Miley Cyrus has just achieved a career first with her ninth studio album

 Miley Cyrus has just achieved a career first with her ninth studio album

Miley Cyrus has just achieved a career first with her ninth studio album and accompanying visual project, Something Beautiful—an ambitious, multi-dimensional work that marks her initial entry onto the Top Streaming Albums chart, entering among the top 40 streamed titles—something she’s never done before newyorker.Here’s an in-depth exploration of what makes this release a standout in her evolving career.

1. A New Milestone: Streaming Impact 

Something Beautiful marks Miley Cyrus’s first-ever appearance on the Top Streaming Albums chart—breaking into the top 40 right from its debut harpersbazaar.This milestone showcases not just her devoted fanbase but also her expanding appeal across streaming platforms—a major benchmark in today's music industry.

2. A Career-Spanning Fusion of Styles

From her Disney “Hannah Montana” days to hip-shaking pop shockers and rock experiments, Miley’s musical identity has always shifted. With Something Beautiful, she intentionally revisits and fuses all those eras—pop, rock, disco, funk, trip-hop, soft rock, baroque pop and art rock—creating a cohesive yet diverse listening experience apnews.

Opening tracks evoke 1950s cinematic flourishes and build into lush, explosive soundscapes—echoing her post-2010 ambition .

“End of the World” is a Europop‑inflected disco-dance number reminiscent of ABBA, while “Easy Lover” brings pop‑rock energy with soft-rock rhythms .

3. A Cinematic Visual Album Experience

Miley has described this as her first true visual album: every song is accompanied by visuals, stitched into a 53‑minute film that premiered at Tribeca (June 6), with a one‑night theatrical release (June 12) elle.com+8thedailybeast.com+8harpersbazaar.com+8. These visuals aren’t mere window dressing—they were the creative impetus behind the music, as she explains: “The visual component … is driving the sound. … the nastiest times of our life do have a point of beauty” 

4. Vocals: Arresting, Gritty, Emotionally Raw

Two decades into her career, Miley’s vocals are more distinctive and expressive than ever. Despite living with Reinke's edema—a vocal cord condition—she has resisted surgical correction, embracing this voice as a core part of her artistic identity .

Critics spotlight her ability to move between styles—raspy rock timbres, seductive disco tones, theatrical belting. Tracks like “Easy Lover” channel icons such as Joan Jett and Janis Joplin; “Golden Burning Sun” features soaring melodies that invoke starry, emotional intensity 

5. Lyrical Themes: Healing Through Contrast

The title says it all: Something Beautiful is about finding hope in heartbreak, strength in vulnerability. Songs traverse themes of destruction, death, and rebirth, delivered with spiritual resonance and emotional honesty. Miley speaks openly about “healing sound properties” and presenting her shadows alongside the light elle.

6. Fan and Critic Response: A Livewire Conversation

Fans love it: on Reddit’s r/popheads, users hailed it as “classy,” “one of her best songs ... Walk Of Fame is insane,” and predicted it to be her “true magnum opus” .

Critics are divided:

High praise: Still Listening Magazine lauds it as her “most cohesive and confident album” stilllisteningmagazine.com+1reddit.com+1. The Associated Press calls it a triumphant return to multi-genre exploration .

Some reservations: Pitchfork notes the album’s ambition, though criticizing its “directionless” moments and concept instability . Washington Post and Irish Times compliment Miley's voice and production but see occasional generic production or underwhelming lyrics .

7. The Visual Hook: Provocation, Fashion & Surprise Moments

The album’s film includes provocative visual easter eggs:

“Walk of Fame” shows Miley lying on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s star—rumored as a nod to her former relationship with his son, Patrick Schwarzenegger .

She reportedly suffered a knee infection during filming—a story she shared humorously on Jimmy Kimmel Live! 

8. The Future of Touring & Live Experiences

Miley has expressed hesitance toward massive tours, preferring immersive, intimate, nature-inspired performances. She describes the visual album as “her way of touring,” and hints at future live events in smaller, sacred settings rather than arenas .

9. Historic Context & Creative Evolution

Miley’s career has always embraced reinvention—from Disney pop to edgy rock (“Dead Petz”), country-disco (“Flowers”). Something Beautiful represents the apex of that evolution: a polished yet experimental synthesis of her artistry forbes.

10. Final Verdict: A Defining, Risk-Taking Milestone

Something Beautiful isn’t just another album—it’s a creative statement, a visual journey, and a personal reckoning:

It's her first streaming-chart milestone—proof of reach and impact.

It's a genre-bending, visually‑driven concept album that rewards deep listening and viewing.

It highlights her mature vocal talent, embracing imperfections.

It’s polarizing—for fans, it's a potential magnum opus; for critics, it's an artistic risk that sometimes overshadows cohesion.

t signals a new era: not chasing radio hits, but crafting multi-sensory, emotionally resonant art.

Is it her best album?

For many fans and critics, yes. Redditors predict Grammy recognition, while hipster‑rock reviewers celebrate the album's unity across genres . It may not be instantly accessible like Flowers or Bangerz, but it's distinctly Miley—a creative triumph in ambition and execution.

Why this matters

Streaming chart success is essential, but Something Beautiful proves that Miley’s relevance transcends metrics. It highlights her bravery to experiment, her skill to integrate visuals and music, and her commitment to emotional authenticity.