Somewhere between the bizarre style of Lady Gaga and the threatening aggression of Madonna lies the pin-up charm of Katy Perry

Teenage Dream
Artiste: Katy Perry
Label: Virgin/EMI
Price: Rs 395
*** 1/2

Somewhere between the bizarre style of Lady Gaga and the threatening aggression of Madonna lies the pin-up charm of Katy Perry. "She's a drop dead gorgeous girl," said Greg Thompson, executive vice president of marketing and promotion for EMI, "with a truck driver's mouth," in an online interview. Add candyfloss, and the persona of the self-consciously materialistic pop doll is complete. There is lots of candyfloss in her latest album Teenage Dream.

For the cover of Teenage Dream, artist Will Cotton painted a nude Perry
swaddled in pink cotton candy

The singer decided to inject the smell of cotton candy into the physical copies of the album sold in the US, in a bid to "engage all the senses". She then had to issue a warning to stop loyal fans from trying to eat the CDs!
The video for California Gurls is set in a demented Candy Land where candy canes turn into snakes and gummy bears give the finger. For the cover, artist Will Cotton (pun unintended) has painted a portrait of a nude Perry swaddled in pink cotton candy clouds.

All that candyfloss bore sweet returns. Earlier this month, Teenage Dream wafted to number 1 on the Billboard album chart, displacing Eminem's Recovery. California Gurls has spent more than three months at or near the top of the Billboard Hot 100, where it was recently joined by the title track from Teenage Dream; One of the boys has gone platinum.

The gospel singer-turned-teen sex symbol cites Hollywood divas Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Russell as her influences. While Perry has a long way to go before her oomph can match theirs, her radio-friendly beats and fun-in-the-sun lyrics affirm that she isn't just a celebrity who also sings. Credit goes to hit producer trio Max Martin, Dr Luke and Benny Blanco for re-inventing themselves.

The opening title track is a slice of nostalgia that grows on you. The words are innocent and optimistic (You think I'm pretty/ without any make-up on/ you think I'm funny/ when I tell the punch line wrong), and the sound is fresh.

Perry has approached the album like an art project, complete with an image makeover from faux rock chick to girly pop starlet. It's a sort of concept album, looking at different aspects of adolescence ufffd from the sweet to the debauched.

In Last Friday night (T.G.I.F.), for instance, Perry wakes up bright-eyed but "smelling like a mini-bar". The track sounds like a straight lift from reigning US pop queen Ke$ha's single Animal, especially when Perry purrs "damn!" but credit goes to Martin for reviving the 80s sax solo. Not a patch on The Beach Boys' 1965 hit, California Gurls is a chartbuster nonetheless, and is threatening to becoming one of those modern classics you hear on 'most played songs' lists.

u00a0The synths keep building until the end of the uplifting Firework, which is easily the best track on the album. Peacock is highly addictive and funny too, especially when Perry remarks on (arguably) seeing her man's goods:

Oh my god/ no exaggeration/ all this time was worth the waiting/ I just shed a tear/ I am so unprepared!
E.T. is pure electro and strangely hypnotic. Hummingbird Heartbeat is worth a listen. Stay away from the ballads; Perry is no Celine Dion.

Click here to view the video of the title track