Bruno Mars - DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS (REVIEW)

Doo-Wops & Hooligans is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars (born Peter Gene Hernandez), who gained recognition for writing/providing vocals for hits such as "Nothin' on You" by B.O.B, "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy and the Grammy-nominated "F**k You!" by Cee-Lo Green.

The album was well-received my music critics for its diverse variety of influences, with elements of pop, R&B, soul, rock, reggae and hip-hop. Mars is also compared to a variety of other artists, from Jason Mraz to Michael Jackson.

And it's not hard to see why - Mars is a breath of fresh air in a time where electronic music is starting to get prominent through artists such as Lady Gaga and Ke$ha. Mars' unique vocals is a plus to this definite stand-out.

The album starts off with "Grenade", which is compared to MJ's "Dirty Diana", followed by first single "Just the Way You Are" and "Our First Time". The album then starts to get me moving with the third track, "Runaway Baby", a kind-of flashback to old-school rock 'n' roll.

The album is proven to be a "feel-good" album with light-hearted tracks such as "The Lazy Song", "Liquor Store Blues" (featuring Damien Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley) and "Count on Me". However, the album is also peppered with slow, romantically-charged tracks such as "Talking to the Moon".

Doo-Wops & Hooligans has tracks that will make you move, and tracks that will make you weep. But overall, it is a true-blue "feel-good" album, with its soulful sound, honest lyrics and smooth vocals. Thus, I give the album...

4/5