Official Reviews thread for the HMTM soundtrack

[flutesinger262]

if you guys find any reviews post them here.
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Hannah-Montana-The-Movie/Hannah-Montana/e/50087133764/

All Music Guide

"Livin' two lives is a little weird," sings Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana on her signature track, "The Best of Both Worlds." Hannah Montana: The Movie and its soundtrack try to present the best of many worlds -- pop and country, California and Tennessee, Disney and non-Disney artists -- and it's also a little weird. Given the huge success of the TV series and the concert movie, it was inevitable that there would be a big-screen Hannah Montana story, but it's almost uncanny how the movie's storyline, which involves Hannah having to choose between pop stardom and her "real" life as regular country girl Miley Stewart, echoes Disney's efforts to separate Cyrus' stardom from Montana's. This tug of war of personas also shows up in the movie's music: originally, Montana's music was based on the pop of past Disney queens like Britney and Christina (with a smidgen of Avril Lavigne), but songs like "Let's Get Crazy," which makes a beat from paparazzi flashbulbs, and "The Good Life," a sugar-coated celebration of Gucci handbags and Prada shoes, sound more like fizzy caricatures of pop songs than ever. Tellingly, the best songs that Cyrus sings on the soundtrack have her own name on them -- aside from the goofy "Hoedown Throwdown," which feels more like a parody of down-home fun than a tribute to it. Cyrus' husky twang sounds far more natural, more down to earth and grown-up, on songs like "Don't Walk Away," "Dream," and "The Climb," all of which recall the Shania Twain-lite of her debut album, Breakout. This Nashville feel dominates on Hannah Montana: The Movie, from "Butterfly Fly Away," a treacly duet between Miley and her dad Billy Ray, to the inclusion of songs from country stars in an attempt to add more authenticity to Hannah's sometimes suffocating world. Billy Ray's "Back to Tennessee" fits in smoothly with an acoustic version of Rascal Flatts' witty "Backwards" (although their "Bless the Broken Road" drags). However, the best song on Hannah Montana: The Movie belongs to Taylor Swift. Her "Crazier" is more genuine, more effortless, than any of Miley or Hannah's tracks, which is all the more interesting considering that Swift is, in a lot of ways, what Hannah Montana was aiming for in the first place: a massive teen star with country roots and pop polish who seems comfortable in, and delivers the best of, both of those worlds. The soundtrack's segmented track list adds to its strangeness; after so many songs about going back home and getting back to roots, it's a little disorienting to return to Hannah's glitzy world with "Let's Do This" and "Spotlight." At just over an hour long, Hannah Montana: The Movie provides devoted Hannah/Miley fans with plenty of music for their money, but anyone else will find it exhausting. Heather Phares

[SeSaSe]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-03-23-listen-up-miley_N.htm

Listen Up: Miley Cyrus' alter ego is a solid pop persona
By Jerry Shriver, Edna Gundersen, Brian Mansfield and Steve Jones, USA TODAY

Miley Cyrus creates some fine pop music on the Hannah Montana soundtrack.

Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack
* * * ½ (out of four) TWEEN TALES

Swaddled inside the frothy, frenetic, tender and (mostly) well-crafted ditties from this soundtrack are tantalizing glimpses into the normally unfathomable midteen mind-set. Cyrus' Hannah Montana character (and probably Cyrus herself) is confronting the child-to-woman transitional thing, the demands of celebrity and image maintenance, the desire to break free while staying grounded — and boys and handbag selection.

The cumulative weight of those struggles is summed up in The Climb, in which she sings, "... every move I make feels lost with no direction, my faith is shaking." The sentiment is moving, though a bit sad considering she's just 16. Still, there are lots of sassy, goofy, girly moments here to keep things from becoming too ponderous.

Of the six non-Miley/Montana tracks, papa Billy Ray Cyrus' Back to Tennessee is the keeper, and Taylor Swift contributes a pretty waltz, Crazier The only off notes are Steve Rushton's two tracks, which unintentionally harks back to his former band, Son of Dork. — Jerry Shriver

[flutesinger262]

someone who actually likes the crappy hannah stuff, wow. i kinda find it funny that the headline was about the hannah stuff and then they didn''t really mention any. the climb is Miley music

[SmileyMileyRay]

someone who actually likes the crappy hannah stuff, wow. i kinda find it funny that the headline was about the hannah stuff and then they didn''t really mention any. the climb is Miley music

Lots of people like the Hannah music. It's not that well written, but it's fun to listen to.

[flutesinger262]

lots of kids like the Hannah stuff, the critics typically hate it and deservingly so.

[SaintSaturn]

Spotilight is probably my favorite song on the album. At least at the moment. Anyone else agree?

