Smile
by Katy Perry
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Aug 28, 2020
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 11514 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9,454 out of 11514
  2. Mixed: 291 out of 11514
  3. Negative: 1,769 out of 11514
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  1. SheeshRecords
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    Every single song in this album is REALLY GOOD. I love the lyrics and the production of all of them. But the only thing that i didn't liked was: This isn't cohesive. Songs didn't fit together. But, all of them are really amazing! One of the best albums of 2020. Katy is proving she keeps getting bigger in art.
  2. geno_reviews
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    The Album is very short but it really show how she was in the face of the public and hate
  3. CesarDays
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    It really is an excellent album, Katy knows how to surprise us. "Tucked" is a song that will leave a mark.
  4. Hdzcm
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    An amazing album from an amazing artist. It’s incredible the growth and maturity of Katy.
  5. joewaaaayyy
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    Smile is Katy's most consistent album. There are higher highs on Prism and Teenage Dream, but there is not anything on Smile as low as the lows on the latter either. You can tell Katy picked the best 12 of the ~20 songs she wrote over the past 2 years, leaving little fluff (something Witness suffered from). For the first time in her discography, the track-listing is perfect as the songsSmile is Katy's most consistent album. There are higher highs on Prism and Teenage Dream, but there is not anything on Smile as low as the lows on the latter either. You can tell Katy picked the best 12 of the ~20 songs she wrote over the past 2 years, leaving little fluff (something Witness suffered from). For the first time in her discography, the track-listing is perfect as the songs fit a story arc beginning with brokenness, depression, and drunken nights to suppress emotions and ends with love, redemption, and a new appreciation for life.
    Most of the songs on Smile land just under the 3-minute mark, making this her shortest album. However, none of the songs besides the title track (due to a last minute pull out of Diddy) feel incomplete. All the songs are very much Katy as well, exemplifying her wit and quirk in lyrics without ever dipping too much into the cringe and cheese her past work tended to. The only real misfire is the line about eye crust but it is easy to look past after you remember the 20 lines on Witness that were much weirder. I would argue that Smile is her best written album along with her debut, but One of the Boys might just edge it out a little with the self-written Thinking of You alone.
    Although the title track is one of the weaker songs on the album, the prechorus “But every tear has been a lesson / Rejection can be God’s protection / Long hard road to get that redemption / but no shortcuts to a blessing” are some of the best lines in her catalog, demonstrating growth and maturity and sum up the premise of the whole album.
    Overall, Smile is a great solid pop album that stays relatively upbeat and dance-y throughout. The fillers are slim to none and the best tracks (Cry About It Later, Not The End Of The World, Only Love, and Tucked) are already creeping up as some of the best in her discography; Never Really Over has been there for a while now. The vocals and instrumentations are tightly and finely produced, making it an enjoyable listen that never makes you go “what?!” Critics have been too harsh on Katy, although it was too be expected looking at their opinions on the rest of her albums. Certainly, Smile shows a lot more personality, variety, and musical evolution than some other more acclaimed albums from 2020.    … Expand
  6. Khepen_Dejo
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    Para ser su 6to album y regresar después de Witness me pareció bueno
    Tiene lo que para mi es amor se ve que dedico mucho tiempo a esto y se aprecia
    El significado de las canciones y sus tonos son buenos De las 12 canciones me gustaron 11 To be his 6th album and to come back after Witness it seemed good to me It has what is love for me, it is seen that I dedicate a lot of time to    Para ser su 6to album y regresar después de Witness me pareció bueno
    Tiene lo que para mi es amor se ve que dedico mucho tiempo a esto y se aprecia
    El significado de las canciones y sus tonos son buenos
    De las 12 canciones me gustaron 11

    To be his 6th album and to come back after Witness it seemed good to me
    It has what is love for me, it is seen that I dedicate a lot of time to this and it is appreciated
    The meaning of the songs and their tones are good
    Of the 12 songs I liked 11 :)    … Expand
  7. jjlopezoc
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    Sorpresivamente sorprendente, sutil, algo dispar pero preocupado por llenar el alma de sus oyentes. Maravilloso!
