Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Era

[Harx]

Nov 18, 2016 6:09:48 GMT -5 Harx said:

Now here's my prediction what next singles will be:

1. 24K Magic
2. Versace On The Floor (definetely a single)
3. Chunky (also definetely a single)
4. Finesse (just a guess, sounds less like a single than previous two)
5. Too Good To Say Goodbye (if released as a single this will probably be the final one)

The more I listen to it, the more That's What I Like sounds like an obvious single.

[Caviar]

Half way through and "Versace On The Floor" is STILL my favorite.

[koolthing]

Nov 19, 2016 12:30:12 GMT -5 Caviar said:

Half way through and "Versace On The Floor" is STILL my favorite.

It's just... so good.

Definitely can see "Finesse", "That's What I Like" and "Chunky" becoming singles. 

[SHOOTER]

First projections are in and he's estimated to debut at #3 behind Metallica and Miranda Lambert with 140-150k SPS (110-120k sales).

Doo-Wops & Hooligans debuted at #3 with 55k (2.3m to date).

Unorthodox Jukebox debuted at #2 with 192k (2.5m to date).

[wavey.]

In line with the rest of his discography.

[Queen of Insomnia.]

Yeah he's very consistent. These #'s totally reflect 1st prediction for UJ. So let's see if the promo this wk AMAs, 60 Minutes & Carpool Karaoke (filmed yesterday) will give it a push.


iTunes
2. 24K Magic
59. Chunky
72. That's What I Like
108. Too Good To Say Goodbye
126. Versace On The Floor
172. Finesse
206. Perm
214. Straight Up & Down
336. Calling All My Lovelies


Spotify:
5. 24K Magic
32. That's What I Like
60. Straight Up & Down
64. Versace On The Floor
68. Chunky
100. Perm
151. Calling All My Lovelies
152. Finesse
172. Too Good To Say Goodbye

I'll review it tomorrow.

[Enigma.]

I'm not sure about this album... I find it even TOO 80s, however Versace on the Floor is completely amazing

[Caviar]

Interesting he's never had a #1 debut.

[wavey.]

Bruh...he legit called Halle Berry for some point. My N.

[Queen of Insomnia.]

Nov 19, 2016 14:50:30 GMT -5 wavey. said:

Bruh...he legit called Halle Berry for some point. My N.

Indeed. She knows and appoves. :kii:

[Heart Shaped Box]

These songs are gonna kill live

[Deleted]

Now that I've had a few days to marinate on the album:

- my favorite songs are Finesse, Calling All My Lovelies, and That's What I Like.

- Finesse does have that BBD/Poison inspired intro, but the song itself immediately reminded me of "Waiting for the Day" by Shai. It might also not be too off-base to compare it to "She's Playing Hard to Get" by Hi-Five. No matter how you cut it, it's peak early-90s bliss.

- Straight Up and Down reminds me of another Shai song, Baby I'm Yours...which makes me wonder if maybe he was listening to Shai's debut album a lot when he got inspired for this album...which now makes me sad that we didn't get a proper "If I Ever Fall In Love" or "Together Forever" moment out of this.

- That's What I Like, meanwhile, is one of those moments where someone could say "This is so Mariah!" and you don't have to ask "which decade?" The verses are very Touch My Body but the bridge took me back to Underneath the Stars and his ad-libs at the end are a touch of Dreamlover. (Somehow, Kishi's point about it being reminiscent of Usher isn't out of place here either.)

- Perm is James Brown meets The Time; 50s funky with 80s bravado.

- Chunky is cute but I'm actually rather disappointed in the finished product. I had the same problem with Ariana's Be Alright - the live version made the song feel very full, but on record there's something missing and it makes the song feel a bit hollow.

- as soon as I heard Too Good to Say Goodbye I knew that would be an immediate favorite for all the people who miss ballads Bruno. I had to listen to it five or six times in a row just to be sure that it didn't sample Never Can Say Goodbye because it's so Jackson-esque. (I'm sure the title similarity was intentional.) I'm a little surprised it made it on here because it's such a pure ballad and he seemed to be kind of down on anything of the sort these days.

- The Hooligans deserve 'featuring' credits on a few of these songs, their vocals are so prominent. (this isn't a bad thing, it just kind of caught me off guard how heavily Bruno relied on them for Perm, Straight Up and Down, and Calling All My Lovelies)

- Bruno touted '90s music as his main influence for 24k, but IMO the '80s influence is equally prominent, if not a little bit more so. This albums biggest flaw is that the production apes its inspirations too hard. Songs like LOOH and Treasure and even UF did a great job of drawing on previous eras of music while still incorporating a modern finish tot he production. This album sounds like it was actually recorded in the '80s and early '90s, possibly on actual '80s/early '90s level equipment. So yeah, it sounds spot-on for what Bruno clearly wanted it to be, but now which of these songs is going to sound all right on 21st-century radio?

- His sales will probably trend upward (as they have in the past) but I am inclined to think the time to maximize his first-week sales potential was this time last year, on the heels of Uptown Funk. This is the only time I find myself wishing he didn't let his perfectionism get in his own way. I know this album "wasn't ready" then but dammit, man!

Overall I'd give 24k Magic an 8/10. It's not a game changer and it's bordering on self-indulgent - but I've never been one to care about self-indulgence from my faves so that's mostly a problem reserved for people who need radio hits as validation. This album is consistent, fun, and definitely designed to give an epic tour.

[Caviar]

"Finesse" is some straight BBD 1991 realness!

