Album: ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’

Artist: Bruno Mars       

Genre: Pop      

Sounds like: Jason Mraz

Soundwaves: 2.5/5

Release Date: Oct. 5, 2010

His name has been attached to some of the hottest singles of the year. Now the time for Bruno Mars to fly solo has finally arrived. His debut album, ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans,’ delivers all of the sugary vocals and catchy melodies we expect from Mars, but the total package is uneven. The 10 sweetened pop songs on the album sound pretty great, but they do little to push musical boundaries or develop a unique persona for such a talented singer-songwriter.

Mars seems to have the makings of a star. This laid-back Hawaiian native comes armed with an acoustic guitar, a beautiful voice and a knack for writing memorable songs. Proof? Mars co-wrote recent Billboard smashes, such as Flo Rida’s ‘Right Round,’ B.o.B’s ‘Nothin’ On You’ and Travis McCoy’s ‘Billionaire.’ While these collaborations gained prominence in the pop music sphere, they subsequently robbed Mars’ credibility as a solo artist.

Mars’ challenge on ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’ is creating a distinct image for himself by presenting his story, his own struggle. Unfortunately, he doesn’t come close to doing that.

Album opener ‘Grenade’ hints at that internal struggle, utilizing a standard ‘I would die for you’ theme to describe unreciprocated love. The melodies are nicely layered, and thumping drums add some dramatic flair, but his exaggerated lyrics end up sounding insincere. After all, this is the same guy who sang about wanting to be a billionaire so freakin’ bad. A seamless transition into one of the many hit singles, ‘Just the Way You Are,’ maintains the drama and mood, as Mars urges his lover to never change a thing because she’s amazing just as she is. As catchy and solid as these opening tracks are, Mars begins to fall into the trap of playing it too safe. If he revealed more about his own character, he would sound more believable.

The mood slows down with ‘Our First Time,’ a sweet love-making track that has some reggae flavor to it. Mars smoothes out his vocals, showing off a real penchant for pillow talk on one of the album’s highlights. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for ‘Runaway Baby,’ a fast-paced and extremely misplaced rock track. ‘The Lazy Song’ is a catchy, Jason Mraz-type ditty that details the intricacies of idleness. Kitschy lyrics about Snuggies, birthday suits and the popular YouTube dance sensation, the ‘Dougie,’ induce winces and drawn-out sighs, but Mars’ smooth and effortless singing is enough to compensate.

The booming, theatrical drums return on ‘Marry You,’ a bizarrely cheesy track that kicks off the album’s second half. Mars continues to play it safe, telling his woman, ‘If we wake up and you want to break up, that’s cool.’ Nice proposal, Bruno. Fortunately, he finds his stride in the superb ballad, ‘Talking to the Moon.’ When he slows down and focuses on melody, Mars is at his best.

Mars’ collaboration with Damian Marley, ‘Liquor Store Blues,’ is a winner. It’s the only track in which Mars actually talks about his personal vices. The reverb-heavy background vocals and echoes are evidence of Marley’s influence, and his presence adds much-needed variety to the album.

‘Count On Me’ is a simple acoustic song that never really picks up. Thematically, this ode to friendship is no different than what Mraz and Colbie Caillat already did with ‘Lucky.’ Closing track ‘The Other Side’ pushes boundaries at long last as a fusion of electronic style, with R&B and reggae flavors that mimic the Gorillaz. Cee-Lo Green and B.o.B make solid guest appearances, finishing the album on a high note. But it’s just too little, too late.

All in all, there are a few great songs, a few fillers and a couple skip-worthy tracks on ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans.’ Mars does what he does best: sing memorable hooks and craft catchy pop music. Yet these days, pop artists are playing it safer than ever, and Mars is no exception. This is a debut that feels very of-the-moment, delivering just enough to keep Mars on the Billboard charts and playlists for now. Ten tracks of uneven quality don’t do his talent justice. Here’s to hoping he pushes himself in a more personal direction next time.

ajhaeder@syr.edu

Published on October 11, 2010 at 12:00 pm