Prism
by Katy Perry
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Oct 22, 2013
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2180 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,494 out of 2180
  2. Mixed: 243 out of 2180
  3. Negative: 443 out of 2180
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  1. patp
    Jan 31, 2023
    6
    The singles are great, the rest of the album is pretty average. It's a nice album but proably not her best.
  2. All_ButTrU4
    Nov 14, 2021
    4
    When the songs are good they are well executed pop milestones that stick almost as well as the previous "California girls " . From the motivational lead "roar" to the confident bop "dark horse" it's very easy listening. Even it's more commercially modest tracks like "birthday"&"walking on air" succeed in making you belt your heart out terribly in the bathroom. But the other songs on theWhen the songs are good they are well executed pop milestones that stick almost as well as the previous "California girls " . From the motivational lead "roar" to the confident bop "dark horse" it's very easy listening. Even it's more commercially modest tracks like "birthday"&"walking on air" succeed in making you belt your heart out terribly in the bathroom. But the other songs on the album exempt from the sheen of nostalgic bog down the record and earn instantaneous skips. Without trying to sound condescending i think Katy Perry works best under the constraints of a single and often pales in the confines of a full length record. But even so this makes for a fun listen.… Expand
  3. victorialiewind
    Sep 20, 2019
    6
    Album is boring and hits like ROAR and DARK HORSE can't outshine the horror of other songs.
  4. u137288reddit
    May 17, 2018
    4
    A lot of this album is very forgettable. The stretch of Walking on air, Legendary Lovers, and Dark Horse, along with Birthday, is really good, but the rest is either cringeworthy or forgettable.
  5. Ayron_xcx
    Jan 26, 2018
    4
    Mais um trabalhi péssimo de Katy Perry, única coisa que presta no album são as baladas, By The Grace Of God é uma música linda.
  6. spongeswift
    Nov 10, 2017
    6
    Prism marked the change of Katy going from "I wanna make big hits" to "I wanna make meaningful hits" and did that really work? Well Roar was a fun song it was definitely in line with Shake It Off, where it's not a great song but it gets the message across. So the era started off on an ok hit. And we got a few tastes of the album before it came out and they were ok. When the album came outPrism marked the change of Katy going from "I wanna make big hits" to "I wanna make meaningful hits" and did that really work? Well Roar was a fun song it was definitely in line with Shake It Off, where it's not a great song but it gets the message across. So the era started off on an ok hit. And we got a few tastes of the album before it came out and they were ok. When the album came out I was kind of scared because Katy's idea of a meaningful song was just meh to me and a lot of other people. And I was right the album had a few fun songs, but the songs that were supposed to be taken seriously were just not. Katy created another decent album and of course it did not have Teenage Dream's sales success or song success. The only song after Roar to be a real hit was Dark Horse which was a semi-big hit but of course still not as big as anything like her recent bangers. This album marked the decline of her career commerical wise and quality wise.… Expand
  7. FruitJuice
    Jul 18, 2017
    4
    it was okay........................................................................................................................................................................
  8. arcanjo
    Jun 15, 2017
    6
    PRISM feels like a repeat of the Tenage Dream formula. Alhtough there are substantial songs like Spiritual, This Moment and Legendary Lovers, the whole is just disconnected. Its an album made of different songs together, sometimes feeling empty and with no self identity.
  9. JadenCarter
    Jun 9, 2017
    4
    Although she calls herself a singer-songwriter, she works closely with a team of writer-producers marshalled by Max Martin, the Swedish super producer who helped forge the careers of Britney Spears, Pink and Taylor Swift. Perry has all the vocal chops you might expect from a church raised singer but her USP has been her over-the-top videos built around a brazenly saucy image, establishingAlthough she calls herself a singer-songwriter, she works closely with a team of writer-producers marshalled by Max Martin, the Swedish super producer who helped forge the careers of Britney Spears, Pink and Taylor Swift. Perry has all the vocal chops you might expect from a church raised singer but her USP has been her over-the-top videos built around a brazenly saucy image, establishing her as a sexy but less provocative rival to Lady Gaga.… Expand
  10. victorcarter
    Nov 21, 2016
    5
    Katy Perry's 3rd studio album, is a step up from her last two efforts. Katy is at her best with songs like "Legendary Lovers" and "By The Grace Of God." But stays in her immature pop phase with songs like "International Smile" and "This Is How We Do
  11. TryAgainGata
    Nov 8, 2016
    6
    1. Roar 3/5
    2. Legendary Lovers 5/5
    3. Birthday 3/5
    4. Walking On Air 3/5
    5. Unconditionally 4/5
    6. Dark Horse (feat. Juicy J) 3/5
    7. This Is How We Do 3/5
    8. International Smile 3/5
    9. Ghost 4/5
    10. Love Me 3/5
    11. This Moment 4/5
    12. Double Rainbow 3/5
    13. By the Grace of God 3/5
    14. Spiritual 3/5
    15. It Takes Two 3/5
    16. Choose Your Battles 3/5
  12. JefersonXCX
    Oct 30, 2016
    6
    Eu amo incondicionalmente a Katy e seus trabalhos e sempre serei parcial quanto a minha opinião aqui expressa.
    Amo muitas faixas do PRISM, mas tem umas que não tem como defender a honra desse álbum com faixas tão genérias e batidas como "Birthday, This Is How We Do e International Smile".
    Eu não vejo ALMA neste disco, não vejo algo no qual eu e as pessoas possamos nos inspirar. Faltou    Eu amo incondicionalmente a Katy e seus trabalhos e sempre serei parcial quanto a minha opinião aqui expressa.
    Amo muitas faixas do PRISM, mas tem umas que não tem como defender a honra desse álbum com faixas tão genérias e batidas como "Birthday, This Is How We Do e International Smile".
    Eu não vejo ALMA neste disco, não vejo algo no qual eu e as pessoas possamos nos inspirar.
    Faltou isso no PRISM, eu como fã espero uma melhoria na sonoridade do #KP4.    … Expand
  13. billobo1
    Aug 27, 2016
    5
    It does have decent songs for most of it, but it lacks the dream and catchy sounds her previous album included. Songs like "Ghost" are fine, but elevator-music fine. This is not an album that a top-notch artist should release at the height of her career. Also, the vocals? Half bad, half good. It's pretty mediocre for what it is. She probably rushed into this, it's just not proper. It'sIt does have decent songs for most of it, but it lacks the dream and catchy sounds her previous album included. Songs like "Ghost" are fine, but elevator-music fine. This is not an album that a top-notch artist should release at the height of her career. Also, the vocals? Half bad, half good. It's pretty mediocre for what it is. She probably rushed into this, it's just not proper. It's like she goes a step back after "Teenage Dream" as an artist. Kudos for trying something new in songs like "This is how We Do" though, because for the most part, it's a fun experimentation. But, just a fun experimentation as a whole. Not a successful one.… Expand
  14. artpopgr
    Jan 30, 2016
    5
    5 points off because the album feels like it should spawn hits, and that is not artistic development.

