Escapology [PA] - Robbie Williams > Reviews > Robbie V

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	read the op
Disadvantages:	read the op

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The fifth opus of my friend Robbie has been launched in France on November the 18th and I have to admit that it’s a huge but kind of pleasant surprise in my little musical world.
Well, I say my friend Robbie, as we know each other since my Childhood when Robbie was still a member of the deceased "Take that". At this time I was used to read fan magazine. Hopefully this time have pass and we both have grow up. Robbie decided to sing alone and I stopped reading silly magazines.

This record is his fifth and, to me, it shows certain changes in Robbie’s style. His previous record” Swing when you are winning” composed of revivals of Sinatra’s songs already made me wonder.
I thought: “well, weird from Robbie but pleasant” (by the way try to listen to it it’s a great record).
I thought it was original for a pop singer who apparently has not money trouble, to sing old song from the thirties. It could even take away Robbie’s young public.
But as I liked this record and I didn’t looked further as I thought it was just an artist caprice.
Well if Robbie wanted revivals he could have found a worse model.

Well last November I heard that Robbie was launching a new record I bought it as I was kind of impatient but I thought it would have a sound style very close from “ Sing when you are winning” as this latter had been a commercial success. So not much innovation.
I waited 2 days before listening this new record as I finally had lost my impatience.

Finally some night as I was angry I listen to it and SURPRISE !!!!!
This is not a radical change (it’s not techno) but it’s different.
I ignore what caused this change but Robbie’s style is different and it’s even better than usual.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ THE RECORD ITSELF @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

There are 14 songs in it:

# How peculiar
It’s not my favourite one, the sung parts are too nasal to me and the rhythm is quite slow

# Feel
First single of the record, we hear it everywhere and all the time in France but I still like it

# Something Beautiful
I especially like it; it’s old good classic Robbie.

# Moonsoon
Well it’s one of my favourite, it’s groovy and makes me sing we I hear it.

# Sexed up
Lovely ballad, very sweet and beautiful, I like to hear it when I fell asleep.

# Love somebody
Beautiful song quite sweet during the verse it warm up during refrain.

# Revolution
It’s a two voices song sung by Robbie and Rose Stone. A Gospel chorus sing the refrain (I definitely feel an American influence on this song) just brilliant!

# Handsome Man
That one of the songs in which the change is really noticeable. One of my favourite songs.

# Come undone
More like his old style

# Me and my monkey
It is also rather characteristic of its new influences about which I spoke to you earlier.

# Song 3
More rock' n'roll than usual. Guitars and battery parts. It appears that it is a wink with Blur "Song 2"
Great song !

# Hot Fudge
Clearly influence by America (several mention of L.A), it moves more, there’s lots of battery and piano in it, then solo of guitar, I just love it...

# Cursed
Only based on guitar at the beginning much less pop than usual.

# Nan' s song
Composed by Robbie for his grandmother, song much calm where voice is highlighted

Well, let’s go back to the new influence I felt in this album, I have to say that some song definitely sound more US like (especially revolution) but for other songs I can’t say what exactly changed.
I could say that some songs seem to sound more rock and less pop but I think that it doesn’t have much sense (In fact it doesn’t have any to me).

All I can advise you is to borrow it and listen to, unfortunately you wouldn’t be able to copy it (as it’s protected) so if you like it you’ll have to buy it. If you already like Robbie Williams there’s much chance that you’ll love this new record, if you didn’t know him much try and adopt it, you won’t be disappointed

I love the 14 songs of this record for several different reasons and I sometimes don’t find the exact word to talk of it but I hope I gave you the will to listen to this record.

Thanks for reading

Marie