24K Magic
by Bruno Mars
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: Nov 18, 2016
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 426 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 270 out of 426
  2. Mixed: 57 out of 426
  3. Negative: 99 out of 426
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  1. maxit10
    Dec 3, 2016
    10
    He does a great job at incorporating the 80's and 90's vibes. Also his vocals sound better than ever. I recommend this for people who loves Throwback R&B.
  2. Austria
    Jan 30, 2018
    5
    I expected more from Bruno Mars after his 2012 album "Unorthodox Jukebox". I still don't realise how his work received 6 Grammys.
  3. davilima23
    Mar 20, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mostra claramente que Mars encontrou sua identidade musical, Qualidade sonora satisfatória superando outros trabalhos de Mars em todos os critérios. NOTA 9… Expand
  4. Nivek
    Dec 9, 2016
    7
    Bruno Mars is finally back after about 4 years with his new album. People who complain that 9 songs are not good enough for a 4-year break need to not let that affect their opinion of the album. He took a break cause he was successful and could afford to do so, he definitely didn't spend 4 years making this album. Anyway, this is album is one of Bruno's best, I think it is better thanBruno Mars is finally back after about 4 years with his new album. People who complain that 9 songs are not good enough for a 4-year break need to not let that affect their opinion of the album. He took a break cause he was successful and could afford to do so, he definitely didn't spend 4 years making this album. Anyway, this is album is one of Bruno's best, I think it is better than 2012's Unorthodox Jukebox and just as good if not better than his debut album. Bruno goes for an 80's dance theme on this album and makes some great songs. The lead single 24k Magic is a feel-good song that is just irresistible. Chunky and Perm are also these upbeat and fun songs that I think are very good. That's What I Like is another great song which is a little more modern. Versace On The Floor is a great ballad-like slow song that shows off the strong voice that Bruno Mars and is one of his better slower songs he has ever sung although I don't like the lyrics to the song as much as some of his older slower songs like Just the Way You Are and Grenade. The first half of this album was so great and had me thinking this album was going to be a 8 or 9 , however, the last 4 songs on this album are just not as good. Straight Up & Down is probably the worst song on the album. Calling All My Lovelies is an easily forgotten song with nothing really going for it. Finesse is the best song on the second half of this album with a nice percussive instrumental but I don't think it's as good as any of the songs from the first half of the album. Too Good to Say Goodbye isn't good or bad it just is kind of there and doesn't end the album off as well as I would have liked.

    This album is pretty good and would have been one of my favorite albums of the year if the whole album was like the first half.
    Great Songs: 24k Magic, Chunky, Perm, That's What I Like, Versace on the Floor
    Good Songs: Finesse
    Mediocre Songs: Too Good To Say Goodbye
    Bad Songs: Straight Up & Down, Calling All My Lovelies    … Expand
  5. Mybabyblue
    Jan 15, 2017
    10
    This album is just awesome, mixes new jack swing and funk in a beautiful way on tracks like "chunky" or "finesse", and it goes on old-school R&B in songs like "Versace on the floor" and "too good to say goodbye". this is just awestome, very good work
  6. mhevila
    Feb 2, 2018
    10
    Sucessor do Michael Jackson!!!!!
    Hinário!!!!!
    Álbum maravilhoso!
    Bruno reizinho!
  7. Jose_Victor
    Feb 5, 2018
    10
    Pode não ser o melhor album do Bruno mas nào deixa de ser um excelente album.
