Monday, 25 November 2013

Miley Cyrus- Bangerz Album Review



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Album- Bangerz
Artist- Miley Cyrus

Ok, so whilst many will know her as the girl who found fame as Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus has definitely shown in 2013 that she is not a little girl anymore. But aside from what you think of her antics, it is safe to say that Cyrus is a music force to be reckoned with, as the young star is currently enjoying some of the best sales of her career. But whilst she may be doing really good, does the music actually measure up?

Track 1- Adore You

When you look at the persona that has shrouded Cyrus this past year, it is weird to think that her album would open with a simple pop ballad that is all about love. But Bangerz opens with just that. Adore You finds Cyrus addressing a lover and telling him of her strong feelings towards him and how she needs him. The song is baced by simple beats and some nice piano melodies to create a simple pop sound. But whilst the lyrics are good and the production simple but also a bit dramatic, the best thing about this track is definitely the vocals, because here we have a Cyrus who really shows of her voice and shows the power in her voice, whilst also showing great control and creating a smooth tune that feels invested with emotion, and so whilst it may  not be the expected beginning of this record, it is a good, strong opening track nonetheless.

3.5/5

Track 2- We Can’t Stop

The track that started off the new stage in Cyrus’ music career, We Cant Stop is an uptmepo pop song with RnB and dance elements, and is a song that shows off the partying side of Cyrus’ persona. Here she sings of not being able to stop and just living life and partying, with the use of we perhaps placing her as a voice for her generation. The message is a bit clichéd and silly in places but the vibrancy that foregrounds the song makes it an infectious track, and what is cool to listen to is the fact that Cyrus still has this quite soft, Disney suited voice, and yet within this dance and RnB context she still sounds comfortable and accessible. Producer Mike Will Made It (who is now a prominent part of Cyrus’ music career) gives us some stomping bass and light synths for a good party sound, although for me the auto tuned vocal moments from him are just weird and annoying.

3.5/5

Track 3- SMS (Bangerz) (featuring Britney Spears)

Featuring one of Cyrus musical idols Britney Spears, SMS (Bangerz) is another pop song that this which contains elements of hip hop. The song is very much a love or hate song, where we find Cyrus and Spears both singing/rapping of not giving guys second chances and just ‘strutting their stuff’. The song is catchy in a way but the continual repetition of Bangerz and strutting that stuff does get annoying after a while. The rapping is also something that you will either like or just beg to be stopped, whilst the snappy beats of the production isn’t all that interesting but will keep things ticking along.

2.5/5

Track 4- 4x4 (featuring Nelly)

4X4 is another kind of a weird song where we find the singer sort of rapping, although she does do more singing. The song is more narratively structured lyrically as Cyrus plays the role of a female ‘rebel’ who is out to get bail for her lover. The message and story is just weird and annoying as it doesn’t feel like we are really hearing the true Cyrus, but the chorus is annoyingly catchy in its own way. Cyrus is vocally stronger in this song than the last track, with her playful side being nicely shown in the second verse of the song. However the problem with the track is that guest artist Nelly definitely steals the show with a guest turn, something he shouldn’t be able to do on another artist’s record. And whilst the country music elements of the production are cool and add something different to the record, after a while the sound is just once again something to keep the song ticking along.

2.5/5

Track 5- My Darlin (featuring Future)

From the country music stylings of 4x4 we transition into pop RnB ballad that takes things down to a softer and more emotionally powerful place. The song utilises a sample of the song ‘Stand By Me’ to find both Future and Cyrus singing (potentially to each other) of how they want their lover to stand by them. The song vocally shows off Cyrus’ voice to strong effect, but Future just feels like surplus baggage hear, with his auto tune heavy vocals coming off as whiny against Cyrus smooth tones. The lyrics are also sloppy, with the use of the Stand By Me sample being interesting as the songs chorus but ultimately falling flat due to the poor state of the verses which feel very cobbled together. The production is also sloppy, with the clattering synths giving us a frenzied song that just doesn’t have a clear direction for either the artist or the listener to follow.

2/5

Track6- Wrecking Ball

For many people this song will just remind them of Cyrus licking a sledgehammer and writhing around naked on an actual wrecking ball. But that is a real shame, because the song is actually really good, and probably some of Cyrus’ best work (and maybe the best). The song finds Cyrus comparing her love to hitting something with a wrecking ball and emphasising that she was encapsulated in this relationship that has now turned really sour. The song is lyrically powerful and is further intensified by a stellar vocal performance by Cyrus, who nicely plays it softly and very vulnerably in the verses before belting out the chorus to show not only the full extent of her voice but the full extent of her anguish. Pop maestro Dr Luke works his magic on the song in terms of the production, giving us a lush bed of synths and some powerful bass to make the track even more engaging, giving us a track that is potentially the ballad of 2013.

