Just out off an on-off relationship ending with a nasty divorse with actor Liam Hemsworth, new relationships, and a burnt-down house in Malibu, Miley Cyrus has been through quite a bit in recent years. She uses her new album, Plastic Hearts, as a platform to write and sing away all her anger and frustrations. And it’s a success! Her low, hoarse voice provides the perfect foundation for this modern pop-rock album.
Former Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus has now completely shed her Hannah Montana alter ego. As far as her Wrecking Ball period did not yet do that. The difference between that period and now is that it seems Miley has found the sound where she feels completely at home. After her previous country-pop album, Younger Now (2017), which followed the highly commercial pop album Bangerz (2013), Miley is now going in a new musical direction. Although Younger Now was seen as a turning point from Miley’s Bangerz era, and she had a massive hit with Malibu, this album was still perceived as too polished. The sincere lyrics that fans had come to expect from Miley were absent. It seemed like she was writing and singing the way she thought she wanted to be seen. Miley took the feedback and created an exceptionally good album with Plastic Hearts.
Radio hits amongst rock hits
Due to the radio hit Midnight Sky and the many covers Miley has recently shared on social media, the tone of the album has already shifted away from her previous country album. Coming in with WTF Do I Know, you immediately know what you’re in for. This opening track even leans towards punk. Plastic Hearts is out!
With Midnight Sky, this album has been well-represented on the radio and in the charts for quite some time. The collaboration with recently crowned pop queen Dua Lipa, Prisoner, is also a great way to promote the album. However, it must be said that these two singles, especially Prisoner, is not a great fit on this album. Sandwiched between two rock tracks, it is evident that Lipa’s 80s influence has shaped the collaboration the most. Although Miley also holds her own in this genre and provides a nice counterpoint, this single is more in Dua Lipa’s style. There’s a noticeable resemblance to Olivia Newton-John’s hit Physical, from which Dua Lipa drew inspiration for her own hit, not entirely coincidentally also titled Physical.
With a bit of help from Idol and Jett
Highlights of the album are the collaborations with Billy Idol and Joan Jett on Night Crawling and Bad Karma, respectively. With a synthesizer in the background, Idol has stamped his own sound on the track. It fits perfectly on Plastic Hearts. In fact, this is the track that best represents this album.
Joan Jett’s collaboration is also a perfect mix of Miley’s vision for this album and the typical Joan Jett sound. The “uh-uh” sung almost throughout the entire song over the guitars is almost as singable as Jett’s hit I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Is the album only rock and guitars then? No. There are a few power ballads where Miley’s country roots still come to the surface. High and Never Be Me provide a nice change to somewhat unwind amidst all the rock fury. Despite some quieter tracks, it’s the rock songs with guitar solos and honest lyrics that make this album what it is: Miley Cyrus’s best album to date.
Cherries on top
As a dessert, the deluxe version (also available on streaming services) ends with a mash-up and two covers. Together with Stevie Nicks (of Fleetwood Mac), a remix/mash-up between Miley’s Midnight Sky and Nicks’ Edge of Seventeen is released: Edge of Midnight. It’s evident that Nicks’ song was the inspiration for the radio hit Midnight Sky. Stevie Nicks’s lovely voice also fits perfectly with the vibe Miley has been conveying throughout the entire album. The covers that follow, Heart of Glass (original by Blondie) and Zombie (original by The Cranberries), once again showcase Miley’s vocal range. Both songs sound have clearly been inspirations for Plastic Hearts. Therefore, they provide the perfect finishing touch.
All that remains is to put this album on repeat. Not only does Miley have a lot to sing (or shout) about, but Plastic Hearts couldn’t have been better timed in the midst of the second wave of the pandemic. Labeling the entire album as rock, I won’t do. With a few good pop hits in between and power ballads leaning towards country, Miley has managed to create a sincere and personal album that draws inspiration from multiple genres whilst also being entirely Miley Cyrus.
