It’s quite a beautiful song, though it doesn’t stand out as much as other tracks on the album. Mars and Paak sing out their sorrow on “Put On A Smile.” Tired of the player lifestyle and putting up a front, the duo, as instructed by Collins at the beginning of the track, tells their girl how they really feel. Better stated by Mars in the chorus, “I thought that girl belonged to only me (Mmm) / But I was wrong / ‘Cause she belong / To everybody, everybody.” The third single, released just a week before the album, is another high point on the record with its catchy and witty lyrics. Silk Sonic takes a slight comedic approach on “Smokin Out The Window.” We learn that our stars have just realized their girl is not just their girl. It’s hard to listen to this song and feel like Mars and Paak aren’t singing directly to you alone. Yet Silk Sonic paints the story with a more luxurious and dazzling sense of longing. Just over four minutes, the track is a timeless recollection of the night before the morning after - a story told a million times before. Whereas it’s more obvious in other songs when Mars and Paak switch off on the mic, this track is incredibly cohesive, and the duo’s vocals melt together smoothly.
The track opens up as a voice reminisces: “Damn, I don’t even know who I was last night.” The song then picks up into motion, and Collins’ continuous voiceovers send the song back in time, and bass guitarist Thundercat hops in on the action as well. “After Last Night” is the real shining star of the record. Paak’s quick-hitting lines in the verses paired with the wah-wah instrumentals are the real highlight of the song, as the verses aren’t met with much in the chorus, and the track doesn’t really go anywhere. “Fly Like Me” is a fun track that kicks off with a vamping bass riff and crescendoing brass. Collins is introduced as the evening’s “special guest” and makes many appearances throughout the record, something that shapes together the whole album. Frontrunner of funk Bootsy Collins introduces Silk Sonic at the end of the track and proudly takes credit for the duo’s name. The duo rolls out the red carpet on “Silk Sonic Intro.” In preparation for the evening, Mars and Paak come in on a clapping introduction with brass, steady drums and a groovy bass underneath. With a touch of “24K Magic,” vintage color palettes, roller skates, luxurious production sets and brown velvet suits, Silk Sonic pays tribute and takes us back to the ’70s. Mars and Paak both possess incredible talent for making intimate, unforgettable music.
Lucky for us, Mars and Paak’s reinstatement of the ’70s would only continue in “An Evening With Silk Sonic.”
“Leave The Door Open” topped charts and set expectations high. The tune, sweet and seductive, swept us off of our feet with the dazzling vocals and throwback R&B feel. Ever since their first single together dropped in March, the world has quite literally been leaving the door open for the collaboration album between Bruno Mars and Anderson.