  8. ESREYDIAZ
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    Gracias Katy. Aunque no es el mejor álbum de su carrera, Katy nos ha dado más de lo que esperábamos. Cuando te sientas derrotado, escucha este álbum que es una bandita al corazón; con letras y ritmos que seguro abrazarán tu tristeza. La crítica puede intentar destruir un trabajo, pero el público habla y podemos darle el reconocimiento a un trabajo que costó lágrimas. Podemos ver a una KatyGracias Katy. Aunque no es el mejor álbum de su carrera, Katy nos ha dado más de lo que esperábamos. Cuando te sientas derrotado, escucha este álbum que es una bandita al corazón; con letras y ritmos que seguro abrazarán tu tristeza. La crítica puede intentar destruir un trabajo, pero el público habla y podemos darle el reconocimiento a un trabajo que costó lágrimas. Podemos ver a una Katy que trabajó sus cuerdas vocales y se esforzó por entregar una sonrisa a sus fanáticos con éste álbum. Gracias Katy.… Expand
  9. Inoahm
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    This album is honestly a piece of art. I can’t help but disagree with critics, as it seems so many are almost looking for something to complain about in each track. Smile is a journey from the beginning to the end, taking you from the harder parts of healing to the light at the end of the tunnel. Sonically, the album has a nice cohesion while still providing tracks that contrast in themes,This album is honestly a piece of art. I can’t help but disagree with critics, as it seems so many are almost looking for something to complain about in each track. Smile is a journey from the beginning to the end, taking you from the harder parts of healing to the light at the end of the tunnel. Sonically, the album has a nice cohesion while still providing tracks that contrast in themes, production, and lyrics. At the end of the day, I highly recommend this album to dance through the pain, be inspired, and well.. Smile! This album feels like a fine, aged wine. Katy’s creating art and although the world may not acknowledge it, they sure are taking notes. Congratulations to everyone involved!!… Expand
  10. mangocheese
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    Great album, though some songs are not perfect, but it is a very joyful album!
  11. ghjhv
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    非常优秀的一张专辑 gghhijjjjjkkchjcfgjkkkkkkkkkkkkkkjjjjjjjghhhhhhhhh
  12. artpopforever28
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    Her best work since 2017 !
    This album gives me a strong sense of 2010s. love u Katy!!!!
  13. wyclf
    Aug 28, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A much better effort from the Witness era, Songs like Cry about it later, Only Love and Champagne problems if given the right promotion could be her dark horse.… Expand
  14. lotsochik
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    This was so much better than my expectation, given the singles. Tucked must be a single, Katy.
  15. zaifamei13
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
  16. marlofasia
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    In a world ravaged by a months-long pandemic, Katy delivered one of the most positive albums during this period. This body of work is undeniably the rainbow after the storm and I am lucky enough to have listened to it during these dark times.
  17. katycatswithsim
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don't think this is Katy's best album,but, I can feel the inside power from smile, I'll love you forever, Katy!… Expand
  18. AndreFerreyra
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    Smile is great álbum, not wonderfull like the others. But Perry trasmits a good time with her music. Cry it about later and Tucked are the best from Smile for me. Enjoyable
  19. edoardovalzan
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    love it so much, so much joy and hope in this album which show a more grown katy but still the katy that can do bops. love this album very much, my fave is only love.
  20. petarbella
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    One of Katy's best album. Very cohesive and full of bops. Fave songs : Not The End Of The World, Teary Eyes, Harley's In Hawaii, Cry About It Later & Resilient
  21. MaxSpoom
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    Álbum empático, harmônico, esperançoso, lindo e cheiroso. RESPEITEM A MAMÃE DO DO ANO
  22. alexmenndes
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    It's simples, but GOOOOOOOOD!!!! Thanx KATY for the album! It's so amazing listen this woman sing!
