ALBUMS OF THE WEEK

Noah Cyrus The End Of Everything Columbia, ★★★★★

If you’re sick of the Cyrus family, then make way for child number five. Actually, take a wrecking ball to your preconceptions right now. Miley’s 20 -year-old sister has recorded seven heartfelt gems and an ill-advised re-imagining of a Beatles track for which she can be forgiven. Ghost is spare but not stark, setting the tone for what follows with piano and acoustic guitar. I Got So High That I Saw Jesus looks at the coldness of the modern world and offers hope as the planet heats up inexorably. As with all the tracks, she is pitch-perfect on Lonely, backed by a choir that never overpowers her in another simple but effective arrangement. Of course, the Cyrus surname is impossible to ignore. Especially when a sample of

Billy Ray wishing her well at a sad time via voicemail opens Young And Sad, a track that most reflects her achy breaky country roots. July was the track that put the world on notice that she is a talent to be reckoned with and would overshadow Wonder Years, even without its re-imagining of A Little Help From My Friends which features a misplaced, autotuned Ant Clemons. I was reminded of an acoustic St Vincent on the closing title track, especially as it seems to lean on her track New York for inspiration. Move over Miley, the trajectory is upward for Noah’s arc. Danny McElhinney