Story by Kaitlyn McFall, Reporter
Photo courtesy of People.com

Personally, I have not been a huge fan of Miley Cyrus since Disney’s “Hannah Montana” ended. While I have spent the past few years listening to a variety of musical artists, Miley never appeared on my list of favorites; however, I have to say that her new album, “Younger Now,” is absolutely fantastic.

Many people are aware of Miley’s risky musical habits. Whether it is the theme of the music video or the topic of the song itself, she is not afraid to speak her mind and share her opinions with the world. While this album also incorporates a variety of topics, such as the highs and lows of love, it features a more raw and authentic tone that differs from her previous albums, which I enjoyed immensely. Each of the songs features simple lyrics, vocals and instrumentals, which enhances the overall tone of the album. I think Miley’s decision to create an album that digs deeper into her character was an incredibly genius stylistic choice, and it was refreshing to see.

This album, in a way, is formatted like a diary. Miley utilizes an incredibly candid and genuine tone as she sings about her past: the exhilaration of falling in love, the pain of falling out of love and her journey of coming to terms with her identity. This was fascinating to witness because musical artists tend to be hesitant to include such introspective themes as those found in this album.

The first song, “Younger Now,” which shares the same name as the album itself, touches on Miley’s past and how she is embracing her old self as she transitions into who she is now. The chorus adds to the overall message of the song: “No one stays the same / You know what goes up must come down / Change is a thing you can count on / I feel so much younger now.” These lyrics touch on Miley’s opinions of her journey through life so far. While she has grown into a different person, she continues to hold on to who she used to be, which I think is very admirable.

The second song on the album, “Malibu,” acts as a sort of love letter to her fiancé, Liam Hemsworth. The song alludes to their split in 2013 and transitions into the rekindling of their relationship. “Malibu” holds an overall upbeat and fun, pop song feel while also incorporating an emotional message. The song concludes with a beautiful outro, “Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning / And you’re here to save me / And I wanna thank you with all of my heart / It’s a brand new start / A dream come true in Malibu.” While I greatly enjoyed each song on the album, I think “Malibu” takes the cake as being my favorite.

While many of the songs on the album incorporate slower, more acoustic songs, such as “I Would Die for You” and “She’s Not Him,” the album also includes tracks with a more lighthearted and buoyant feel to them. “Thinkin’” and “Love Someone” feature upbeat melodies through the inclusion of more instruments and a faster tempo. I found the juxtaposition of these two styles to be very appealing and fun; you are sure to find a favorite song on this album.

I was pleasantly surprised by Miley Cyrus’ new album, “Younger Now,” and I definitely plan on listening to it a few (or dozen) more times. I highly recommend this album, and I think old and new fans of Miley will enjoy her unique style.