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. Fakebytswift
    Dec 23, 2015
    7
    It is a good album, but she could do it better. At least we have a mature woman with new kind of songs.

    Roar 7/10 Legendary Lovers 9/10 Birthday 5/10 Walking on air 8/10 Unconditionally 9/10 Dark Horse 6/10 This is how we do 4/10 International Smile 5/10 Ghost 10/10 Love Me 5/10 This Moment 7/10 Double Rainbow 8/10 By the grace of god 10/10 Katy    It is a good album, but she could do it better. At least we have a mature woman with new kind of songs.

    Roar 7/10

    Legendary Lovers 9/10

    Birthday 5/10

    Walking on air 8/10

    Unconditionally 9/10

    Dark Horse 6/10

    This is how we do 4/10

    International Smile 5/10

    Ghost 10/10

    Love Me 5/10

    This Moment 7/10

    Double Rainbow 8/10

    By the grace of god 10/10

    Katy made a mistake about choosing the singles. Instead of Birthday(which had a hard disclosure) she could release Legendary Lovers, and instead of This is how we do(which ended the era) she could release Walking on air, and let another one like Birthday as a promotional single.    … Expand
  2. thecriticboy
    Jul 25, 2015
    7
    Starting with good lyrics, without forgetting the "commercial song", "Prism" disc of the singer Katy Perry has both good things as bad and even disappointing in his third musical work.
    The good thing about this disc would be the maturity that includes Perry through several songs such as "Ghost", "Legendary Lovers" and "It Takes Two", Katy has a range of excellent quality songs.
    The bad    Starting with good lyrics, without forgetting the "commercial song", "Prism" disc of the singer Katy Perry has both good things as bad and even disappointing in his third musical work.
    The good thing about this disc would be the maturity that includes Perry through several songs such as "Ghost", "Legendary Lovers" and "It Takes Two", Katy has a range of excellent quality songs.
    The bad in this work is truly "The Singles". Although "Roar" is a fairly mature song that gave him a positive approach to disk, this album has singles quite mediocre as "This Is How We Do" and "Birthday, also do not forget commercial song"Dark Horse"and the ballad"Unconditionally", pretty bad quality of the choice of singles." In my opinion he would have preferred "Legendary Lovers" or "Walking On Air".
    And finally, as disappointing on this album is "Total comparison with Teenage Dream", both in singles and in promotion, only Perry Teenage Dream things change and hidden them in Prism so that no one will notice it. But it is not so    … Expand
  3. Evic21
    Sep 7, 2015
    7
    In my opinion, this is Katy Perry's strongest body of work. Her lyrics are better than her previous albums and finally we get to see the vaunerable side of her instead of the constantly poppy and up beat Katy that we know.
  4. RespectTheMusic
    Sep 7, 2015
    7
    In Prism are included some iconic songs,meaningful songs and other boring songs...I think that Katy should work to make more interesting songs and not focus only on 4 or 5 songs of one album!!!
    P.S. I love Roar Darkhorse and Unconditionally
  5. shaday
    Sep 9, 2015
    7
    Its okay!
    Legendary Lovers steals the spotlight for me, I feel like there were a lot of filler songs, no song is really bad though. Roar is the one I don't really don't like
  6. diegonelli
    Sep 13, 2015
    7
    I used to listen to her 1 year ago and now I did back and PRISM is still a good album, the last tracks are the best, but the singles are the worst. Ballades like 'Ghost' 'Love Me' 'Double Rainbow' are the best.
  7. Zezilia154
    Jul 15, 2017
    7
    Roar 10/10
    Legendary Lovers 9/10
    Birthday 10/10
    Walking On Air 10/10
    Unconditionaly 9/10
    Dark Horse 10/10
    This is How We Do 10/10
    International Smile 8/10
    Ghost 8/10
    Love Me 7/10
    This Moment 8/10
    Double Rainbow 8/10
    By the Grace of God 8/10
    Spiritual 7/10
    it Takes Two 7/10
    Choose Your Battles 8/10

