Is the world ready for a fully-normalised Miley Cyrus? Having put us collectively off our suppers with outrageous antics, wacky interviews and a too-cruel-for-words Sinead O’Connor Twitter feud, the former child star is, at 24, apparently all grown up, calmed down and eager to reconnect with her country rock roots.

That’s a bummer for those who like their pop stars bonkers and confrontational. But it’s good news for anyone hoping Miley would reacquaint herself with her cuddly Hannah Montana persona (fans of dad Billy Ray’s ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ will be cheered too).

With backing vocals from godmother Dolly Parton and ever present twanging guitars Younger Now is an utterly orthodox soft country record. A nod towards Cyrus’ LBGT fan-base is discernible on ‘Rainbowland’ (or, at least, on the title to ‘Rainbowland’) and ‘Malibu’ upgrades Nashville tootling with an EDM beat.

But these are the only moments Cyrus steps beyond the country safety zone and the promise of the intriguing cover image of a close-cropped singer in rockabilly denim is never fulfilled. Cyrus has, it seems, made peace with her history as a mainstream country star – it’s just a pity that this self-acceptance hasn’t yielded more interesting music.

6/10
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