It’s been over 10 years since the ever-romantic pop singer Bruno Mars released a solo album, but the drought has ended with the debut of his fourth solo album, The Romantic. The album dropped on Feb. 27, featuring nine songs for an easy 32 minutes of soulful, 70s-era melodies and retro-pop style reminiscent of his earlier hits. With smooth love songs filled with vintage sounds, the album marks Mars’s highly anticipated return to the pop spotlight.
The last solo album Mars produced was 24K Magic in 2016, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Though it has been some time since Mars has released a solo album, he hasn’t been quiet, winning best pop duo/group performance at the 2025 Grammys with his collaboration with Lady Gaga on “Die with a Smile.” Most recently, he released another collaboration with Blackpink’s Rosé́, “APT,” that also received three Grammy nominations.
Now, he is back on the solo stage with The Romantic, and from the start, the album has cemented itself as another classic Mars hit. True to its name, the album does center around one of Mars’ favorite topics: romance. He sings about the highs and woes of relationships, from the height of longing and loving to the lows of distance and separation. He uses a mix of his traditional contemporary pop sounds along with newer flares of Latin pop, but critics of the album have pointed out that the album doesn’t offer much depth beyond the typical cliches of love. Though this may be true, I feel the album is more about Mars’ traditional vibes rather than moving into uncharted musical territory. He has found the style that has defined his career and made him immensely popular; maybe, he feels there is no need for change.
The album’s lead single, “I Just Might,” was released earlier on Jan. 9 and jumped to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. This marks his first debut track to do so, and his 10th overall track to reach the No. 1 spot. The song mixes well with the other pop songs of the century while also distinguishing itself with its Latin pop roots and vintage 70s-era strains that make it irresistible to dance to.
With the upbeat and bounciness of the lead single, it was a little surprising that the first two songs, “Risk it All” and “Cha Cha Cha,” kick the album off with a slower, more Latin-styled music as opposed to the traditional pop sounds of “I Just Might.” Nonetheless, “Risk It All” quickly became my favorite song. It is a strong power ballad about how much Mars would do for love, reminding me of his Doo-Wops & Hooligans song “Grenade.” He sings, “Say you want the moon / Watch me learn to fly / Ain’t no mountain you could point to / I wouldn’t climb.” His velvety strains and vintage sounds pack an extra-romantic punch, setting the tone for the rest of the album.
Some critics have pointed out that many of Mars’s tracks sound a little too close to other popular 70s hits, like how “On My Soul” sounds strikingly similar to Curtis Mayfield’s “Move on Up,” according to AP News. Despite the similarities, Mars’ song still retains the classic style that has defined his discography for years. The song carries on the album’s theme of emotional longing, backed by strong trumpet strains and Mars’ signature vocals as he crows, “I’ma love you like you’ve never been loved before / Put it on anything / Put it on everything / On my soul.”
“Nothing Left” also became one of my favorites, with a sadder, more melancholic tone than the previous songs. Mars sings about the romantic woes of growing apart from the one you love, capturing that emotion with low, somber riffs and more emotional belts that truly showcase Mars’s vocal range.
The album rounds out with “Dance With Me,” a slower ending to a mostly upbeat album. The song is a sweet, slow dance about rekindling a lost relationship. The old-school twang and bright instrumentals make it easy to imagine people dancing along on the dance floor. The song perfectly rounds out an album about love and connection as he begs his lover to just “Dance with me / Darling / Dance with me just one more time.”
With The Romantic, Mars once again proves why he remains one of the most influential pop artists in the industry. Each track explores a different side of that elusive feeling called love, leaving listeners with songs that celebrate the feeling in its many forms. Though the album does have its critics, Mars’ distinct groove is felt throughout the album as he reminds his listeners to continue to dance and love their way through life.
