It was bound to happen. Ever since she surprised with the “The Climb,” and then shedding and totally demolishing the last shreds of her Hannah Montana image in 2013’s “Wrecking Ball,” Miley Cyrus’ music trajectory has since veered on a rock and roll bent.
It took some time but Miley makes it official on her latest album entitled “Plastic Hearts” in which she approximates the styles and sounds of late 70’s and 80’s glam rock and more.
Her first full length album since her divorce, there’s a lot to exorcise here. On “Angels Like You” she sings ‘I know that you’re wrong for me / gonna wish we never met on the day I leave /I brought you down to your knees / ‘cause they say that misery loves company,’ in a beautiful, gravelly voice. This tuneful power ballad is worthy of any that came from the hair-metal days of the late 80’s. We’re gonna go out on a limb here to say that it is about her divorce, but doesn't she sound good singing about it? She puts that heartbreak to good use again on the country-rock tinged “High” in which she croons reminiscently like Dolly Parton (her godmother) “and in my head, I did my very best saying goodbye / I don’t miss you but I think of you and don’t know why.’
Catchy tunes abound on Miley’s new set, one of them the bouncy “Hate Me” that’s equal parts 70’s pop and country with a bit of Queen thrown in.
On the pulsing, late 70’s vibe of “Midnight Sky,” Miley takes a sonic page from the great Stevie Nicks and makes the former proud. Later in the set, Nicks herself appears and sings on a mashup of her 1981 classic “Edge Of Seventeen” and “Midnight Sky” entitled “Edge Of Midnight.”
Make no mistake, this latest iteration of Miley is also defiant. On tracks like the opening track “WTF Do I Know” she sounds like someone who finds moping a waste of her effin’ time, singing ‘here to tell you somethin’ that you don’t know / I’m the type to drive a pickup through your mansion / I’m completely naked but I’m makin’ it fashion / maybe getting’ married just to cause a distraction.’
Pulsing grooves are also the order of the day as title track “Plastic Hearts” and “Gimme What I Want” strut and groove like it’s the late 70’s and Miley is the modern-day version of Debbie Harry of Blondie. Incidentally, Miley includes a gnarly live version of Blondie’s “Heart Of Glass” just so we’re not mistaken on who her idols are. And Miley actually gets a legit late 70’s rock icon in Joan Jett (and the Blackhearts) who’s featured in the smoky club rock throwback of “Bad Karma.” Rounding off the sonic salute to glam is “Night Crawling” which features the unmistakable drawl of Billy Idol.
Dua Lipa appears on the collab track “Prisoner” that might have been better suited for the former’s album but still worth the listen and do watch the video. The best track here for the lonely hearts set is the achingly beautiful “Never Be Me.” Then there’s “Golden G String,” a song title that might give you other ideas since this is Miley we’re talking about but is not. Contrary, it’s a heartfelt midtempo ballad and a reflection of her life so far. The live tracks here culled from performances at several festivals, one of them a scorching version of the Cranberries’ “Zombie,” only to prove what we’ve already known for a long time now.
Miley Cyrus is an effin’ rocker at heart.