Miley Cyrus's tenth studio album, "Endless Summer Vacation," arrives as a collection caught between competing impulses. The title track and lead single suggested a record built on thump and attitude, yet the finished product reveals something altogether more restrained. Cyrus trades the bombast hinted at in early marketing for a softer, more introspective approach that feels oddly disconnected from what the opening salvo promised.
The album establishes itself as pretty, competent pop-rock with genuine melodic appeal. Production is clean and professional throughout. Cyrus's vocal delivery remains characteristically assured across varied arrangements. Yet the record struggles with an identity crisis that the title single's misdirection inadvertently exposed. Where listeners expected persuasion through sonic force, they instead encounter a project that whispers when it should roar.
This represents a marked tonal shift for Cyrus, who has spent the last several years building a reputation for uncompromising directness. Her previous work traded in provocative imagery and bold sonic choices. "Endless Summer Vacation" abandons that template almost entirely, opting instead for the kind of accessible, radio-friendly arrangements that could soundtrack a thousand streaming playlists without leaving an impression.
The disconnect between promotional messaging and actual content matters in the streaming era, where first singles function as binding contracts between artist and audience. A lead track titled "Bass Persuades" carries explicit promises. Listeners expect rhythm, depth, and the kind of production that justifies the title. The album's actual aesthetic, built on lighter arrangements and more delicate instrumentation, violates that contract within minutes of the first play.
This isn't to suggest the record fails outright. Several tracks reveal genuine craft in their composition and Cyrus's often-understated vocal choices. The album demonstrates technical proficiency and a willingness to explore production textures beyond the arena-pop formulas that dominate contemporary pop music. However, technical competence without distinctive purpose or memorable songwriting rarely sustains listener engagement beyond initial curiosity.
The broader pattern suggests Cyrus remains in transition, uncertain whether to lean into experimental territory or pursue mainstream palatability. Recent years showed her capable of both approaches separately. "Plastic Hearts" (2020) proved her ability to channel raw rock energy with conviction. Yet "Endless Summer Vacation" seems to hedge these bets entirely, resulting in an album that satisfies no particular audience completely.
For longtime Cyrus observers, the record registers as a missed opportunity. She possesses the technical skill, the fanbase, and the creative freedom to make genuinely provocative pop music. Instead, this tenth album opts for agreeability. The bass promised in the title remains largely absent. So does the persuasion.