In a delightful holiday surprise, Miley Cyrus has bestowed upon her fans yet another reason to celebrate with the launch of her newest masterpiece, Plastic Hearts. Blending together elements from both pop and rock genres, Plastic Hearts serves as Cyrus’ sixth studio album following her departure from the iconic Hannah Montana image.
The album deliberately embraces her gritty and damaged vocals while lyrically diving into her personal journey, presenting Cyrus in a genuine rock sound. While integrating select pop elements, the album remains in line with current pop standards. The outcome is a blend of timeless and contemporary music.
Plastic Hearts reflects the culmination of two significant relationships in Cyrus’ life—the end of her marriage to Liam Hemsworth and her subsequent breakup with Cody Simpson. These events, occurring in August 2019 and August 2020 respectively, serve as the emotional core of the album. However, Cyrus doesn’t rely solely on the specifics of her past to captivate listeners. By infusing her experiences with ambiguity and universal emotions, she allows the album to resonate with a wider audience and speak to a broader sense of self.
Inspired by heartache and the pressures of her public persona, Miley Cyrus has made the bold choice to create an album in the rock-pop genre. This decision reflects the common ground between rock music and Cyrus’ own experiences. The rebellious and liberating nature of rock resonates with Cyrus as she navigates the aftermath of two significant relationships and attempts to establish her individuality within the music industry. Shedding the Hannah Montana image and the constraints that came with it allowed Cyrus the freedom to define herself as an artist. Her first post-Hannah Montana album, Bangerz, showcased her newfound independence within the pop genre. Miley Cyrus Her Dead Petz further cemented her fearless lifestyle through its psychedelic sound. Now, with Plastic Hearts, Cyrus enters a new chapter of her life, one that defies being defined solely by her relationship status. This album evokes the essence of her past loves, setting the stage with a melancholic and solitary aura reminiscent of a rock concert’s cool, blue lights.
The album itself is deeply rooted in the musical styles of the late 20th century. The energetic singles on the album maintain a persistent presence through the use of bold ’80s-style drums, while the inclusion of electric guitars and raw vocals bring a certain ’90s rock influence to the overall piece. Adding another layer of complexity, Cyrus’s Nashville roots shine through in the meticulously layered vocals found in the album’s ballads, particularly noticeable in the captivating track “High.” This hidden complexity often goes unnoticed, but it plays a crucial role in her body of work.
However, this album is not solely characterized by its rock anthems. Cyrus effortlessly weaves together both energetic and slow-paced songs, seemingly without conscious thought, resulting in a collection that invites simultaneous dancing and crying. The juxtaposition of these contrasting musical styles creates a unique listening experience.
The collaborations with other vocalists on the album showcase Cyrus’s diverse range of sound influences. The inclusion of legendary rock and pop icons like Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and Billy Idol seamlessly blends their voices with Cyrus’s own, blurring the lines between who is singing on certain tracks. It becomes an enjoyable challenge to determine whether it’s Nicks or Cyrus’s voice on “Edge of Midnight,” or if it’s Jett or Cyrus on “Bad Karma.” This merging of generations and blending of voices highlights the significance of Cyrus’s vocal talent in today’s music landscape.
Dua Lipa, a contemporary artist, brings her own unique blend of ’80s and disco influences to her music, as evident in her popular tracks “Don’t Start Now” and “Break My Heart.” This fusion of classic and modern artists serves as the foundation for Miley Cyrus to explore different directions on her album, allowing her the freedom to experiment.
The album revolves around a central theme, focusing on heartbreak and the search for self-worth in the eyes of others. This theme connects the energetic tracks like “High,” “Hate Me,” and “Never Be Me” with the emotional ballads. These songs highlight Cyrus’s struggle with how others perceive her, as well as her own internal battles of self-doubt. With tracks like “Golden G String,” “Bad Karma,” and “Night Crawling,” Cyrus delves into the emptiness of her public persona and her attempts to find solace and pleasure in her chaotic lifestyle. This album showcases a new side of Cyrus, expressing her anger and self-discovery after a past relationship, truly embracing her evolution as an artist.
The concept of reinvention in Miley Cyrus’s latest album also brings attention to the double standards faced by female artists in the music industry. Taylor Swift, in her documentary “Miss Americana,” highlights the unrealistic expectations placed on women in the industry and how they are often forced to constantly reinvent themselves in order to survive. Cyrus’s transformation on “Plastic Hearts” reflects her own personal growth and signifies her defiance against these expectations. The album not only represents a reinvented Cyrus but also emphasizes the perfect harmony between Cyrus and the rock genre.
In summary, “Plastic Hearts” is a unique and authentic reflection of Miley Cyrus’s current stage in life, where she fearlessly embraces the rock genre. It not only showcases her musical evolution but also sheds light on the challenges faced by female artists in the industry. This album proves that Cyrus was destined to explore the world of rock music, and her reimagined sound is a testament to her artistry and resilience.
