Miley Cyrus might be just 17-years old, but her 5th studio album Can’t Be Tamed shows a well aged Disney product on the verge of womanhood and all of the love, heartache, and controversy that goes with the fame, constant headlines, and belief that we are often more grown up than we actually are.

The album is a solid listen from start to finish with several songs that you will end up hearing a lot more often on radio than you wish.  The album’s first single is the title track ‘Can’t Be Tamed’ which is probably only the 4th or 5th best cut on the album.

The entire album is listen-able from start to finish with several of the songs being really good.  Miley is credited as a co-songwriter on all of the songs except the Poison cover.

Here is a song-by-song breakdown of the 12 songs on Miley’s ‘Can’t Be Tamed’:

1. Liberty Walk – The album gets off to an energetic start with ‘Liberty Walk.’  A song that that is extremely catchy about following your dreams, shaking off negative criticism, and persevering.  The song will be a for sure fire single and one you will likely hear countless summers to come.

Recommended Usage: For that high school senior girl that has the overly attached boyfriend trying to convince  her that she can’t live without him.

2. Who Owns My Heart – With a lyric like, ‘Cuz the way you got your body movin’s, Got me confused,’ Miley leaves no doubt she is no longer confused between Hannah Montana and womanhood.

Recommended Usage: As the song you listen to during your cardio workout in between ‘Liberty Walk’ and ‘Can’t Be Tamed’ because you are too lazy to fast forward thru it.

3. Can’t Be Tamed – The first single and title song from the album.  After seeing Miles in concert and hearing her on this album I am a true convert that she ‘Can’t Be Tamed.’  My favorite line from this song is easily, ‘Cuz I’m hot like that – Every guy, everywhere just gives me mad attention – Like I’m under inspection - I always gets a ten.’

Recommended Usage: Since this song is probably on every sorority girl’s iTunes playlist it’s safe to say it is probably being played countless times after sorority formals and empty boxes of Franzia.

4. Every Rose Has It’s Thorn - One of my favorite all-time songs from Poison that was written by Bret Michaels and gang.  Miley isn’t Bret, but she is solid enough and will make you pull out your Open Up And Say…Ahh! album to hear the original.  A great song selection by Miley in the year of Bret Michaels!!

Recommended Usage: The song off the album you let you dad hear to convey to him just how in touch Miley is with your musical roots and remind him of that time back in 1988 when Poison was king, he had hair, women, and a dual-cassette boom box with mix tapes he dubbed off the radio.

5. Two More Lonely People – One of my least favorite songs on the album.  It is repetitive and the beat reminds me of one of those pre-programmed songs on a keyboard that plays by itself.

Recommended Usage: If someone is listening to this often then it has to be the college freshman chick that just got dumped by her first love…and yes…she has this song on repeat, and believes that the world has quit revolving….and might as well have if she leaves this one on repeat.

6. Forgiveness And Love – An accompany piece to the prior song ‘Two More Lonely People’ that speaks about…yes, ‘Forgiveness And Love’ and that it is the most important thing  that consumes are hearts from beginning to end.  A bit of change of pace to start the second half of the album. It has a bit of  Beatles sound towards the end of it.  This is a very solid song and likely could be a single.

Recommended Usage: This is the song that the boyfriend, who dumped the girl above, sends to her in an attempt to get back with her or at least get laid one more time.

7. Permanent December – An extremely fun song off the album that will be very popular.  My favorite lyric from this one is, “I met a boy in every city no one kept me amused – But don’t call me a Lolita ‘cos I don’t let ‘em through  ’Cos I’m saving all my loving for someone and it’s you.”  Miley sounds a bit like Ke$ha on this one.  This song is one of the 2-3 best songs on the album and could end up being the biggest hit.

Recommended Usage: Girls summer abroad or road trip.

8. Stay - This is a very mature and deep song that is different from almost every other song on the album.  It’s more natural and highlights Miley’s voice unlike most of the other songs.

Recommended Usage: For someone who has a loved one serving overseas or a loved one back home awaiting his/her return.

9. Scars – Maybe the most complete song on the album from Miley.  She is believable in singing about doing whatever it takes to keep and reclaim her man after screwing it up before.

Recommended Usage:  Great song for separated or divorced couple trying to get past the wounds and back together.

10. Take Me Along – This song is a bit too whiny and desperate for me.  Miley sounds like a 14-year old girl begging the 18-year old senior who took her cherry to take her off to college with him, when he only wants to get off to college, away from her, and to a fresh array of college beauties as fast as he can.

Recommended Usage: To leave for the wife when you are going off on yet another long business trip….Ha!

11. Robot – Very vintage Alanis Morissette-ish about not being a man’s robot, needing to break free and breathe. A departure from most of the songs on this album from a woman in need of an immediate departure from the imposed slavery from her man.

Recommended Usage:  For the housewife, mother of four, that is at her wit’s end and tired of being told that she doesn’t know what hard work is and that she should be thankful for a man that keeps her fed and a roof over her head.  The woman that is one more dirty diaper away from banging the mechanic, getting drunk on nasty vodka, and/or plowing her Astro mini-van into her husband’s insurance office.

12. My Heart Beats For Love –  Upon first hear I had a good feeling that esteemed songwriter Hilary Lindsey had co-written parts of it and upon inspection of the linear notes I was right.  The song starts off with a church organ that makes you wonder if you are entering Notre Dame Cathedral, before Miley’s voice takes over and brings this album full circle with a message of inspiration, that despite all the hurt, pain, deceit, and trials of life our hearts do truly Beat For Love!!

Recommended Usage: A song we all could benefit from. A song that during the endless hours of mundane days can rejuvenate us and remind us of our purpose here on earth which is simply – to love and be loved!

4.5 stars / 5

The best songs from the album: ‘Liberty Walk,’ ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn,’ ‘Forgiveness And Love,’ ‘Permanent December,’ and ‘My Heart Beats For Love.’

- Joshua Holmes

ORDER: Can’t Be Tamed [CD / DVD Combo] [Deluxe Edition] or: Can’t Be Tamed (cheaper)