Miley Cyrus : "Endless Summer Vacation"

 

Going into this album I know this is going to fall back into her pop ways, rather than the more rock direction she was headed in. The first single which opens the album reminded me of Dua Lipa when I first heard it. It sounds like it will be a hug hit in gay clubs. She straddles the Nashville Songwriting machine she grew up with and the pop machine she went to after reinventing herself to shed Hannah Montana. Unlike most pop stars she still holds a very active hand in the songwriting process. This can most be felt in the lyrics and the melodies which retain similar themes as those we have heard in the past from her.  Mike Will Made It does return for a few tracks. To Miley's credit this does not mirror any of her previous album's , but has a feel of it's own. 

I really like where she goes on "Thousand Miles" has it embraces her country roots, with a pop slickness, but does not try to jump on any of the radio bandwagons circling around her. Mike Will might have made the beats on this song, but it is hard to hear his signature. Even Brandi Carlile's harmony vocals, just blend in with little fanfare. There is a more organic feel to "You" where Miley finally belts it out with her underrate power. The song has a more organic feel, her country roots surface. It's not country music , but the influence is part of it's DNA. "Handstand" is more experimental and electronic, but turns into a slapper as it progresses. 

"River' the second single to coincide with the release of the album, is more like the current trend of retro disco pop, but done really well, with a solid groove. "Violet Chemistry" works with it's lyrics that hint at her altered creative perspective from dabbling in psychedelics. "Muddy" features Sia, and is driven by a solid beat and more attitude from Miley. She belts it out in an explosive manner. I guess, Sia's voice is in the mix somewhere, just here for the Miley. She uses her voice in a more nuanced manner on" Wildcard" she belts it out as called for. There is lot on this album that is not unfamiliar territory from her previous material, though dialed in smoother and less focused on partying in the USA. 

Much like the Fever Ray album I also reviewed today, she lets up on the gas to close the album with more introspective sounds, like the relaxed beachy vibe to "Island". The groove shifts to something with an exotic accent to it's Latin flavored beat. The most perfect summer song of the album. "Wonder Woman" is an odd choice of a ballad to close the album with. Not a country song, but I can imagine a young Dolly Parton singing it. There is almost a gospel feel, to how the melody soars. Perhaps the pop hooks are not twerking in your face as they drip with sex sugar, but the more mature effort provides a more serious look into who Miley is at this stage in the game I will give it a 10, so far it's the album to beat.