal here is mainstream radio domination, and judged by that standard, you can't really argue with the quality.

1. Teenage Dream - The album's high-point, and an absolute firecracker of a song. It's the kind of pop that's at once disposable and totally stirring. A blazing declaration of intent that lets you know exactly what kind of album you're in for. 10/10

2. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) - The obnoxious lyrics are offset (and saved) by a top-down, Summer melody that flirts with being too repetitive but wins you back with an aggressive sax solo. 8/10

3. California Gurls - There's a reason why this has been a global hit. Sure, it's stupid (and I completely wrote it off at first), but the hooks get under your skin. And like it or not, this will forever define the summer of 2010. 10/10

4. Firework - More Euro-club than any other track here, this is huge sounding stuff, though a little out of place with the other songs. The beat is enormous, though. 10/10

5. Peacock - These single-entendre songs are usually unfathomably horrendous. While it's hardly intelligent, this is funny enough to work. The hook's pretty catchy, too. 8/10

6. Circle The Drain - A vitriolic, rocky track that forgoes gimmicks for an urgent melody and great production. One of the best songs on the album. 10/10

7. The One That Got Away - The tone of this is the polar opposite of the last track, which makes for a jarring transition. Still, this is a sweet pop song with a great melody. Wouldn't be a bad single choice. 9/10

8. E.T. - A beat-heavy midtempo heavy on effects. It's different from everything on here, which is both good and bad. Initially impressive, I've found that this has dulled with time. 8/10

9. Who Am I Living For? - Another darker track focusing more on attitude and tone than melody. It's an interesting sound, but forgettable when compared to the first handful of tracks. 8/10

10. Pearl - Now this is a really strange one. It's a subtle electro ballad, but has the effect of aging Perry by about ten years. The chorus is pleasant, but it feels lightweight compared to the hits and hits-to-be on the rest of the album. 7/10

11. Hummingbird Heartbeat - I love the production on this. It's got that uptempo 80's synth-rock sound to it. I'm not as crazy about the melody, though the chorus is very strong. 8/10

12. Not Like The Movies - Ballads are not Perry's stong suit, but this works surprisingly well. There's a connection here in the delivery that's missing throughout most of the album. 8/10

Album Grade: 8.7/10