Bruno Mars has been the talk of the summer, but not necessarily for his own music. With guest appearances on hit songs like “Nothin’ On You” and “Billionaire”, Mars is finally making a name for himself with the release of his debut album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” which was released on October 4th. The album is preceded by the number one hit “Just the Way You Are” which is still going strong on the charts. The album showcases a jazz/blues vibe that was to be expected from the singer, but contains a few surprises and disappointments as well.
The album starts strong with the best song on the track list. “Grenade” is a very catchy and soulful track that I find really enjoyable. I wish the entire album would have showcased what Mars brings to this particular song, because it works in every way. The best part is the chorus where all of Mars’ emotions come out and create a powerful and successful piece of work. The first single, “Just the Way You Are”, is good like every other song to hit number one, but the lyrics are very cheesy and I feel they are in almost every other love song out there at the moment. It is a cute and decent debut for the artist, but he can do more. The track gets quite annoying after one listen. “Our First Time” starts off too slow to grab the attention of anyone who is listening. Unless they are in a very sexual mood then I do not think this song will appeal to anyone’s ears. The beats do not compliment Mars’ vocals at all which is disppointing. The end result is messy and sort of cheap. A song that had me moving is “Runaway Baby”. The track is fast and catchy, and the police sirens that are heard in the background make it fun as well. Mars’ vocals do not sound too perfected on this song which I think makes it work well. It is a surprise on the album, something I was not expected. Simple and short, but sweet. “The Lazy Song” is a track that I am torn about, I’m deciding whether to love or hate it. I laughed aloud with this song, which I still don’t know if is good or bad, and I know if released as a single it will be a hit. The beat is the problem I have with the song. It kills the full potential it could have had and I feel it is a beat most artists fall back on as a safety net. The album continues with “Marry You” which I would classify as a tad bit above average, nothing amazing or special. With all the “yays” and “nos”, the track got a little annoying for me to keep playing. I guess women would fall in love with this song because they will hear church bells ringing once they hear it. It is currently climbing the iTunes chart so I guess this is what his fans like. “Talking to the Moon” is a great song that is easy to sing along to. I feel this is another example of where Mars really gets to shine with music that really represents him as an artist. If I had to pick a second favorite track from the album, this would be it. It is soft, sweet, and simple, which can never go wrong if done right. The next song on the track list, “Liquor Store Blues”, is a bit comical to me. The lyric “whiskey pouring through my veins” is funny after the singer’s arrest for cocaine possession. The song is reggae in every way and works. It would fit perfectly with any decade, but Mars’ vocals make it modern for our generation. Damien Marley shines brighter than Mars on this track, but that was to be expected. The album concludes with two tracks that many fans may have heard already. “Count On Me” was previously released which is a reason that the quality of the track is diminished. The songs feel a bit dated to me. With that said, the track is amazing even though it does sound like a song from The Plain White T’s. Similarities are present but I guess Mars has enough talent to call it his own. The final track on the album, “The Other Side”, is extremely catchy, but for some reason that I still cannot put my finger on sounds like a Maroon 5 song, maybe it’s “Kiwi”. The featured guests, B.o.B and Cee Lo Green, allow this track to really shine, so I think Mars should thank them. It is a nice finish for the album. The album had its highs and lows, but I do not think represented anything horrible or awful.
“Doo-Wops & Hooligans” can only be described as average. The album did feature moments were Mars shined bright with amazing performances, but as a whole the album was not balanced or cohesive. The album only contains ten tracks, three of which were previously released, so I feel the album does not showcase everything the artist can do. The album does feel rushed and does not meet expectations. For an amazing voice and “Grenade”, a small track list, previously released songs and tracks that did not impress, the album gets a 74%.

Tracks to Hear: "Grenade", "Talking to the Moon", and "The Other Side"

Bruno Mars - Grenade by raissamaron