Miley Cyrus released her eighth album, “Endless Summer Vacation,” on March 10.  The album contains her previously released single, “Flowers,” and guest artists Brandi Carlile and Sia. I wanted to highlight some of the pieces that she released that were most impactful to me. The following is the listed order of the songs in the album: “Flowers,” “Jaded,” “Rose Colored Lenses,” “Thousand Miles” (feat. Brandi Carlile), “You,” “Handstand,” “River,” “Violet Chemistry,” “Muddy Feet” (feat. Sia), “Wildcard,” “Island,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Flowers” (Demo).

Cyrus’ first song featured on the album is her original single, “Flowers.” To read my review on this song visit the link here.

Her second song, “Jaded,” houses a very catchy beat with an exquisite buildup into the bridge. I especially love how Cyrus creates a strong image of her opinion towards this relationship, by singing, “I could’ve taken you places.” With these lyrics, she pushes the blame away from herself, reestablishing her own self worth, and declaring the conflict with the person as not her fault and also not her problem. Her personal empowerment that follows is enjoyable, along with the obvious maturity that has grown in her voice. Cyrus’ voice in both this song and the rest of the album is much more emotionally expressive and controlled then her prior albums. The bridge, as mentioned previously, was a slower and more thoughtful juxtaposition compared to the chorus. (A chorus that is very much a strong head banger that I will be screaming to in my car.) My only strife with the song is that I wished there was more buildup into the chorus.

“Thousand Miles” (feat. Brandi Carlile), the fourth in the album, has a beautiful push and pull aspect that adds a lot of texture to the album. Brandi Carlile is known as an alternative, self-taught, country musician. This creates a raw and somber duet, which is stunning. The harmonies are truly adding to the balance of the piece. The song seems to touch on Cyrus’ values of sisterhood, a very different relationship compared to “Flowers” or “Jaded.” It’s the perfect song for a late night trip when you’re homesick.

Number five, “You” (Not to be confused with the hit Netflix series), is a complete turnaround. It is emotional, yearning, and hungry. Her exposed lyrics where the music falls back is incredibly impactful, the soft beat in the background pairing nicely with the conflicting lyrics. “Dance in the wind just to do it again…But only if it’s with you.” I did not mind the codependency Cyrus was painting in her lyrics, as her tone was still very controlled and strong.

“Muddy Feet” (feat. Sia) was simply, for lack of a better word, powerful. I could not tell where Cyrus ended and Sia began. The transition and interweaving of their talents were perfectly done. The ninth addition to the album opened with a bang. Although the song is explicit, it was not unnecessary. The beat is loud and pressing, much like the lyrics. “Get the **** out of my house. You’re coming ‘round with your muddy feet.” The verses and bridge mellow out briefly, adding to the impact of the beat when it rejoins. I thoroughly appreciated “Muddy Feet”.

“Wonder Woman”, the last official release in the album, was not something I could fall in love with. While it is the most lyrical piece in the album, I felt like it was missing something. The song also did not match the energy that the other pieces were housing. “Wonder Woman” is not a bad song – Cyrus’ voice is very controlled and lyrical throughout, and the small piano supporting her is well written. However, I did not think that should have been the end to “Endless Summer Vacation.” 

Miley Cyrus has stolen my heart since I was a young girl and she will continue to hold her place with this album. Was it my favorite? No. But the journey and stories she is able to portray with her songwriting are delightful, and I am ashamed to admit that I have memorized the lyrics already (I regret nothing). Being able to see the growth of Cyrus’ musical career is such a pleasure, and I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to grow up with her work.