Miley and Justin—an instructive study in contrasts
CYRUS AND TIMBERLAKE. Release fourth solo albums.
With the notable exception of Ryan Gosling, many of Disney’s former child performers are finding it difficult to be taken seriously as screen actors, like Britney Spears (“Crossroads”), Christina Aguilera (“Burlesque”), Selena Gomez (“Getaway”), Justin Timberlake (“Runner Runner”) and Miley Cyrus (“The Last Song”)—but, they certainly know how to entertain.
Timberlake and Cyrus are an instructive study in contrasts: The former may have gotten good reviews for his portrayal of Facebook’s first president (and Napster cofounder), Sean Parker, but he has found neither commercial nor critical acclaim in most of his other film projects, like “Bad Teacher,” “The Love Guru” and the recent “Runner Runner.”
His recording career is another story: Barely seven months after his exceptional third solo album, “The 20/20 Experience,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, its followup, “The 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2,” also bows on top of the pop chart this week!
But, while the album has musical gems (like the Rod Temperton-channeling lead single, “Take Back The Night,” and the exquisite, falsetto-laced “You Got It On”) that are guaranteed to keep Justin’s followers grooving, there are tracks that lose steam less than halfway through their running time. They’re simply too long, like the otherwise serviceable “Amnesia” and “Only When I Walk Away”—both inexplicably breaching the seven-minute mark!
Unfortunately, neither is as catchy as the first edition’s “Mirrors” or “Let The Groove Get In.” They aren’t bad, that’s for sure—but, they feel indulgent and could benefit from judicious editing.
Aside from “Take Back The Night,” the funky album opener, “Gimme What I Don’t Know (I Want)” and Timberlake’s duets with Drake (“Cabaret”) and Jay-Z (“Murder”) are spin-worthy tunes.
As a bonus, look for “Pair of Wings,” the gorgeous acoustic ballad “hidden” in the album that Justin sings with much love and conviction! The 32-year-old singer doesn’t rely on gimmicks to drum up interest for his songs—he lets his music do the talking!
‘Bangerz’
For her part, after failing to make a dent in the movies (“So Undercover,” “Lol”), Miley Cyrus is doing everything to stay in the spotlight. She’s very much in the news now—but, for all the wrong reasons! In fact, her music has taken a backseat to her salacious twerking and outrageous antics, not to mention her less-than-amiable breakup with Liam Hemsworth and her nasty word war with Sinead O’Connor.
But, the 20-year-old former Disney princess is leaving no stone unturned to guarantee the success of her fourth studio album, “Bangerz.” She characterizes her raunchy performances and penchant for profanity as “part of growing up,” and her fans call her provocative, new image her “emancipation” from the squeaky-clean persona of “Hannah Montana.” Instead, what she has “achieved” is to turn herself into an object of ridicule—which is a pity, because “Bangerz” isn’t a bad album.
Cyrus’ “dirty south hip-hop” fuses fascinating elements of pop (the hook-heavy first single, “We Can’t Stop,” “Adore You”), rap (“SMS”), country (the gorgeously rendered “My Darlin’,” with Future), R&B, and even hints of gospel (“Maybe You’re Right”), as she references her romantic upheavals (“Drive”) and sneeringly quashes her wholesome image (“Do My Thang”):
In “SMS (Bangerz),” Miley more than holds her own in a smashing rap-off with Britney Spears. In the revelatory synthpop closer, “Someone Else,” she sings: “If you’re looking for love, it doesn’t live here anymore/ He left with my heart.”
The controversial “Wrecking Ball” is also about a failed relationship: “All I wanted was to break your wall/ All you ever did was break me/ I never meant to start a war/ I just wanted you to let me in/ I guess I should have let you win.”
