Album of the Week
KATY PERRY
“Prism”
★★★
“Roar” was a safe radio hit, but Katy Perry knows her sugary formula has gotten old and makes strides toward new directions on her fourth album, “Prism.” The house beats and keyboard stabs of “Walking on Air” are an obvious throwback to early-’90s Euro-dance, and the sleek funk of “Birthday” recalls early Prince. The bass-heavy “Dark Horse” features a guest spot from Juicy J, who at one point references serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. You probably won’t hear that on the radio. The lingering sadness of her breakup with Russell Brand is addressed in “Ghost,” which opens with the pointed line “You sent a text/It’s like the wind changed your mind,” while the closing piano ballad “By the Grace of God” touches on Perry’s suicidal thoughts, before rebounding with a defiant chorus. “Prism” is not without its fillers, but Perry’s roar is getting louder and more convincing all the time.
Downloads of the Week
TAYLOR SWIFT
“Sweeter Than Fiction”
★½
Her new album is a long way off, but Taylor Swift has used some of her spare time to contribute this lightweight song to the soundtrack of the upcoming movie “One Chance.” Co-written by Jack Antonoff of fun., its new-wave buzz makes it sound like something you would hear in the background of a knockoff John Hughes film, while Swift sings as though she’s thinking about her next vacation.
LADY GAGA feat. R. Kelly
“Do What U Want”
★★½
We all knew this collaboration would be raunchy, but to their credit, both Gaga and R. Kelly have united to make a robotic R&B jam that works both on the dance floor and between the sheets. It doesn’t quite fizz like first single “Applause,” but as a teaser to the forthcoming “ARTPOP” album (due Nov. 11), “Do What U Want” does enough to keep us all excited.
EMINEM
“Rap God”
★★★
We all know Eminem can speed-rhyme with the best of them, but at the age of 41, he seems to have found another gear. The latest trailer track for his comeback album “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” (out Nov. 5) features several astonishingly fast verses that show Em still has fire in his belly, although a pop at Monica Lewinsky feels out of place. He does know what year it is, right?
AFI
“A Slow Deep Panic”
★★½
AFI tends to lay it on thick with their Goth-rock theatrics on new album “Burials,” but there are moments when their melodies shine through the gloom. On this single in particular, the Cure-adoring LA outfit takes their angst and communicates it via a huge, almost celebratory chorus. AFI is at its best when they strike that balance.
DJ KHALED feat. Diddy, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, T.I., Swizz Beats
“I Feel Like Pac/I Feel Like Biggie”
★★
The Louisiana DJ has once again made good use of his contacts list on new album “Suffering From Success,” and many of his most famous friends appear here. But despite a few impressive turns on the mic (Ross especially realizes the track’s lyrical paranoia best), the production is disappointingly straitjacketed, overall.
POLIÇA
“Very Cruel”
★★★
As Portishead is not due to make a comeback anytime soon, this Minnesota group is a fine way to keep you occupied in the meantime. Their second album, “Shulamith,” comes with trip-hop tropes aplenty, and this superb album track is where the chilly vocals of singer Channy Leaneagh are most arresting.
AVRIL LAVIGNE feat. Chad Kroeger
“Let Me Go”
Zero stars
It’s such a cliché to hate on these two, but they really don’t help themselves. Lifted from Lavigne’s forthcoming self-titled album (due Nov. 5), this piano-led power balled is the kind of melodramatic slop that deserves to be ceremonially launched into the fiery face of the sun. I’ll pay for the damn rocket fuel myself.