I have been excitedly waiting for Bruno Mars’ next project since his 2021 smash hit collaboration with Anderson .Paak, “An Evening With Silk Sonic.” Luckily, his new album “The Romantic” is groovy, smooth and undoubtedly worth the wait.
It’s the perfect danceable tracklist to pull me out of my winter funk and make me smile.
“The Romantic” taps into Mars’ Puerto Rican roots, beautifully blending boleros and salsa into his mastered soulful sound.
In the album’s first track, “Risk It All,” a flourish of trumpets invites listeners into a bolero-style piece, a form of ballad originated in Cuba and popularized in Mexico. Acoustic guitar, violins and conga drums back Mars’ longing lyrics about love.
The song’s music video pays homage to Mexican culture with a full mariachi band, religious imagery and vaquero style.
“Cha Cha Cha” is a masterclass in blending musical styles together, from hip-hop to pop to Latin dance. Mars’ lyrics emulate the swagger of his “24K Magic” days, this time underscored by smooth salsa rhythms.
The last 90 seconds of the song are what sealed the deal for me in recognizing Mars’ genius, transforming into something that could almost be heard on the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack. Swelling violins and fast-paced percussion create a disco feel without letting go of the track’s Latine backbone.
“I Just Might” was an excellent choice for a single; the dance-heavy, funky pop number is quintessentially Mars and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it was a deceptive first taste of the album for listeners.
Early reviews of “I Just Might” accused Mars of being formulaic in his songwriting. While the single proves that Mars can still make hits using his same old tricks, the album’s genre-bending tone demonstrates that he is still experimenting musically.
Instrumental excellence distinguishes this album as a certified classic. Orchestral cello and violin, electric and acoustic guitars and a fabulous horn section each find their places in the score.
The instrumentals create a cohesive flow between songs while maintaining variety within them for listeners. Additionally, I must shout out the album’s percussion.
A tracklist ranging from slow jams to salsas requires a perfected drum sound and percussionists Daniel Rodriguez and Eric Hernandez — Mars’ brother — nailed it. As a lover of the cowbell, I just about jumped for joy when I heard the instrument featured on “Cha Cha Cha” and “On My Soul.”
As always, Mars’ vocal talent is otherworldly. The richness in his voice brings out the cheerfulness in upbeat tracks and the passion in ballads like the album’s final track, “Dance With Me.”
Some album reviewers lament a lack of depth in “The Romantic.” Personally, I don’t believe lyrics need to explore darker themes in order to make an album great. Mars’ music has the kind of soul and joy that makes me close my eyes to feel its emotion and tap my feet to find its rhythm. To me, that’s more than satisfactory.
“The Romantic” will make you dance your blues away. I could sing the album’s praises all day, but it’ll save us both some time if you take a listen for yourself.
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