Baltimore native Mario is testing more than a newly shaved head these days, he’s also trying his hand at a more mature offering with the release of his fourth album “D.N.A.” Although the subject matter follows the usual formula: love and heartbreak, it’s the musical composition that earns Mario extra points.
The lead single “Break-up” featuring Sean Garrett and Gucci Mane kicks off the theme of infusing bass-heavy, highly synthesized beats with Mario’s signature croon. “Thinkin’ About You,” is pretty self-explanatory but the song’s robotic space aged sexiness thankfully stops it from being just another sappy love song.
Even “Get Out,” which would ordinarily be higher in drama than in clap beats, sounds funky and cool rather than fed-up and tired. Mario cleverly puts a twist on the familiar story of being trapped in a bad relationship. He expresses to his woman that they have nowhere else to go but down with a tenderness and honesty that makes such a horrible reality actually sounds pretty nice.
“Starlight” produced by The Dream & Tricky Stewart is an ode to Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.” borrowing from the same recipe but adding new ingredients, making for a modern twist. Giving a nod to his Baltimore/D.C. roots “Before She Said Hi,” (featuring G.O.O.D Music’s Big Sean) is the most noticeable go-go specific track, that is perfection indeed.
Null of very few bumps on an otherwise smooth ride “D.N.A” is refreshingly different in a sea of R&B that tends to sound a little monotonous. Because the ballads aren’t nearly as interesting as the rest of the album, it’s no wonder that they’re few and far between. Even still though, they’re not that bad. The pop-friendly “I Miss My Friend,” straddles the fence between being too sugary for words but interesting by way of the incessant drum machine, while “Stranded” is just very plain.
I applaud Mario for stepping outside the box and not relying solely on a few bars from one rapper after another to sell the album. Instead he takes a risk amping up his “grown and sexy” mantra but keeping things fun by shedding his previous skin and showing the manhood in his “D.N.A.”
3 Picks: “Break-up” “Thinkin’ About You” “Before She Said Hi”
Like I thought, Mario didn’t disappoint me with this album.
I love it.
I have had Ooh Baby on repeat all day.
I’m thinking of buying this on itunes. .
I wish “Live a Lie” and “Stuttering” made the cut…but i love love love Mario, he’s been around 4 7 yrs, i hope he goes strong n hard foreverrr
I REALLY LIKE HIM. I HOPE HIS ALBUM DOES WELL, BUT PEOPLE ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN WHAT DRAMA THE SINGER PRODUCES RATHER THAN THE MUSIC THEY PRODUCE. SINCE MARIO REALLY DOESNT HAVE ALOT OF DRAMA SURROUNDING HIM I DONT KNOW IF HE’LL DO AS WELL. SAD BUT TRUE. I’LL SUPPORT THOUGH.
thats my boi i from baltimore 2 thats wuts up he sold. and mariah flopp now ciara have 2 bring it hard and rihanna!! ciara and rihanna shud do gud!!
Big Sean on dat dere!
Finally Famous niggas rooooooooooolllllliiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnn
D.N.A. BANGS HARD AND RIDES SMOOTH!! COP IT THIS MORNING ON AMAZON. FAV TRACKS: GET OUT, B4 SAID HI…GOOD JOB MARIO ON THIS CD!!
He has very big nipples.
word? mario has been around for seven years!
im trying to remember what year his first song came out in. dang i was in like grade 6 or something.!
he’s been good for as long as i can remember him though
when did Mario ever rely on rap features until now… none of mario’s lead singles featured any artist until this album…. this album just didnt do it for me and i thought he wouldve stepped it up from GO which was a great album… but this idk…. plus all the songs leaked before the release and no changes were made…. and some good tracks were left off….
there are a few good joints but “Dont Walk Away” is the only song i’ll put on repeat… for now
I am a huge Mario fan this morning I was riding in the car listening to Turning Point and I still love that cd and Go was great too not a enough promotion behind the cd.
Mario has matured with each cd and I heard most of this cd on Youtube last week and I was very impressed with it as well he never disappoints go Mario. He is very very very underrated IMO. I also stumbled across his remakes of Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing and Jodeci’s Come And Talk To Me awesome. He is and forever will be my young man’s crush.
I’m glad Mario is bouncing back after his album “Go!” didn’t do so well.
Seems like yesterday me and my teammates were dancing to “Just A Friend” in the dorm rooms… lol
” more than friends ” all day !!!! (not on the album !
Good album, but it won’t sell. Not because of his h*mosexuality, but because of J Records.
