Katy Perry is definitely our first lady of pop and she proves her merit once again on “Prism.” The album is filled with the kinds of punchy pop pieces we've come to expect from her, but “Prism,” more than her previous albums, showcases her impressive pipes. Perry’s finally letting the world see that she’s actually talented and not just a gimmick. The first half of the hour–long album is significantly more exciting than the second, where it begins to feel like she produced 15 to 20 extra minutes of ballads, but it’s much easier to forgive when unexpected songs like “Birthday” and “This Is How We Do” are just damn good pieces of pop music.
Grade: B+ Download: “This Is How We Do” Sounds best when: Taylor Swift’s just a little too whiny for you.