  8. NolanLundgaard
    Mar 25, 2020
    4
    24K Magic by Bruno Mars: 3.40

    24K Magic: 0.5 Chunky: 0.75 Perm: 0.5 That’s What I Like: 0.25 Versace on the Floor: 0 Straight up & Down: 0.5 Calling All My Lovelies: 0.75 Finesse: 1 :) Too Good to Say Goodbye: 1 :) 5.25/9 ~ .583 -> 3.40 Overall, I’m honestly disappointed with this album. I really enjoyed both of Mars’s previous works, “Doo-Wops and Hooligans” and    24K Magic by Bruno Mars: 3.40

    24K Magic: 0.5
    Chunky: 0.75
    Perm: 0.5
    That’s What I Like: 0.25
    Versace on the Floor: 0
    Straight up & Down: 0.5
    Calling All My Lovelies: 0.75
    Finesse: 1 :)
    Too Good to Say Goodbye: 1 :)

    5.25/9 ~ .583 -> 3.40

    Overall, I’m honestly disappointed with this album. I really enjoyed both of Mars’s previous works, “Doo-Wops and Hooligans” and “Unorthodox Jukebox”, for their musical creativity along with their catchy lyrics. Unfortunately, while the catchy lyrics are still present (for the most part), most of the songs in 24K Magic sound exactly the same. The first song I listened to from this album was “Finesse”, and I really enjoyed it. This made me want to go back and listen to the rest of the album. To my surprise, most of the songs were “Finesse-like” and it was pretty disappointing. I am a bass player, so I really thought it was fun that this album featured many complicated bass lines. I enjoyed the music part of the song 24K Magic (again, sounding a lot like Finesse), but found the lyrics to be offensive. The same went for Chunky, and that’s when I noticed the pattern. I’m just not really into modern music (I find all the electronic aspects of it hard to listen to), and sadly, Bruno Mars is moving in that direction. The only other songs I liked on this album were Calling All My Lovelies, and Too Good To Say Goodbye. I appreciated the tempo difference in Too Good, and the lyrics were especially powerful in that number. Calling All My Lovelies also had exceptionally fun lyrics, and it was clever how Mars used an actual voicemail intro in this song. While this album had some highlights, I think I’m going to stick with his previous work. Highlights: Finesse, Too Good To Say Goodbye.    … Expand
  9. gabrielcipriano
    Dec 21, 2018
    10
    Bruno Mars, comes with this vibe of past music reform for this generation. Perfect. And with a few tracks you can do this essence of a real album!
  10. dasha1097
    Nov 22, 2016
    9
    I am a big fan of Bruno, and feeling really delighted and happy about this album, met my expectations for sure, all the energy and music themes are great, catchy and just straight wanna dance! Love it foe sure, good album!
  11. Marcosotica
    Oct 18, 2017
    0
    This album sucked. Big time. I love the 80s influence. I love the sonic direction. but he could have done better with the songs. To me it seems like the type of album that gets rushed out, not your big album after a layoff.
  12. danger18
    Feb 4, 2018
    0
    horrivel. sempre as mesmas coisas. mds. nao aguento ouvir uma musica inteira
  13. joaostandalorde
    Feb 26, 2021
    0
    ALBUM HORRIVEL, CAPA HORROROSA SEM ACLAMAÇÃO NENHUMA! O AOTY DE 2017 É DO MELODRAMA!!!!
  14. zeus80
    Nov 18, 2016
    5
    Big fan, but I am surprised this album is such a disappointment after such a long absence. To me it seems like the type of album that gets rushed out, not your big album after a layoff. It's essentially a concept album, and it's not bad, and there isn't truly a bad track on the extremely short album, but it's not good either. I wasn't crazy about the 24K Magic single when I first heardBig fan, but I am surprised this album is such a disappointment after such a long absence. To me it seems like the type of album that gets rushed out, not your big album after a layoff. It's essentially a concept album, and it's not bad, and there isn't truly a bad track on the extremely short album, but it's not good either. I wasn't crazy about the 24K Magic single when I first heard it, but it grew on me quickly and now I love it, so maybe the rest will have the same effect with multiple listens. In any case, I hope there is better material already in the works.… Expand
  15. chidime
    Nov 18, 2016
    2
    WOW. How did we get here? I never for the life of me, ever expected I'd give a Bruno album anything less than an 8 (or 7 at the very least). But I have to be honest. This album sucked. Big time. I love the 80s influence. I love the sonic direction. but he could have done better with the songs. If you're gonna make an album of 9 songs, you better bring it for each song on the album.WOW. How did we get here? I never for the life of me, ever expected I'd give a Bruno album anything less than an 8 (or 7 at the very least). But I have to be honest. This album sucked. Big time. I love the 80s influence. I love the sonic direction. but he could have done better with the songs. If you're gonna make an album of 9 songs, you better bring it for each song on the album. However, Bruno failed to bring it. This album sounds like an 80's album of throwaways from popstars' albums. I like 24k Magic, and love 'Versace on the Floor'. But apart from those two, there's nothing else on the album that I can even manage. Bruno, you are better than this. I know 'Uptown Funk' and it's success gave you a lot of ideas, but this album isn't it. I hope you do better cos writing this is breaking my heart. Do better bro!

    BEST: Versace on the Floor, 24K Magic.
