Miley Cyrus released her seventh studio album last month, called “Plastic Hearts.” Evolving from her roots as “Hannah Montana” on Disney Channel, Miley has made it clear she does not want to be known for being a teen pop princess. Every album Cyrus has released has entered her into a different era of her career. She has explored different genres: “Younger Now” was her country album and “Bangerz” was heavily hip-hop influenced. This time, Cyrus is finally embracing her Rock ‘N’ Roll heart.
This new Rock ‘N’ Roll edge really compliments her low,raspy voice. Much of this album was shaped by Cyrus’ divorce from Liam Hemsworth in early 2020, as well as the loss of her house in a California Wildfire and her struggles with substance addiction. The album channels pain, guilt, and suffering.
“WTF Do I Know” is high energy, unapologetic, and angry. Being the first track on the album, it catches your attention and makes you want to scream out the lyrics with her. The song conceptually is about moving on from a breakup. She sings, “ Am I wrong that I moved on and I / And I don’t even miss you? / Thought that it’d be you until I die / But I let go / What the fuck do I know? / I’m alone / Guess I couldn’t be somebody’s hero / You want an apology not from me / Had to leave you in your own misery.” “WTF Do I Know” expresses the anger and pain felt when a relationship does not work out.
“Plastic Hearts,” the title track, is an upbeat, catchy song. This song is about what Miley is feeling lately – numb inside, a heart made of plastic. The song has a great electric guitar melody. She talks about going to parties and being in a state of California dreaming: “ I’ve been California dreaming / Plastic Hearts are bleeding / Keep me up all night.” “I just wanna feel something / But I keep feeling nothing / All night long.”
“Angels Like You” is a vulnerable, mid-tempo song where Cyrus self reflects. She learns to let go and realize the relationship was not right. Even when it looked okay from the outside looking in; “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 / It’s not your fault I ruin everything / And it’s not your fault I can’t be what you need / Baby, angels like you can’t fly down here with me.”
“Midnight Sky” is the single on the album, released initially on Aug. 14 of this year. It is a beautiful disco-pop song that celebrates her single, free spirit. It has a very catchy tune and makes you want to dance in a club. It has an 80s glam rock feeling: “The midnight sky is the road I’m taking / Head high up in the clouds / I was born to run, I don’t belong to anyone / I don’t need to be loved by you.” Cyrus also ended up collaborating with legendary Fleetwood Mac member, Stevie Nicks, for an electric remix of “Midnight Sky” titled “Edge of Midnight.”
Cyrus has amazing collaborations on the album, including Billy Idol, Joan Jett, and Dua Lipa. “Prisoner” is another single off the album featuring Dua Lipa. It is a pop-rock anthem about feeling trapped by the thought of someone. It is also unintentionally, a quarantine anthem. “Prisoner, prisoner / Locked up, can’t get you off my mind / Lord knows I tried a million times.”
“Never Be Me” is a gut- wrenching power ballad. In the song, Cyrus lists reasons she was not a good wife and why the relationship failed: “If you’re looking for stable / That’ll never be me / If you’re looking for faithful / That’ll never be me / If you’re looking for someone to be all that you need / That’ll never be me.”
“Hate Me” is one of the most powerful songs on the album and it is also the most overlooked. It is a song that makes you want to dance and cry at the same time. It is about still getting over someone when you feel like they hate you. Cyrus wonders if he would still hate her if she died. “I wonder what would happen if I die / I hope all of my friends get drunk and high / Would it be too hard to say goodbye? / I hope that it’s enough to make you cry / Maybe that day you won’t hate me.”
This is a very powerful rock influenced album with perfectly constructed melodies and lyrics. Go stream “Plastic Hearts” now on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Deezer.
Featured Image courtesy of Sam via Flickr Creative Commons
