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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