I remember in the third grade I had a dinosaur called a CD player. I was taking the train with my mother to Tennessee and the only CD I played on repeat the whole trip was from SOS, an old 80’s R&B group that I only seem to hear at barbecues and once every six months on the R&B stations on the radio. If you're really digging R&B look up some of the heavy contributors.
This album is the definition of New Jack Swing which back in the 80’s was a new form of R&B. If ya don't know what New Jack Swing let me give you a little info since I'm here to educate and review. The inventor of the genre was Teddy Riley, who was a part of the group GUY in the late 80's and others such as Babyface, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Bernard Belle and LA Reid contributed as producers to the genre. The idea of the "Swing" component came from the rhythm of the drum for each song. The genre is composed of electronica, R&B, jazz, funk and of course rap. The album has some funk undertones and even old school hip hop feels as well as STRONG James Brown influences on some songs like Perm and even some sounds are similar to possibly Luther Vandross. He has some songs to make you slightly think of New Edition, "Telephone Man" or your past lover that you wish could pick up the phone. He has you wanting to make love near the fireplace or placing your Versace belt on the floor. He has you feeling smooth and sexy like you could bag anybody you want with just a glance. Those are just some of the powers of the magical Bruno Mars.
I have yet to say I dislike a song on this entire album. He's a constant hit maker and never fails to disappoint thus he is my guilty, addictive pleasure or as I call it Bruno Mars Porn. I've been playing it for 2 weeks straight. Top tracks are "Calling All My Lovelies" and "Chunky."
Calling All My Lovelies strongly reminds me of SOS and even the GAP Band. It's a slow song which is amazing because again I love ballads. The layering of harmonies is always incredible. I was actually laughing when he featured Halle Berry’s voicemail in the song. Nice to know we can joke around a little while still falling in love.
"Chunky" Is SOOOO FUNKY!!!! He always tells a story with his lyrics so you stay captured. He gives you amazing details so you can picture his lady of the moment and you might even once in a while be the one wearing the big old hoops.
I'm also still bumping to "24k Magic" because everybody loves an old school hip-hop beat like we're street dancing on the corner wearing our chains, Addidas pants and LL Cool J hats looking like DMC. It's just a classic beat with a new jack swing influence in addition to the producing to make everything not sound like a vintage 80’s track. You'd imagine your mother bumping to this album too but you still secretly love this album and aren't ashamed of it.
The album cover reminds me of Slick Rick or even Big Daddy Kane (which you should totally check out if you're really into hip-hop). They're both these confident, sexy men of color that give off the presence of a king on his throne, comfortably waiting for someone to give them a challenge.
