Miley Cyrus “Bangerz” is one damn addictive album!

Miley Cyrus “Bangerz” is her first album without a smell of Hanna Montana and taste of Disney. She has called her new album “Bangerz” – The album is a new start and her official “debut” album. She had also called it her hip-hop album, but you´ll also get so much more: “Bangerz” is a fab genre mixed eclectic affair, but has without doubt a big slice of hip hop as its main ingredient.

If you are looking for a teenage-pop album like Justin Biebers “Believe” or Selena Gomez “Stars Dance” or an David Guetta inspired club-pumping, fill-the-dancefloor-hands-up-in-the-air affair, you come to the wrong place.

If you love albums like Fergies genre mixing “The Duchess“, Madonnas playful “Like A Prayer“, Drakes smooth “Take Care” and Stacy Barthes even smoother EPs, or Rihannas latest “Unapologetic” and Christina Aguileras jazzy blues-soul flirt “Back to Basics“, then “Bangerz is an album that should be stuck in your ears the coming months and years to come.

The Miley Cyrus “Bangerz” track-by-track album breakdown aka Why Miley Cyrus “Bangerz” is one damn fine album

Adore you, yes I do adore you Miley, and this song is a beautiful smooth album starter, the song is written by the fantastic Stacy Barthe, and it´s very similar to Barthes own sound, thank God! Miley’s voice is at it’s best on slow jams and ballads. The track is produced by the, for me, the unknown Yoel.

We can´t stop listening to the first single off the album – is the song everyone dare not say they love. It has had a lot of controversy for the line “Dancing with Miley” a line the press has turned into a “Dancing with Molly” – another term the drug MDMA. It’s like this; if you wanna find shit on Miley; you can make it up on the go. But listen to the lyrics and song again, it’s no doubt she is singing “Dancing with Miley”. With closer listen, this song could have fitted on a Rihanna album

SMS (Bangerz) is the first track to feature a guest singer: Britney Spears. Here you’ll hear Miley Cyrus rapping – as well as Britney. Miley sure ain’t no Jay-Z or Lil Wayne, and thank God she´s not trying to be either. It’s actually more talking than rapping. A big bonus is that she raps way better than Madonna did on her “American Life” title track. Fun note: The melody even flirts a bit with Salt´n´Peppas “Push It“!

4X4 is the biggest country flirting pop song on the album. It could have fitted perfect on Aviciis excellent “True” album. The super-producer Pharell delivers a masterclass mix of genres. 4X4 is a cool country-disco song with nice disco stabs here and there and latin guitar bits. Rapper Nelly guests the song sounds way cooler than he did in his “Hot In Herre” days. Madonna would have killed for this song!

My Darlin´ starts with Futures re-sung parts of the Ben E King classic “Stand By Me“, the whole thing sounds like cross between Drake and Stacy Barthe. The production: hip hop beats, string/synths, the lush production. Soothing soul music.

Wrecking Ball is the big ballad on the “Bangerz” album, the song that made Miley top the Billboard charts. Miley Cyrus purrs like Lana Del Ray on the verse, until the rock/dubstep chorus kicks in. Miley sings her heart out. Producer of the track is Cirkut who also has co-produced and co-written for the aforementioned Britney Spears, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Taylor Swift.

Love Money Party is every 20 somethings theme song. A hip hop melody and Miley Cyrus is once again rapping.  She´s in control here, where Nicky Minaj would screw up every song she does with her quirky rapping. Miley stays cool and in control throughout the whole track. Guest rapper Big Sean blends in as a spice to the song, instead of the rap part being something that screws up the song, like Jay-Zs verse in Justin Timberlakes “Suit & Tie” – that song without Jay-Z…pure bliss. But Justin (and Jay-Z) is forgiven when JT repays Jay-Z on the already classic “Holy Grail” single with his bluesy soulful guest vocal.

#GETITRIGHT the hashtag song 😉 A great pop melody, with whistle as part of the instruments, you could guess who produces this? It’s Pharells second production, and many of his trademarks can be found here, like great beats, dry rhythm guitar. A perfect summer strolling in the park song. The almost childish and naive melody, made me think of “Dear Jessie” by Madonna.

Drive is the rock alibi on the album. A breakup song? But it uses synths instead of guitars and quiet-angry singing, like she´s holding back. Cool filtered drums on intro and mid-part of the song. An almost a capella bridge with just drums and synths until it’s kickstarted again. The synths at the end made me hum Justin Timberlakes ad-libs “You are, you are the love of my life” from “The 20/20 Experience pt 1” song “Pusher Love Girl”

FU guess what the two letters stand for? A fabulous jazz/ blues/waltz who could have fitted on Christina Aguileras “Back To Basics” album! Miley Cyrus sings fantastic. The dance drumbeat that build-up before the refrain makes a cool twist to the song. “French Montana” guests. The excellent productions on the song is produced by another unknown name for me Afuni. Gotta find out more about him… Lady Ga-Ga would have loved have sung FU!

Do My Thang is a bit M.I.A. “Bad Girls” and Miley once again raps. The thin sharp hip hop drums; could I call this a syrupy rap-ballad? Will.I.Am produces, and has with this song taken a step back to his hip-hop roots again, instead of pumping club tracks like his latest production duties. A happy welcome back to Will.I.Am

Maybe You’re Right starts up with funky piano and drums before the big refrain kicks in and makes this a song Kelly Clarkson would love to release. Where Kelly Clarkson uses a guitar pop-rock production, Miley does it more street wise with pumping beats deep in the mix.

