In a 2019 interview with Vanity Fair, Miley Cyrus told the world that her unreleased album would be a ‘genre-less mosaic’ of all the things she has been before – and now, with the release of her Plastic Hearts, she proves that statement true.
The singer’s seventh studio album covers a wide range of sounds, from smoky disco-pop in hit single ‘Midnight Sky’, to energetic rock in the opening track ‘WTF Do I Know’. This diversity in sound is one of the most interesting aspects of the album, with the listener finding themselves thrust from pop-rock (which holds a nostalgic similarity to one of the artist’s earliest post-Disney hits, ‘7 Things’) to heart-wrenching ballads.
A constant stand-out throughout the album is Cyrus’ stunning vocals. Gritty, smooth and soulful at the same time, she sings in her usual lower range, but at the same time never limits herself, hitting some impressive notes in the angsty ballad ‘High’.
As much as this album contains hits, there is one singular miss hidden in the tracklist, in the form of the Billy Idol collaboration ‘Night Crawling’. The combination of both singers’ gritty vocals and impressive musicality should excite the listener, but instead its lacklustre instrumentation leaves the listener wanting more, and lacks the oomph present on the rest of the album.
Despite this track, the remainder of the record is electrifying and raw. Cyrus’ lyrical openness allows the reader to connect to her struggles; with ‘Hate Me’ she navigates the negative attention she receives from the press and those around her, and with ‘Angels Like You’ she revisits the struggles of a breakup.
‘Bad Karma’ ft. Joan Jett is also an outstanding track, on which Cyrus incorporates the rocker’s key musical quirks and plays with them successfully. The song ‘Never Be Me’ utilises a much more relaxed sound and the singer’s vocals blend beautifully with atmospheric instrumentation, creating a haunting listening experience and diverting the expectations of Plastic Hearts being ‘just’ a rock album.
From raw lyrics, a viral music video, to a variety of talented featured artists, Plastic Hearts is a genuinely exciting piece of work, one that places Miley Cyrus back into the hearts of her avid listeners.
4/5 stars.