@ Lex
Why will it not sell “because of J Records”?
mario is still my boo
just like neyo and chris brown
he is so underrated while he is indeed very talented
and has such a sexy smile
wish him all the best of success
would love to hear him in a gospel album
the go album was hot but people werent ready
from him being a boy and turn into singing adult songs
but now i think he really is back and focused
i’m going to get that album
Luv Mario… Support a great artist!
LOVE ME SOME MARIO
HIS SO TALENTED
THE GO ALBUM WAS HOT
HE IS SO UNDERRATED HOPEFULLY THIS DNA ALBUM
WILL MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR HIM
I LOVE HIS SMILE
WISH HIM ALL THE BEST
WOULDNT MIND HIM DOING A GOSPEL ALBUM THOUGH
@ Kel
Because J Records was founded by Clive Davis, a dirty old man who only promotes female artists.
Hope his album does well. At least hes gotten his body in real good shape I’ll give him that much. Just hope he doesn’t go down the Trey Songz route and try to hard to push an image.
The best song on this album and my favorite is definitely “The Hardest Moment” hands down. This album is definitely on point though.
to lex honestly he’s gay?
Not feeling this kid. I think I’ll pass. Single is overrated, the songs on here are ok, but not enough for me to buy the album.
lol @ Lex,
I was wondering why only the female artists are excelling
SMH @ Clive
We need more quality male artists!
I swear, the reviews on CL are ALWAYS positive. Is there any album that yall DON’T like??
@ Sideshow Bob
You would be suprised who in the music industry is h*mosexual lol. Anyway, poor Mario got turned out at a young age by producer/manager/con-artist Troy Patterson of 3rd Street Music Group. This man took advantage of young Mario in ways you wouldn’t believe. Mario’s mother was a junkie and his father was absent, so Patterson became his “daddy.” Mario finally got the balls to sue him a couple of years ago, but the damage had been done, both financially and sexually. SMH. I was born and raised in Baltimore so I know a little something, but if you don’t believe me, do some research.
I love this CD. I own two copies already!
Damn he looked fine for a minute there.
I didnt’ even know his album had dropped. Bad promo! He had a strong leading single lets see if the album does well, I hope so.
Some men cant wear a bald head.Mario u r one of them…..But I love your music!!!!!!
STOP WITH THE STEREOIDS ALREADY JEEZE GIVE THOSE A BREAK AND GO TO THE NORMAL GYM IS THAT HARD?? I CAN SO RECOGNIZE THE GUYS USIN THAT SHIT YOU WOULD THINK THEY HAVE A LOT OF STRENGH WITH ALL THOSE VEINS BUT ITS DECORATIVE THEYRE BIG FOR NOTHING!
DONT LOVE HIS LOOK, BUT SINCE HIS ALBUM IS GETTING GOOD REVIEWS ILL COP IT
Mario is sexy.
Baltimore stand up!
Mario can sang.
Baltimore stand up!
Mario’s album is the bizness.
Baltimore stand up!
Mario’s album needs to be #1
Baltimore stand up!
Go cop that album today!
Im sorry but wtf is up with Mario’s new look? It is god awful. He used to be an attractive dude, now he just looks WEIRD.
album is not better than his last, i won’t be buying this…Mario needs to humble himself
I was excited for this album until today. I loved all that leaked, but everything else sounds mediocre to me. He sounds like Michael Jackson on “The Hardest Moment” and on “Starlight.” Something turns me off about that.
Nice review. I actually had the same “3 Picks” as you did. I think it’s easy to dismiss this album as run-of-the-mill pop-R&B, but the beats and the melodies for some of those tracks are definitely unique and a little unpredictable, which is good. That single Emergency Room with Rihanna would’ve been a nice addition to this album too.
I’m sorry but i’m not feeling this album i had for like 2 weeks now and i can’t grasp onto it. I’m not going to front i like about 3 songs and thats it. The rest are wack!!!
Boy yall kats say some things. ..The album is smooth . I really like it . Its my 1st Mario joint. Hes growing into a man and maturing stop hating and u think Usher looks much better after he evolved. Get the Hell outta here!! .. Do your thang Mario.
this album is actually AMAZINGGGG to me i don’t care!
I really love the album!! Always been a Mario fan!! Fave tracks= Soundtrack to my Broken Heart, Stranded, I Choose You, I Miss My Friend, Headboard…I love the enitre cd i guess, not really feelin starlight and get out
DAMN! MARIO LOOKIN’ BUFF AS HELL. I LIKE DAT. NOT REALLY INTERSTED IN WHAT HE’S SINGING
so far im not feelin the album
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