The Time of Our Lives

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Walmart-exclusive mini-CD is edgy but kid-friendly.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this short collection of songs is only iffy in a few spots and even then the questionable spots are pretty mild. Cyrus sings about driving to clubs and obsessing about certain boys on several songs. But in general, this is a group of songs OK for most any age, and positive lyrics about re-connecting with yourself and living life to the fullest can be found throughout.

  • There are positive messages about getting your confidence back and living life to the fullest, but there's also a pervasive theme of romantic obsession on many of the songs. "Keep on calling, but you’re never around" "I just had to call you up and say hello, I know it's 3 a.m., and I saw you awhile ago, but I still had this aching need to hear your voice. " "I'm your favorite obsession."
  • A few songs talk about "hitting the clubs."
  • Not applicable.
  • Only a few references to desire: "You want me, you need me...I'm your favorite obsession." "Am I obsessed with you, I do my best not to want you, but I do all the time "
  • "I'm so pissed off, always hanging around."
  • This CD is exclusively sold by Walmart and is connected to the Miley Cyrus/Max Azria clothing line also being sold exclusively at Walmart. Some of these songs appear in commercials for the clothes.
  • Vague smoking reference: "I don't care if you choke, when you light up your smoke, it’s the one thing I can call my own."

What's the story?

Longer than a CD single, but shorter than an album, THE TIME OF OUR LIVES is Miley Cyrus's extended play, Walmart-exclusive release. Debuting at the same time as her Walmart clothing line collaboration with fashion designer Max Azria, this CD marks a bit of a departure for the pop-rock Disney sweetheart. Several songs have a hard rock edge and the album's promotion was linked to the infamous "pole dancing performance" and the 2009 Teen Choice Awards.


Is it any good?

 

Who would have expected Miley Cyrus's tiptoe into pop relevancy to be so much fun. Moving beyond her Disney days, Cyrus lays the groundwork for a more mature, interesting and exciting sound. Tween party grooves are replaced by rock tracks like "The Time of Our Lives" and "Kicking and Screaming" which retain Cyrus's energy, but just add a little more attitude to the mix. On tracks like "Party in the U.S.A.," one of her most successful songs of her career thus far, Cyrus does a good job of embracing her famous pop princess past while exploring new territory. Although there are some ballads that bog down the up-tempo vibe, "When I Look At You" is a sincere, moving addition to the musical joyride.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how Miley Cyrus has changed her image and her music as she has grown up. Help kids adapt to changes in their beloved characters.

  • What do you think of the marketing strategy to sell this CD only at Walmart and at the same time as Cyrus's new clothing line? If you like the album, will you be more likely to buy an outfit from Cyrus's clothing line?

  • Do you think Miley's music is moving beyond Disney? Does this album sound more grown-up? If so, why? Do you think the singer will gain more fans if she branches out form her Disney sitcom image?


This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Teen, 15 years old
March 30, 2010
 
The songs in the album itself are written and composed very well. The only problem is the actual singing. MIley cannot sing at all and should not. The songs should still be sung, but by a different singer.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
March 17, 2010
 
i love this cd it sooooooo awesome, MILEY CYURS ROX!!!!!!!!

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
November 30, 2009
 
ok
the alblum is OK for kids!

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent of 14 and 18 year old
November 5, 2009
 
Perfect for all ages
Parents there is nothing wrong she is growing up and is letting out anger give her a break like piss smoke relax !

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
October 30, 2009
 
Loved this album!! i own it, and it rocks!! i know Party in the usa, Kicking and screaming, Talk is cheap, all by hart!! :)))

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent of 19 year old
October 19, 2009
 
awwwwww
this alblum wasnt great there was only one song i liked on the whole alblum (party in the usa). and some of the content they use in the songs is inapropreat.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
November 10, 2009
 
perfect for girls 12 and up.
this cd is probably not age appropriate for 11 year olds like me, because of the things she talks about in the songs. (smoking, clubs, some bad words). but, i mean, i still appreciate the album!!! the songs are very catchy, and im a more mature 11 year old, so i think that her latest album is ok for my ears.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
December 29, 2009
 
???
Well, I say 10+ but me being myself, I think I'm mature enough that I can listen to it a little. The songs are catchy and I can't stop singing Party In The USA. I think that they rate that too high in age. In this on magazine it even said that it is 4 8+ But that's only my opinion. Now about the sex yeah lots of that. And in Party In The USA you can tell she's just trying to be sexy. Her shorts are way too short and her top is not very appropriate so this is not the best of Miley but I say 10+ unless your a mature enough.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
June 22, 2010
 
