Therefore, it makes perfect sense that funk pioneer Bootsy Collins is the host/narrator of the album. With its languid guitars, rain and thunder sound effects, Paak’s searing drum crescendos, and the unfiltered desperation in his and Mars’ vocal performance, this track is the harrowing crown jewel of the project. This miniature pseudo-narrative makes “Put On a Smile” the stand-out song on the album. Rounding things out is “Put On a Smile,” the poignant, contemplative articulation of true loneliness and regret. On “Smoking Out the Window,” they then lean hard into the harsh emotional response of being hurt, disrespected, or deceived. “After Last Night” starts things off with the delirious yearning that comes in the immediate aftermath of sexual ecstasy. What exemplifies this ideal is the three-song arc that forms the emotional centerpiece of the album. The “Silk Sonic Intro” and “Blast Off” are the kind of bookends that indicate that this is a dynamic collection meant to elicit certain feelings at certain points. Mars and Paak say that the album’s sequencing was crafted to mimic the setlist of a live show.

They created a record that accentuates the nostalgia without sacrificing its contemporary character. With a supporting cast that includes Oscar-winning producer Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Philly soul string arranger Larry Gold, and Mars’ Grammy-winning engineers Charles Moniz and Serban Ghenea, the key modulations, strategic use of space, and dynamic movements within the tracks like “Leave The Door Open,” “Skate,” and “Blast Off” are dreams for those who fluently speak the language of music.

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