Bruno Mars (his stage name--real name Peter Hernandez) burst onto the music scene in a big way 2 years ago with "Doo Wops & Hooligans". A fusion of old school be bop and r&b updated with a poppy sound right for today's radio. I like him a lot, he has a great voice and his live performances on award shows are rockin'. His first record had only 10 songs on it but they were perfectly crafted pop ditties that many people took a liking to. And here we are 2 million record sales, 2 number one solo singles and oodles of singles songs downloads later and out comes his second collection--can he do it again? The new set called "Unorthodox Jukebox" again has only 10 tracks like his first go round, but are they as good as the others--let's see.
"Young Girls"--ok, he's only 27 so wine, women, song and other pursuits are on his mind. It starts slow and builds quickly with hand claps and background drum beats--catchy, poppy and a good start.
"Locked Out of Heaven"--this just dives right in with catchy hooks and let's face it more drum beats always help. The breakdown is a funky baseline as he asks the girl "to open up her gates"--again not much imagination needed here to tell what the heaven is he is trying not to be locked out of. Boys will be boys.
"Gorilla"--I guess this explains the gorilla hugging the jukebox on the cover art. Mmm...another song about making love--somebody either has it bad or needs it bad. He's banging his chest like a gorilla and he's a dirty little lover and oooh...he's singing the the F-word, okay it's the explicit version, but still it has a nice wall of sound quality so I'll give him a pass on this one.
"Treasure"--now this is very old-school 80's pop dance vibe--I love this. The throwback songs always get me, especially the funky baseline, kind of Chic like--but that just makes it good. I hope this is single and a big hit. Perfect for Valentine's Day.
"Moonshine"--Another winner. A backbeat, sort of a medium pop groove, another throw back tune, maybe late 80's early 90's on this. So far one catchy tune after another.
"When I Was Your Man"--piano ballad, he's definitely got the chops for this a la Adele and "Someone Like You", lamenting the loss of a love. This will be a single
"Natalie"--upbeat love gone wrong and lost again--he's definitely got women on his mind a lot. You can still snap fingers and stomp your feet to it, not a club banger, though a remix might make it one, but I would definitely turn it up sing it loud while driving down the highway.
"Show Me"--slow groove reggae style, though for some reason I can't help humming "Pass The Dutchie" while listening to it, it has that same vibe and beat. It's a good song and the different styling will probably make it a single. Again, he's asking a woman to show him her loving. He's got it bad.
"Money Make Her Smile"--hmmm...different. The woman's a superfreak this time. Some odd musical break downs here. Background chorus of give 'em what you got got. Don't know, not my favorite, which means it will be a huge hit.
"If I Knew"--a doo wop slow burn r&b groove that is surprisingly only 2:12 long. Usually these things are 6 to 7 minute booty adventures. It's like a little get started nugget, good song though wouldn't have chosen to end the set with this--I prefer upbeat endings.
Overall this is a tremendous follow-up to his first collection and there are enough adventurous changes to keep things interesting and not the same 'ol same 'ol. I see the potential for multiple hit singles off this just like his first. My only qualm would be that all the songs are brief 3:30 to 4 minute chestnuts and at only 10 songs the whole thing feels too brief, I want to hear more, but maybe that's for the best. The old entertainment adage is to always leave them wanting more and the he most certainly does.
"Young Girls"--ok, he's only 27 so wine, women, song and other pursuits are on his mind. It starts slow and builds quickly with hand claps and background drum beats--catchy, poppy and a good start.
"Locked Out of Heaven"--this just dives right in with catchy hooks and let's face it more drum beats always help. The breakdown is a funky baseline as he asks the girl "to open up her gates"--again not much imagination needed here to tell what the heaven is he is trying not to be locked out of. Boys will be boys.
"Gorilla"--I guess this explains the gorilla hugging the jukebox on the cover art. Mmm...another song about making love--somebody either has it bad or needs it bad. He's banging his chest like a gorilla and he's a dirty little lover and oooh...he's singing the the F-word, okay it's the explicit version, but still it has a nice wall of sound quality so I'll give him a pass on this one.
"Treasure"--now this is very old-school 80's pop dance vibe--I love this. The throwback songs always get me, especially the funky baseline, kind of Chic like--but that just makes it good. I hope this is single and a big hit. Perfect for Valentine's Day.
"Moonshine"--Another winner. A backbeat, sort of a medium pop groove, another throw back tune, maybe late 80's early 90's on this. So far one catchy tune after another.
"When I Was Your Man"--piano ballad, he's definitely got the chops for this a la Adele and "Someone Like You", lamenting the loss of a love. This will be a single
"Natalie"--upbeat love gone wrong and lost again--he's definitely got women on his mind a lot. You can still snap fingers and stomp your feet to it, not a club banger, though a remix might make it one, but I would definitely turn it up sing it loud while driving down the highway.
"Show Me"--slow groove reggae style, though for some reason I can't help humming "Pass The Dutchie" while listening to it, it has that same vibe and beat. It's a good song and the different styling will probably make it a single. Again, he's asking a woman to show him her loving. He's got it bad.
"Money Make Her Smile"--hmmm...different. The woman's a superfreak this time. Some odd musical break downs here. Background chorus of give 'em what you got got. Don't know, not my favorite, which means it will be a huge hit.
"If I Knew"--a doo wop slow burn r&b groove that is surprisingly only 2:12 long. Usually these things are 6 to 7 minute booty adventures. It's like a little get started nugget, good song though wouldn't have chosen to end the set with this--I prefer upbeat endings.
Overall this is a tremendous follow-up to his first collection and there are enough adventurous changes to keep things interesting and not the same 'ol same 'ol. I see the potential for multiple hit singles off this just like his first. My only qualm would be that all the songs are brief 3:30 to 4 minute chestnuts and at only 10 songs the whole thing feels too brief, I want to hear more, but maybe that's for the best. The old entertainment adage is to always leave them wanting more and the he most certainly does.
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