    You will dance to it and enjoy some non-dull tracks, but overall it's just another pop release. No surprises, innovations, or risks here.
  15. Dearjohn
    Oct 3, 2015
    5
    ROAR- 7/10

    LEGENDARY LOVERS- 8,5/10 BIRTHDAY- 2,4/10 WALKING ON AIR- 7,5/10 UNCONDITIONALLY- 8/10 DARK HORSE- 7,4/10 THIS IS HOW WE DO- 4/10 INTERNATIONAL SMILE-6/10 GHOST- 8,6/10 LOVE ME-7/10 THIS MOMENT- 7/10 DOUBLE RAINBOW-7/10 BY THE GRACE OF GOD- 10/10 This is a good album, but Katy could've choosen her singles better. Birthday and TIHWD are    ROAR- 7/10

    LEGENDARY LOVERS- 8,5/10

    BIRTHDAY- 2,4/10

    WALKING ON AIR- 7,5/10

    UNCONDITIONALLY- 8/10

    DARK HORSE- 7,4/10

    THIS IS HOW WE DO- 4/10

    INTERNATIONAL SMILE-6/10

    GHOST- 8,6/10

    LOVE ME-7/10

    THIS MOMENT- 7/10

    DOUBLE RAINBOW-7/10

    BY THE GRACE OF GOD- 10/10

    This is a good album, but Katy could've choosen her singles better. Birthday and TIHWD are terrible options for singles. Instead of TIHWD, Legendary Lovers could've ended the Prism era, and Birthday could've been a promotional single instead of Walking on Air.

