Tyla’s thoughts:
After a ten-year hiatus, the GOAT of love ballads has struck again with a solo studio album. But did he strike out? From the beginning of his relatively short album, Bruno Mars captures a highly Latin, Chicano sound, with trumpets and salsa rhythms in “Risk It All.” The album’s overall sound is not much like the 2010s “Bruno” sound we were anticipating. I remember Bruno Mars as a staple of my childhood, but after ten years, his sound has definitely changed—for better or for worse. Particularly, some songs sound very neo-soul and slow jam, much like his highly popular song “After Last Night,” featuring Anderson Paak. As usual, Mars’ vocals are on point and emotional, making the songs feel very polished. The happiness is overwhelming in this album–very cheerful and triumphant. But I wonder what his listeners truly expected. Did they want his “It Will Rain,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven” style, yearnful music that marked Bruno Mars’ peak? Though The Romantic’s songs are somewhat nostalgic and reminiscent of the 2010s, Mars hasn’t quite matched his music from this earlier era.
Mars fans are used to a raw emotion in his ballads. The Romantic does not achieve this feeling, potentially because of the many instruments featured in its songs. Bruno Mars has always been one of the most loved artists and has truly made a name for himself in the music industry, but has he lost sight of the feelings he sings about? The new songs are definitely polished, have embraced changes in the music industry, and show Mars’ solid grasp on what the general music fan looks for. However, almost every song sounds familiar.
Some songs in the album do align with his earlier work and reflect increased listener reception, such as “Risk It All” and “Why You Wanna Fight” (in their harmonies and lyrics more than the beat/melody), and “Dance With Me” (his voice stands out in the slower arrangement). However, some songs felt out of place coming from Bruno Mars, such as “Cha Cha Cha,” “God Was Showing Off,” and “Something Serious,” which not only didn’t sound like Mars’ raw vocals but also did not even resemble 2026’s popular music sound.
As Bruno Mars continues to release more music after The Romantic, hopefully listeners’ view of “peak Bruno” will change to reflect his more modern music. But as of right now, Mars has lost touch with his listeners.
Ryan’s thoughts:
Bruno Mars returns to the stagelight with such a “perfectly” crafted love album. It’s mixed with bolero and salsa elements, and inspired by artists like Tito Puente, Curtis Mayfield, and Michael Jackson, alongside the late 70s disco pop scene/Latin culture writ large. Bruno Mars is just one of many who personalize this sound, but with very algorithmic and soulless taste. The Romantic was not on par with Mars’s discography. The album is nothing unpleasant but sounds like what you would expect from any soul or Mars project: trite. The album clearly takes inspiration from many predecessors and earlier tropes, yet it seems as if it’s a mere copy-and-paste of what's already there. If you isolate the project for itself, it’s a groovy listen, but once you take in other factors, Bruno Mars’ romantic atmosphere is no realer than a staged Instagram reel. It has its mainstream appeal as its only luring factor.
The problem with mainstream music, in being too widespread and overplayed, is that it leads people to overlook the introspection, creative direction, and originality that went into the production process. At this point, “I Just Might” listen to whom Bruno Mars took inspiration from. Still, despite criticism around the album, it’s a good spin for a relaxed lounge in Hawaii or Puerto Rico—I would still prefer Bad Bunny or Masoyashi Takanaka, though.