Escapology [PA] - Robbie Williams > Reviews > ALL I WANTED AND MORE

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	A new maturity, divine lyrics
Disadvantages:	He does annoy people,so they don't give his music a chance

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Robbie Williams is a man who is continually in the news, whether it is claims he actually did the deed with Nicole Kidman, or his current relationship with Rachel Hunter, and many people were starting to doubt his longevity, and he was starting to become infamous. For this reason, I think that his 5th album 'Escapology' is the most important album in Robbie's career so far, as he really has to prove that he can cut the mustard. He is another artist who I was converted to by my wife, and I have seen him live many times, and have never been disappointed.

Referring back to Nicole Kidman, the opening track 'How Peculiar' is rumoured to have been written in her honour. This is a song about obsession, and how the simple thought of someone can turn your life upside down. My heart admittedly sank when I heard this song, as I feared the distorted voice of Robbie was a sign that he had lost the plot, and this was going to be decidedly average. Lyrically, it is very clever, but it took me at least half a dozen listens to be able to decipher the words that he was singing.

With 'Feel' I think Robbie has picked the perfect track to release as the first single. I have heard many people compare it to the legendary 'Angels', and whilst I disagree that it is in the same league, it is still an amazing track, and lyrically it is brilliant, and I saddened to see that it may be beaten to Number 1 by the dispicable Cheeky Girls, which only backs up my claims that our singles charts are being less and less about releasing good records, but more and more about having the hype (which Robbie has had plenty of) to carry you to the top spot.

'Something Beautiful' is a strong song led by the piano, with a real orchestral feel, and with some canny lyrics this track really leaves it's mark. Robbie always has tracks like this which really get into your soul, and it is the kind of song which will win over any remaining doubters. Robbie's cover version of Queen's 'We Are The Champions' has left it's musical mark on 'Monsoon'. Here Robbie takes a swipe at all of the shallow women who try to use him for his fame and what they can achieve by being with him.

Another song with a rumoured subject, and this time it is Nicole Appleton. 'Sexed Up' opens with the line 'loose lips sunk ships'. Is this a reference to the revelations in her recent biography? A really mellow song considering the subject matter, but I think this is Robbie opening up a bit, and really letting his feelings spill out, and in many ways it reminds me of 'Ego A Go Go' in the sentiments it displays, although the styles of the two songs are admittedly completely different, but the way Robbie spits out the words is so familiar.

'Love Somebody' is the real stand out track for me. Another piano focused song, but this time Robbie's vocals really shine through, and remind the listener that he can really carry a song. With it's title, I expected 'Revolution' to be a real in your face song, but it is far from that. It has a real Motown soul feel to it, and then halfway through it becomes really funky, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the next single released from the album. It is a real get down and dirty song. I love it!

The cheeky chappy we have all become accustomed to returns with 'Handsome Man', where we hearing Robbie singing about how gorgeous he is, and how can anyone resist him? It is a real tongue in cheek song, and I love the line 'I'm gonna milk it 'til it turns to cheese'. He may be serious about 'being the one who out Brit in celebrity', but he gets away with it, as a tiny bit of arrogance has always worked in Robbie's favour. He isn't lying either, because my wife informs me that he is indeed one of the most fancied men in Britain, and if came knocking on our door she would be off in a flash......well here's hoping!!!

'Come Undone' is another mellow song, where Robbie sings about his demons, and how his personality is so variable, and reading between the lines, it seems like a song to his mother, and how she loves him unconditionally, even when he acted like scum, because she knew that the real Robbie was trapped inside a very mixed up head, full of conflicting emotion and turmoil. Suspend belief with this strange track. 'Me And My Monkey' is about how he went to Las Vegas with his monkey who wore dungarees. I can only presume that this is a metaphor for someone or something other than a monkey, but with Robbie, you can never really be sure. As a song, it is pretty enjoyable, and is certainly one that you will find yourself singing to, but try not to look for any meaning in the lyrics, as the song is over seven minutes long, and I have tried but found it better to just sit back and go with the flow.

Robbie doesn't care about upsetting people, as we have seen many times in the past, and here he makes Blur his targets with the spoof 'Song 3', which seems to have outraged Graham Coxon, but I cannot see why, unless some of the accusations of just being in it for the fame and the sex in his really hard edged rockier pop song are a little too close to home. Lighten up, it is only music! The song I would like to see released as the next single is 'Hot Fudge'. A song that I would love to hear done acoustically, it really reminds me of David Bowie, but I cannot pinpoint which song. It is a song all about his move to America, LA in particular. In my head, I can picture Robbie staggering about, sneering whilst singing this song, and it just works so well for him.

'Cursed' is another edgier track with a harder guitar riff, and this time, the subject is Geri Halliwell, and how he made up lies about sleeping with her, because he knew she would love the publicity. He calls her a 'dirty angel', and says that she has been cursed since birth and all of her worst fears are coming true, because he is still here, and he is cursed too. I like it, as it is starting to enter the rockier side of the market which I tend to go for. I lay a bet that when sing live, this is an absolute show stopper.

The closing track is the heart rending, self penned 'Nan's Song'. It will tug at the heart of anyone who has suffered a bereavement. This shows us all that Robbie the songwriter does not need to rely on other people, he is more than up to the job. The classic lyric here is 'Now you live in heaven, but I know they let you out to take care of me.' If you listen to no other track on this album, then please listen to this one. It is emotive and so touching, even I had a lump in my throat.

As has become a tradition, there are two hidden tracks, but I don't want to spoil all your fun, so I will let you find them.

I am a fan, so may be slightly biased, but this album strengthens my faith in him, and he has shown how he can whack out a great pop song, next to a soul influenced track, with some rock added in for good measure. He has certainly proven again that he is more than the cheeky smiler from the boy band, he is actually a serious artist who has some serious staying power, and I for one can't wait to see what he comes up with in the future.

I can say that Robbie has proven he can come back stronger than ever, but now I pose another question...can he do it without long time songwriting partner Guy Chambers? I think he can, and he certainly has the full support of Epic records who need to recoup some of the alleged £80 million pounds they have shelled out to secure his signature.