Very long time followers of Miley Cyrus will understand that her newest album One thing Lovely is a distinct report for her from its first minutes. Beginning with a prelude, like a prog rock epic, is one thing new for the singer nearing her twentieth 12 months as one of the fascinating huge pop stars. The intro observe guarantees one thing grand and arty with its distorted, digital sound that remembers Icelandic singer Bjork.

So it goes for many of One thing Lovely, which makes an attempt a grand sound and largely succeeds at it. Cyrus has claimed the album is an idea report, and has namechecked Pink Floyd’s The Wall as an affect, however any form of idea just isn’t obvious on the primary few listens.

As an alternative, what listeners have is a reasonably good dance-pop-rock report that has some uncommon twists and turns that mark it out as one thing atypical. The title observe begins off as jazzy ballad, earlier than it all of a sudden swerves into jagged artwork broken saxophone and guitar solos. There’s a little bit of King Crimson in there, which isn’t one thing one would anticipate from the singer behind “Flowers” and “We Can’t Cease”.

The most effective side of Miley Cyrus’ discography is that she is a musical chameleon who has hopped between types over the course of her profession. “Flowers” and “We Can’t Cease” themselves are two very disparate songs from the identical artist. Her curiosity in experimenting along with her sound and persona is one thing that has been core to her attraction since she broke freed from the Disney machine.

Nonetheless, “One thing Lovely” the tune is one thing completely different and discordant, and undoubtedly piqued the ears of music snobs who usually paid no thoughts to Cyrus. There’s additionally the matter of the all-star listing of collaborators she’s working with on this album which might be largely from the indie rock world. Foxygen’s Jonathan Rado who produced virtually all the album. Different tracks characteristic contributions from the likes of Adam Granduciel of The Struggle on Medicine, Molly Rankin and Alec O’Hanley of Alvvays, Cole Haden of Mannequin/Actriz, Brittany Howard of The Struggle on Medicine, Danielle Haim of Haim, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek. There’s additionally appearances from session bassist extraordinaire Pino Palladino and Flea of the Crimson Scorching Chili Peppers.

“Finish of the World”, the wonderful second single from the album, is the place Rankin and O’Hanley’s contributions might be finest heard. The tune isn’t as experimental as “One thing Lovely.” As an alternative, it’s a splendidly catchy ABBA-esque dance pop quantity with dreamy overtones and a killer refrain. You possibly can hear the sonic fingerprints of Rankin and O’Hanley on the melody construction and the backing vocals which might be supplied by Rankin herself. “The Finish of World” just isn’t an Alvvays tune with Cyrus on lead vocals, because the Canadian band has by no means gotten this disco earlier than. As an alternative, the principle affect is clearly Voulez-Vous and Tremendous Trouper period ABBA and their melancholic European pop. It’s an actual gem that units up the album as balancing on a high-quality line between sonic experiments and pure pop music.

Sadly, the album fumbles its spectacular begin rapidly on “Extra to Lose.” The tune is a boring, uninteresting ballad that saps the vitality from the primary two tracks. It’s so boring that it makes you ponder whether you need spend 40 extra minutes with this report. “Extra to Lose” is unremarkable, and it ought to’ve been buried on the again half as a substitute of at observe 4.

One thing Lovely recovers with “Simple Lover”, a strutting smooth rock tune recalling Stevie Nicks the place Brittany Howard is her primarily musical collaborator. The tune was purported to be one in every of Cyrus’ contributions to Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter, and you might be left with the query of what may have been whenever you discover out who was purported to be singing on this tune. Cyrus and her collaborators do a superb job turning this right into a pure solo quantity. The tune’s largest highlights are Howard’s guitar and Sara Watkin’s fiddle as a lot as Cyrus.

The remainder of the album continues on an uneven, however largely strong observe. “Golden Burning Solar” is a superbly respectable if unmemorable tune that has a bouncy psychedelic synthpop sound buoyed by Nick Zinner’s wilting guitars.

Regardless of all of the indie rock collaborators, One thing Lovely is is firmly an digital pop album with experimental overtones. On the again-half of the report, it hops round Nineteen Eighties and early ’90s dance traits, together with the Hello-NRG of “Stroll of Fame” and the ballroom home of “Each Woman You’ve Ever Beloved”. These songs are enjoyable and energetic, and it’s fascinating to listen to Molly Rankin sing backing vocals on a disco tune like she does on “Each Woman”, which she co-wrote.

Whereas One thing Lovely has some good highs, the lows on the album like “Extra to Lose” and the forgettable nearer “Give Me Love” maintain it again from its full potential. It’s nonetheless one in every of Cyrus’ finest albums alongside Plastic Hearts and marks a brand new chapter in her style-hopping excursions. One thing Lovely is a enjoyable night pay attention the place the most effective moments outweigh its missteps.