Someone Else is “Bangerz” club song, the floorfiller and the last track off the original album track list. A David Guetta/Will.I.Am inspired pumping club banger! The synths sound like a wake-up-alarm on a clock radio, weird but it works! Without doubt the weakest song on the album, too commercial, too let’s-make-a-song-you-can-swear-you-have-heard-a-thousand-times-before. the song could have fitted on a Justin Bieber album. Mike Will Made It who produces most of the album surprises with the club production in this song; Can the man produce any genre there is out there? A fabulous producer, we’re going to hear more from in the years to come!

The deluxe edition tracks are surprisingly good, and here’s the three bonus tracks reviewed…You´ll see why these are worth mentioned in this review.

Rooting For My Baby is the first song to feature acoustic guitar. The guitar parts sounds a little bit like Dave Stewart & Candy Dulfer song “Lily Was Here“. It’s a ballad and Miley Cyrus sings like a young-unknown sister of Stevie Nicks (of Fleetwood Mac). Another lovely production by Pharell. It’s a shame they’re only available on the Deluxe Edition of “Bangerz”.

On My Own here you’ll meet an angry sounding Miley Cyrus. The bass line brings thoughts to “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes, until the funky Nile Rodgers inspired rhythm guitar kicks in. The background synths sounds and the backing vocals sounds like a lift off of “Little Lies” again a link to Fleetwood Mac. With all this references to other songs, it’s no surprise Pharell is the master of production once again!! The last song

Hands In The Air is an album filler. The second weak song on the album. A mid-tempo dub-step/club/rock track. The song could do without the Ludacris rap. A weak B-side, and a typical bonus track.

The “Bangerz” album is a much more grown up and laid-back affair than I first thought it would be. Without doubt, Miley has definitely grown with this album, and has made an album she should be proud of – an album that deserves to reach out to a more grown-up audience – and not only to the teens and tweens. It’s a brand new start for Miley, an album that should have a place on 2013s Best Of-lists when we sum up the year within a few months. The album redefines where Miley Cyrus and her music should be in 2013

…This review of Miley Cyrus “Bangerz” is based on the music and songs on the album. The album is damn addictive, and should be released with a warning that says “Highly addictive! Have a listen and stream “Bangerz” on Spotify here!

Until now: Not a word is mentioned about Miley Cyrus’ lifestyle, her at times weird behaviour, her personal scandals, her dope flirting, her twerking, her urge to stick her tongue out every time she gets a chance to – or her sudden need to take off her clothes whenever she gets a chance – and least not forget and her flirt with sex and a sexy image!

First because what I love about Miley Cyrus is her music (note: This is the first full Miley Cyrus album I could listen to from start to end – from her teenage career I enjoy a lot of her ballads and single tracks she has released here and there. Maybe I´ll post a Spotify playlist on this blog later?

Secondly, in general, artists controversial behaviour is a well-known PR-trick in the music business, and it works.
When Mileys Cyrus twerked over-the-top on Robin Thicke on VMA earlier this year, it became a viral hit just minutes after the stunt happened.
Miley undressed completely for her “Wrecking Ball” video and licks on a sledgehammer – it caused reactions – and she gets publicity.
In an interview Miley Cyrus did with Rolling Stone magazine she talks about what drugs she has tried or used – it causes off course newspaper headings.
When Miley trips around almost nude with just bits of plaster on her bits, people think she’s lost it.

An artists need and urge to span attention is a popular way to build new audience. Even if it sounds strange it works most of the time, heres some examples:
Think Madonna, around 1992 and her “Sex” book, where she strips off completely nude in a bunch of pictures, and flirts with both girls and boys in her “Justify My Love” video, Madonna had then turned 32 years old.
Rihanna, when she started flirting sex a super sexy image – and drugs in public photo shots  and spreading them herself on her Instagram account, the world speak about it.
When Britney Spears had her much published breakdown – attacking paparazzis, shaved off all her hair and she to totally have lost controll…her massive change made people and fans check out her music as soon as she had her comeback.
Lady Ga-Ga rolls herself i tar and feather – or dresses in raw meat, she seeks attention, and we all know damn well she gets it.

 

Miley Cyrus has almost lived her whole lift in the TV and music world. She knows how to work the press, and knows how the press works – because she’s born into the entertainment world! This combo and her controversial behavior makes “Bangerz” and the trademark Miley Cyrus a whole package; The pet everyone loves to hate.

The press has in Miley Cyrus found someone they think it’s okay to love to hate. She is an artist who,  in everyone’s eyes, makes scandals wherever and whatever she does. Miley Cyrus has thanks to her latest stunts become this years Lana Del Rey; a darling of the press, the one everyone disses, and write rude and naughty comments about. An artist every one hates as a musician – and loves to push down the dirt. The official artist everyone loves to hate!

But Miley Cyrus – like Lana Del Rey did – rises above all bad publicity and negative comments and is strong enough to show the world; She have had last laugh at the end: Miley Cyrus “Bangerz” album has captured the number one spot of biggest music chart list of them all “Billboard”

If “Bangerz” by Miley Cyrus is the album of an artist on the verge of a mental breakdown, it’s without doubt one of the best breakdown album you’ll hear in years!