Young Girls: A slower, more lovely ballad, Bruno talks on this track about how attracted he gets to the more wild girls. Though some critics have found the lyrics somewhat problematic, I think this song is nonetheless very grand and it’s a good showing of Bruno’s vocal range. The hook is really beautiful, and the very bright, pretty sound keeps this one really interesting. I don’t know why I was ignoring this one for so long, it’s a great track!
Locked Out of Heaven: One of his most iconic singles, Bruno channels The Police on this track, and being the first single he released after “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” it’s vastly different from pretty much anything on that record, and it’s clear Bruno evolved his sound a bit with this one. The result is an upbeat, pumping track with smooth vocals from Bruno and an ear-wormy hook. Originally, I didn’t take to this song all that much, but I don’t know what I was thinking because it’s just so damn great!
Gorilla: Already, this one also really feels a lot different from Bruno’s older stuff, as he spends the track talking about him and a girl making love like gorillas over a 1980’s soft-rock-infused instrumental. It’s a really interesting transition from his other stuff, and while the lyrics are a bit explicit here (I got a chuckle out of hearing Bruno say “give it to me, motherfucker” and then literally saying he and this girl would be “fucking like gorillas”), I love the old-school vibe I get from this one, Bruno’s vocals are quite nice, and the hook was very ear-wormy. Another really enjoyable track!
Treasure: Forget “Uptown Funk” and the entire “24K Magic” album, THIS was the first sign that Bruno was trying to bring back the funk! This disco-infused track is another standout from Bruno, with some very punchy production, a really strong vocal performance from Bruno, a hook that just gets stuck in your head for all the right reasons, and a great vibe that kind of reminds me of old-school Michael Jackson. This one originally cooled on me because of repeat listens, but after coming back to it for this review, I find myself just falling in love with the track more and more. It’s soulful, it’s energetic, and most importantly, it’s brilliant.
Moonshine: Another track with a very retro vibe, I love the really sweet guitar intro on this one, and dammit all, the hook is damn hypnotic on this one! Bruno’s vocals are smooth, as he once again injects a really cool, Michael Jackson vibe onto this song, as he talks about his drinking of Moonshine to help take him away from everything that’s going on. There’s a reason the tour for this album was called the “Moonshine Tour,” and it’s because this song is amazing!
When I Was Your Man: A track that shows us a more vulnerable, emotional side of Bruno, this ballad features Bruno singing over a piano melody about his regret in letting the woman he loved get away, and his hopes that her new man does all the lovely things he just wasn’t able to do. Blame it on me being a hopelessly-romantic 19-year old, but just thinking about the song hits me emotionally. It’s such a beautiful track that really shows off Bruno’s vocal chops and his more sad side that we don’t see much behind the sunglasses. Definitely one of Bruno’s best songs.
Natalie: Here, we have Bruno telling us a revenge story of a gold-digging woman who he wants to pay for her crimes, even if it affects him negatively in the end. He does this over a very uptempo track with some really sweet percussion, and he continues to demonstrate just how great his vocal range is. The hook is also pretty hypnotic and fun, and the song as a whole is head-noddy fun. Definitely really enjoyed this track a lot.
Show Me: A more tropical song, Jamaican producer Supa Dups to help Bruno create a samba-infused track that doesn’t feel watered-down at all. This is Bruno really respecting and appreciating the genre and making something really great out of it. The tropical instrumentals are very beautiful, and the song brings us more of Bruno’s very nice vocals. Part of me wishes he had released this as a single back when this album was making the rounds because it feels different enough that it could’ve been an interesting hit. Even so, it’s a really great track all things considered.
Money Make Her Smile: Another track that feels very throwback-y to me, I love the very pumping percussion on this track and the more electronic feel of it. Bruno’s vocals are lovely as always, the hook is hypnotic, and it kind of feels like Bruno’s creating something that feels like “Michael Jackson meets Black Eyed Peas,” and is all the better for it. Once again, why was this not a single? It’s an amazing track, and it had all the makings of a hit song! Even so, it’s really an incredible song.
If I Knew: Bruno takes on a slow-jam feel on this track, one that finds him speaking to one of his ex-lovers, and basically proclaiming that, had he known that his girl wanted to come back to him, he wouldn’t have done all the things that he did to her (presumably cheating). I don’t know why I used to skip this all the time when it came on Pandora, because wow, it is gorgeous! It’s not a traditional Bruno song, there’s no real hook to it, but it’s another showcase of his really beautiful vocals, and it’s got a really fantastic bass-line to boot. Definitely an amazing end to the album.
Overall, Bruno Mars comes through with something really special on “Unorthodox Jukebox.” It’s once again abundantly clear that Bruno can handle a lot of different styles, but it's also clear that he's evolved his sound here: after much of his debut album featured lighter ballads, this album is filled with tracks that not only feel like throwbacks but they show Bruno’s appreciation for so many different genres. And beyond that, it’s another great showcase of Bruno’s gorgeous vocals and ear for production. I used to say that “24K Magic” was Bruno’s best album by far. I don’t know, though, if this isn’t better than that, it’s definitely the strongest second. “Unorthodox Jukebox” is an amazing album, and if you made the mistake I did and didn’t listen to it when it first came out, do that now!
There’s a lot of stuff I have planned to review in the future now that the Bruno reviews are done, so stay tuned!
Favorite tracks: EVERY SINGLE ONE
Least favorite tracks: NOPE, NOT DOING THAT TODAY
Rating: Excellent
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