Something Beautiful Could be Miley Cyrus' Best Album to Date
Reviewing Miley Cyrus' ninth studio album, Something Beautiful
I didn’t know what to expect next for Miley Cyrus with Something Beautiful.
She has already experimented with a variety of genres, including hip-hop, country, and rock. But somehow, Miley packed a punch making the perfect semi-dance theme album.
Something Beautiful honestly fits its title because it's something that we can’t particularly define, but it turned into a beautifully concise piece for her.
Unlike Endless Summer Vacation, the record isn’t completely alternative, but it has its alternative pop moments. The sound is enhanced through the glam aesthetic. From the clueless bliss on “End of the World” to the confident euphoria of “Walk of Fame.”
There’s no doubt that this had to be a visual album due to the expansive production. There’s retro pop, vintage rock, and house all in one on this record.
Miley Cyrus is at her peak confidence on tracks that feel sensual, intense, and all-succumbing. The opening “Prelude” prepares us for the rock explosion of the titular track. The song is like a cathartic introduction pushing us deeper into her passions. The whole two segments are just small great parts that let us know Miley means business.
The first half is like the daytime awakening before the party. There is this Miley that is submerging and later the nighttime Miley who dances the night away.
“End of the World” is this disco-pop song that's quite ironically comforting. While it makes a good lead, it's funny how the song heads into an electro-dance session further along.
“More to Lose” is Miley at her most vulnerable. The single takes a page from her previous songs like “The Climb” where Miley seems a heartful ballad. From the production, it feels like “The Climb.” However, the record sounds more depressing in its message. Thematically the album is about relationships and self-esteem.
“Easy Lover” is a sassy number about not being to leave a tough relationship. It's a song that fits a young Stevie Nicks, fun for the raspy singing voice. Miley has fun singing the runs of this song and even writing it as well. I could hear this song climbing higher to the charts if it could.
By the title alone, “Golden Burning Sun” can sound like a song from Endless Summer Vacation but instead it's like the end of the more pop-oriented section of the first half. It’s also one of her best vocal performances off the record - sincere to the touch. Lyrically it continues what we had in “Easy Lover.” This time, Miley talks about keeping young love.
“Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved” has a feature from Naomi Campbell. There Miley shares her frustrations with her partner. Her energy soars with the song. Naomi Campbell puts a unique call and response to the song in itself. It’s basically a self-esteem anthem.
It’s admirable to see how far she's come to create any project that she wants. It seems like despite this not being a standard mainstream, it suits Miley’s personality. And she’s not greetings something solely for the charts.
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Making this a visual album is a fun creative pursuit that I could see her doing again. She tends to be at her best when the vocal production enhances the visuals.
“Reborn” is another club banger that uses the themes resurrection to talk of the ecstasies of love. “Give Me Love” is a surprisingly dreamy ending that purges all the past issues.
The lack of hype from this album is a disappointment though. It seems like Miley’s albums only get attention when there’s a top-ten single. I wish fans would appreciate her body of work more than just the singles riding off them. It’s not like the singles were bad, there was just a lack of advertisement that could’ve rode her success even better.
It sucks when artists do something different but aren’t getting enough praise. Eventually, Something Beautiful will become a sleeper hit. Fans will wish they paid this album more attention than it got before.
There are great progressive pop songs. Also, excellent club tracks in the second half. Certain, to get people on the dance floor this summer. It may not get the best promotion, but Something Beautiful seals the deal together as her most ambitious project to date. It’s worthy of its title alone.
What do you think of Something Beautiful?
Listen to Something Beautiful wherever you stream your music.
I completely agree. This is a better album than her previous one. So many interesting tracks. I hope people don’t view it as a failure because it lacks a Top 10 hit. What is wrong with radio/streaming anyway? Why are they missing this one??