Smile＜Red Vinyl/限定盤＞

As an album title, Smile carries an air of determined pleasantry, and Katy Perry could use her share of good spirits in 2020. Witness, Smiles predecessor, found Perry pushing her artistic limits, an exercise that didnt find an audience, so shes chosen to retreat to safe territory for Smile. Mostly, this results in Perry devoting herself to dance-pop thats coolly glassy on the surface and vaguely positive underneath. Its dance music thats not intended for the club; rather, its a soundtrack for everyday events, from work to exercise to relaxation. Its also music that tacitly acknowledges that Katy Perry is beginning her slow transition away from pop cultures center stage. Shes not ready to yield the spotlight, yet theres a distinct sensation that shes following fashions on Smile, not setting them. Perhaps its how the albums overall vibe is sunny and melodic, focused on songs, not beats. Its an aesthetic thats completely in line with Teenage Dream, an album that celebrated its tenth anniversary the week of Smiles release, yet everything on this 2020 record is a bit streamlined and mellow; there are no moments of exuberance, no dirty jokes, no hip-hop, no bubblegum, only affirmations, love songs, breezy trifles, and paeans to resilience. Without fleeting moments of bad taste, Perry does indeed sound mature, but shes also not quite as fun. Thats a conscious choice, though. Smile is intended to evoke memories of her frivolous younger days while pointing toward a sustainable pop future. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine