Parker Burgio

This album/era gets WAY too much backlash and hate. This album actually has some really solid moments and some well constructed and catchy pop songs. Katy had a clear vision, and even though it doesn’t work all the time (i.e. “Into Me You See,” “Act My Age” and “Pendulum”) it works well in many others (“Roulette,” “Mind Maze,” “Miss You More,” “Chained to the Rhythm” etc.) Sonically the album is actually quite cohesive and use electronic sounds and effects very interestingly. Almost all of the songs create a unique and intriguing atmosphere. Her vocals also shine in most tracks. The one glaring problem here with this album is the terrible lyricism (the “Chinese water torture” and “open sesame” lyrics to name a couple). Other than that, it is a campy, fun time and has some substance, unlike what some reviewers and haters would lead you to believe. Realistically it IS her worst album when compared to the pop perfection that is Teenage Dream for instance, but that doesn’t make it BAD by any means. She doesn’t put out complete stinkers of albums. Some of the songs on here are some of the best of her career. For a late career entry, it’s not half bad. Take it with a grain of salt.