4.5/5

Track 7- Love Money Party (featuring Big Sean)

After the intensity of Wrecking Ball, Cyrus takes a step back to her partying persona with this party track. Lyrically the track is very much summed up with the title, and with this track the singer also flexes her rap muscles once again. The rapping is better than her other offerings but it still sounds a bit stupid when you know she isn’t a half bad singer. The haunting, grimy house beat that acts as the vital piece to the tracks sound is good and makes for a slick dance vibe to the track, whilst Big Sean provides a simple but effective rap feature. This song shouldn’t work in the way that it does, but it could have been a much worse offering.

3/5

Track 8- #GETITRIGHT

#GETITRIGHT finds Cyrus in a flirtatious and sexual state of mind as she sings about having this feeling coming over her and wanting to get things right with her man, particularly in bed. The lyrics are ok with a solid chorus, but the song is definitely elevated by Cyrus’ vocal delivery, with her smooth tone and infectious personality making the song that touch more believable. Current man of the moment Pharrell Williams provides producer duties for the track and creates a slick, funky sound that centres around a chopped guitar lick and some killer whistling that adds to the songs catchy feel. The track definitely sounds like a typical Williams song and for some people this may be a problem, but Cyrus still sounds comfortable and like she is having fun, which just makes for a good listen.

3.5/5

Track 9- Drive

Cyrus goes back to the emotional intensity of Wrecking Ball with Drive, another pop ballad that has a little bit more of a bite due to the dubstep elements of the song. Lyrically the track focuses on Cyrus’ telling us of all this guy has done wrong and having her heartbroken, but also being in a state where she is not fully able to leave the relationship. The track is lyrically more potent than some of the tracks on the record and definitely feels like we are hearing a song by Cyrus that comes from the heart. Equally she invests as much emotion in the vocals as she does the lyrics, giving us intense anguish and vulnerability that resonates with the listener and which definitely seems to be her strong suit. And with the wobbly dubstep rhythms of the production and the haunting essence of the tracks sound, producer Mike Will Made It definitely makes the song a complete package worth a listen.

4/5

Track 10- FU (featuring French Montana)

With the melodramatic, ‘oh you broke my heart’ opening of this track, you know this is a powerful break up number that sees Cyrus stay in the relationship anguish lane of her music. The song finds Cyrus singing about how this boy has treat her wrong and now she just wants to show him her middle finger and show that she is the stronger one. The song is lyrically potent and although the lyrics could be a bit more refined, the sentiment behind the song is enough to make this a good listen to the listener. Vocals on this track are powerful but also could be a little more refined at times, as in places the yelling style Cyrus employs is just a bit grating. However the production of the track is great, with perfectly inlaid dubstep beats, which makes up for pointless featuring of French Montana.

3.5/5

Track 11- Do My Thang

One thing about Miley Cyrus is that she seemingly doesn’t care what other people think of her, which is good for her, and this is something she shows with Do My Thang. The track is a great dance number that is all about Cyrus telling us that she is just going to live life and she will be ok just doing her own thing. The message is simple but strong and is nicely built around a catchy chorus, whilst vocally the track is good in that Cyrus playfully raps/sings in the verses and  builds up her vocal in the chorus without sounding too unrestrained and maintaining some good control. The production value of the song is also great, with synthesisers and snappy percussion giving the track a great dance rhythm, whilst the monk style ‘oh oh oh oh ee oh oh’ post chorus male vocals are a funny but equally catchy element to the track.

3.5/5

Track 12- Maybe You’re Right

Another powerful ballad, Maybe You’re Right focuses on Cyrus replaying this relationship in her head and coming to the conclusion that the fact her ex sees her as a bit crazy and foolish for him might just be right. The lyrics are confessional and emotional, whilst Cyrus once again shows her vocal chops and makes the emotion of the track feel that much more tangible and sincere. The tracks sound is equally as powerful and catchy, featuring some stellar drum instrumentation add little flourishes of gospel to show us that Cyrus’ is just superb when she really lets go.

3.5/5

Track 13- Someone Else

Final track Someone Else combines hip hop and synthpop for a stomping finish that is a little bit of a dance track in a way and which acts as a stamp of Cyrus’ change within the music industry. The lyrics of the song focuses on the end of a relationship whilst also addressing the change in Cyrus’ image, and in this sense the song acts as the perfect finish to the album. Vocally the song is strong with some nice vocal layering, but the frenzied synths of the production just feels to scattered and makes the albums end feel to off kilter. It could have been a stronger finish but its good to see Cyrus understanding herself.

3.5/5

Final Review

Bangerz is an album that maybe doesn’t live up to its title in the sense that you might have expected a lot of great party tunes. The album does live up to the title in terms of the production values being powerful, with harsh beats and some great use of different genres. However, on more than one occasion songs sound to frenzied or weird, and this is something that should have been addressed. The lyrics are good but also needed fine tuning for some songs, but what is undeniable about this record is that Cyrus’ voice is shown off to great effect. I expected more from this record, but it does have its positive, which outweigh the negatives, and therefore we can’t class this record as a failure.

6.5/10

Best Track- Wrecking Ball

Worst Track- My Darlin (featuring Future)

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