From Christian rock beginnings to mainstream pop success, it took nine years, a mention from Madonna, and a titillating song about bi-curious leanings to rocket Katy Perry into the charts. She's maintained her presence at the top with her brazen finger in the air attitude and keen ear for a hook. Her second album, Teenage Dream finds her building on the Max Martin/Dr Luke pop-rock sound of her first, putting forth a slew of potential radio-ready hits that speak to the summer loving, romance obsessed teenager in all of us. First single California Gurls, Perry's answer to Jay-Z's Empire State Of Mind, has an insanely catchy chorus, a cameo from Snoop Dogg and a video featuring the most bizarre piece of lingerie you'll see all year. If that alone wasn't enough to all but guarantee the album's success, the follow-up single and title track do the trick, perfectly capturing the hedonism of teen romance. This feeling is echoed later, albeit in a more melancholic fashion by The One That Got Away. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F) and Firework more than prove that Perry is at her best when she's having fun.Things do deteriorate a little with the waily angst of tracks such as Who Am I Living For and Circle The Drain however there are enough big choruses and fun moments throughout the album to secure its place as a firm favourite for the upcoming summer. Andrew Grear - 3rd September 2010