Album Review: Endless Summer Vacation | Miley Cyrus
Miley takes us though her own "Eras" in her latest LP.
In 2020, it felt like Miley Cyrus had finally arrived at a perfect music destination. Her album Plastic Hearts was a departure from all the other genres she’d dabbled in, with an edgier, rock sound. This sound worked well for Cyrus and felt like a place she could master and own for the rest of her career. But, in very Miley Cyrus “Can’t Be Tamed” fashion, she once again departed the station to head back on her musical journey for a new sound on her latest record released in March, Endless Summer Vacation.
Genre-wise, this album is all over the place. It touches on everything else that Miley has done historically. Songs like Jaded, Rose Colored Lenses, and Thousand Miles feel partially reminiscent of Wrecking Ball/The Climb/Malibu/Angels Like You-Miley, and partially more mature versions of Hannah Montana tracks. Then, tracks like Muddy Feet, Violet Chemistry, and River feel ripped out of Bangerz (they are produced by Mike Will-Made It, go figure).
Of course, we can’t forget the goliath-smash-hit-radio-staple-streaming-behemoth lead single, Flowers. This song went incredibly viral and broke the record for the most-streamed song in a single week on Spotify (115M).
Due to its unprecedented success, this album was doomed to try and launch a successful second or third single. Flowers was just too big. Successive attempts River (peaked at #32), and Jaded (peaked at #56) were cannibalized by Flowers. This is a shame because a good chunk of the songs on this album is a lot better than Flowers.
Normally, Miley is EVERYWHERE when she’s promoting her album. But she seems to be taking the “letting the music speak for itself approach” this album cycle, which is unfortunate for the level of greatness this record holds. The Endless Summer Vacation Backyard Sessions on Disney+ was the extent of the promo for this album so far.
Despite Miley’s cool-festival-girly reputation she developed in the past couple of years, Endless Summer Vacation has yet to see a tour announcement which is odd considering how talented of a performer she is; every cover she does immediately spawns across the internet as a testament.
Here’s hoping for a Vol 2, to keep the endless summer vacation even more endless!
Can’t Miss: Jaded, Flowers, Violet Chemistry
You Can Skip: Muddy Feet
BY THE NUMBERS
Bennett’s Score: 6.3
Carson’s Score: 7.7
Album Score: 13.5
Average Track Score: 7
Jaded received a perfect score of 11 from Carson.
Notes from Bennett:
I don't want to get a single text about my score on this album. It’s fun, it’s experimental, it has excellent clean production and good songwriting; it lacks engagement for me in places.
ESV is madly front-loaded. I’m fully there for tracks 1-6 (mostly, sorry Brandi Carlile). But everything post-River doesn’t scratch my Miley itch. It’s clear to me that Miley is taking more musical risks on the later tracks on ESV, making more creative decisions. While that’s great, the back half of this album sounds like rough demos and ideas that Miley could have refined to fit the pop sound she established in tracks 1-6, but doesn’t. Maybe it’s just not for me.
I do want to say I am in love with & impressed with the vocal performances on ESV, Chorus on Jaded, You, and the pre-choruses on Rose-Colored Lenses are fire. Miley is incredible and manages to sound new, interesting, and fresh despite her lengthy career, an impressive task.
Notes from Carson:
The bridge on Violet Chemistry is the best part of this album. Don’t skip that.
Miley must have taken some classes from the Taylor Swift school of silencing your featuring artists (feat. MORE Lana Del Rey) since Sia & Brandi Carlile can BARELY be heard on this album.
I’m so sad she abandoned the rock sound she had on Plastic Hearts. I really hope we will get more of that from her down the road.
Not kidding I listened to Jaded every day for what felt like a month on my 8am drive to the gym to get me amped. It’s so good.
Flowers is probably the most clever response and interpolation of a major pop song we’ve seen of late. THIS is how you sample and take inspiration but bring your own perspective to it. Claps to Miley.
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