Rating – 4 1/4 stars out of 5
I know what you are thinking. You wouldn’t expect me to review a Miley Cyrus album. Seeing that high of a rating front and center, maybe I have lost my mind. Well the truth is, I have a lot of different tastes in my music library and actually own Miley’s 2010 release, Can’t Be Tamed (and a cd single of the title song as well).
Most people when you say Miley Cyrus immediately think of her 2013 album, Bangerz or the easily made fun of tune, Wrecking Ball. Either that or they want to throw back to her Hannah Montana days. However, in-between doing something for the sake of a reaction or bubble gum pop lies a true musician. She understands the process, knows her musical history quite well (just look at her covers), and has a passion for this industry that you can honestly see once you get beyond her scandals and controversies.
Fresh off her divorce to Liam Hemsworth in 2020 and her last album with RCA Records, Plastic Hearts, Miley set off to create an album that was made as a love letter to Los Angeles with the first half representing AM or representing what’s to become, and the second half representing PM to rest, recover and experience her wild side. With that said, let’s take a look at the twelve songs that make up this album.
Track 1: Flowers (3:20) –
Flowers is pretty much where this album is going to start and end for a lot of people. It is an extremely strong track, a #1 hit and speaks on the theory that sometimes the only person that is going to treat you best is yourself. While not proven to be on purpose, it was released on Hemsworth’s birthday and the chorus is a paraphrase of the song When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars which was a song that Hemsworth often dedicated to Miley.
But the song with hints of disco and funk also speaks to a generation that has accepted their own skin and largely done things with themselves rather than others in this era of COVID and the fallout since. It’s been a huge commercial success for Miley and her 2nd #1 hit and 11th top ten hit. It probably doesn’t hurt that it’s arguably Miley’s sexiest music video she’s ever put out as well.
Track 2: Jaded (3:05) –
Another song that speaks to breakups in general but in a reflection moment. I’m sorry that you are jaded but I could have taken you places. You’re lonely now and I hate it. It’s knowing that the two people have to break up and one person is upset/jaded and the other still misses them but doesn’t know how to convey that without the other feeling the way they do.
The song is a lot slower than many of the songs on the album and while the message will resonate with many, it’s not a strong follow up to Flowers and probably should have placed further down the card so to speak. I think I would have at least flipped tracks 2 and 3.
Track 3: Rose Colored Lenses (3:43) –
Fitting the “AM” theme this talks about getting up after a night with your partner in the shine of the morning and hoping it never ends. Those Rose Colored Lenses is of course not wanting to return back to back to reality and being with that person instead. Stay like this forever echoes regularly.
I can identify with that certainly from my college days. It’s a fun song and a fine effort but probably in the middle for me as far as this particular album goes. Which is funny since in a lot of pop albums this would probably be the 2nd or 3rd best song.
Track 4: Thousand Miles (with Belinda Carlile) (3:51) –
From the first note, you’ll recognize this is a very different song. It’s down to earth, it’s folky, it’s a road song. Since I’m a sucker for pretty much any road song (My favorite song of all time is “Life is a Highway” after all), this is probably my favorite song on the album (either that or Handstand).
The collaboration with Belinda Carlile is certainly a worthwhile one here. I would like to think that this is a guaranteed hit single, but it’s probably too folky and peculiar to register on the charts. That’s a shame because I really love it, and it’s more different than anything else I’ve ever heard from Miley.
Track 5: You (2:59) –
This song has the background of a much older tune with updated sensibilities and what sparks of country type lyrics and speed of song. It’s about wanting to do things with “You” and no-one else. Cyrus’ freshly mature voice (it’s even a little gravely now) really comes through here as it did on Flowers.
The tune goes by very quickly and never really grabbed me personally at least in the four or five times I tried it out. Again, I don’t think any tune on this cd is really “bad”, but I would be amiss if I didn’t point out if this wasn’t probably the weakest on the set.
Track 6: Handstand (3:25) –
Well, well well, it’s a little electronica on the album. It immediately starts with something akin to Justify My Love by Madonna (at least for the first 30 seconds or so) which Miley has often had comparisons to. It has a wonderfully delicious and funky beat. It’s quick and catchy, and one of the few songs on the album I actually want a longer cut/dance mix to (most of the others are just right).
I could be wrong, but I honestly think this will be the third single on the album. It has enough of that hit factor to get radio play. Once again, Miley has so many different flavors on this album that it is almost too difficult to keep track of.
Track 7: River (2:42) –
River has become the second single out of this album. The song is very much a pop/synth pop type tune and honestly when I heard it the first few times, it reminded me of something that the Minogue sisters would have put out. It has that same feel.
It also shares the same production team as Flowers but does not feel as quite as strong in its song writing effort. It is a little generic, and while I still very much like the tune, I think Thousand Miles, Handstand or even Wildcard were better choices but the catchy chorus of “Just like a River Ooooo ooo oooh” probably resonated more within the decision makers’ minds.
Track 8: Violet Chemistry (4:06) –
At first it might sound like the record is skipping, but rest assured it’s not. I have yet to figure out the true meaning of “Violet” Chemistry but it seems to speak to being at a club late at night and not wanting to leave when it reaches the AM.
This peppy tune for me didn’t really hit. It wasn’t catchy enough to sing along with and not unique enough for me to draw me in. It is growing on me, but I doubt I will play it too much after this review is complete.
Track 9: Muddy Feet (with Sia) (2:16) –
Miley, please tell me where on the Liam Hemsworth doll he hurt you. *sees the doll snatched from his hands, cut into dozens of pieces, doused in gasoline and lit on fire* Well, that was sudden. Basically the theme of the song is get the heck (insert profanities here) out of my house and speaks to the infidelity that Miley went through.
Sia sings here but honestly is wasted in a I’m ticked off and you are going to hear about it for two minutes(perhaps she went through the songs and decided hey that’s the one I want to be a part of). Honestly, it just needed more depth instead of hey get out of my house you piece of s**t over and over again.
Track 10: Wildcard (3:13) –
This one is kinda of a surprise being so far down the album (which is usually the kiss of death for many songs not including the closer). I really like the production on this one and Miley’s voice is on point. The song really fits Miley in this case and is quite entertaining.
My only concern with this song is that it might get lost in the shuffle with the other great hits on this record, we have at least 3-4 hits before we get to Wildcard, but maybe a few other people will pick up on how good this one is as well.
Track 11: Island (3:59) –
The final song of the PM set, it looks like this is in the twilight and Miley is reflecting after a long night of dancing it away. It includes the lyric “Smoke them if you got them” which is the first time I’ve heard that line in a pop song. I don’t think this is a country song or war movie I believe so it still comes out a little bit ridiculous when you hear it.
Unfortunately, this song is right there with You or Muddy Feet (at least Muddy Feet is just plain funny) for me and the final track before the closer is rarely a strong one. Hopefully some of you actually like this one, but I really didn’t.
Track 12: Wonder Woman (3:05) –
Proving Miley hasn’t played all of her tricks yet, she ends this album with a piano tune. Wait, she’s going all Billy Joel on me, how curious. Her beautiful tone comes thru and another layer of this singer appears. I was a little surprised by it in the beginning and didn’t know what to think.
But after a few listens, it’s a powerful and emotional song and the right way to close out this record. I read a lot of comments prior to the release of this record that suggested it was another boring pop performance. Those people couldn’t be more wrong if they tried.
I had high hopes for this album after hearing Flowers about thirty times and I can honestly say that after listening to this album several times (and certain songs more than that), it fulfills all of those hopes. A phenomenal record and one to watch when the Grammys come around. Enjoy.
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