Miley Cyrus‘ album has officially been streamed in full as of Monday , and it’s definitely full of Bangerz (…not entirely sure what it means, but I hope I’m using it right because it sounds nice). But the 13-track compilation is also jam-packed with powerful (revealing and blunt) messages that are most likely about her ex fiancé, Liam Hemsworth. It debuted early on iTunes allowing ‘fans’ (if that’s what we are calling them) to stream the album in its entirety eight days before it’s available for purchase. The disc—which features collaborations with Bitney Spears, Nelly, Big Sean and others—is already proving to be as polarizing as the singer herself.
USA Today’s Elysa Gardner gives the album 2/4 stars and says it’s no surprise that Bangerz is “a collection of competent, mostly generic tunes that juggle self-conscious sass with glimmers of earnestness.” She does praise several tracks, however, including “#GETITRIGHT” and “Adore You.”
More reflective songs, such as “Someone Else” and “My Darlin'” show a softer side of Cyrus, according to Gardner. “After all this time, crying in public may come naturally to Cyrus. But in its predictable mediocrity, Bangerz gives her, and her followers, nothing to feel bad about.” she conludes.
The New York Daily News‘ Jim Farber gave Bangerz 2/5 stars. He says Cyrus’ latest effort feels like a “disjointed mess that seeks to provoke instead of delight.” Even when Farber gives Cyrus props, it feels like a backhanded compliment. “In the best hip-hop track, ‘4 X 4,’ she offers a guest shot from Nelly, who rides the beat with a musicality she can’t match,” he writes. “Whenever Miley goes for such raw sexual moments, it sounds nearly as forced as that MTV performance looked.” (Ouch, is all I have to say.)
Farber says the pop star “goes for fully earnest emotion” in several ballads, but adds that “at times it’s hard to determine her actual effect. There’s enough machinery tricking up her vocals to launch a mission to Mars.”
The song “FU” is somewhat out of place, in Farber’s opinion. He writes that the track “luxuriates in solid retro-pop, referencing the tragic grandeur of Dusty Springfield. In songs like this, you can hear the richer qualities in Miley’s voice that might be nurtured in a less cynical project.”
…I think I like Jim Farber from The New York Daily News…
Is Miley’s album even worth a listen? What do you guys think? Comment Below.