Spree's PRISM Review
Score: 8/10
The album is AMAZING!! I bought the Zinepak. Love the 64 page booklet, really makes the whole product an event. It was so special listening to the whole thing with virgin ears, stoned, and with the speakers blasting. It was worth waiting for the HQ vs. listening to the leaks and promo singles. I also didn't have the tracklisting memorized, so everytime a new song came on, I had to guess what it was, which made it even more exciting for me. I highly recommend doing this to your favs' albums. I'm soooo going to do that again.
Anyways, yes, very frontloaded, but OMG
there are so many potential singles. Basically this album has 9 potential Top 10's, and that's the first 9 tracks. After that, it gets kinda boring, but the bonus tracks are nice. The first 9 tracks SLAY tho, so it's all good to me.
I'm not ready to say this is better than Teenage Dream yet, cuz that's one of my all-time favorite records, but the best of PRISM is just as great as the best of Teenage Dream. Some are moreso. There is a little more filler on PRISM, but there are also 4 more songs than TD.
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ROAR 9/10 - It does seem out of place when put in context with the album. But a smash is a smash, and it definitely is one. Great hook and melody. Perfect lead single, and a perfect way to remind people of why you were famous in the first place. It also pops even more in CD quality.
LEGENDARY LOVERS 10/10 - Very mysterious, mystical, and tribal. Very much a relative of E.T., and that's a very good thing. Flawless track, but not convinced at this moment that it screams single #3. There are a couple of better ones.
BIRTHDAY 10/10 - LIKE THIS ONE!!!
AMAZING TRACK!!! Very fun, very upbeat, love the melody and hook. This has to be a single at some point. Pretty much a given, and I think it has a great shot at #1, too. I also think it's stronger than Legendary Lovers.
WALKING ON AIR 10/10 -
SLAAAAAAAYYY!!!! Best song on PRISM imo. I also think this is stronger than Legendary Lovers, but I wonder if this will be passed up as a single. I guess it depends on how deep they want to go. It very reminiscent of the mid-90's techno albums, like Starscream and early Frankie Bones records. I love it.
UNCONDITIONALLY 9/10 - This is a flop?
This is the best midtempo of the bunch, and by a considerable margin. I was afraid this one would have to grow on me based on comments, but it was instant. I think it's gonna do great during the holidays.
DARK HORSE 8/10 - Was not expecting this!!
I love the beat and the whole aura, but it bothers me when I think there's going to be a big climax, and then it cuts off and goes to the 2nd verse or whatever. Not really sold on Juicy J's rap either. But it's a different sound for her, so I like.
THIS IS HOW WE DO 10/10 - This screams "Song of the Summer 2014" and it will be the 4th single, no doubt. It's fantastic. Love the energy. The no big deal thing is kinda weird, but the chorus just slays. Probably my 2nd favorite after WOA, and has a great shot at #1.
INTERNATIONAL SMILE 10/10 - If anything is like Teenage Dream - the song, it's this one, and that's not a bad thing. It would make a great single, and it holds that perfect Katy magic that made the TD songs so special. I'm surprised there is not as much love for this one. It's basically Teenage Dream with a Daft Punk bridge. Doesn't get much better than that, imo.
GHOST 9/10 - This is the 2nd best midtempo of the bunch, and if anything midtempo or slower is released after Conditionally at some point, THIS is it. I can see them using it as their TOTGA. This has a great chorus with the 20/20 part. I love her tone during that.
LOVE ME 7/10 - Here is where the album goes south. This one is one of my least favorites, but not the worst. The verses are cute, but the chorus is kinda weak. Filler. If I could, I would swap this one out for one of the bonus tracks.
THIS MOMENT 7/10 - This one starts out great. It does sound like a well-polished American Idol coronation single. It definitely doesn't sound like sarcastic, funny Katy. This one is more serious, but in a cheesy way. Better than Love Me, but it won't be a single. She kinda sounds like Kelly, and/or it sounds like a Kelly song.
DOUBLE RAINBOW 8/10 - A bright spot in the later part of the album. Not as strong as Unconditionally or Ghost, but still good. Not sure it would make a good single, and I'm glad they switched it. Much better than the last two tho.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD 6/10 - My least favorite. I just don't like the chorus, but it's got a great message. Maybe it will grow on me. Love the lyric "I looked in the mirror, and decided to slay."
SPIRITUAL 8/10 - This should've been on the standard, replacing either Love Me, This Moment, or By the Grace of God. I love the beat, and that main chorus is great. Love her layered vocals.
IT TAKES TWO 7/10 - She kinda sounds like Katharine McPhee on her debut album, doesn't she? Clearly filler tho.
CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES 7/10 - I would also put this on the standard and replace it with one of those 3 from above. It's got great background music. A great ending for PRISM.
Overall, I think PRISM is 3 or 4 songs too long, and they could've scrapped the whole Deluxe version, and just made a 13 track set. Yes, there is a boring phase towards the end, and I might just end up switching things a little bit, so it's not so lop-sided, but the first 9 tracks are superb. As far as single choices that I think will be happening, I can see this:
1. Roar
2. Conditionally (Winter)
3. Birthday (Spring) This is better than Dark Horse, and there is no switching TIHWD for summer.
4. This Is How We Do (summer obviously)
5. Dark Horse (fall) I can imagine a great video for this.
6. Legendary Lovers (winter)
7. Ghost (spring)
8. International Smile (summer)
I think Walking on Air will be passed up, even tho it totally slays. If they don't re-release, they could go 8 singles deep with those.
Great album!
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It's gonna be a bloodbath when the predictions come out tomorrow. Hell, it'll be a bloodbath all week until we get the final numbers. I probably won't even venture out of this thread 
imagine if she added more songs like cyb for prism