Maybe I Should Sell My Copy Now
"Miley Cyrus? Who's that? She's Hannah Montana? She's so cool!" This is the cry of millions of children around the world. It used to be me, too. Then I found out. Now, I'm closer to the parents' cries of, "What is she doing? She's seventeen! She's just being a brat." I'll note that these are in my own words. I believe Miley Cyrus is being a brat. In my book, anyone who's taking pictures like she has automatically gains the role of brat. The first bad thing I heard about Cyrus was when she was on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. Two years ago, Cyrus posed for a magazine cover where she had her back to the camera and appeared to be topless. The magazine later clarified she was wearing a top, you just couldn't see it on the camera, meaning that they intentionally implied there was a topless fifteen-year-old girl on the cover, which isn't really much better. Rumors fly that her parents were near the set when the picture was taken... just standing there... acting like it's nothing. IT'S SOMETHING!! Cyrus later said, "The pictures of me on the Internet were silly, inappropriate shots."--Wait, pictures as in more than one? Classy.--"I appreciate all the support of my fans, and hope they understand that along the way I am going to make mistakes and I am not perfect."--Cyrus, we know you're not perfect. We figured that out two years ago.--"I never intended for any of this to happen,"--No, you were kidnapped!--"...and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone."--Here I am!--"Most of all, I have let myself down."--What happened to the children of America, your disciples? Aren't they more important?--"I will learn from my mistakes and trust my support team."--Well, she'll trust her support team, anyway. That proves it. Miley is not Hannah Montana. (By the way, Hannah Montana is a teen's show, not a kid's show.) Have you even seen the cover for her new album? I saw it today and I'm in a rage and a cry as I type this. Look up the album cover. It's not pretty. The name of it is "Can't Be Tamed." She has admitted that she thinks this stuff will make her more adult. She also wants to be unique. May I note that every American teenager wants to be unique? In their fruitless efforts to be different, they form groups of people, each one of which are exactly the same because they all want to be different. If they go to another school, they'll meet another group just like theirs. They seem to think that God made them the same as everyone else and that only they have the power to make themselves special. I'm special because I don't try to be. I just am. I love the way God made me and I'm not going to change from that just so I can be different than everyone else. And, Miley, this kind of behavior is not going to make you more adult. You're trying to grow up too fast. God not only made you, He chose when you were born. He decided when you would grow up. He's God, so I think He knows what He's doing. You're a Christian, you should know this. It's okay to be a kid once in a while, Miley. I was having the time of my life playing with my Buzz Lightyear action figure all day today. I held it up in the air while running around in circles and making buzzing noises. I'm not ashamed of it. I'm proud. People regard that as a kid's thing because it doesn't fit into the video game world. It's not popular, therefore it belongs in the trash. It's usually the same way with people. I say Buzz goes on the top shelf, along with Mr. Potato Head. So-called experts say if you so much as sleep with a stuffed animal after the age of five, there's something wrong with you. That's not true. Maybe you just think it's comfy. Maybe it reminds you of your childhood you're wise enough to want to remember. Maybe you can't remember the last time you had it but it still brings you that warm, fuzzy feeling. Remember Hannah's Beary bear? Not only is it okay to be a kid, sometimes it's better to be a kid. To be a child is not to be immature, to be immature is to be a child. Make friends, sell albums, but don't be willing to do anything to fit in. I fit in with God and Jesus. There's nobody who doesn't. They're all I really need but I also have Mommy and Daddy. Bonus! Miley, I know you're supposed to be yourself but that doesn't include all of this. You've forgotten that being yourself is different from following your heart. Sinning is human nature but we can do good and be ourselves at the same time. I think everyone can stand to learn this lesson. No one of any age seems to know it. And, everyone, you don't need to be rich or famous. I believe my calling is to touch people's lives as a regular person. Not rich. Not famous. Not popular. Someone they can relate to. That's the way God made me. I actually prefer my job over Miley's. I think that's what I'm doing here. I'm just a person who happened to stumble onto a website I liked. Apparently you did the same. Or did God lead me here and put these words on the page Himself? Don't try to be different. Try to be good. Nobody's good anymore so that will make you different enough as it is.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
May 16, 2011
 
Clean but Catchy
Not bubblegum pop, but still very catchy while being clean.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
Artist:Miley Cyrus
Release date:August 28, 2009
Label:Hollywood Records
Genre:Pop
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

vote now

Will you add The Time of Our Lives to your playlist?


Already listened to it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it