Miley Cyrus's tenth album, "Bass Persuades," marks a shift towards a more direct, dancefloor-focused sound after her experimental "Something Beautiful." Released under her new label Atlantic and billed simply as Miley, the album contains nine songs and a remix, totaling under 40 minutes, signaling a leaner and more confident artistic statement from the chameleonic star, who critics note is no longer interested in explaining her various musical identities.
The title track and lead single, "Bass Persuades," features a throbbing synth sound with Cyrus repeatedly stating "the kids don't wanna dance," a sentiment some found misleading given her history of energetic performances. While the track was seen by some as a promise for a pure club record, the album largely diverges from this, featuring a mix of love ballads and eclectic outliers. This led some reviewers to find the album's title track, and by extension the album's overall promise of "bass" or "persuasion," somewhat unfulfilled.
Despite the mixed reception for the title track, the album's deeper cuts like "Innocent Ways" are highlighted as standout and personal songs. Collaborator Maxx Morando, Cyrus's fiancé, produced all but two tracks, contributing to the album's "genreless flow." The album is seen as reflecting Cyrus's personal contentment rather than a striving for a mainstream breakthrough or a grand artistic statement, with her legacy already established as an inspiration for current pop stars.
Critics generally describe "Bass Persuades" as pleasant and passable, with some finding it enjoyable on its own terms but perhaps a bit "undercooked" or an "in-between project" compared to her more polarizing or aesthetically cohesive previous works like "Endless Summer Vacation" or "Something Beautiful." While it may not be an "Event Album" or anyone's favorite or least favorite Miley album, it showcases her continuous reinvention and confident stride towards "true diva status."
