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33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Embarrassed to like this CD? No way..., July 22, 2008
Ok, so I'm 32 and have NO KIDS, yet I bought this album, much to the surprise of my husband. I admit I've watched my fair share of Hannah Montana episodes and I even have a Hannah Montana ringtone. Do I get flack about this from my oh-so-grown-up friends? You bet. Do I care? Not really. The truth is Miley Cyrus, dressed up as Hannah Montana or in her own persona, is adorable. She exudes a charm that has preteen girls and their moms alike captivated. She's somehow managed to suck me in, as well. I can't explain it, but I had to purchase this CD the day it was released.
Having already been hooked on 7 Things I was a little disappointed that none of the other tracks have quite the same infectiousness of her lead single. But that's not to say there isn't plenty worth listening to. The title track, Breakout, comes closest to 7 Things in energy and attitude and made me relive my high school days, longing for the freedom that only 3:30 knew. Miley is at her best here, embracing her youth and singing about what she should know well. Several of the other tracks, notably Full Circle and Bottom of the Ocean, showed an unexpected maturity - so much so that I was suprised to see her name amongst the writing credits. However, because of this maturity they felt a little disjointed. How could a 15 year old have anything worthwhile to say about heartbreak, after all? But you just have to remove yourself from the knowledge that this girl is so young and a product of Disney. Try telling yourself that this is a brand new artist and you know nothing about her. It's easy to believe that this singer, with her deep voice, heartfelt vocals and expereienced vocal interpretation, is appropriate for the adult contemporary audience. Sure, there is a notable lack of sexual undertones and profanity common in this genre, but I for one felt somewhat refreshed by that. I don't need to hear the F-word to know I'm a grown-up. Nor is my adult status challenged by the success of this teenage phenomenon.
I'm not sure why some haters out there feel the need to scrutinize everything this young lady does. The truth is she is far more talented musically than Britney, Hillary or many of the other teenbots that have graced us over the past decade. Give the girl a chance to learn and grow into the artist she has the potential to become. In the meantime, accept her music for what it is - fun, youthful but with enough substance to listen to without kids in the car.
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32 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Over the hill (and far away), August 9, 2008
If you're over the hill (i.e. past your tween years) then this probably isn't your kind of music. Like the Jonas Brothers et al, this is bubblegum pop, targeted at a new generation of music fans - after all, each generation needs SOMETHING to raise the hackles of their parents.
Cyrus co-wrote eight of the twelve tracks on the album, and two of the remaining four are covers. Surprisingly, after a few dozen listening experiences from the confines of the car, there are a few tracks that have grown on me, or perhaps I've grown accustomed to her voice.
The safe tracks are "Breakout" (one of the tracks she didn't write); "7 Things"; "Full Circle"; "Simple Song" (another one she didn't write); "Goodbye" and "See You Again". (Actually, the ones I've picked are the ones where she sounds like Avril Lavigne). There's also "Fly on the Wall" which sounds like a G-rated Pussycat Dolls song.
Warning!! If you're a fan of `80s music it's advisable to skip track four, as you don't wanna listen to this version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (Trust me on this one)
Rated:
For tweens 4.5 stars
For old coots 3 stars
Recommended as a gift for that special tween on your list
Amanda Richards, August 9, 2008
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive for a 15 year old girl, July 30, 2008
I'm almost totally oriented to classical music and pre-arthritis played classical (and other) guitar, clarinet, and piano (poorly - I took it up less than a year before the arthritis set in.)
If Miley Cyrus were to be trained in opera for a few years, I think that her range would expand to at least 3 1/2 octaves and the squeakiness in her voice would disappear. It's a shame that, after she had almost completely gotten rid of her Southern accent, Disney, Inc. insisted that "Hannah Montana" needed it and she now has more of a Southern twang than ever before. As well her time spent in Nashville is very bad for her.
Now the plusses. She has a terrific band and together they have a cohesive unit. Her songs are based on her ideas but the lyrics and music are written by her father. She has good ideas but is not a songwriter. She's certainly more professional than anybody her age has a right to be. She almost always hits her notes and her sense of rhythm is excellent. Of all of the CDs that my daughter is occasionally allowed to play on my big system, this is certainly the best. It's not totally my cup of tea - Mozart is. But all things being equal she is heading in the right direction and she's way ahead of schedule. She comes out a big winner when compared to most of her competitors. FOUR STARS!!
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