Miley Cyrus's 'Bass Persuades' Offers Blend of Nostalgia and Modern Reflection
The pop star's tenth album navigates themes of fragmented music culture and personal relationships with a sonic nod to the 1980s.
Miley Cyrus's latest album, "Bass Persuades," marks a shift towards a more mature sound, blending 1980s-inspired synthesizers with introspective lyrics. The title track, an ode to nightclubbing, also reflects on the impact of streaming on music consumption, with Cyrus lamenting the loss of shared cultural experiences and the decline of music television.
"The kids don't wanna dance," Cyrus observes, criticizing younger fans' reliance on phones and the absence of prominent music programming. "You missed the hit without MTV," she sings, referencing a past era.
Despite its critical tone, "Bass Persuades" is described as an auspicious start to Cyrus's first album with her new label, Atlantic. However, the album quickly moves beyond its energetic opening with slower, shimmering songs and romantic ballads, which a review characterizes as a "red herring" from the initial assertive sound.
Following her more personal 2023 album "Endless Summer Vacation," which was influenced by her divorce from actor Liam Hemsworth, "Bass Persuades" centers on her relationship with fiancé and producer Maxx Morando. Tracks like "Let's Get Married" and "Neon Signs" explore themes of commitment and romance, with the former drawing parallels to wedding imagery.
While the album features high-quality songwriting, including the pulsating "slick and assured" "Innocent Ways," which expresses concern for a sibling, the overall direction is noted as a "march to respectability" compared to her earlier, more provocative work exemplified by her 2013 hit "Wrecking Ball."
In a separate review, Snow Patrol's performance at London's Royal Albert Hall is highlighted for commemorating the 20th anniversary of their album "Eyes Open." The band played the 2006 record in its entirety, showcasing the enduring power of its songs. Despite some unusual track juxtapositions, the performance delivered emotional depth, particularly during renditions of "Chasing Cars" and "Set The Fire To The Third Bar," which featured a duet with Martha Wainwright. The band also debuted a new song, "Love, I Guess," during the nostalgic event.