[flutesinger262]

no way. lol, BFA for sure. if I must pick a hannah song YAFYWBH or good life.

i still don't know how the heck Lets get crazy is doing better then the Climb, lol

[SaintSaturn]

Uh, Spotlight is probably the best Hannah song ever.

[flutesinger262]

um no thats Every Part of Me:28:

[SaintSaturn]

um no thats Every Part of Me:28:

Ok, I don't even think I know what song you're talking about lol.

[flutesinger262]

LOL, its from season 3. its amazing. Remember the song Justin play guitar for Miley when she sang it in concert?

btw its up to number 2!!. Twilight Soundtrack get out of Miley's way, ugh

[SmileyMileyRay]

Ok, I don't even think I know what song you're talking about lol.

I think if you watch the very first promo for the HM movie, you can hear it in the background.

[SaintSaturn]

LOL, its from season 3. its amazing. Remember the song Justin play guitar for Miley when she sang it in concert?

btw its up to number 2!!. Twilight Soundtrack get out of Miley's way, ugh

I haven't heard any full songs from season three. And no, I don't remember that lol.

[flutesinger262]

she forgot the words because she was too busy staring at Justin, how can you not remember that??? lol

[beckylovestodance]

ugh twilight needs to get out of the way! lol
i don't get it, it had its chance now it needs to make way for miley!

[SaintSaturn]

she forgot the words because she was too busy staring at Justin, how can you not remember that??? lol

I don't think I ever saw it! lol, I don't really follow everything Miley all the time.

[flutesinger262]

by tonight Miley should over take them. There is no way shes going to be beaten by a soundtrack thats been out since november or october, lol

[flutesinger262]

I don't think I ever saw it! lol, I don't really follow everything Miley all the time.
lol, I could have sworn you were in that thread though, wierd, lol

[SaintSaturn]

lol, I could have sworn you were in that thread though, wierd, lol

Maybe I just forgot about it. I'm pretty positive I haven't heard that song though.

[mileyrulz]

I love Spotlight. It's been on repeat on my iPod for like an hour. :P

[SaintSaturn]

I love Spotlight. It's been on repeat on my iPod for like an hour. :P

THANK YOU! lol

[flutesinger262]

I can't stand the hannah stuff, it sounds nothing like Miley. Miley>>>>>> Hannah.

[SaintSaturn]

I can't stand the hannah stuff, it sounds nothing like Miley. Miley>>>>>> Hannah.

Agreed, but I don't think of Hannah as Miley, so I don't really compare the two. I like them both for different reasons. Miley's music is much better, but Hannah's is still damn catchy and fun.

[mileyrulz]

I like it, it's catchy. It isn't my favorite song on the soundtrack though, Dream is my favorite song on the CD.

[SaintSaturn]

Into the Spotlight we will go, follow me cause baby life's a show.

That's the best part. It probably isn't my favorite song, but I've been singing it like it's going out of style.

[Nelliephant]

Agreed, but I don't think of Hannah as Miley, so I don't really compare the two. I like them both for different reasons. Miley's music is much better, but Hannah's is still damn catchy and fun.

Agree 100%
I love Spotlight, but I also love Let's Get Crazy, What's Not To Like and YAFYWBH.
Favourites on the album though would have to be: Dream, BFA, The Climb, Crazier and Backwards

[flutesinger262]

see I know its Miley and i know they really mess with her vocie for her to sound like that, so I can't get past that, lol. Plus I hate computerized vocals more then anything, so the only stuff of Hananh's I can stand are one in a million, YAFYWBH and make some noise

[SaintSaturn]

see I know its Miley and i know they really mess with her vocie for her to sound like that, so I can't get past that, lol. Plus I hate computerized vocals more then anything, so the only stuff of Hananh's I can stand are one in a million, YAFYWBH and make some noise

That makes sense. I would HATE computerized vocals in any type of music that doesn't sound like HM. It just fits I guess. I don't listen to the Hannah stuff and think, "they could have done this so much better!" I just enjoy it for what it is, which is some lame, entertaining pop music. I totally get where you are coming from though.