[Jay D83]

Wow. This album is great. Instant favorites include "Perm," "That's What I Like," "Versace On The Floor," and "Too Good To Say Goodbye" is going to have me crying as soon as I have a few splashes.

This is the best album I've heard in a long ass time. Fuck Apple Music, I'm buying this.

5/5

[Queen of Insomnia.]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNAYVYZB0af

My fav promo pic so far:

[Deleted]

The album simply is amazing and is my favorite of his discography
Simple, just AMAZING!

[SHOOTER]

Nov 19, 2016 16:38:58 GMT -5 @antigonerising said:

Straight Up and Down reminds me of another Shai song, Baby I'm Yours...which makes me wonder if maybe he was listening to Shai's debut album a lot when he got inspired for this album...which now makes me sad that we didn't get a proper "If I Ever Fall In Love" or "Together Forever" moment out of this.

He straight sampled it; the only sample credited in the liner notes actually.

[wavey.]

Yeah I'm Deadass buying the physical.

[elementd5]

Except for Perm, this album is just pure bliss all the way through. Well worth the wait and he knocked it out of the park.

[SHOOTER]

SU&D are VOTF are my two least favorites but even those I still let ride because I don't hate them (I just never cared for the Shai record to begin with and the other is just a tad too cliche and cheesy); however, I do feel the album is truly cohesive and complete because of all 9 tracks and taking any single one out would feel like a disservice.

[Queen of Insomnia.]

Taking of on RHYTHMIC:

Versace on the Floor: 164 spins // 0.598 Audience *7 stations.
Straight Up & Down: 11 spins // 0.051 Audience
That's What I Like: 11 spins //0.033 Audience
Too Good To Say Goodbye: 8 spins // 0.029 Audience
Finesse: 8 spins //0.028 Audience
Calling All My Lovelies: 8 spins //0.025 Audience
Perm: 7 spins // 0.024 Audience

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Nov 19, 2016 14:40:45 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

I'm not sure about this album... I find it even TOO 80s, however Versace on the Floor is completely amazing

I do feel like I'm listening to an album that is c30 years old, not sure how I feel about it. As you say though, VOTF is amazing. The middle 8 is heaven.

[Queen of Insomnia.]

What really annoyed me about Unorthodox Jukebox is that some songs on it seem belong on his debut soundwise (Young Girls, If I Knew). They sound so out of place right next to Moonshine, Locked out of Heaven, Natalie or even Money Make Her Smile. Such problems don't exist on 24k Magic. I think it's his best, and most consistent album to date. It's exactly as he promised it'd be. It's a pure joy and nostalgia mixed with his goofy personality. But at the same time it's a big step in right direction for him. It's one of those albums you either love or hate. Some people will always be mad Bruno doesn't cling on what he debuted with. In 2016 he's vibing and jamming. '24k Magic' screams 'perfect tour material' and it's exactly what he needs right now.

The title track is his most instant single to date to me. He's just having a blast on this. It's the first party track in his discography. 'Chunky' is so smooth. He did it justice on studio version. He'll murder 'Perm' in live performance. Lyrically it's the next generation of 'Runaway Baby' and I'd bet that just like the song It'll became an essential part in his tour setlist for years to come. I absolutely love it since the first listen I had to put it on repeat for a while before I could move on to 'That’s What I Like'. It's not what I like the most on that album, but I see it's potential. Unless Bruno's a idiot it should be a single at some point. Among the album tracks it went the highest on iTunes and Spotify.

'Versace on the Floor' is really mellow and he can totally get away wih these lyrics. 'Straight Up & Down' is the hidden gem on that album with a catchy hook. 'Calling All My Lovelies' is for me the ultimate highlight on that album. It sounds as if CrazySexyCool TLC collaborated with Prince. I absolutely love it. Halle Berry on this track is just cherry on top. He better sing 'Finesse' in his Carpool Karaoke, because this song deserves attention ASAP. 'Too Good to Say Goodbye' is his best ballad to date imho. That strong Jackson 5 influence makes me appreciate it even more. Itt's a great way to end this album.

[wavey.]

I'm loving everyone loving "..Lovelies". It's legit.

[Caviar]

Nov 20, 2016 19:34:31 GMT -5 wavey. said:

I'm loving everyone loving "..Lovelies". It's legit.

Halle steals the show on this one.

[wavey.]

Nov 20, 2016 19:50:48 GMT -5 Caviar said:

Nov 20, 2016 19:34:31 GMT -5 wavey. said:

I'm loving everyone loving "..Lovelies". It's legit.

Halle steals the show on this one.

Deadass. I wasn't expecting her to be on the voicemail. That last part with the bridge....bruh

[Caviar]

Nov 20, 2016 20:09:23 GMT -5 wavey. said:

Nov 20, 2016 19:50:48 GMT -5 Caviar said:

Halle steals the show on this one.

Deadass. I wasn't expecting her to be on the voicemail. That last part with the bridge....bruh

Our comments about this last night on Snap Chart tho...

[wavey.]

Nov 20, 2016 20:11:15 GMT -5 Caviar said:

Nov 20, 2016 20:09:23 GMT -5 wavey. said:

Deadass. I wasn't expecting her to be on the voicemail. That last part with the bridge....bruh

Our comments about this last night on Snap Chart tho...

We couldn't do that here, but we spoke the truth.

[B-Boy]

"Calling All My Lovelies" reminds me so much of early 80s R&B. Giving me serious Debarge vibes. lol @ the Halle Berry cameo.

He captured the New Jack Swing sound so effortlessly on "Finesse". It's running man-approved.

[Queen of Insomnia.]

INTERVIEW on 60 Minutes