Drops: Bruno Mars' 'Doo-Wops and Hooligans'

Album cover for "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" by Bruno Mars

By GLENN GAMBOAglenn.gamboa@newsday.comOctober 4, 2010

Some musicians just need partners.

Ask John Oates. Or Kevin Jonas. Or She (though, Him does quite nicely alone).

Add Bruno Mars to that list.

Sure, he's one of the year's breakout stars for his work on the B.o.B. smash "Nothin' on You" and Travie McCoy's "Billionaire," as well as his own No. 1 "Just the Way You Are." But his debut "Doo-Wops and Hooligans" (Elektra) gets old real fast, as his super-sweet vocals quickly overpower these lightweight tunes.

In "Count on Me," Mars attempts a Jason Mraz-ish "I'm Yours" acoustic ripoff, and he actually counts a lot. On "Marry You," he tosses out such clunkers as, "It's a beautiful night, we're looking for something dumb to do, hey baby, I think I wanna marry you," while attempting to bring some doo-wop style to his shiny pop.

When Mars teams with someone else, though, suddenly his vocals play a nice counterpoint to his collaborator. On "Liquor Store Blues," Damian Marley provides a dramatic reggae backdrop, a killer rhyme and a whole lot of grunts, but that's enough to help it stand up to repeated listenings.

The same happens on the more experimental "The Other Side," with Cee Lo Green and B.o.B., who add the right balance.

Mars would be better off if "Doo-Wops and Hooligans" lived up to its name and added a bit of danger to its sweet safety.

Or he could bring in someone to help with that.