For the very first written album review on this website, it seemed only right for it to be the most recent album from one of my favorite artists. The Romantic by Bruno Mars is the fourth studio album from the pop artist. I would say I was always a casual fan Bruno Mars since he was dropping radio hits from his first two albums, Doo Wops & Hooligans and Unorthodox Jukebox, back when I was in elementary school. However, the project that elevated Mars to my favorite artist was his third album, 24K Magic. I still remember the Thanksgiving of 2016 being the fateful day I listened to that album for the first time. For me, 24K Magic was more than just a fun pop/R&B album. Although that’s exactly what it was, it was also the first album that inspired me to dive deeper into music and the genre of R&B as a whole, as it took the best of what 80s and 90s R&B had to offer (This includes the musical style of new jack swing pioneered by producer, Teddy Riley), delivering it in an unapologetically authentic, well produced, and vocally impressive package. Bruno went on to do the same with 60s and 70s R&B in his following project, An Evening with Silk Sonic, his collaboration album with soul singer/rapper, Anderson .Paak., another one of my favorite artists. (You could probably imagine my excitement when a 70s inspired project from my top two favorite artists was first announced. An Evening with Silk Sonic is still one of my all-time favorite albums.) Bruno Mars has always been an artist who wore his influences on his sleeve, with each project from the artist emulating a certain era or genre of music with the upmost quality without it ever feeling disingenuous or derivative, and five to ten years later, The Romantic is no different. The Romantic still takes much inspiration from classic R&B/soul (Similar to Silk Sonic, Mars channels classic soul and funk artists throughout the project including the Jackson 5, Curtis Mayfield, The Manhattans, and others) and even early 2000s hip-hop. (The use of lyrics from Slow Motion by Juvenile on the album’s second track was infectiously fun and well placed.) However, what made this project different from other Bruno Mars ventures was its Latin influence, this time emulating Latin influenced acts such as Santana or War. Salsa, bachata, and even mariachi music was expertly combined with soulful pop and R&B throughout the album’s nine tracks. (Besides the incredible vocal performance and songwriting prowess from Mars and his band, the Hooligans, the versatile production by D’Mile must also be commended. For those who don’t know, D’ Mile has produced tracks featuring his signature groovy and smooth sound for the Silk Sonic album itself, Lucky Daye, Victoria Monet, India Shawn, and other R&B acts known for their old school sound and cadence. He’s produced 90% of my favorite songs, pretty much.) As mentioned before, the album is short but conscience, containing nine tracks reminiscent of Mars’ previous work and other legendary artists that pioneered the R&B genre. With prime examples such as Thriller by Michael Jackson, Let’s Stay Together by Al Green, and even Diamond Life by Sade, shorter albums let me know that the artist seeks to convey a message or be intentional with their audience, which is exactly what The Romantic did. From Track One: Risk It All to Track Nine: Dance With Me, a love story is being told, starting the albums on the highs and honeymoon phases of love (I Just Might, God Was Showing Off) and surprisingly ending the album on its bittersweet lows (Nothing Left, Dance With Me), even showing the cracks in the foundation early on (Why You Wanna Fight?). I will say, The Romantic wasn’t as narratively cohesive as Mars’ best work such as 24K Magic or Silk Sonic, with the shift in The Romantic from groovy to emotional being a little less seamless. However, the quality of the vocals and the production on each track are undeniable. The Romantic was a fantastic album that was definitely made with Bruno’s love for R&B/soul and his Latin heritage in mind. If you’re familiar enough with the genres and sounds being emulated, the wheel isn’t exactly being reinvented, but when the music sounds this good and is this fun to listen to, that is hardly a factor. Score: 9/10
Noah Robinson 