Bruno Mars
Unorthodox Jukebox
(Atlantic Records)

Pop star Bruno Mars issues a varied mix of musical styles on Unorthodox Jukebox, his sophomore LP via Atlantic Records.

Two years after the “Grenade” singer’s debut, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, a slightly G-rated project full of sweet and unconditional love songs such as “Just The Way You Are” and “Marry You,” Unorthodox Jukebox, ringing in at only 34 minutes, is straight up and down about S-E-X. From “making love like gorillas” to “your sex takes me to paradise“ on lead single “Locked Out of Heaven,” Mars makes no bones about his life in the pop star lane. Along with songwriting and production team The Smeezingtons (songwriter Philip Lawrence and engineer Ari Levine), the Hawaii-bred artist creates music that not only connects with his audience, but shows his vulnerable side too; as shown on “Treasure,” “When I Was Your Man” and “If I Knew.”

Having written Billboard chart-toppers for artists such as B.o.B (“Nothin’ on You”),  Travie McCoy (“Billionaire”) and Cee Lo Green (“Fuck You”), Bruno Mars continues his knack for churning out hit-making songs.