    It's a commercial album, the singles were made on intention of getting good charts, but it's way better than Teenage Dream or One of the boys. Katy should re-release this album.    … Expand
  16. AhmedAliGHZ
    Sep 8, 2015
    5
    Legendary Lovers and Birthday are my favourites. I only enjoyed the first 8 songs on this album, the rest all sound like filler songs except for Ghost and By the Grace of God
  17. Mad-Hatter
    Aug 28, 2015
    6
    It's a cute record. The best album of Katy Perry so far, and it isn't pretty good, though. Well, there are some pretty good songs like Birthday, Legendary Lovers, Walking On Air, Unconditionally and Ghost, but there are also many bad songs like Love Me, Dark Horse, International Smile, By The Grace Of God and Double Rainbow. It just isn't enough, but Katy Perry is getting better, she singsIt's a cute record. The best album of Katy Perry so far, and it isn't pretty good, though. Well, there are some pretty good songs like Birthday, Legendary Lovers, Walking On Air, Unconditionally and Ghost, but there are also many bad songs like Love Me, Dark Horse, International Smile, By The Grace Of God and Double Rainbow. It just isn't enough, but Katy Perry is getting better, she sings better than before in One Of The Boys and this album is a masterpiece compared with the previous, Teenage Dream.… Expand
  18. truerowance
    Jun 10, 2015
    4
    ............................................After the generic pop 'Teenage Dream', Katy Perry goes worst on 'Prism', a stupid-Dr.Luke-messed-up album.
  19. BabyJane
    Mar 18, 2015
    6
    Track by track review:
    1. Roar 6/10
    2. Legendary Lovers 10/10 3. Birthday 10/10 4. Walking on Air 8/10 5. Unconditionally 9/10 6. Dark Horse 0.5/10 7. This Is How We Do 6/10 8. International Smile 5.5/10 9. Ghost 10/10 10. Love Me 2/10 11. This Moment 4.5/10 12. Double Rainbow 5/10 13. By the Grace of God 10/10 Highlight: Legendary Lovers Potential singles: Roar, Dark    Track by track review:
    1. Roar 6/10
    2. Legendary Lovers 10/10
    3. Birthday 10/10
    4. Walking on Air 8/10
    5. Unconditionally 9/10
    6. Dark Horse 0.5/10
    7. This Is How We Do 6/10
    8. International Smile 5.5/10
    9. Ghost 10/10
    10. Love Me 2/10
    11. This Moment 4.5/10
    12. Double Rainbow 5/10
    13. By the Grace of God 10/10

    Highlight: Legendary Lovers
    Potential singles: Roar, Dark Horse, Walking on Air, Legendary Lovers, Unconditionally.    … Expand
  20. Lenis
    Jan 28, 2015
    5
    She hasn't found herself, she really tried this time but failed because is some experiment, the evolution of her last release, Teenage Dream. This time Katy faced the mainstream project including (or trying) dark expressions of her last failed relationship with Russell Brand. The first half of the album hit us with a collection of Pop-Rock songs ft. the first singles showing the highlightsShe hasn't found herself, she really tried this time but failed because is some experiment, the evolution of her last release, Teenage Dream. This time Katy faced the mainstream project including (or trying) dark expressions of her last failed relationship with Russell Brand. The first half of the album hit us with a collection of Pop-Rock songs ft. the first singles showing the highlights -Dark Horse, Unconditionally and Legendary Lovers- the second half shock me because it doesn't feel right it doens't fit. It isn't completely Pop an it isn't completely Ballads she's confused and this time and recorded such bad tracks this time. But saved her record with other highlights -It Takes Two, Ghost and By The Grace Of God- when she talks difficult times of life including suicide and spiritual things.… Expand
  21. AlejandroLuque
    Jan 14, 2015
    6
    In general terms , it is a pop album, with tracks very well polished . The album does not give me a new concept, they are exactly the same letters and sounds we've been hearing from "Teenage Dream" . Although it should be noted that there are some outstanding tracks like " Roar" , "Dark Horse" , "Birthday " and " Unconditionally " . He is a passable album if we consider that Katy PerryIn general terms , it is a pop album, with tracks very well polished . The album does not give me a new concept, they are exactly the same letters and sounds we've been hearing from "Teenage Dream" . Although it should be noted that there are some outstanding tracks like " Roar" , "Dark Horse" , "Birthday " and " Unconditionally " . He is a passable album if we consider that Katy Perry wanted to mature too quickly from an album to another. With albums like this we realize that Katy Perry never managed to be the star Pop memorable, she so wants to be because you never reinvents itself , almost always does the same.… Expand
  22. ClaraF
    Dec 27, 2014
    5
    This album have good songs, but most of them look like the same! I like Katy Perry but and I really think she did a great job with this album but she need to do different things and get out of her comfort zone.
  23. camilosanchez16
    Dec 17, 2014
    5
    Si se me preguntase en mi humilde opinión que pienso de Prism diría que es la fallida re invención de Katy Perry, sus canciones son pegajosas, pero esta colmadas de Clichés que simplemente no hacen de esta una experiencia original, y llendo en contra de los críticos, en mi opinión, el mejor álbum de Katy Perry es Teenage Dream.
  24. NathanCabello
    Dec 16, 2014
    6
    I thought when she buried her Teenage Dream was something she would be more focused on quality and be less commercial, but was worse than the last, she had a tremendous fallen between the two, although they have good songs is a fully commercial album and after the ninth track all the songs sound the same which causes sleep.
    Highlights: Legendary Lovers and Walking On Air
    Lows: Double    I thought when she buried her Teenage Dream was something she would be more focused on quality and be less commercial, but was worse than the last, she had a tremendous fallen between the two, although they have good songs is a fully commercial album and after the ninth track all the songs sound the same which causes sleep.
    Highlights: Legendary Lovers and Walking On Air
    Lows: Double Rainbow and Dark Horse    … Expand
  25. Adson
    Oct 19, 2014
    5
    Katy Perry didn't surprise me in this album. What's the meaning of the album? Give me some personality, Give me some sick beats (like "This is how we do"), Give me some great vocals in the love songs (Like "Love Me") and differents vocals from track to track. Less lyrics like "Birthday" or "Roar" and more like "Dark Horse" (for the radio) and "Walking on Air", Less "Just hits for theKaty Perry didn't surprise me in this album. What's the meaning of the album? Give me some personality, Give me some sick beats (like "This is how we do"), Give me some great vocals in the love songs (Like "Love Me") and differents vocals from track to track. Less lyrics like "Birthday" or "Roar" and more like "Dark Horse" (for the radio) and "Walking on Air", Less "Just hits for the radio" and more "I wanna be a true Artist". Be more free Katy and you'll be FLAWLESS. My Favorites:

