One Of The Boys
by Katy Perry
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Jun 17, 2008
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1099 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 803 out of 1099
  2. Mixed: 115 out of 1099
  3. Negative: 181 out of 1099

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. AloudSound
    Jun 15, 2012
    6
    Not as so powerful as 'Teenage Dream', the album still manages to have its pack punches with hits including 'I Kissed a Girl', 'Hot n Cold' and 'Waking Up in Vegas'. And the whole atmosphere of fashion and style in this album is fine, its just the lyrics and vocal style in some songs (for example 'Fingerprints') manage to be abit off. Overall, 'One Of the Boys' is a good teen record to have.
  2. owenrw89
    Dec 18, 2016
    5
    A very basic pop album. The singles are all good, yes, but the rest are so simple that you may mistake them for demo's, B-Sides and bonus tracks. The album did show potential though. Katy Perry was always going to be more than just rock-pop artist.
  3. iamanicon
    May 24, 2011
    5
    The songs are decent enough - Though there all a bit samey with only a few standing out. Katy Perry has the attitude, looks and charisma to pull it off - She just needs to music now.
  4. vitucin
    Dec 1, 2010
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This first album of Katy Perry has everything that a reader of Billboard Magazine wanted and hoped. But it stops here. The huge and classical hits "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot N' Cold" are there to make you think a lot when you wish to throw out this CD, besides "Waking Up In Vegas" that can be considered the best produced song here. You will enjoy yourself with "U R So Gay" another song that can save this album and get involved with the sweet "Lost" that might deceive you with Perry's screams that surely is the climax of the song. But the reasons to buy it finish here. "One of The Boys", "Mannequin" and "If You Can Afford Me" are hearable music and it is the maximum adjective that I can give to them. You won't need to listen to the last three songs because you will think you wasted your money.… Expand
  5. Mad-Hatter
    Aug 28, 2015
    5
    "Ur So ***", "Hot N Cold", "If You Can Afford Me", "I'm Still Breathing" are good songs, but the rest aren't really enough. I hear nothing of talent on these records, but I can highlight the variety of the album.
  6. Panchogul
    Aug 25, 2020
    6
    Un debut un tanto cuestionable para mi, si bien marcó el inicio de la carrera de Perry, es su trabajo mas flojo hasta la fecha, solo 2 canciones son buenas (I Kissed a Girl, Hot n' Cold), el resto, puro relleno.
  7. samwich21
    Jun 9, 2017
    5
    This album had so much potential. KP's vocals are just plain disappointing. "Waking Up In Vegas" and "Hot N Cold" are pop-rock gold, but this album doesn't offer much more than that.
  8. Victor237
    Aug 28, 2020
    6
    One of the Boys (2008): O album tem alguns singles bons, mas é muito sem personalidade. Nota: 7.2
  9. I_Am_F
    May 26, 2011
    6
    While "Hot & Cold" and "I Kissed a Girl" are excellent tracks, most of the other songs are average. Her second LP, Teenage Dream, is much more enjoyable.
  10. Spielberg00
    Aug 12, 2011
    6
    I'd recommend it, but it's your choice. Katy Perry, with this album, creates a solid start to the beginning of her career--at least breaking away from Christian rock music. There are only a few songs, on the other hand, that you actually need on ONE OF THE BOYS, which are "I Kissed a Girl", "Waking Up in Vegas", and "Hot N Cold".
  11. LetzTalkMoveez
    Nov 21, 2012
    6
    The only thing anyone should listen to an album like this for is escape, which the music of Katy Perry's debut provides with some catchy pop bass lines and a contagious enthusiastic spirit, but the lyrics are so rooted in frustration that it's hard to grab on. But as individual songs, guess what? Not bad. Not bad at all, Miss Perry.
