“Malibu”

For those playing the pop star long game, taking the makeup off has become as important as putting it on in the first place. After twerking her way to the top and puking up glitter with Wayne Coyne, Miley Cyrus had quite a bit of baggage to shed—or maybe just smoke away. She lightens her load with “Malibu,” a pop-rock singalong so breezy, it makes Sheryl Crow seem edgy, or Lady Gaga’s Joanne resemble a legit rock’n’roll reinvention. Free People stores have now found the perfect soundtrack for hawking this season’s peasant tops. Goop readers, say hello to your song of the summer!

“I never would've believed you if three years ago you told me I'd be here writing this song,” Cyrus sings, her voice fighting to stay tranquil. Anyone who’s heard Miley cover Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, or her godmother Dolly Parton knows that her voice has a lovely natural twang to it, one that can easily carry rootsy rock-lite. But she lets very little of that quality shine through on “Malibu,” which at best could be described as wholly inoffensive. Any number of less charismatic or talented vocalists could sing it to mild chart success.

Cyrus wrote the song after reconciling with her boyfriend Liam Hemsworth and moving to his Malibu estate, embracing a fresh start and a newfound disdain for the raunchy hip-hop culture she explored in the Bangerz era. As Madonna proved with Ray of Light’s electronic risks, pop stars finding inner peace don’t have to sound so sedated. Miley Cyrus has spent her adult life up to this point showing that, for better or worse, she’s down to get weird. Not here. Even as its cheery clap-along and proficient guitar jangle reach a climax, “Malibu” remains a shrug of a song.