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

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  1. MarkF
    Jan 1, 2009
    8
    As with most albums I like, there are some songs I think are utterly awful on this album. On the other hand, Katy's voice grows on you. The first time I heard Hot N Cold, I hated it because her voice sounded creepy. I grew to like her voice and songs because, unlike most people in the industry (looking at you Brit, as much as I like you), she can write and has a unique voice.
  2. PauloC
    Jan 23, 2009
    10
    Nice songs and beats! There's a lot of potential hits.
  3. ColeT
    Jan 5, 2009
    0
    Terrible, media-based album. Crap.
  4. JamesH.
    Jun 15, 2009
    2
    The primary problem with Katy Perry is that her voice is very thin and lacks anything vaguely called "range". Beyond that, the songs are calculated pop-trash pieces that come off as derivative and boring, leading to a truly awful experience from the first song onwards.
  5. FraserM
    Nov 29, 2008
    9
    katy has produced a awesome album which exudes creativity and freshness. Her vocals are so amazing and enticing possessing an ecelectic range and new sound. This is a great debut album and she is already reaping the awards for it. Looks like she'll be arfound for a while...look out for her, BIG i tell ya!
  6. WesM.
    Jun 21, 2008
    1
    Pedestrian effort; even the three tracks actually possessing tunes and lyrics distinguishable from the 13 tracks offered are indistinguishable from the wealth of LCD pop currently out. Don't get drawn in by the promise of her LGBT-themed hit and titular track; this is a concerted, transparent effort to bait and switch unsuspecting consumers.
  7. Devin
    Sep 15, 2008
    0
    Brainless and talentless. Homogenized, cloying tunes set to some of the most obnoxious lyrics ever committed to record. People giving this album a ten "can't understand the negative reviews?" What I can't understand is how anyone, even a preteen, could possibly consider candy-coated trash like this art.
  8. RichardH
    Feb 22, 2009
    10
    Very catchy album, I don't understand the negative reviews. I love it!
  9. StephaneC
    May 23, 2009
    10
    Excellent album... from a talented young lady. The first time I buy something for ages. It goes from rock to pop to ballads with her raw and strong voice, which is full of energy. Don't miss this fun and entertaining album and artist.
  10. 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.
  11. 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".
  12. 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.
  13. 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    … Expand
  14. 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.
  15. GagaForGhibli
    May 28, 2012
    8
    A Great Debut Album!
    I Think Katy's Real Self Didnt Seem To Shine In This Album Sadly Though... Still A Breathtaking Album..
    I Dont Like That Some Song's Were Seen As "Rock"
    Still Amazing!
    Giving This Album Above A 8 Would Be Too Nice!
  16. 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
  17. mmirliani16
    Aug 26, 2013
    8
    An unfortunately underrated pop album, Perry's One of the Boys features some of the freshest, best-written pop/rock songs of the late 2000s. Borrowing from P!nk, Avril Lavigne, and even The Beach Boys, Katy's mainstream debut is a All-American, All-Californian, even at times retro-sounding record that features powerful vocals from Perry and appealing, suburban high-school, girl-next-door,An unfortunately underrated pop album, Perry's One of the Boys features some of the freshest, best-written pop/rock songs of the late 2000s. Borrowing from P!nk, Avril Lavigne, and even The Beach Boys, Katy's mainstream debut is a All-American, All-Californian, even at times retro-sounding record that features powerful vocals from Perry and appealing, suburban high-school, girl-next-door, tom-boy anthems that are both catchy and exceptionally written. Highlights include "One of the Boys," "Waking Up in Vegas," "Thinking of You," "Mannequin," "If You Can Afford Me," and "Fingerprints."… Expand
  18. halcyon7
    Aug 26, 2014
    8
    Great pop-rock debut album. Favorite songs: Lost, Im Still Breathing, If You Can Afford Me
  19. Eddann123
    Sep 3, 2021
    0
    Buen debut pero le falta originalidad y personalidad propia, despues de esto katy fue en picada en cuanto a calidad....
  20. BrazilianCritic
    Oct 17, 2013
    8
    This is the worst album of Katy, but does not make it bad, not nearly. We have songs really tiring, but I Kissed A Girl, Hot N Cold, Thinking Of You and Waking Up In Vegas are classic and even in his first album, the best pop hitmaker managed to stick her name in the history of music.
  21. 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".
  22. Teodoro
    Jun 20, 2014
    8
    Um ótimo album,pop o suficiente,criativo e divertido e sarcástico.
    Ainda é e pelo jeito sempre será o melhor trabalho da Katy "nada princesa ou rainha" Perry.
  23. 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.
  24. BabyJane
    Mar 18, 2015
    7
    Track by track review:
    1. One of the Boys 10/10
    2. I Kissed a Girl 10/10 3. Waking Up in Vegas 9.5/10 4. Thinking of You 2/10 5. Mannequin 9/10 6. Ur So Gay 2/10 7. Hot n Cold 10/10 8. If You Can Afford Me 10/10 9. Lost 5.5/10 10. Self Inflicted 8/10 11. I'm Still Breathing 5/10 12. Fingerprints 10/10 Highlights: If You Can Afford Me, Fingerprints, One of the Boys, Hot n    Track by track review:
    1. One of the Boys 10/10
    2. I Kissed a Girl 10/10
    3. Waking Up in Vegas 9.5/10
    4. Thinking of You 2/10
    5. Mannequin 9/10
    6. Ur So Gay 2/10
    7. Hot n Cold 10/10
    8. If You Can Afford Me 10/10
    9. Lost 5.5/10
    10. Self Inflicted 8/10
    11. I'm Still Breathing 5/10
    12. Fingerprints 10/10

    Highlights: If You Can Afford Me, Fingerprints, One of the Boys, Hot n Cold, I Kissed a Girl.
    Potential singles: One of the Boys, I Kissed a Girl, If You Can Afford Me, Hot n Cold    … Expand
  25. BrunoSouzino
    Mar 21, 2015
    9
    Ótimo álbum, que nos anima de uma forma sensacional e nos deixa relaxados e calmos logo em seguida. Exemplos são Hot n Cold e Black and Gold, respectivamente.
  26. thecriticboy
    Jul 25, 2015
    9
    Their debut album is quite good and even better than his other works. At this stage, the singer was not focused on Charts or in the success, I just wanted to present to the public as good as it can become. With singles which came to be hits of the decade of the 2000 as "Hot N' Cold" and others are not so many as "Thinking of You," Perry presents us with a good range of rock music pop withTheir debut album is quite good and even better than his other works. At this stage, the singer was not focused on Charts or in the success, I just wanted to present to the public as good as it can become. With singles which came to be hits of the decade of the 2000 as "Hot N' Cold" and others are not so many as "Thinking of You," Perry presents us with a good range of rock music pop with a brushstroke of commercial music and repetitive.… Expand
  27. 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
  28. GustavoRibeiro
    Oct 16, 2015
    7
    Melhores músicas: One Of The Boys, I Kissed a Girl, Hot N Cold, If You Can Afford Me
    ..........................................................................................................................
  29. 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.
  30. wallacejdiniz
    Nov 24, 2021
    0
    Terrible. No passion, no soul. Worst album of the year. I need something really good to clean up my ears right now.
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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.
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  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
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