143 – Katy Perry
Overall:
2.1/5
Production:
2.1/5
Lyrics:
1.9/5
Musicality:
2.3/5
Vocals:
2.1/5
Katy Perry’s seventh studio album, 143, dropped on September 20, 2024, and while it attempts to reclaim her dance-pop throne, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. At just over 33 minutes, it offers a few solid moments, but overall, it feels a bit scattered.
Let’s start with the good. 143 is named after Katy’s angel number, which means “I love you. We got you. We’re going to protect you. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be. You’re on the path.” It’s a sweet, meaningful touch, and there are flashes where that energy really shines through. I’m His, He’s Mine featuring Doechii is fun and dynamic, and Artificial with JID brings some much-needed edge to the project. The closing track Wonder, featuring her daughter Daisy, is the album’s standout moment—it’s emotional, raw, and almost had me in tears.
But here’s where the album falters. Katy promoted this as a hyper-feminine, empowering project, yet Dr. Luke produced 10 of the 11 tracks, which is a huge contradiction to that message. Vocally, she doesn’t sound her best, and some songs like All The Love and Nirvana feel like they don’t belong on the album at all. They’re forgettable, and at times, her performance comes off as lazy.
All in all, 143 feels like an album no one really asked for. There are some bright spots, but the lack of cohesion and the production choices leave a lot to be desired. Critics haven’t been kind either—Rolling Stone called it “A Failed Attempt to Rekindle Her Glory Years,” Slate said it was “a disaster,” and the LA Times didn’t hold back, calling it “pop trash.” I’m honestly a little worried about what the tour might look like because this feels like it could go the way of J. Lo’s This Is Me… Now tour, and that’s not a good thing.
In the end, while the meaning behind 143 is beautiful—symbolizing love, protection, and being on the right path—the album itself struggles to find its own. It’s saved by a few key collaborations and some emotional depth, but it’s not enough to make it a must-listen.
Alex’s Top 5 Songs (In no particular order):
I'm His, He's Mine (feat. Doechii)
Wonder
Artificial (feat. JID)
Lifetimes
Woman's World
Check out the album now on Apple Music or Spotify and let me know what your top songs are!