    WORST: The rest.    … Expand
  16. jevon
    Nov 19, 2016
    8
    great production...and great hooks! some of the lyrics may be a little cheesy and some work...but the energy is undeniably infectious! nothing new under the sun and bruno doesn't do anything innovative in terms of music genres but he does make the best of what it can be! concerts performing these songs will be lit! only real huge flaw is the amount of songs...could have gone for at leastgreat production...and great hooks! some of the lyrics may be a little cheesy and some work...but the energy is undeniably infectious! nothing new under the sun and bruno doesn't do anything innovative in terms of music genres but he does make the best of what it can be! concerts performing these songs will be lit! only real huge flaw is the amount of songs...could have gone for at least 3 more...would have made it all worth it!… Expand
  17. GFace
    Feb 5, 2018
    0
    a mess don't even know how this s*** won the album of the year
    tragic
    please go backojfisdsdhsdhsudh
  18. AnalyDewa
    Nov 22, 2016
    8
    De "Unorthodox Jukebox" para o seu novo disco lançado em 2016, "24K Magic", temos 4 anos de diferença. Dentro desses 4 anos, Bruno Mars que é sem sombra de dúvidas um dos maiores hitmakers dessa década e sempre deu tiros certeiros nas paradas, teve ano passado em parceria com Mark Ronson o maior hit do ano com a viciante "Uptown Funk" que traçou 14 semanas consecutivas no topo da BillboardDe "Unorthodox Jukebox" para o seu novo disco lançado em 2016, "24K Magic", temos 4 anos de diferença. Dentro desses 4 anos, Bruno Mars que é sem sombra de dúvidas um dos maiores hitmakers dessa década e sempre deu tiros certeiros nas paradas, teve ano passado em parceria com Mark Ronson o maior hit do ano com a viciante "Uptown Funk" que traçou 14 semanas consecutivas no topo da Billboard e recebeu prêmios como Grammy Awards. O sucesso e a química de Bruno e Mark foi tamanha que o cantor havaiano resolveu expandir a parceria deles no "24K Magic". Como era de se imaginar, temos bastante flertes com a cena funk/groove já explorada por Bruno no seu disco anterior, mas aqui com a diferença de ele se aprofundar bem mais dentro dos gêneros que optou por trabalhar. O disco é bem enxugado e tem só 9 faixas que mal ultrapassam os 30 minutos. O tamanho disco pouco importa quando é o trabalho mais direcionado dele. O disco tem as up tempo com sonoridade retrô 24K Magic, Perm e Chunky, assim como as baladas que sempre fizeram parte do seu repertório como Versace On The Floor e Too Good To Say Goodbye. Tamanha semelhança com Michael Jackson, passa a sensação de como o rei do pop tivesse ressuscitado e lançado o seu disco "Thriller" em 2016 com produtores de agora. O disco ainda tem outros flertes com o hip-hop em faixas como That's What I Like e Calling All My Lovelies, Usher é creditado como a inspiração destas.
    A espera com certeza valeu a pena. Bruno entrega o melhor trabalho de sua carreira e nos mostra o porque de ser um dos maiores hitmakers da atualidade, com personalidade e sem precisar entregar seu repertório ao manjado EDM dos dias de hoje para ser interessante.    … Expand
  19. WolfLambert
    Nov 25, 2016
    6
    I really like the opener, and there are some more interesting songs on here, but overall, this feels unfinished. When you're limiting yourself to nine short pop songs, you have to make them count, and I feel like that is not what happened here. Eh.
  20. MovieOverlooker
    Nov 27, 2016
    10
    I am very surprised! This is a very good album, and in my opinion, one of the best R&B albums of the decade. Perfectly resembling the Soul, the R&B, and even the New Jack Swing of the 80s and 90s with a great and delightful production by Shampoo Press & Curl. Bruno has done a twist on his career and the result is wondeful. Inspirations are noticeable: Babyface, Michael Jackson, JamesI am very surprised! This is a very good album, and in my opinion, one of the best R&B albums of the decade. Perfectly resembling the Soul, the R&B, and even the New Jack Swing of the 80s and 90s with a great and delightful production by Shampoo Press & Curl. Bruno has done a twist on his career and the result is wondeful. Inspirations are noticeable: Babyface, Michael Jackson, James Brown, R. Kelly, and many more. If he continues this way, Bruno will become a classic.… Expand
  21. battytipex
    Feb 2, 2018
    1
    With apologies to the exception, in the sublime Versace On The Floor, this album is complete trash. Kendrick, sweetie, I'm so sorry.
  22. Baddiemel
    Nov 20, 2016
    10
    A new twist on his discography. I love the fact that revisited the sound of Zapp & Roger. Looking forward to his future projects. This is one of my favourite album of the year
  23. Panchogul
    Aug 5, 2020
    0
    Genérico de principio a fin, es inaudito que un tipo como este tenga éxito, cero originalidad, cero estilo propio y muy repetitivo, siendo este su peor trabajo.