  23. kobeho
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    Incredible album filled with heartfelt lyrics over uptempo instrumentals, showcasing Katy’s phenomenal songwriting and vocals alongside some of her best production. The album takes you on a journey and tells a story about resilience and triumph through hardships and adversity.
  24. Bauxness
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    This is Katy’s most bright and just technicolor feeling album. The sound is so different than anything we’ve ever heard from her; the 80’s influences are to die for. Tucked, Champagne Problems & Only Love reign superior. I’ll admit I was hoping we wouldn’t see any of the droplets on this album because I wanted more songs we katykats haven’t heard but here we are. Congrats on Daisy Dove This is Katy’s most bright and just technicolor feeling album. The sound is so different than anything we’ve ever heard from her; the 80’s influences are to die for. Tucked, Champagne Problems & Only Love reign superior. I’ll admit I was hoping we wouldn’t see any of the droplets on this album because I wanted more songs we katykats haven’t heard but here we are. Congrats on Daisy Dove
  25. LuanaH123
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    Álbum maravilhoso, todas as músicas são ótimas. O álbum conta uma história, não são simplesmente músicas aleatórias em ordem aleatória. Tem um conceito de trazer o sorriso de volta e realmente traz !!!
  26. Antkamedi
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    Honestly along with Witness, this is her most cohesive album, it has a theme that goes from sadness, to putting it aside, facing it, and being happy again, almost like a story, which I think Katy never did in her career, On the other hand, it has sounds that remind you of other Katy eras but at the same time it is a world apart, in sounds each song is different from the other but at theHonestly along with Witness, this is her most cohesive album, it has a theme that goes from sadness, to putting it aside, facing it, and being happy again, almost like a story, which I think Katy never did in her career, On the other hand, it has sounds that remind you of other Katy eras but at the same time it is a world apart, in sounds each song is different from the other but at the same time it is sufficiently cohesive to be part of the same album, in addition to all the songs (except Resilient probably) are a grower, but at the same time it has the hits you can expect on a pop album like Never Really Over and Not the End of the World and Cry About it Later, a good job done by Katy Perry, in the one that shows maturity, and a more vulnerable side of the singer, without a doubt one of the 10 best albums of the year for me… Expand
  27. eduxxrdxx
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    Sin duda un álbum con sonidos nuevos, siempre trayendo pop como el que falta en estos tiempos.
    Es un álbum con buena lírica y cada canción es un mundo hermoso que todos deben de explorar y descubrir en cuál quedarse.
  28. Hectoroap
    Aug 30, 2020
    9
    I never felt myself identified at this level with a Katy Perry's álbum before. This is still a pop adictive material, but definitely with more soul and heart. Love IT
  29. Angela2005
    Aug 30, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Of Smile album my favorite songs are Never Really Over and Cry About It Later. But all songs are amazing. I love Katy's songs and I think she is an amazing singer and most important, she is amazing woman. Love you Katy❤❣… Expand
  30. ialep
    Aug 30, 2020
    9
    Smile is a great album, i love all songs and rhythm. My fav songs are Cry about later, Teary Eyes and Champagne Problems. The best song in this album is Only Love cause the lyrics are amazing!
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. AllMusic
    Sep 8, 2020
    60
    Without fleeting moments of bad taste, Perry does indeed sound mature, but she's also not quite as fun. That's a conscious choice, though. Smile is intended to evoke memories of her frivolous younger days while pointing toward a sustainable pop future.
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  2. No Ripcord
    Sep 4, 2020
    50
    While Perry finds the occasional moment of quality here (Smile and Tucked both feel like the best possible music we could get from Katy Perry in 2020), Smile is an album searching for an identity—and when it fails, it falls back on lazy writing.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Aug 31, 2020
    60
    Like Joanne before Chromatica, Smile plays like a necessary centering exercise, indulging her insecurities and less surefire instincts. If Witness was overdetermined, Smile is an earnest exhale, for better or for worse. It delivers an image of her journey towards inner peace that is honest (if corny) and catchy (if not exactly inventive).
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