The Shocking Truth Behind Miley Cyrus's Newest Album, 'Something Beautiful': An Unexpected Flop Or Pop Opera Masterpiece?
Miley Cyrus, an artist perpetually reinventing the boundaries of pop music, delivered her highly-anticipated ninth studio album, Something Beautiful, on May 30, 2025. This project was not merely a collection of songs but a bold, experimental visual album—a self-described "pop opera"—that followed up her 2023 Grammy-winning success, Endless Summer Vacation. The ambition behind Something Beautiful was monumental, blending high fashion, cinematic narrative, and a lush, explosive wall of sound, promising a new era for the pop superstar.
As of December 22, 2025, the dust has settled on the release, revealing a complex picture of critical praise and a surprisingly "tepid" commercial performance. The album, released via Columbia Records, challenged listeners with its psychedelic, maximalist sound and a companion musical film that premiered a week later, on June 6, 2025. This deep dive uncovers the full story, from the A-list collaborators and the stunning visual narrative to the mixed reception that has defined this polarizing chapter in the Miley Cyrus discography.
The 'Something Beautiful' Concept: A High-Fashion Pop Opera
Something Beautiful was conceived as a true multimedia experience, moving far beyond the traditional album format. Cyrus herself described the project as a "one-of-a-kind pop opera," a term that perfectly captures its theatrical and ambitious scope. This vision was fully realized with the accompanying musical film, which premiered shortly after the album's release, expanding the 13-track narrative into a comprehensive visual journey.
The visual component of the project was perhaps its most striking feature. The film, co-produced by Cyrus and directed by Panos Cosmatos (known for his work on the cult-hit film Mandy), was a stunning display of cinematic and fashion artistry. It featured Miley in a series of striking, archival couture pieces from fashion legends, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, and a significant amount of Thierry Mugler. This integration of high fashion elevated the visual album to a new level of artistic commentary, cementing the project's status as a major cultural event.
The entire concept was a deliberate move away from the sun-drenched, personal introspection of Endless Summer Vacation, instead embracing a "psychedelic" and maximalist aesthetic. The sound itself was often described as opening with a delicate, almost "50s Hollywood atmosphere" before evolving into a dramatic, lush soundscape, signaling a complex and layered musical direction.
Collaborators, Tracklist Deep Dive, and The Sound of a New Era
To achieve this intricate, experimental sound, Miley Cyrus assembled an impressive team of collaborators, showcasing her commitment to pushing musical boundaries. She served as an executive producer alongside the 6-time Grammy award-winning producer Shawn Everett, known for his work with artists like Kacey Musgraves and The War on Drugs.
The production credits are a testament to the album's genre-bending nature, featuring indie rock mainstays like Molly Rankin and Alec O'Hanley of the Canadian band Alvvays, alongside co-writers and producers Michael Pollack and Jonathan Rado. This blend of pop, rock, and experimental production elements created a sound that was both nostalgic and futuristic.
The 13-song tracklist is a carefully curated narrative, with several tracks instantly standing out to fans and critics:
- "Prelude" and "Something Beautiful" (Title Track): The opening tracks set the theatrical tone, introducing the album's dramatic flair.
- "End of the World" and "More to Lose": These songs were early fan favorites, demonstrating the album's explosive sound.
- "Easy Lover": A standout track that showcases Cyrus's vocal versatility and the album's pop sensibility.
- "Walk of Fame" (feat. Brittany Howard): A powerful collaboration with the Alabama Shakes frontwoman, Brittany Howard, which became one of the most critically praised songs on the record.
- "Pretend You're God" and "Every Girl You've Ever Loved": Tracks that delve into the album's deeper, more philosophical themes.
The featured collaboration with Brittany Howard was a key moment, adding a layer of soulful rock grit to the polished pop opera structure. The use of interludes—"Interlude 1" and "Interlude 2"—further emphasized the album's structure as a continuous, flowing narrative, rather than a simple playlist.
Critical Acclaim vs. Commercial Reality: The Mixed Reception
Released in late spring, Something Beautiful arrived with enormous expectations following the global success of "Flowers" and the *Endless Summer Vacation* album. The critical response was largely positive, praising Cyrus's artistic bravery and the album's sonic depth.
The Critical Consensus
Major publications lauded the album for its ambition. *Rolling Stone*, a key voice in music criticism, gave the album a strong 4/5 rating, highlighting the seamless fusion of different genres. Critics often pointed to the album's intricate production—the "lush, explosive wall of sound"—as a major achievement, showcasing Cyrus's evolution from her *Hannah Montana* roots to a mature, experimental artist. The Guardian described the album as "solid pop" while acknowledging the grand claims Cyrus made about its concept.
The Commercial Paradox
Despite the critical praise, the commercial performance of Something Beautiful was notably cooler than its predecessor. Some industry observers described the rollout as having a "bizarre coldness" and the overall release as an "unexpected flop" compared to her previous chart-topping dominance. This commercial paradox is a fascinating aspect of the album's legacy. It suggests that while the artistic vision was sound, the highly conceptual and experimental nature of the "pop opera" may have been less immediately accessible to the mass market that embraced the straightforward pop perfection of "Flowers."
The decision to release it as a visual album, with the film premiere on Veeps a week after the music, added a layer of complexity to the consumption process. While it satisfied the desire for a deep, immersive experience, it may have fragmented the initial promotional push, leading to a more subdued chart performance than anticipated. Nonetheless, Something Beautiful has cemented Miley Cyrus’s reputation as an artist dedicated to artistic integrity over pure commercial play, delivering a complex, high-art project that will be analyzed for years to come.
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