February 2021 Volume 4, Issue 1
“Plastic Hearts” Album Review: Miley Cyrus “might even be a rockstar”
After releasing her first album almost 14 years ago and traversing through multiple eras, Miley Cyrus has finally released the incredible glam rock album she was born to make. It is an album and sound that has cemented her as a modern-day pop rockstar.
Ever since leaving the “Hannah Montana” part of her music career, Miley Cyrus has been experimenting with different sounds, genres, and looks. Cyrus has released different pop music over her versatile career with influences from R&B, country, hip hop, and rock.
In her newest album, “Plastic Hearts”, Miley Cyrus has wrapped rock, country, and disco all in a beautiful pop package. Cyrus uses this album to introduce a new generation to the 80’s and rock’n’roll sound she loves. The singer has also introduced a new rockstar inspired look complete with a mullet.
The title track, “Plastic Hearts”, is the perfect example of the 80’s rock sound that Cyrus has achieved. Cyrus sings, “I just wanna feel something, but I keep feeling nothing all night long,” about when she would go out partying just looking to feel emotion.
The song also talks about the fakeness that can be found in some LA people. Miley Cyrus has always talked about the importance of being authentic to herself. Being unapologetically yourself is a defining trait of 80’s rockers.
Miley Cyrus’ first single, “Midnight Sky”, released back in August 2020 is a dazzling disco-pop song about independence and not needing another person’s affection to find your path. This song is referencing her divorce from actor Liam Hemsworth with lyrics like “Lotta years went by with my hands tied up in your ropes” and “I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone” signifying that she isn’t one to settle down. Having a free soul was also a defining trait of many rockers.
“Plastic Hearts” features collaborations with rock legends like Billy Idol, Joan Jett, and Stevie Nicks as well as modern-day pop star Dua Lipa.
In the album, Miley Cyrus has included two live covers of the iconic rock songs “Zombie” by the Cranberries and “Heart of Glass” by Blondie. She has built a reputation for amazing covers and these two are great examples of her ability to cover a song and make it her own. Expect Miley Cyrus to potentially release a project of her covering songs from the band Metallica as she has teased in recent interviews.
The raw emotions from the burning down of her house, her very public divorce, and the media’s narrative around Miley Cyrus is what influenced her most in creating this album and gaining a rockstar persona. She was able to harken back to the sounds of the ’80s while still creating a pop album that sounds fresh in today’s pop scene and will be seen as timeless years from now.