  12. JoelSN
    Mar 25, 2012
    6
    "One of the Boys" is Perry's sophomore effort after her horrendous christian debut album "Katy Hudson". This one is clearly her attempt (and success) into making her a place in the mainstream pop world. "One of the Boys" is an album with character, displaying Perry as a pin-up pop-rock-ish girl that writes her own songs. Back in 2008 she was quite fresh for the pop scene, even if the album"One of the Boys" is Perry's sophomore effort after her horrendous christian debut album "Katy Hudson". This one is clearly her attempt (and success) into making her a place in the mainstream pop world. "One of the Boys" is an album with character, displaying Perry as a pin-up pop-rock-ish girl that writes her own songs. Back in 2008 she was quite fresh for the pop scene, even if the album was not that good. "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot 'n' Cold" were the obvious hits she needed to achieve success but, even if the album has some other great songs in it, it is quite irregular and unfortunately doesn't maintain it's good level all through. Nonetheless I feel she could've been a great pop-rock artist, if she didn't transform her sound into the extreme bubblegum pop that her next effort ("Teenage Dream") is.

    Highlights: Thinking of You, Waking Up in Vegas, Lost, Fingerprints    … Collapse
  13. vscoott345
    Apr 26, 2012
    5
    Not a huge Katy Perry fan. Her singing isn't anything spectacular, her songs are monotonous, but it's a nice attempt. Not sure why she is so famous, or what the hype about her is all about. Pass.
  14. axelkoch
    Oct 22, 2012
    5
    A good exception to all the other stupid pop stuff on the radio! Katy Perry has got a really nice voice and the sound is much more rocking than the usual (also you probably won't expect when you only heard the songs that got airplay). But there are many mistakes: She really overdoes the high- and low-singing and some songs aren't even catchy after hearing them three times. But still theA good exception to all the other stupid pop stuff on the radio! Katy Perry has got a really nice voice and the sound is much more rocking than the usual (also you probably won't expect when you only heard the songs that got airplay). But there are many mistakes: She really overdoes the high- and low-singing and some songs aren't even catchy after hearing them three times. But still the album is a well-made and diversified Pop CD.… Expand
  15. Diamandis
    Jan 3, 2014
    6
    It's a very cheerful album, most of her songs are fresh and well-developed lyric. Surely her voice is not a strong point but she tried to supplement it with the harmony of rhythm and lyrics. Most recommended songs are "I Kissed A Girl", "Waking Up In Vegas", "Thinking Of You" and "Hot N Cold".
  16. roof
    Sep 23, 2014
    6
    This is my favourite album by Katy, but I think she can do way better than this. My favourite songs by her are unreleased gems like Wish You The Worst, Simple, Diamond. It's such a shame that she had to repress her artistry to pursue commercial success.
  17. littlefenty666
    Oct 5, 2015
    6
    Um álbum com algumas músicas boas (os singles) porém os que não foram singles, são ruins,porém podemos ver claramente uma evolução para seu segundo álbum de estudio, porém nesse álbum Katy não mostrou nem um diferencial, nada novo, só algo que já existia reciclado, não é ruim, mas não é ótimo, além disso nessa época a voz da Katy não estava evoluida, não tinha uma boa respiração, porém oUm álbum com algumas músicas boas (os singles) porém os que não foram singles, são ruins,porém podemos ver claramente uma evolução para seu segundo álbum de estudio, porém nesse álbum Katy não mostrou nem um diferencial, nada novo, só algo que já existia reciclado, não é ruim, mas não é ótimo, além disso nessa época a voz da Katy não estava evoluida, não tinha uma boa respiração, porém o álbum é bom para ouvir de vez em quando, para não enjoar.… Expand
  18. arcanjo
    Jun 15, 2017
    6
    Its not a cohesive album, bit the dispretentious atmosphere that involves it is memorable, beisdes it has some treasures hidden, like Self Inflicted and Fingerprints, Lost and A Cup of Coffee. If you want to hear a teen and crazy girlish Katy Perry, go listen One of the Boys album.
