Joan Jett
#REVIEW: MILEY CYRUS – “PLASTIC HEARTS”
Miley Cyrus’ seventh album is PLASTIC HEARTS has proven well worth the wait after several teases of a new era to come. While it’s a tragedy that first single, the outstanding MIDNIGHT SKY didn’t chart higher than it deserved, it also is no shame that it peaked within the Top 10 of the Canadian Hot 100 and Top 20 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. A phenomenal mash-up of Steve Nicks’ Edge of Seventeen recently was released giving the single a bit of new life, appearing on the digital version of the Album.
Cyrus pairs with Grammy-nominated Producer Andrew Watt on this collection which leans to the early-mid ’80s for inspiration in its range of gritty Dance Pop-Rock to earthy Rock Ballads. In addition to Nicks‘ help, she enlists the legends with Dua Lipa, Joan Jett and Billy Idol (who celebrates his 65th birthday today!) all making appearances. Coming out of a break-up, Cyrus‘ inspiration is fueled and she’s definitely got something to say here. Case in point, Midnight Sky lyrics: “See his hands ’round my waist/thought you’d never be replaced, baby/Ooh, you know it’s true, yeah”.
Current single Prisoner featuring Dua Lipa interpolates Olivia Newton-John’s Physical, and also sounds like it could’ve been a track from the collaborator’s sublime Future Nostalgia album. We’re here for this retro-glam-rock aesthetic.
No one pens a jam about heartbreak like Ryan Tedder and turning to him for help on guitar Rock Ballad Angels Like You, proves a great choice. She tackles being in some dark places emotionally, singing to a failed love with self-awareness, “I brought you down to your knees/’Cause they say that misery loves company”.
Cyrus hinted at turning to Britney Spears for inspiration on this collection and that can be heard on the seductive and self-assured Gimme What I Want. Once again, she sings of these dark places her mind resides, clear she isn’t looking for love right now: “Self-inflicted torture/You don’t have to ask/I just need a lover/So gimme what I want or I’ll give it to myself”.
Billy Idol contribution Night Crawling is an expression of unapologetic badness, the Track sounding like something right out of his catalog of Arena Glam-Rock, complete with his signature call-out, “Come on!”. Yeah!
Some of these sentiments are echoed on playful Joan Jett collabo Bad Karma. Cyrus spells-out her infidelity clearly on “You thinkin’ that I’m sleepin’ when I’m creepin’ in the night/They say it’s bad karma when you live a double life”. Can’t fault a girl for being consistent because the listening experience is cohesive here. We’re getting Adele-Rumour-Has-It vibes.
The Rock Ballad Never Be Me, co-written with Mark Ronson, manages to be heartfelt and affecting, with an edge. Cyrus bares her soul, putting everything on the table in the most authentic way. She sings, “But if you’re looking for stable/That’ll never be me/If you’re looking for faithful, that’ll never be me”.
Cyrus comments on the state of America and institutional patriarchy on closing track Golden G String. “The old boys hold all the cards and they ain’t playin’ gin/You dare to call me crazy/Have you looked around this place?”. Fun aside and that is the spirit of Plastic Hearts, this is Cyrus‘ true Singer-Songwriter moment.
It is hard not to love this latest effort from Cyrus. It shows confidence, gumption and artistry, validating exactly why it is we haven’t stopped caring about Miley. We can’t stop and we won’t stop. Hoping we get out of this Pandemic and get a Plastic Hearts Tour! One of 2020’s finest albums.
Plastic Hearts is available now in stores and digitally. Buy here.
#SUNDANCE18: SUNDANCE 2018 – JANUARY 21, 2018 DAY FOUR RECAP
It’s day four of the Sundance Film Festival and we are in full flight!
There were many Premieres once again tonight in Park City. I Think We’re Alone Now takes place during an apocalypse where a recluse feels the threat of companionship when finding out there is a second survivor. It stars Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning. BLAZE is the reimagining of the life of Blaze Foley who was the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas Outlaw Music Movement. It is written and directed by Ethan Hawke and stars recent Golden Globe winner Sam Rockwell, Edgar Arreola and Alia Shawkat. Come Sunday follows pastor Carlton Pearson during a crisis in faith where he risks everything when he questions the Church Doctrine, it is based on true events. It stars Chiwetel Ejifor, Jason Segel and Danny Glover. The Happy Prince is set during Oscar Wilde’s final days. It is starring, written and directed by a long-absent Rupert Everett and stars Colin Firth and Emily Watson. The Miseducation of Cameron Post takes place in 1993 and follows a girl who is sent to a Conversion Therapy Centre when she is caught kissing another girl. It stars Chloë Grace Moretz and Sasha Lane. And Piercing which is a twisted love story about a married man who goes away on a business trip with the intent of murdering a prostitute, who also has plans of her own. It stars Christopher Abbot and Mia Wasikowska.
Down on Main Street in Park City, there were tons of stars out getting lunch, attending parties and press stops. Some of the stars spotted out on the street were Joan Jett, Idris Elba, Debra Messing, John Cho, Joel McHale, Chloë Grace Mortez and more. It was also a special day for Bill Skarsgård (It), who is at the Festival with Assassination Nation, he received the IMDb StarMeter Award.
This wraps-up the first weekend of the Festival. But there is still an entire week ahead with more stars coming into Park City and plenty more Films to be screened.
See some stars out and about today! Hover cursor left and right to navigate slideshow:
(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)
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