Plastic Hearts, Rachel C.

OOF. I feel like this album should just be called Can't Be Tamed the Remix.

If Miley’s cover of "Heart of Glass" had been an augury of the work on this album, I would have been a content listener.  I wanted to believe she had found her place as a rock goddess, that she finally found some security in her identity. While I hope the latter may be true in her personal journey, I didn’t believe any of it from her album. So instead, I’m content to return to the camp I came from—Miley Cyrus has a unique and powerful voice, is a cover queen, and that’s about it. 

To expand on my stance: What I’ve rested on when it comes to Miley as an artist and songwriter is that somehow, she always just misses the mark a bit and the whole house of cards tumbles down. This, married with the fact that whatever her new album is has been prefaced by some scintillating metamorphosis, leads to a distant flavor of disappointment. 

[insert Tyra Banks screaming “I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!"] 

Did I bop along to a few tracks? Sure.  Did I think ANY of them were... good? Nope.

The track "Never Be Me" (which was one of the better ones IMO) just about sums up my thoughts. Her songs are the sweaters I don't reach for unless it's laundry day, the hand soaps you save for hosting parties but honestly it's because you don't really like the way they smell. 

If I want a soft rock power ballad, I’m not turning to Miley Cyrus. 

If I want a classic rock jam-along, I’m not turning to Miley Cyrus. 

If I want some indie pop/alt country, I’m not turning to Miley Cyrus. 

For me, it’s never going to be Miley.