Review Roundup: Miley Cyrus - 'Bangerz'
Miley Cyrus has shocked and enraged with her live performances and music videos. Now the 20-year-old pop star faces her critics once again with Bangerz, her fourth and most provocative album yet.
The former Hannah Montana trades her electro-pop jams for an edgier hip-hop-inspired sound courtesy of hitmakers including Mike WiLL Made-It, Dr. Luke, Pharrell, and will.i.am, with appearances from Big Sean, French Montana, Nelly, Future, and Britney Spears.
Was Miley album to impress with her coming-of-age album? Find out what the critics are saying.
Entertainment Weekly: It’s also utterly fresh, a pop blitz from a hip-hop blueprint, and proof that Miley won’t settle for just shocking us. A-
Rolling Stone: Some skeptics—let’s call them haters—might argue that Cyrus isn’t wholly comfortable in her new dirty/crazy persona. But that’s part of the strange charm. 3.5/5
USA Today: [Bangerz] is exactly what they should have expected: a collection of competent, mostly generic tunes that juggle self-conscious sass with glimmers of earnestness. 2/4
Los Angeles Times: There’s plenty more provocation on Bangerz, which moves away from the glossy electro-pop sound of Cyrus’ earlier records toward a grittier, hip-hop-inspired vibe. 3/4
New York Daily News: The former Hannah Montana’s fourth album Bangerz continues the ex-Disney star’s attempt to shock, but the twerking twerp doesn’t pull off a decent tune. 2/5
PEOPLE: This edgier Cyrus, though, is never totally believable as a B-girl or a bad girl (see “FU”), and even if you check your brain, the mindlessness of “SMS (Bangerz)” with Britney Spears just feels plain silly. 3/4
The Boston Globe: If Cyrus would concentrate more on showcasing her music than trying to become the latest shock queen, perhaps we wouldn’t be shocked that Bangerz is a good album.
Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Adore You,” “We Can’t Stop,” “Wrecking Ball”