    GENERAL: 7.3
  8. infsai
    Mar 27, 2020
    7
    For me it's an okay album. It's just a pure pop, and nothing else. It doesn't mean that I don't admire songs from this album, but I simply prefer One of the Boys.
  9. BrazilianPop
    Jun 12, 2020
    7
    The songs are soo great, each one talks about something very specific, I'm in love with it, I think is one of Katy's best albums.
  10. Brzuchaczyk
    Sep 1, 2020
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Definetely not a bad album, it's actually pretty good - considering it's Katy Perry. For me - Katy is song superstar. She has megahits, but other song are... hm, they do sound flat for me. But not on Prism. All singles are my favourite, plus Legendary Lovers sounds really good and it's shame it's not another album's single. The rest of the songs arent bad either. All of them are listenable. Maybe her best album.… Expand
  11. wojtekk
    Jul 9, 2023
    7
    One of the most siginificant pop albums made to date. Everything's pretty nice and some tunes are incredible bops!
  12. ernis_v
    Oct 28, 2013
    6
    Katy Perry sheds her cotton candy scented look for for her fourth album "PRISM" (caps lock inspired by Lady Gaga). One may think she'd make a completely dark album given her divorce, but PRISM mainly focuses on the new man in her life and only offers a few 'darker' songs. I'd single out "Legendary Lovers" as the highlight of the album donning a subtle Easter inspiration, the song followsKaty Perry sheds her cotton candy scented look for for her fourth album "PRISM" (caps lock inspired by Lady Gaga). One may think she'd make a completely dark album given her divorce, but PRISM mainly focuses on the new man in her life and only offers a few 'darker' songs. I'd single out "Legendary Lovers" as the highlight of the album donning a subtle Easter inspiration, the song follows our tigress having sex or whatnot in the middle of a jungle. On the other hand, "This Is How We Do" and "International Smile" are god awful fillers. Overall, PRISM sounds fresh, strong and things-will-get-better-in-the-end… Expand
  13. DrewBrauer
    Nov 20, 2013
    6
    It has been a while since we've heard from Katy Perry, the crazy haired, 29 year old who sang out Partying, Sex, and also had whip cream spray out of her boobs. Now after a painful divorce with comedian Russell Brand, Perry hopes to change her image. Now it's 2013 and we have "PRISM" which is led by her new hit single "Roar". I was looking forward to PRISM even though it looked like itIt has been a while since we've heard from Katy Perry, the crazy haired, 29 year old who sang out Partying, Sex, and also had whip cream spray out of her boobs. Now after a painful divorce with comedian Russell Brand, Perry hopes to change her image. Now it's 2013 and we have "PRISM" which is led by her new hit single "Roar". I was looking forward to PRISM even though it looked like it wouldn't have the fun, carefree image of Perry that we got from her last album "Teenage Dream". Which for Teenage Dream I enjoyed, despite some flaws. But PRISM is a very plain vanilla album with cliches abound and not a lot of originality, making PRISM a disappointment. The first eight songs are very good, but they don't have the edge that Perry brought in for Teenage Dream, most of the songs here sound like something I've heard from other artists like Katy Perry. There are a few standouts, "This is How We Do" sounds like a fun anthem for any kind of party, and "Birthday" is endlessly charming and adorable (even if the topic is about sex). The hit song "Roar" is okay, but it draws many similarities to Sara Bareilles "Brave" which in my opinion is a much better song. My main problem with PRISM is it's second half, although Perry shines in the vocal department, her songs are very borderline cheesy, on the level of Christian/Faith music, that's fine, but it's endlessly repeated on the final half, which leads to a very boring finale. Overall, "PRISM" tries to be different, but does it in all the wrong ways (it's also slow), fans of Katy Perry will find something to enjoy here, but for right now, let's hope Katy Perry recovers and gets back to the fun image we all loved.… Expand
  14. maucito
    Oct 22, 2013
    6
    When we talked about Katy Perry we imagine the "Californa Gurl" who lives her Teenage Dream, but now Katy is just a girl trying to find her own new style in music. PRISM is not her best album and she knows she can do better things.
  15. mike4444
    Nov 2, 2013
    6
    Now, she said this album was gonna be dark. With the exception of tracks such as Dark Horse, it's a quality that is constantly lacked. But for what was released, I guess it's good overall. This sounds a lot more mature than the previous two albums which is undeniable by any listener. Even people who hate Katy Perry.
  16. sakislv
    Nov 4, 2013
    6
    There are standout tracks like Legendary Lovers, Walking on Air and Dark Horse. I feel like the second half of the album is full of fillers. Some songs are not memorable at all.
  17. Clemen
    Dec 5, 2013
    6
    She said that the album is 'dark' but i don't seems to see any 'darkness' inside. Roar being the first single doesn't really represents the album. Too much ballad at the end and very generic. Choice of producers are very limited too, hopefully she venture into other producers other than Dr Luke.
  18. iagoborba
    Nov 7, 2013
    6
    Esperava mais da Katy Perry! O Álbum não condiz aos seus countdowns! WOTA e DH são músicas ótimas e mostrou a versatilidade da cantora. Roar uma música sem muita pretensão e que teve um belo desemprenho. Fora isso o álbum está bem monotóno!
  19. samba87
    Nov 11, 2013
    6
    Some REALLY good songs. But same old tired sound. With all the wig burning promotion I was expecting a little something different. By The Grace of God and Unconditionally stand out.
  20. TheKevyReview
    Nov 12, 2013
    6
    "PRISM" by Katy Perry is a good album, but only. it sounds better than her others albums, but it feels like "artificial". it seems like she wants impressione the critics but it didn't convence me. this album has some of her best carrer song and the worst too. PRISM is good but don't have much to say
  21. edsmedeiros
    Mar 30, 2014
    6
    not a bad album, much more coherente than her previous albums. the second half of prism is just so similar, i could not separate songs and truly pay attention to the lyrics because it felt like a big 20 minute song that was just tiring to hear, but still there are some crazy good songs like "dark horse" "birthday" "legendary lovers" which will probably be hits and be singles in the nextnot a bad album, much more coherente than her previous albums. the second half of prism is just so similar, i could not separate songs and truly pay attention to the lyrics because it felt like a big 20 minute song that was just tiring to hear, but still there are some crazy good songs like "dark horse" "birthday" "legendary lovers" which will probably be hits and be singles in the next two year promoting of the album… Expand
  22. ryanbrooke
    Jul 24, 2014
    6
    I liked Prism, but there's something missing. I thought it would be something dark, as was shown in the teasers, Katy said only Roar would be like Teenage Dream era, but Prism is kinda Teenage Dream 2.0 but bad. I expected more.
  23. 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
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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
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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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