    1 - Dark Horse
    2 - Unconditionally
    3 - This Is How We Do
    4 - Love Me
    5 - Walking on air
    6 - Legendary Lovers    … Expand
  26. guiseppelucas
    Sep 30, 2014
    6
    Incredibly mature, but forcing maturity out was difficult for Perry, for the entire started pumped up and high but it ended terribly boring like a calculus class.
  27. GlM
    Sep 24, 2014
    4
    An underwhelming follow-up to her previous album 'Teenage Dream', 'PRISM' simply revisits many elements from her past works. Although promised for a darker change in musical and artistic style, Katy Perry instead plays it safe and sticks to the same mediocre music made for the charts; made to sell. Perry sticks to the same formula, yet this time executes it poorly.
  28. ryandiamandis
    Sep 17, 2014
    6
    I was expecting so much more of this album, and I shouldn't had expected too much because it's good but it's just this, you know? The tracklist should be better organized, maybe this is the reason that the second part of the album so boring and I wanted to skip every single song.
  29. PinkFriday
    Sep 8, 2014
    5
    PRISM é o album mais mediano de Katy Perry, A primeira metade é a melhor, todas as faixas são boas. Porém, depois da faixa 9, as faixas começam a decair e ficar cansativas, nem dá vontade de ouvir completo.
  30. LsSiel
    Sep 3, 2014
    5
    Really boring. The only good thing I found on this album is Walking on Air.
    Perry is far from be a true artist. We all know that her voice sucks, and when she tries to hold a note her music becomes unbearable.
    Her lyrics are pretty basic, it seems I'm reading a text for self-improvement. I don't need to hear from Perry that "I have the eye of the tiger"... or that "I am a champion". I do    Really boring. The only good thing I found on this album is Walking on Air.
    Perry is far from be a true artist. We all know that her voice sucks, and when she tries to hold a note her music becomes unbearable.
    Her lyrics are pretty basic, it seems I'm reading a text for self-improvement. I don't need to hear from Perry that "I have the eye of the tiger"... or that "I am a champion". I do not think anyone needs to hear it from Perry.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed Album of 2013
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Fact Magazine (UK)
    Dec 6, 2013
    40
    Everything that is missing from [Lady Gaga's Artpop] is here, but everything that is good about it is spectacularly absent from Prism.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    Nov 22, 2013
    40
    Prism feels transitional, the work of an artist clever enough to be restless, yet unable to split from a winning formula. [Dec 2013, p.110]
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Nov 14, 2013
    70
    It doesn’t require the patience or emotional/intellectual involvement that albums I typically listen to require. The cool thing, though, is that it does have quite a bit of redeeming value.
    Read full review
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