Album Review: "Something Beautiful" - Miley Cyrus
- Victoria Fitzgerald
- Jun 5
- 6 min read
“Something Beautiful”, released on May 30th, 2025, is Miley Cyrus’ ninth studio album. The album was released by Columbia Records and will be accompanied by a musical film that is to be released on June 6th, 2025. This visual album deals with various existential themes and is centered around finding light in the darkness and healing from the past. Cyrus is the executive producer of this album along with Shawn Everett. This album features the works of a variety of musicians and has earned praise from various media critics.
TRACKLIST
Prelude
Something Beautiful
End of the World
More to Lose
Interlude 1
Easy Lover
Interlude 2
Golden Burning Sun
Walk of Fame (Feat. Brittany Howard)
Pretend You're God
Every Girl You've Ever Loved (Feat. Naomi Campbell)
Reborn
Give Me Love
Miley Cyrus was born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23rd, 1999. She is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and began her career in childhood as the main character of Disney show “Hannah Montana”. Cyrus’ solo career began in 2007 with her album “Meet Miley Cyrus”. Soon after was the release of “Breakout” and “Time of Our Lives” in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Through this strong start she was able to establish herself as a solid musician as she explored various musical brands and identities while still producing songs and art of quality.
Prelude
The first track “Prelude” enters with repeated arpeggios. The percussion enters, and with the synths create a bouncy sound. A dramatic bass hit signals the entrance of the “lyrics”, which are closer to spoken poetry. Eloquent words combined with the intense instrumental create a beautifully mysterious atmosphere. The ending is epic and enticing, with emotional melodies on synths and dramatic percussive hits. This track is a fantastic introduction to the album, as Cyrus pushes the boundaries of
her artistry.
Something Beautiful
The title track of the album evokes the style of RnB. There’s a groovy bass and melodic synth, along with brief interjections from a strings section. The instrumental is rather simple at the beginning, but Cyrus’ vocals are powerful in conveying the emotions behind the song. A saxophone enters in the pre-chorus, adding an exciting element teasing what’s to come. The chorus slams in its arrival. There’s an almost metal sound to the chorus. Perfectly complementing the lyrics of an all-consuming love, the sudden arrival of the chorus is reminiscent of a sudden arrival and disruption in your life. The RnB instrumental returns for the verse, with the metal instrumental being layered over the bass as the track closes out.
End of the World
This track begins with an exciting guitar melody and percussive grooves underneath vocalizations. With its major key and exciting tempo, it has an upbeat tone. This song is about urging someone to live in the moment and take risks. It is optimistic in nature and encourages the receiver of the song to live life to its absolute fullest. The instrumental is vaguely repetitive, and an extra melody enters in the second chorus. The bridge starts exciting then calms down, before returning to the excitement for the final chorus where the original melody is layered on top of the melody introduced in the second chorus.
More to Lose
“More to Lose” begins with long string and guitar melodies, and the introduction is wistful in nature. Underneath the first verse is the piano playing the chord progression. The vocals carry an emotional and reflective tone as they describe the pain of losing someone you love and being haunted by the memories while grappling with their decision to leave. The vulnerability in the lyrics is reflected in the more acoustic nature of the instrumentals compared to that of the rest of the album. In the bridge are emotional adlibs proceeding a modulation that creates a fantastically moving effect in the final chorus.
Interlude 1
As we arrive at the first interlude, we are met immediately with a wonderfully unique soundscape. The introduction begins with a mysterious string melody with interjecting percussive and synthetic tracks. The impact is almost unsettling while also drawing the listener in deeper. Eventually the introduction transitions into an exciting instrumental track that layers the unconventional sounds in a masterfully tasteful way.
The song ends on synths as transitions into the next track.
Easy Lover
“Easy Lover” has a groovy bass on top of a steady percussion. This song tells the story of a connection that is exciting but almost bad for you. It brings fun and interesting occurrences to your life, but the connection is not easy to maintain either due to the other person's lack of emotional availability or steadiness. The addictive nature of this relationship is captured in the catchy tune that will have you nodding along the entire time. The vocals themselves are impressive and powerful and are reflective of Cyrus’ technical abilities.
Interlude 2
The second interlude circles back around to the unsettling feeling present within “Interlude 1” while expanding about that feeling with new sounds. It begins with distorted arpeggios that are joined by a swift and intimidating percussion. After this has been established enters a distorted arp melody. The melody is ornamented upon, but remains just as mysterious and enticing. Synth chords underneath that melody drive the track back to the ending statement.
Golden Burning Sun
“Golden Burning Sun” is a song about wanting to love someone and treat them well. It tells the story of vulnerability that is the undertone to all relationships. Each involved party must be vulnerable and open with each other if the relationship is to work. An intense synth lies underneath piano melodies and emotional vocals. Eventually a grooving percussion and guitar melody replace the instrumental as the lyrics delve into an aspirational future with another person. Glittery synths drive the track to a short bridge before returning to the final chorus.
Walk of Fame (Feat. Brittany Howard)
This song features Alabaman singer-songwriter Brittany Howard. “Walk of Fame” begins with choppy synths that drive the chord progression underneath impressive vocalizations by Howard. Just as a percussion beat begins, so does Cyrus with the first verse. The dance groove is complemented by confidence-driven lyrics, creating a track that makes listeners want to strut. There are light hints of Cyrus discussing the struggles within fame and receiving attention, but there is also an overwhelming essence of optimism as she talks about walking with pride in spite of issues or anxieties.
Pretend You're God
Pretend You’re God” begins with isolated vocals layered atop thin instrumentation. Eventually percussion tracks enter the mix as well. The lyrics are a story of wanting someone so desperately to stay and protect and take care of you. It is indicative of an almost religious devotion to a person. Synths contribute to the ethereal atmosphere, creating a presence of something powerful but delicate. The ending verses describe the feeling of losing someone like this, and how it feels as if you have lost part of your soul or identity.
Every Girl You've Ever Loved (Feat. Naomi Campbell)
This song features British fashion model, actress, and philanthropist Naomi Campbell. Immediately this track enters with an exciting bang, as it sounds off with a trumpet melody and an upbeat percussion track enters with the verse. This song depicts working to get someone you want in spite of them fighting the commitment. The chord progression is presented by an exciting piano under the chorus, with Campbell on adlibs. Lyrics develop the story more, discussing the experience of knowing you can give someone what they need and wondering why they won’t accept it. They simply just don’t want to give you what you want. The ending has bouncy synths and exciting ad libs that create the feeling of dancing in the club.
Reborn
“Reborn” starts with echoey synths and the return of spoken poetry lyrics before returning to Cyrus’ impressive vocals. This track is about an intense and spiritual connection. Synths develop a melody as Cyrus tells her story. She wants to merge her life with the recipient of this song and desires the feeling of growing through and around someone. Although repetitive, this song is spectacularly moving.
Give Me Love
“Give Me Love” depicts the all-consuming nature of love. There is a guitar introduction as well as chords on deep synths. On top of this moment interjects a momentary flute melody. There is an almost gentle feeling of the instrumental that lies underneath the poetic and eloquent lyricism of this closing song, leaving listeners reflective and satisfied.
My favorite track off of this album has to be “Prelude”. I think the artistic leaps Cyrus takes in this entire album is very refreshing to see from a mainstream artist. Miley Cyrus has been a household name for over a decade, and I love seeing this kind of art released on such a large scale. I feel as though this makes more art forms more accessible to wider audiences as such a large audience is releasing it. If there was any doubt about Cyrus’ artistic growth and development, she has effectively squashed them with this release.
Written By Victoria Fitzgerald
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
