If you have a young daugher (or even if you don't), there's a good chance you've heard of Miley Cyrus. For the purpose of this review however, I feel I need to give a little background as to exactly who Miley Cyrus is.

Miley (born Destiny Hope just in case that interests you) is the 15 year old (soon to be 16) daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. She is probaby more famous as her alias Hannah Montana. She has her own programme on the Disney Channel all about Miley Stewart (how many names can one girl have?) - a brown haired regular school kid who lived a secret life as blonde haired rock star Hannah Montana.

This is Miley's second album as herself. Although she has released other albums as Hannah Montana, this is her first album with no connection to the Hannah Montana franchise. Hannah's music is what I would describe as classic "teenybop pop". My daughter also likes High School Musical which is a similar kind of music. You know the kind I mean - it's the annoying kind which you hear once and know all the words. The kind that sticks in your head all day and you occassionally need to have an outburst or your head will explode. The kind that people feel the need to sing along with regardless of their singing talents which of course adds to the annoyance!

So, "why on Earth did I buy this album?" I hear you ask. Well, I love my kids and my daughter absolutely loves Hannah Montana. She hadn't asked me for this once, because she knows if she nags me for something I wont buy it. She'd also been exceptionally well behaved, so when I saw it on the shelf, I had a moment of weakness and decided to get it for her.

Because I knew what Hannah Montana's music was like, I was really expecting to be tortured with the dreaded teenybop pop being blared in the car, in her bedroom, on the computer and anywhere else you can play a CD.

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. Miley's music is a lot more bearable. Sure, there's still the odd pop warbling, but there are a few good songs on there. I have decided not to review the songs track by track as I would end up repeating myself a lot. However, I have decided that because the music is so varied, I do need to list a few of the songs.

Track 1 - Breakout
This is the song I hate the most. Not much to do with the music, but mainly because Miley sings about how "school's so lame". Earlier this year Time Magazine put Miley in the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World, so the fact that she sings this in her album, which is aimed at young easily influenced children does not fill me with joy. However, the song itself is a typical pop song and the lyrics are quite catchy.
Overall - One to avoid!

Track 2 - 7 Things
This is the first "rock" type soon I've heard from Miley. The song itself sounds like average pop, but the chorus has a distinct rock feel that my daughter can't stop herself doing the rock head shake to. I personally quite like this song and will happily listen to it and even sing along every now and again. There's no cringy lyrics like a few of the songs, nothing I'd be embarassed about if I caught myself singing along in public, so for me it's a definite thumbs up!
Overall - A very bearable song, in fact, I actually quite like it.

Track 4 - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
You all know the song, yes it is a remix of the Cyndi Lauper single and not a very good one at that. Miley has tried to turn this into a dance song. In my opinion she's not got the voice to pull this off and the remix to me sounds awful.
Overall - Has ruined a perfectly good song.

Track 6 - Fly on the Wall
This is another song which I actually quite like listening to. It has unique music and quite catchy lyrics (not in a bad way like mentioned above). It's also one of the rockier songs on the album.
Overall - Another good track.

Track 8 - Wake Up America
This song is all about global warming and God bless the girl for trying to get her message across to her fellow Americans. She sings all about taking care of the world and I think it really brings out the child in her and makes you realise that, at 15, she's still very young. Unfortunately, this makes the song very "Hannah Montana" like which I'm sure is not what she was aiming for.
Overall - Good message, not so good in a song.

Track 12 - See You Again
This music sounds a bit dancy to me. I said to my sister that I could imagine it being played in the clubs and sure enough, she heard it when she was out clubbing last weekend. If you ignore the majority of the lyrics, the music is very good. I'd go as far as to say, it's my favourite on the CD. Unfortunately, it is one of those ones that stick in your head and I do feel a bit daft if I start singing "My best friend Lesley said, Oh she's just being Miley" in the middle of a shop or the likes.
Overall - Good music to dance to and catchy lyrics.

The rest of the CD isn't really up to much and I think they really have just been made as fillers. The songs I have mentioned above seem to bring out the real Miley and the ones I've said I liked she does sing very well, but I feel the album could've been so much better if she had stuck to that kind of music and not filled up the rest of the album with pop Hannah like songs.

I have to give her some extra credit though as 10 of the 12 songs on the album she co-wrote which is very impressive for such a young musician.

If you have no reason to buy this, I wouldn't bother. Although I would recommend downloading 7 Things and See You Again. If you're a mum who's child loves the likes of High School Musical and Hannah Montana, this is a great choice of CD as there are a few bearable, perhaps even good, tracks.

I'd say this album is there to give all the young Hannah Montana fans something to move on to when Hannah Montana becomes a bit to childish and it will certainly fulfill that purpose.

My daughter loves it so she's happy. I can put up with it so I'm happy. What more do you want when buying a CD for your child?

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Released: 22nd July 2008
Label: Hollywood Records

1) Breakout
2) 7 Things
3) The Driveway
4) Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
5) Full Circle
6) Fly on the Wall
7) Bottom of the Ocean
8) Wake up America
9) These 4 Walls
10) Simple Song
11) Goodbye
12) See You Again