Torn between party anthems and emotional ballads, Bangerz is an uneven record.
Miley Cyrus has certainly changed since her departure from her Hannah Montana alter ego. The starlet has been catching criticism after a radical image change and her infamous performance on MTV’s Video Music Awards. Cyrus has been branching out in recent years just like many teen idols before her, such as Britney Spears.
Her music career, however, has made improvements since her previous album, Can’t Be Tamed, in 2010. Cyrus’s new album Bangerz offers an intriguing combination of passionate ballads and some good — and some not so good — party songs. The singer has developed her vocal skills and deserves some praise.
Her single “Wrecking Ball” is currently third on the iTunes charts and many of the album’s other ballads may well join it. The soulful opener, “Adore You,” features a nice, steady beat and Cyrus demonstrates good control over her voice throughout. Other passionate tracks such as “My Darlin’” and “Maybe You’re Right” are hardly terrific, but there is a degree of originality that holds the listener’s interest. Behind “Wrecking Ball,” the beat-driven ballad “Drive” is Cyrus’ best showcase as a singer on Bangerz.
Closing track “Someone Else” falls flat. The song’s lyrics address the new relationship between Cyrus and her fans, expressing her insecurity about the criticism she has faced. Still, it does very little to give the album a sense of closure — by the end, you’re very ready for it to be over, and not in a good way.
Some of the dance-music tracks rise above the hype and provocation surrounding them, but just as many are tough to make it through in one sitting. “We Can’t Stop,” despite its popularity as a summer jam, is a mess of shifting beats wed to a half-baked melody. Similarly, on bluegrass-tinged “4×4” and “SMS (Bangerz),” featuring Britney Spears, Cyrus simply seems to be trying too hard.
“Love Money Party” and “Do My Thang” have the kind of party-ready beats that should ensure their popularity, but they also have Cyrus attempting to rap — an unnatural fit for her talents that spoils the tracks. One of the album’s few feel-good tracks, “#GetItRight” is fun, positive, earnest and nicely leads to the album’s true climax, “FU.” The burlesque-style song exhibits true vocal talent and the chorus will be stuck in your head long after you’ve set the album aside. Despite French Montana’s unnecessary presence, “FU” is a testament to Cyrus’s deserved place at the top of the charts.
While there are some below-average performances on Bangerz, Cyrus’ abilities are generally impressive. The album won’t do anything to change her lightning-rod image, but it’s hard to deny the guts and passion of her newest album. She has definitely come in like a wrecking ball during the last few months and Bangerz will crash her right into the Top 20.
