MILEY CYRUS: Something Beautiful (Columbia)
Verdict: Fearless but flawed
The latest Miley Cyrus album certainly comes with a lofty billing. The former Disney Channel TV star claims that Something Beautiful is a concept piece that explores themes of healing, transformation and finding beauty in darkness. It’s ‘an attempt to medicate… a sick culture through music,’ says Miley.
And there’s more. Supposedly influenced by Pink Floyd‘s 1979 rock opera The Wall, and Alan Parker’s surrealist 1982 film adaptation of it, the album is accompanied by a feature-length promotional film.
It opens with an overture, titled Prelude, in which Cyrus intones a few spoken words about a railway journey in which passing landscapes are ‘swallowed into the distance’.
Later, two clattering instrumental interludes disrupt the flow.
She came in like a wrecking ball. Is she now giving us her free-form jazz odyssey? Not quite.
There are moments where the 32-year-old edges beyond what might be expected from a mainstream star.
But, aside from a handful of songs addressing an uncertain romance, there’s no real concept here.
Something Beautiful is essentially a slick pop record with extra bells and whistles.
There are moments where Miley Cyrus edges beyond what might be expected from a mainstream star in her new album, Something Beautiful
Something Beautiful is essentially a slick pop record with extra bells and whistles
Like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera in the 1990s – and Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo more recently – Miley has used Disney’s all-round showbiz training as the springboard to a music career.
She first made her mark playing fictional pop star Hannah Montana in the teen sitcom of the same name, but has matured into a raspy-voiced singer with an impressive range.
As the Tennessee-born daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus (and goddaughter of Dolly Parton), she sings with a distinctive Nashville twang, and even took a detour into country on 2017’s Younger Now.
Something Beautiful, however, skips more haphazardly between genres. There are strong moments – but also a fair amount of filler.
The best tracks arrive early. Sung with a Stevie Nicks-like huskiness, More To Lose is a heartache ballad. The title track is a soul song slightly spoiled by bombastic guitars.
Built around a piano riff in the style of Abba’s Dancing Queen, End Of The World finds Cyrus seeking a remedy for bad times by throwing ‘a party like McCartney’.
It’s the big pop moment on an album that isn’t exactly stuffed with bangers. The second half pivots to generic dance music.
Walk Of Fame, a duet with Brittany Howard, frontwoman of the Alabama Shakes, is an energetic 1980s electro-pop pastiche.
Something Beautiful skips more haphazardly between genres. There are strong moments – but also a fair amount of filler
Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved contains a spoken-word cameo from Naomi Campbell.
The idyllic love song Golden Burning Sun looks to the strain of 1970s soft-rock that helped to turn Harry Styles into a superstar.
Despite all the grand statements, and an album sleeve in which Miley is draped in vintage Thierry Mugler couture, there’s nothing as memorable as 2013’s Wrecking Ball, 2020’s Midnight Sky or 2023’s double Grammy-winning Flowers here.
But you can’t accuse her of lacking ambition.
LITTLE SIMZ: Lotus (AWAL)
The BRIT-winning London rapper delivers a typically eclectic mix on her sixth album, embracing Latin rhythms, Afrobeats and finger-popping funk while adding more playfulness to her thoughtful, introspective storytelling.
Working with new producer Miles Clinton James and Adele’s string arranger Rosie Danvers, she nods to Amy Winehouse on humorous hometown playlet Young, and sings candidly on the piano-led Lonely.
Michael Kiwanuka supplies intricate guitar on the title track.
The BRIT-winning London rapper delivers a typically eclectic mix on her sixth album
CYNTHIA ERIVO: I Forgive You (Verve)
The Oscar-nominated Wicked actress looks to add ‘pop star’ and ‘singer-songwriter’ to her impressive CV on this second solo album.
Embracing soul and R&B without abandoning her roots in musical theatre, it places her spectacular voice front and centre.
Divided into four acts to chronicle an evolving relationship, it opens with anguished ballads before the mood lightens on breathy bossa nova She Said.
The trip-hop flavoured What You Want reiterates her range and power.
The Oscar-nominated Wicked actress looks to add ‘pop star’ and ‘singer-songwriter’ to her impressive CV on this second solo album