[beckylovestodance]

i love spotlight, what's not to like, and always find your way back home from the hannah songs. they always make me feel so excited when i listen to them!

my early favorites from the whole cd would definately be the climb, dream, butterfly fly away, crazier, and well..basically the 3 hannah songs i said above lol

[flutesinger262]

I think its also that the media doesn't get that Miley and Hannah's sounds are different. So if Hannah puts out music thats like that then Miley gets crap for it, lol. I don't like that. It just prevents people from giving Miley the credit she deserves

[flutesinger262]

http://www.sturgisjournal.com/entertainment/x1950206734/The-Farr-Side-The-Climb-is-a-new-peak-for-Miley-Cyrus
The Farr Side: ‘The Climb’ is a new peak for Miley Cyrus

Sturgis, Mich. -
What could Miley Cyrus possibly know about “the climb”? She’s only 16 and hasn’t lived long enough to move any mountains, nor even had to.
I say that with a grain of salt, because, probably every 12-year-old girl in the country is going to hate me for talking smack about Hannah Montana.
In all honesty, I give her major props for her achievements at such a young age. That doesn’t mean I have to like her. Still, with songs like her latest hit, “The Climb,” I can’t help but give her a second listen.
“The Climb” is a great song. The first time I heard it on the radio I had to wait for the DJ to say whose song it was I just heard playing. Usually, I know that kind of thing right away, but this was different.
The lyrics struck me because most everyone faces mountains at one time or another, present company included. I just didn’t expect Hannah Montana to tell me so.
These so-called mountains can be anything from simple goals or hardships to some of life’s most difficult trials and tribulations.
There is so much to be said about the song’s chorus.
“There’s always going to be another mountain/I’m always going to want to make it move/Always going to be an uphill battle, Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose, Ain’t about how fast I get there, Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side/It’s The Climb.”
No truer words have been said. There’s something about the process of overcoming such mountains that makes getting to the other side so rewarding.
“The Climb” is the first single from Cyrus’ “Hannah Montana: The Movie” soundtrack, which features new Cyrus cuts and songs from bewigged alter ego, Hannah Montana.
The 18-song soundtrack CD also features contributions from Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts. Can we say — smart move? What a way to pull in young Disney fans toward the country demographics.
Now I understand the Cyrus/Swift duet of Swift’s “Fifteen” at the Grammys, although Swift should have had the spotlight herself.
Swift offers up the subtle ballad, “Crazier,” while Rascal Flatts kicks up some dust acoustic style with “Backwards” only to let it settle with “Bless The Broken Road.”
For Cyrus, the soundtrack cleverly blends the best of both worlds, so to speak. She takes a little of what made Hannah Montana famous and combines it with what “Breakout,” her first non-Hannah Montana effort, did last summer. In other words, she’s just being Miley.
Some of the manufactured, sugary gems on “HMTM” include “Let’s Get Crazy,” “The Good Life,” and “Spotlight,” but aside from “The Climb,” the best track is the delicate duet, “Butterfly Fly Away,” between Miley and her onscreen/offscreen dad Billy Ray Cyrus.

[Xizer]

It's disappointing to see such excessive support for a slow song.

If I wanted something deep I'd read a novel.

[tom1234]

It's disappointing to see such excessive support for a slow song.

If I wanted something deep I'd read a novel.


Fortunately, a lot of people have good taste.

[abbyx]

Uh, Spotlight is probably the best Hannah song ever.


i ike spotlight but BFA is my favourite..

[swe3t23]

The Climb is a well written song. Cus the journey is always better than being at the top. Cus once you are at the top, nowhere else to go but down.

That is why people should cherish the journey and embrace the struggle, cus what makes you struggle makes you stronger than ever.

[Yero34]

Now I understand the Cyrus/Swift duet of Swift’s “Fifteen” at the Grammys, although Swift should have had the spotlight herself


Booo.:28: Miley and Taylor lit up the stage with their emotion and affection, and Taylor would've been a nervous wreck without her. Her own words, sort of.

The Climb and Crazier are the best songs on the album, if you don't count Bless the Broken Road.

[Nelliephant]

That's an interesting review. I like how they're trying to be positive about Miley even though they don't like her.
One thing that I just worked out though is that although this song is getting tons of praise, more than any Miley song that was actually written by Miley, the reason I still prefer Miley's own songs is that aside from WUA, she doesn't tend to go for the lyrics that are about telling people what lesson they should be learning. I think The Climb so far is the best Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart song to do that subtlely and not shove it in your face, and there's no denying it's a very good song, but I will always prefer Miley's own down to earth lyrics. So I wonder, after seeing the reaction to The Climb, if on her next album Miley might try doing more stuff like it? I'm sure she wouldn't just jump on the bandwagon, she's never seemed the type to do that, but she might just be interested in looking into what made this song such a huge success

[apogeum]

Now this is weird..... I just got an email from Universal Music (they're the distributor for the HM soundtrack of course), I guess they saw my review and now wants to give me some info about the album. Wonder what they can offer which I don't already know.

[Xizer]

Fortunately, a lot of people have good taste.

Kindle.

iPod.

Wii.

There has never been a more inaccurate statement in the history of the world.

