“I want to see your peacock.”  Katy Perry shows no regard for subtlety or innuendo on her sophomore effort Teenage Dream.  Known for edgy and direct lyrics, Perry has amplified her style even more and created an album full of potential singles.  However, failed attempts at seriousness leave much to be desired.

The string of hits begins with the title track “Teenage Dream,” which is a refreshingly restrained mid-tempo that wins with emotion and not shock.  The same cannot be said for tracks like “Last Friday Night” and “The One That Got Away,” which detail ménage a trios, stealing parents’ alcohol and climbing on roofs.  The latter is good-hearted but attempts at shock value demean the track’s sentiment.  This conflict between maintaining her edgy persona without sounding immature is also evident in tracks like “Hummingbird Heartbeat.”  Its first verse about losing virginity grabs attention on purpose and soon develops into juvenile sentimentality, seeming unfocused.  While Ke$ha revels in her drunken glory, Perry seems torn.

Gripes about attention whoring lyrics aside, most of the songs are very good.  Impending third single “Firework” is epic and uplifting, and probably the greatest song of Perry’s career.  Starting off as a ballad, the track gains techno influences in its soaring chorus.  “Peacock,” despite being unapologetically direct, is extremely catchy and a guilty pleasure.  Perry’s attempt at Alanis Morissette in “Circle The Drain” is also convincing and entertaining, as she belittles a drug-addicted ex (not so secretly known as Travis McCoy).

As with her previous album, Perry’s ballads fail to capture the magic of her uptempo tracks.  “Not Like The Movies” is the quietest moment on the record, and although sweet, the flaws in Perry’s voice are apparent and the melody is nothing memorable.  “Pearl,” featuring surprisingly understated production from Tricky Stewart/The-Dream, hinges on a weak metaphor and feels like filler.

Teenage Dream will likely go down as the defining moment of Perry’s career despite its weaker moments. Perry has established herself as an electro-pop princess, shredding the pop-rock sensibility of her debut for the better. “California Gurls” may very well be unforgettable.