If I was writing a review about Miley Cyrus two years ago, I would write about hipsterish, ganja-fueled, glittery, forced-frenetic indie record that enabled mainstream media to remain dormant. If I was writing a review on Miley Cyrus four years ago, I would focus on hip-hop elements, promiscuity, pro-lgbt themes, twerking, having balls and wrecking balls that brought mainstream media and social media to the state of absolute frenzy. If I was writing a review on Miley Cyrus ten years ago, I would be writing about Hannah Montana, the ultimate Disney honey who stole hearts of all the kids in America before breaking them with giant middle finger. So, If I am writing about Miley Cyrus today, who am I writing about?
I will be writing about someone who is Younger Now. Miley decided to rejuvenate herself by going back to the basics, which in her case is country music. Sure, that is not pure country her godmother Dolly Parton sings, rather poppy version of it. Apropos Dolly Parton, she is featured on the song Rainbowland, one of the album’s brightest moments. What is striking about Younger Now is that it is an album reluctant to provoke anyone. What happened to the enfant terrible who smokes weed and twerks all day long? As Miley sings in her title track - No one stays the same, change is a thing you can count on. So, yeah, we can count on Miley Cyrus reinventing herself. Are these reinventions worth it? Because sometimes it feels more lack lack of identity than experiment with identity?
My favorite tracks are Malibu and Thinking, both falling into a category of soft, easy, prosaic pop numbers. There is nothing outstanding about either of those, but at least they give you that hook that you can’t get out of your head all day long. The rest of the album is shamelessly dull, especially when it comes to lyrics. Generic melodies supported by generic lyrics left me confused. What is Miley’s target group here? Does she want to unite her childhood fans with those who were salivating on her MTV VMA performance with Robin Thicke? I don’t know. But what I know is that I am not going to listen to this record more than once. I am older now.
