Katy Perry has released many chart-topping hits and iconic pop anthems, and she even once dominated the pop landscape with albums like Teenage Dream and Prism. However, all of that now feels like a distant memory, as her glory days seem truly behind her. With her latest album, 143, she has hit the lowest point in a career spanning over two decades.
143, now available to stream and purchase globally, has garnered a dismal score of 35 on Metacritic, making it the worst-reviewed album on the platform since 2011.
The harsh reception marks a dramatic turn for Perry’s legacy as one of pop’s biggest stars, with critics scrutinizing 143 across the board.
Clash Music gave the album a middling score of 50, noting that while Perry’s colorful persona once bulldozed through the pop scene, the album feels out of place in a world now dominated by artists like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. The review suggests that 143 struggles to find its footing in today’s evolving musical climate, where Perry’s playful yet uninspired approach no longer resonates.
Variety was even less forgiving, scoring the album 40 and describing it as “flat,” weighed down by lyrical clichés and uninspired musical ideas. According to Variety, the album feels like it’s coasting, with only a few moments that rise to Perry’s previous heights.
Other outlets, including Slant Magazine, NME, and The Independent, echoed similar sentiments, with all three also awarding the album a 40. Slant pointed out that while there are a few bright spots on 143, they fail to match Perry’s earlier, more dynamic work. The review also commented on the album’s surprising lack of joy, a harsh contrast to the upbeat persona Perry has projected throughout her career.
In perhaps the most vicious review, The Line of Best Fit handed 143 an abysmal score of 20, calling the album a career nosedive from which Perry may not recover. The review highlighted the album’s lack of spark and depth, noting that “Wonder,” the only track with replay value, features her daughter’s voice, offering a brief moment of sincerity in an otherwise soulless album. The review concludes that the rest of 143 feels like a hollow attempt to regain relevance in a pop world that has moved on.
Rolling Stone also did not hold back, scoring the album 30 and questioning Perry’s effort to reclaim her place in the pop zeitgeist. They described the album as “oddly cold,” with tracks that feel more like algorithmically-generated hits than the heartfelt, infectious anthems she was once known for.
With chart-topping releases from artists like Eminem, Lady Gaga, and Linkin Park making 2024 a standout year for fans who grew up with 2000s music, 143 stands out for all the wrong reasons, leaving both critics and fans questioning where, or if, Katy Perry still fits into the current pop landscape.