Katy Perry’s latest album, „143,“ largely produced by Dr. Luke, disappoints with flat synths, lackluster lyrics, and no standout tracks.
If you’re a pop-music fan who spends time on the internet, you’ll probably see a slew of negative reviews for Katy Perry’s new album, „143.“ You might even start to believe the criticism is overblown or prejudicial, a cliché result of herd mentality.
I’m here to assure you that is not the case. The adverse reaction to Perry’s seventh major label release is very much earned, if even a little generous.
This is the first album I’ve ever reviewed that doesn’t have a single cut I would recommend to a friend. At least Perry’s previous washout, 2020’s „Smile“, boasted the presence of „Never Really Over“, which remains a career peak for Perry. Here, on „143“, there’s no standout track, no obvious highlight.
Songs like „Lifetimes“, „All The Love“, and „Nirvana“, which are forgettable yet listenable at the very least, only stand out by contrast. If they had been included on a better pop album, they’d easily fall into skip territory.
The best chunk of „143“ is Doechii’s verse in „I’m His, He’s Mine“, which the duo performed during Perry’s VMA medley. But even the self-described Swamp Princess can’t inject enough substance or charm to rescue the song from its watered-down Crystal Waters sample and lifeless la-da-dee-la-da-da’s. It feels like Perry and her producers — in this case, Dr. Luke and Rocco Valdes — took a classic dance tune and surgically removed its soul.
Indeed, „143“ can’t be appraised in good faith without mention of Dr. Luke and the controversy that surrounded his reunion with Perry.
Before this year, the embattled producer hadn’t worked with Perry since he was sued by Kesha (a one-time friend of Perry’s) in 2014 for sexual, physical, and emotional abuse during her time signed to his label, Kemosabe Records.
Dr. Luke denied all of Kesha’s claims and countersued for defamation. The two parties reached an undisclosed settlement last year, shortly before Perry confirmed she was working on new music.
When Perry launched the „143“ era in June, fans who supported Kesha during her lengthy legal battle were disappointed that Dr.
