Bruno Mars officially released his solo album “The Romantic” on Feb. 27, through Atlantic Records. This was his fourth solo album in over nine years after the success of the “24k Magic” album. The nine tracks arrived after a long time, following Mars’ announcement that the album was complete and ready for the world.
“The Romantic” album featured nine tracks that blended with pop and retro style. The album included songs such as “Cha Cha Cha”, “Risk it all”, “Dance With Me”, “God Was Showing Off”, “I Just Might”, “Why You Wanna Fight?”, “Something Serious”, “Nothing Left” and “Dance With Me.” The lead single, “I Just Might”, was released on Jan. 9, and reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
What stood out to me most on this album was how Bruno Mars’s retro style didn’t fade at all. When I heard the background drumming, the band energy and the groove, I instantly felt that Bruno Mars is finally back. His production gave the album an energy that helped boost my mood, especially when schoolwork had me stressed out. It was the kind of music that pulled me in to keep listening.
On the contrary, after nearly ten years without a solo album, it was disappointing to see Bruno Mars return with a small project. “The Romantic” album only included nine tracks, and for a comeback this long in the making, I found myself hoping it was closer to 15 songs to really dive into. Though the album kept his retro style, it felt harder to see Bruno Mars shining through the way it used to be.
Looking ahead, for the new album Bruno Mars will release in the future, I would love to see more of his true artistic identity. Until now, he was known for producing music that gives a mix of 70s and 80s funk, and 90s R&B. It would be exciting to hear something that contains something more personal. Showing more of his own story and his perspective would make the next project more stand out and meaningful.