[flutesinger262]

well everytime Miley's been asked about the climb, she keeps saying that she likes it because it really fits her sound. The impression I get is she considers her sound to be a like the miley stewart songs in the movie.

honestly I don't if she wrote this or not, or that it subtlely hints that you need to learn a lesson. These lyrics are about as genuine and down to earth as any of Miley's own songs. I know a lot of peopole don't want to see her continue to do stuff with a sound like the climb but she'd be stupid not to look and see why this became the hit that it is and how to follow it. the multiformat appeal she has with this song is unlike anything else.

also to be clear the climb has actually been getting killed lyrically in a lot of reviews, people are saying its nothing new, and its not. This message has been sung about hundreds of times, what a lot of the critics are actually praising are Miley's vocals and performance of it, and the big future they all seem to feel she has but only if she continues to do this genre.
I really do wonder if Miley and her people see these reviews? because they actually have been quiet nice to her and country music rarely embraces crossovers, and they've not only embraced the song but they're all singing Miley's praises vocally and comparing her to all these country legends.

[tom1234]

Kindle.

iPod.

Wii.

There has never been a more inaccurate statement in the history of the world.


As expected, a shallow and intolerant response.

[flutesinger262]

As expected, a shallow and intolerant response.
lol, i know right? haha. i hate it when people are like that

[flutesinger262]

Kind of OT but someone on another site brought up a good question. Who gets credit for this album? I mean its various artists who record tracks for this but Miley/Hananh have enough tracks on here for a full length release all on her own. If you took everyone else off it you'd still have 12 tracks. I mean how do they justify not giving Miley credit for this CD? I really hope Billboard or whoever deciedes who gets credit for this gives it to Miley. IMO when an artist has enough tracks on the album for those tracks alone to be considered a full release then they deserve the credit

[joecyrusfan]

well the cover do's have on the top of it say's "Miley Cyrus " first then Hannah so I think we, they can justify giving Miley credit for this CD with just her singing on just the 12 tracks that in it's self should giving Miley credit for this CD.IMO.

[apogeum]

It depends on who says it really; one media outlet credits Miley with the HM soundtracks, others don't. The bulk however is Miley/Hannah so it pretty much is a Miley album.

[Cierra_Dancer]

How is Twilight still ahead?!

[SmileyMileyRay]

http://www.sturgisjournal.com/entertainment/x1950206734/The-Farr-Side-The-Climb-is-a-new-peak-for-Miley-Cyrus
The Farr Side: ‘The Climb’ is a new peak for Miley Cyrus

Sturgis, Mich. -
What could Miley Cyrus possibly know about “the climb”? She’s only 16 and hasn’t lived long enough to move any mountains, nor even had to.
I say that with a grain of salt, because, probably every 12-year-old girl in the country is going to hate me for talking smack about Hannah Montana.
In all honesty, I give her major props for her achievements at such a young age. That doesn’t mean I have to like her. Still, with songs like her latest hit, “The Climb,” I can’t help but give her a second listen.
“The Climb” is a great song. The first time I heard it on the radio I had to wait for the DJ to say whose song it was I just heard playing. Usually, I know that kind of thing right away, but this was different.
The lyrics struck me because most everyone faces mountains at one time or another, present company included. I just didn’t expect Hannah Montana to tell me so.
These so-called mountains can be anything from simple goals or hardships to some of life’s most difficult trials and tribulations.
There is so much to be said about the song’s chorus.
“There’s always going to be another mountain/I’m always going to want to make it move/Always going to be an uphill battle, Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose, Ain’t about how fast I get there, Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side/It’s The Climb.”
No truer words have been said. There’s something about the process of overcoming such mountains that makes getting to the other side so rewarding.
“The Climb” is the first single from Cyrus’ “Hannah Montana: The Movie” soundtrack, which features new Cyrus cuts and songs from bewigged alter ego, Hannah Montana.
The 18-song soundtrack CD also features contributions from Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts. Can we say — smart move? What a way to pull in young Disney fans toward the country demographics.
Now I understand the Cyrus/Swift duet of Swift’s “Fifteen” at the Grammys, although Swift should have had the spotlight herself.
Swift offers up the subtle ballad, “Crazier,” while Rascal Flatts kicks up some dust acoustic style with “Backwards” only to let it settle with “Bless The Broken Road.”
For Cyrus, the soundtrack cleverly blends the best of both worlds, so to speak. She takes a little of what made Hannah Montana famous and combines it with what “Breakout,” her first non-Hannah Montana effort, did last summer. In other words, she’s just being Miley.
Some of the manufactured, sugary gems on “HMTM” include “Let’s Get Crazy,” “The Good Life,” and “Spotlight,” but aside from “The Climb,” the best track is the delicate duet, “Butterfly Fly Away,” between Miley and her onscreen/offscreen dad Billy Ray Cyrus.

I agreed with most of it, not the bolded part, though.