Miley Cyrus – "Something Beautiful." And, oh yes, mission accomplished.
Miley Cyrus' "Something Beautiful" is a 52-minute album that is both emotionally rich and sonically adventurous, representing one of the most intimate chapters of her career. By blending vulnerability with bold artistic experimentation, this album doesn't seek radio hits; rather, it strives for emotional resonance. Across thirteen tracks, Cyrus offers a meditation on themes such as healing, fame, femininity, grief, and the complex yet painful nature of love.
"Something Beautiful" is a musical project that also includes a film inspired by Pink Floyd's "The Wall," co-directed by Cyrus. Set for release in the U.S. on June 12 and internationally on June 27, the 55-minute film blends performance, fashion, and abstract vignettes into an emotionally charged journey. I can't wait to see it.
"Something Beautiful": The Sonic Experience
The album is a cohesive pop masterpiece that blends disco, soul, synth-pop, rock, and electronic styles. Each genre shift reflects a change in mood, whether it's a heartfelt piano ballad or an upbeat dance track, keeping the emotional impact front and center.
The title track, "Something Beautiful" is an introspective ballad that showcases Miley Cyrus at her most tender. Embracing vulnerability, the song features a haunting sincerity that feels both timeless and modern. With minimal yet rich instrumentation of piano and soft synths, her emotive vocals take center stage.
The lyrics paint a picture of someone caught between disillusionment and hope. There is a deep yearning to find meaning amid chaos, to hold onto light in the darkness. Lines like "Tell me something beautiful, yeah, about this world. When I'm in your palm, I'm like a pearl" reveal a quiet desperation that's relatable and poetic without being overwrought. Cyrus doesn't dramatize; she confesses.
"End of the World" – Euphoric Realism
With a beat that feels ready for a late-night drive or a glitter-drenched dance floor, "End of the World" is about love in the face of impermanence. It imagines the final moments of life as an excuse to live fearlessly and love harder. It is absolutely fantastic.
"Let's spend the dollars you've been savin' on a Mercedes-Benz.
And throw a party like McCartney with some help from our friends.
Let's go down to Malibu and watch the sun fade out once more
Show me how you'd hold me if tomorrow was coming for sure.
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world."
"More to Lose" – The Emotional Core
At the album's heart is "More to Lose," a gorgeously minimal track built around piano and strings. It's a lament for a relationship slipping away, full of restraint and resignation. Miley's voice cracks in all the right places —raw but never uncontrolled.
"I stay when the ecstasy is far away
And I pray that it's comin' 'round again
And you say it, 'I wish it wasn't true, oh'
I just thought we had more to lose."
"Easy Lover" – Nostalgia Meets Vulnerability
"Easy Lover" features a disco-infused groove and contemplative lyrics. Originally conceived during the "Plastic Hearts" era, it has been reimagined with emotional restraint. The rhythm is bright, but the sentiment is bruised.
"If I gave it all too easy, would you stay or disappear?
I'm not made to be an easy lover, but I still let you near."
"Walk of Fame" – Fame's Illusions
In "Walk of Fame," Cyrus examines the emptiness of celebrity culture, utilizing sharp synth-driven production and haunting harmonies courtesy of Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes. Her vocals occasionally remind me of Jimmy Somerville from Bronski Beat, which is a good thing!
"Every step I take is a picture, every breath a scene
Walking on this concrete stage, no one sees between
Glitter in the gutter, and I'm smiling through the shame
Every day another echo on the Walk of Fame."
"Every Girl You've Ever Loved" – Fluid Identity
This hypnotic, house-tinged track plays with persona and projection as Miley positions herself as every woman a lover has ever idealized. It's equal parts vulnerable and confrontational—a challenge to the idea of the "perfect" woman.
A major highlight is the appearance of supermodel Naomi Campbell, whose iconic voice delivers spoken-word lines like "Pose" with poised, icy elegance. Her presence transforms the song into something strangely theatrical — a commentary on femininity as both power and performance.
"I'm a little bit angel, I'm a little bit not
Come get under the one that you've been dreaming of
I'm every girl you've ever loved."
The result is one of the album's boldest moments: a hypnotic anthem that blends a disco confessional, a fashion fantasy, and a feminist critique.
"Give Me Love" – A Poetic Finale
Closing the album, "Give Me Love" is a haunting ballad that blends spiritual longing with earthly desire. Cyrus crafts a mythical landscape filled with temptation, her voice soaring over orchestral swells and a delicate guitar, pleading for connection.
"I imagine a place at the dawn of creation
A cityscape we paint in the dark
There's a tower that's made of risqué, rude temptation
Behind the curtain, terror awaits."
The repetition of the chorus — "Give me love, give me love, give me love" — feels like both a prayer and a surrender. It's a fitting end to an album that's as much about seeking as it is about finding.
"Something Beautiful" is not tidy. It's not perfect. I could do without the two one-minute "Interludes." But I won't complain to her over Instagram.
What it is, is honesty. There's beauty here, but it's tangled in pain, performance, and ambiguity. Cyrus doesn't deliver answers — she offers emotions in motion. Her voice, now a gravelly yet expressive instrument, anchors the entire experience.
This album marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. By embracing imperfection, Miley Cyrus sounds more complete than ever.
Chris Garrod, June 2, 2025
Source: Miley Cyrus – "Something Beautiful." And, oh yes, mission accomplished.
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