Pop icon Miley Cyrus released a new 10-track album on Friday, September 17, coinciding with a move to Atlantic Records. The launch is paired with a series of live performances at the Hollywood Bowl featuring a post-punk opening act.
The strategic shift from Columbia to Atlantic Records
Miley Cyrus has officially transitioned her professional home, moving from Columbia to Atlantic Records earlier this year. This label switch is accompanied by a striking branding decision: the artist has dropped her surname for the promotion of this latest project. By rebranding simply as "Miley," the singer appears to be signaling a new chapter in her career, distancing herself from previous iterations of her public persona.
This move follows a pattern of artistic evolution that has seen the singer pivot through various genres over the last decade. According to the report, the shift to Atlantic Records coincides with a desire to blend her pop legacy with more contemporary sensibilities, though the exact terms of the new label deal remain undisclosed.
'Orbiter' and the sonic range of the 10-track set
The new 10-track album, which Miley Cyrus co-wrote and produced, explores a wide spectrum of sounds ranging from dance-pop to vulnerable ballads. The project opens with "Neon Lights," a track that the report describes as having an ABBA-like groove, though critics noted the song meanders during its spoken bridges. The lead single, "Bass Persuades," is framed as a club-centric effort, though some reviewers felt it failed to reach its full potential.
Despite some unevenness, the album finds its emotional center in "Orbiter." This electric piano ballad is highlighted as a showcase for the singer's vocal power,featuring primal and tidal imagery that provides a personal touch to the record. The collection concludes with "Snow," a dreamy ballad characterized by twinkling synths and a chilled atmosphere.
Model/Actriz and the Hollywood Bowl live showcase
To support the release, Miley Cyrus has scheduled two live shows at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend... These performances are designed to bring the dynamism of the studio recordings to a live stage, emphasizing the high-energy tracks that define the album's dance-pop elements.
The concerts will feature the Brooklyn-based post-punk quartet Model/Actriz as the opening act.. Model/Actriz is not merely a touring partner but also a featured artist on the album itself. The production of the record was a collaborative effort involving a deep roster of talent, including Andrew Wyatt, Kid Harpoon, Maxx Morando, Michael Pollack, and The Monsters & Strangerz.
The 'Flowers' influence and lyrical unevenness
A significant portion of the album attempts to recaptue the commercial magic of previous hits. As the report says, the track "REDLIGHTS" aims for a slow-disco vibe reminiscent of the singer's 2017 smash "Flowers." However, this attempt has met with mixed reviews, with critics claiming the song lacks a strong vocal hook and suffers from clumsy songwriting.
This friction between ambition and execution is a recurring theme in the critical reception of the project. While tracks like "Let's go" utilize menacing synth riffs reminiscent of early 80s hits, some reviewers argue that the lyrics often fall short of the emotional depth promised by the production. The result is a project that showcases immense vocal range but struggles with consistency in its writing.
The reasoning behind dropping the Cyrus surname
While the shift to Atlantic Records is a matter of public record, the motivation behind dropping the "Cyrus" surname remains an open question. It is unclear if this is a permanent identity shift or a temporary promotional tactic specifically for this album cycle.
Furthermore, the report focuses heavily on the critical consensus of the music, but it does not include a direct response from the label or the artist regarding the specific criticisms of "uneven" songwriting. Whether this rebrand is a creative liberation or a marketing pivot will likely become clearer as the Hollywood Bowl shows unfold.
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