First Impressions: A New Era for Miley

Miley Cyrus has never been one to play it safe. From her Hannah Montana roots to the raunchy reinvention of Bangerz and the psychedelic detour of Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz, she’s made a career out of defying expectations. Bass Persuades, her tenth studio album, arrives just a year after Something Beautiful—and it’s another left turn. This time, she’s dropping her last name, going simply by Miley, and diving headfirst into a world of pulsing basslines, industrial rock, and dance-floor confessions.

The album’s title track, Bass Persuades, sets the tone: a dark, synth-driven anthem that beckons listeners to the dance floor while chastising them for being glued to their phones. It’s a fitting introduction to an album that oscillates between euphoric highs and introspective lows, often within the same song.

The Highs: Where Bass Persuades Shines

1. Experimental Bangers

Bass Persuades is at its best when Miley leans into chaos and experimentation. Tracks like Different Religion—a collaboration with Model/Actriz—deliver industrial-rock energy with a side of existential musings. The production is glitchy, layered, and relentless, proving that Miley isn’t just dipping her toes into new sounds—she’s cannonballing in.

Innocent Ways, dedicated to her sister Noah Cyrus, is another standout. It’s a beat-driven confession that blends vulnerability with a club-ready groove, showcasing Miley’s ability to turn personal struggles into anthemic pop.

2. Emotional Rawness

Miley has always worn her heart on her sleeve, and Bass Persuades is no exception. Songs like Orbit and Let’s Get Married dive into love, devotion, and surrender, with lyrics that feel unfiltered and urgent. Her voice—whether soaring over synths or whispering over a stripped-down beat—carries a raw, almost devotional quality that’s hard to ignore.

3. A Nod to the Past, A Step Into the Future

The album doesn’t just look forward; it nods to Miley’s past while pushing her sound into new territory. There are hints of Madonna’s influence in the dance-pop moments, grungy indie vibes in the ballads, and even a psychedelic edge that recalls her Dead Petz era. It’s a sonic collage that feels both familiar and fresh.

The Lows: Where the Album Stumbles

1. A Lack of Cohesion

For all its strengths, Bass Persuades suffers from a lack of thematic and sonic cohesion. The album jumps from high-energy dance tracks to slow, moody ballads without always giving the listener time to adjust. It’s as if Miley couldn’t decide whether she wanted to make a club album, a rock album, or a singer-songwriter confessional—so she tried to do all three.

2. Playing It Safe (Sometimes)

While the album’s experimental moments are thrilling, there are times when Miley retreats into safer territory. Some of the mid-tempo pop tracks feel generic, lacking the fire and originality of her best work. It’s almost as if she’s holding back, unwilling to fully commit to the boldness that makes the album’s highs so exciting.

3. Lyrical Hits and Misses

Miley’s lyrics have always been a mix of clever and cringe. Bass Persuades is no different. There are lines that hit hard—like the raw confessions in Innocent Ways—but there are also moments where the wordplay feels forced or clichéd. It’s a reminder that, for all her talent, Miley is still figuring out how to balance depth with accessibility.

The Verdict: A Flawed but Fascinating Ride

Bass Persuades is not a perfect album, but it’s a fascinating one. It’s Miley at her most ambitious and unpredictable—a mix of lasers, bass, romance, and chaos that sometimes soars and sometimes stumbles. If you’re a fan of Miley’s fearless reinvention, there’s plenty to love here. If you prefer cohesion and consistency, you might find yourself wishing she’d picked a lane and stayed in it.

But that’s the thing about Miley Cyrus: she’s never been one to stay in her lane. And for that, we should be grateful.

Standout Tracks

✅ Different Religion – A dark, industrial-rock banger with Model/Actriz.
✅ Innocent Ways – A beat-driven confession dedicated to her sister.
✅ Orbit – A soaring, devotional love song with lush production.
✅ Aftermath – A club-ready shockwave that reignites the album’s energy.