  24. jessica1986
    Nov 24, 2016
    10
    What I appreciate about bruno is him doing what he loves without bothering about what's trendy right now on the Radio and the charts, this album will sound even better live and Bruno will have the time of his life performing these songs on the stage, good job bruno.
  25. checoberenjena
    Feb 5, 2018
    10
    This album is the best, i love this album of Bruno Mars, My favorite Song is "Versace on the floor"
  26. kc89344n
    Nov 18, 2016
    10
    This is the first time I enjoyed an album by Bruno Mars, there isn't a song that I don't like. I hear influences from so many artists on this album, a masterpiece!
  27. fredpasseri
    Feb 3, 2018
    0
    An album where his big hits have very chauvinism's lyrics really deserves zero
  28. PRobert
    Nov 19, 2016
    0
    Have fans waited 4 years for only 9 songs? Really? What's worse is that the number of songs is not the most annoying on the album, but rather the forced and failed attempt to appropriate a musical style that defined the 1990s. I really like Bruno Mars, although it's undeniable the fact that he was never a very original singer. On this album, however, he failed humiliatingly by trying toHave fans waited 4 years for only 9 songs? Really? What's worse is that the number of songs is not the most annoying on the album, but rather the forced and failed attempt to appropriate a musical style that defined the 1990s. I really like Bruno Mars, although it's undeniable the fact that he was never a very original singer. On this album, however, he failed humiliatingly by trying to refer singers like MJackson, making a boring, tiresome and irrelevant album.… Expand
  29. tomri2
    Nov 18, 2016
    10
    A great effort from Bruno. Lots of 80s/90s nostalgia thrown in here, really loving it. 24K Magic is so funky and catchy and some nice Michael Jackson vibes from Versace On The Floor. 10/10
  30. Paroxygen
    Nov 18, 2016
    8
    One of the things that upsets me about music is the promotional singles not representing what the entire album consists of. There have been countless times where an artist releases promotional singles and I really enjoy them, but when the body of work itself arrives I find myself wanting more. In this particular case, the singles were a clear representation of how the album was going toOne of the things that upsets me about music is the promotional singles not representing what the entire album consists of. There have been countless times where an artist releases promotional singles and I really enjoy them, but when the body of work itself arrives I find myself wanting more. In this particular case, the singles were a clear representation of how the album was going to sound. Our third full-length offering in the Bruno Mars catalog, this could have been a pop music masterpiece or a cheesy capitalization off the wildly successful "Uptown Funk". Soulful and smooth with gigantic doses of swagger injected into the lining of almost every track, Bruno completely delivered. Pop music today often sounds commercialized and repetitive which makes this album all the more special. While I've never cared much for the billionaire mogul with all the women gimmick that Bruno has exuded in recent years, it not something that turns me off from the music. None of the lyrical content here will have you doing anything more than forming a posse with your co-workers and possibly investing in a pinky ring. What it lacks in lyrical content though, it makes up for with production. Tracks like "Chunky" and "Finesse" ooze funky synths while "Versace On The Floor" and "Too Good To Say Goodbye" help highlight the immense vocal talent that Mars possesses. 24K Magic represents quintessential pop music in 2016 and provides a fresh and timeless alternative to most of the content on Top 40 today. Ultimately, it's downfall is the lack of content it contains. A nine song track list clocking in at a little over 33 minutes, you sometimes feel as if you're listening to an unfinished product. By the time you settle in to the groove of the album, it's coming to an end. This personally wouldn't be such an issue if the lyrical content had more to offer. While some tracks do tend to sound a bit similar, each has something distinct that separates them from one another. Overall, the album is nothing that will blow your socks off. It's not an album we'll be writing about for years and it's certainly not an album that is going to innovate pop music as we know it. That said, it's representative of what pop music can and should be. Well composed musical content that doesn't exactly have to send a meaningful message, but instead allows you to forget about the daily struggles we as humans face. Sometimes we all just need a night where we feel like we're the coolest person in the world. If this album provides you with that fantasy, then it's done it's job.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2016
37
#37 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Q Magazine
    Dec 13, 2016
    60
    Ultimately 24k Magic's luxe exterior writes cheques its soul can't cash. [Feb 2017, p.115]
  2. Pitchfork
    Dec 2, 2016
    62
    24K Magic is the rest of the park: rebuilt shinier and glitzier and safer, every element engineered to please more than the real thing, and with a hell of a tour guide. It’s not history, not even historical fiction, but harmless fun.
    Read full review
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 1, 2016
    80
    Few albums designed to sound like a party actually play like one, but Bruno Mars has pulled it off with style.
    Read full review
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