Four months ago, when the music video for “We Can’t Stop” was uploaded to YouTube, the newest iteration of Miley Cyrus was presented to the world—and it was weird. On Tuesday, this changed version of the pop star we all knew and loved released Bangerz, and like the new version of Cyrus, it’s weird.
Thematically, much of the album simply isn’t that engaging. A good amount of the record’s 52-minute grind belongs in dark, damp basement nightclubs where the sun doesn’t shine and the music doesn’t matter. “SMS (Bangerz)” is a particularly repugnant example of the LP’s distastefulness.
This song shows the album at its worst, employing uninteresting melodies, lackluster beats, and detestable lyrics. The chorus is literally the repetition of the album title—an apt slang synonym for messy, boozey ragers. Miley insists that she “can strut in [her] stuff,” but by the end of the song, which includes a discouraging feature by Britney Spears, it’s clear no one really cares.
The album definitely deserves credit in some places though. Many of the songs are not half bad, even bordering on good. “#GETITRIGHT” has a Beyoncé-esque feel, with an offbeat rhythm driven by a clean guitar riff and simple whistle ornamentations. But again, the song disappoints with unimpressive lyricism.
“Wrecking Ball,” actually addresses both of these issues with a relatable emotional ballad directed towards an ex-lover. When you look past the controversy surrounding the song’s music video, you can hear the despair in Cyrus’ voice.
The final song, “Someone Else,” similarly shows a deeper sense of self-awareness. Cyrus addresses her own flaws through the context of her failed relationships, coming to the conclusion that she’s partly at fault—a profound revelation from the twerking queen. But the song still fails despite its distinct message because of the clunky production that plagues the whole album. Bangerz is massively overproduced, lacking any nuance or restraint.
Ultimately, Bangerz benefits from extremely low expectations. The album contains more great musical moments than anyone could have anticipated. And for that reason alone, perhaps you won’t feel ashamed playing it at your next banger.
Voice’s Choices: “FU,” “Wrecking Ball”
