STARS: 4.5/5
Miley Cyrus’ vintage pop soundtrack “Younger Now” takes fans back in time to the Nashville native’s roots and creates a sound that was seemingly always meant for her.
Cyrus’ vocals pair phenomenally with the country, free-spirit sound of her newest release. We already had an idea of the style she was going for with early singles “Malibu,” “Inspired” and “Younger Now,” all songs that reflect her signature Miley country twang.
“Younger Now” represents the ongoing theme of the album with its chorus, especially the line “Change is a thing you can count on.” Not only has Cyrus changed drastically since her twerking days, but so has the world around her. Change can be scary, but Cyrus makes light out of it in this song.
“Even though it’s not who I am,” Cyrus sings. “I’m not afraid of who I used to be.”
“Rainbowland” is easily the most country-infused song on the record. The song features Cyrus’ godmother and country music legend, Dolly Parton. The song starts off with a pre-recorded voicemail of Parton talking about how excited she is to sing with Cyrus.
Parton’s high pitched sound meshes well with Cyrus’ raspy, deep vocals. “If we try, we could really make a difference in this world,” Cyrus sings. The song is about making a change in a world full of hate, a perfect representation of what both Cyrus and Parton believe in and stand for.
“Miss You So Much” is the most emotional song on “Younger Now.” Upon first listen audiences may assume it was written about Cyrus’ relationship with fiance Liam Hemsworth, but Cyrus confirmed on Twitter she wrote the song about a close friend who recently passed away.
The meaning behind the song’s lyrics present an uplifting thought for anyone who has lost a family member or friend, and you can hear the raw emotion in Cyrus’ voice as she sings.
The lone disappointment of the album is that it doesn’t have any songs where Cyrus really belts it out, similar to her hit “Wrecking Ball.” However, it wouldn’t have worked well with the laid-back, free-thinker vibe style she was going for.
Cyrus’ music is real and pure, which is why her fans love her. She writes her own songs and sings straight from the heart, and you can hear that in “Younger Now” more than any of her previous work.
Listen to “Younger Now” below.
