albums and tracks

You know when you go to a club, make eyes at a fella... and then he gets distracted by some hussy who's snogging other girls just to get the boys? That's Katy Perry all over. With her retro pin-up looks and in-your-face attitude, she's captured the attention of a massive audience, reaching No.1 in 20 countries with 'I Kissed A Girl'.

Although initially compared to Lily Allen, there's none of the Londoner's cheekiness and wit here. Instead One Of The Boys falls neatly into your CD collection somewhere near Avril Lavigne and Pink. Expect a straight mixture of all-out rockers and 'woe is me' angsty ballads that will warm the heart of any teenage door-slammer.

'Hot N Cold' is the best of the hard hitters: with pop anthem producer Dr Luke behind it, the result is a shout-along romp that's far superior to the all-conquering 'I Kissed A Girl'. The lyrically stupid 'Ur So Gay' might be irresistibly catchy but is full of face-scrunching gay stereotypes, and while the likes of eyeliner anthem 'Self Inflicted' and 'If You Can Afford Me' are musically dull, her young audience will no doubt be able to empathise with Katy's boy problems.

Mostly at fault here is the sense of Katy's insincerity. She may portray herself as "like, oh my gosh, soooo alternative", promising that she can "belch her way through the alphabet", but ultimately, though the ideas might be there, One Of The Boys just feels like a very cleverly thought out conceit. Calculating, corporate pop at its most effective.

Talia Kraines