RATING: 2.5/5
After over nine years of collaborations and singles, Bruno Mars released his first solo album, “The Romantic,” since “24K Magic.” As expectations exponentially rose after he released the album’s lead single, “I Just Might,” they were deflated just as quickly. After my first listen, I immediately realized that it does not compare to his previous solo and collaboration albums.
“The Romantic” features nine songs. Overall, the album features aspects of many Latin genres of music — such as Mariachi or Bolero — giving it a pleasant coherence while maintaining each song’s individuality. As the title suggests, the lyrics develop themes of passionate falling in love, to devotion, and finally, nostalgia, as the album progresses.
However, it seemed like the album was written and produced to pander to the radio; it sounds overly commercial, as many of the songs had a slight to overwhelming Pop-music sound. “The Romantic” definitely plays it safe.
Even with the generic sound, some personal standout songs are “Cha Cha Cha” and “Why You Wanna Fight.” “Cha Cha Cha” is groovy, light-hearted, and it immediately stuck in my mind, even well after my first listen. I would recommend this song for a party, rather than for an everyday playlist.
“Why You Wanna Fight,” the fifth song on the playlist, surprised me with its slow sound and pleading lyrics, especially after the cheerfulness of the previous songs. It has a classic R&B sound, and Bruno Mars’ vocals are intensely highlighted. Out of the entire album, this is the only song that I have saved. A similar-sounding song, “Nothing Left,” the eighth track, is a close contender for the standout tracks of the album.
The rest of “The Romantic” was slightly disappointing. “I Just Might” sounds especially commercial, and many of the other tracks blended together in their sounds and lyrics. If I weren’t focusing on listening, I easily mistook some songs for others.
With his status as the modern-day “King of Pop,” Bruno’s newest album fell short of expectations, as the album did not introduce anything revolutionary, but it was still a pleasant listen. “24K Magic” and “An Evening with Silk Sonic” are phenomenal albums that set a high bar for the artist, so it is understandable that many, including myself, were dissatisfied. However, despite the criticisms, it was excellent to see Bruno Mars make his long-awaited comeback.