  19. RK13
    Jul 27, 2017
    6
    Out of all of Perry's discography, One of The Boys is probably at the stronger end of the spectrum with Teenage Dream. The songs have a bad girl attitude with a bit of sass which can make the listen slightly less torturous. However like all Katy Perry albums, the singles are pop perfection, the album singles are awful. I Kissed a Girl is a timeless song however Mannequin we hear PerryOut of all of Perry's discography, One of The Boys is probably at the stronger end of the spectrum with Teenage Dream. The songs have a bad girl attitude with a bit of sass which can make the listen slightly less torturous. However like all Katy Perry albums, the singles are pop perfection, the album singles are awful. I Kissed a Girl is a timeless song however Mannequin we hear Perry screech over something.… Expand
  20. JhosepKingsley
    Jul 21, 2018
    5
    A good job of presentation for this promise of music. It represents very well the essence of this pop diva. A great decision choosing the singles that are the strength of this album.
  21. leostarboy
    Sep 8, 2020
    6
    She begins her journey through the pop world, with a fun but a bit immature album for her age. Despite everything, the pop / rock sounds of their songs make us vibrate. The best songs are: "If You Can't Afford Me", "Hot & Cold" and "I Kiss a Girl".
  22. All_ButTrU4
    Nov 14, 2021
    5
    An eventful emergence that despite it's aged additions ("you're so gay") placed Katy Perry in the forefront of the bubbling 00's pop stratosphere. Gone are the Christian pop foundations of her beginnings and here are the more pleasing hits. Her best moment's are when she leans to sincerity or adopts a playful seductive persona. The opening three song's are an impressive highlights real ofAn eventful emergence that despite it's aged additions ("you're so gay") placed Katy Perry in the forefront of the bubbling 00's pop stratosphere. Gone are the Christian pop foundations of her beginnings and here are the more pleasing hits. Her best moment's are when she leans to sincerity or adopts a playful seductive persona. The opening three song's are an impressive highlights real of what Katy can do at her most focused. Unfortunately this isn't carried through the whole record but it's there enough for it to remain a genuinely enjoyable sophomore album.

    "Hot N Cold" dances to indecision whilst the cautionary "waking up in Vegas " takes gambling as a metaphor for impulsivity. It's undeniably pop moments like these that stick with you even in the queerbait anthem "i kissed a girl"(a far cry from her Christian upbringings due to how provocative it is) but the ballads(aka her secret weapon) can devastate and move in equal measure such as the heartbreaking longing of "thinking of you " that feels like a precursor to the sincerity of upcoming Teenage Dream's "one that got away ". A very solid start to an nondescript icon    … Expand
  23. futuremystery
    Aug 28, 2020
    6
    Two timeless hits cannot help this album hold it's own. Most of the songs here aged terribly and will continue to do so as time goes on. But oh well, we will always have those two songs.
  24. LoBal
    Aug 27, 2020
    6
    An album that has good beats and catchy lyrics, even though the lyrics are a bit loose, this album is the typical one that teenagers like to listen to on a Friday night to pass the timeIt, could definitely have been much better, an album to listen casually without paying much attention to the lyrics is good from time to time
  25. Coolguymike
    Aug 29, 2020
    6
    One of the Boys isn't bad, but it's one of those albums that's just not great compared to Perry's next two albums. It's tracks are dated and the somewhat controversial track "Ur So Gay" doesn't help it either. Regardless, this album launched her successful career so who cares what I think.
  26. vicvicvicv
    Jan 28, 2023
    4
    one of the boys gives me a lot of confusion, this album has a lot of surprises both good and bad. some songs are ear blasting, but some like i kissed a girl are perfection.
    the only ones i liked were: i kissed a girl, hot n cold, if you can afford me, self inflicted.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2008
9
#9 Most Shared Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
47

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
  1. AllMusic
    40
    The problem is not with Katy's gender-bending, it's that her heart isn't in it; she's just using it to get her places, so she sinks to crass, craven depths that turn One of the Boys into a grotesque emblem of all the wretched excesses of this decade.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    40
    Yes, Perry has a heart, but it sounds like her bustier's too tight for her to use it.
    Read full review
  3. Slant Magazine
    40
    'Mannequin' features some cleverly written lyrics, but Perry doesn't possess the grit or vocal prowess to follow through, and the title track is like No Doubt's 'Just a Girl' sans personality and conviction.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »