Escapology [PA] - Robbie Williams > Reviews > Lost in a Monsoon

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Unmemorable
Value for Money	Poor

Advantages:	Singles releases from the album are what Robbie does best
Disadvantages:	I can't say much for the rest, a bit messy

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

Where do you start with someone the likes of Robbie Williams? Perhaps he may not be as the most eccentric character we've ever seen on our screens, that would probably go to someone along the lines of pouty-lips Pete Burns, but Robbie (hey I can call him by his first name and pretend I know him on a personal basis) is someone that has etched his name in the history books and is likely to be remembered for his contribution to music in 10 years time, especially if he's still making music then. Afterall, being born in 1974 that only makes him 33 and he seems to have crammed quite a fair bit into his life already.

Robbie started off in Take That as we all know, and possibly was the one who set the precedent of leaving a group and having incredible success. Many people have tried to follow in his footsteps of going solo, bit on our shores I can't think of ANYONE who has been successful - not even the Spice Girls. I guess the only comparison I can find is Justin Timberlake, over in the USA, who was once a part of a hugely successful boy band but then went on to have even greater success. Of course Robbie went solo long before Justin, so perhaps Robbie paved the way for Justin's stardom? Well I doubt it, but it's a nice thought. I think the one thing that many people lately think of when they hear Robbie's name is his own persona battles, with the rumours of his sexual orientation and more recently his stint in rehab. One thing that has always alluded Robbie as well is the American audiance, as I think many people thought if one artist could break the States to represent us it would him, although they just don't take to him the way we seem to. This was shown when Robbie released his third solo album exclusively in America and New Zealand. Whilst in NZ it managed to get a respectable number four position in the charts, 'The Ego Has Landed' only managed 63 in America.

Escapology comes as Robbie's sixth solo album, although the fifth for him to release in the UK, and it was his fifth successive solo album to top the charts. Released in 2002, the album came as Robbie signed a record breaking £80 MILLION contract with record label, EMI. This was a a point in Robbie's career where he was having much more of an infulence in the songs he was singing, lending a hand in writing them, and whilst his career couldn't have been much better in Europe - once again the album fell on death ears in America only reaching #43 in the charts. By the end of 2002, Escapology was the best selling album of the year in the UK selling 1.4million copies, and then by the end of the following year it had sold nearly 2 million copies. This made it the 60th best selling album in UK history. But it's all well and good to say at what point Robbie was at in his career, how does it actually sound? Does it stand the test of time being about 5 years old? Lets find out.

HOW PECULIAR - "Rub me rub me right up lovely."
Track One - 3mins 13secs

The album opens with a clear rock infulence, and kind of sleazy as well. Robbie is singing about a crush he has, and not knowing what to do about it, although he knows what he'd like to do about it. It's all quite simple, although I'm sure his female fans would appreciate his dirty attempt at being romantic. For me though, it's all quite ordinary. TWO STARS.

FEEL - "I just want to feel real life."
Track Two - 4mins 22secs

This is where the album really begins, as this was choosen to be the first UK released single from the album, that entered the charts in the number two position. Upon the songs release however, despite not topping the charts in his home country, the track became Robbie's biggest international hit selling over 4 million units worldwide. Part of the songs slight success Stateside was due to the appearance of Hollywood actress Daryl Hannah in the video. You don't have to be Robbie's biggest fan to have heard this classic ballad before, and it's one of Robbie's more beautiful songs as he sings about wanting to fall in love. FOUR STARS.

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL - "All your friends think you're satisfied."
Track Three - 4mins 48secs

For a third single, this was released, and funnily this song was originally supposed to be written for Tom Jones. The video featured a contest where the winner was permitted to perform with Robbie, so this would mean three different versions of the video would be made, each featuring different winners from different parts of the world. The song failed to top the charts anywhere, and incredibly only peaked at #70 in the French charts. To me the song is actually really feel good, and is singing to those people who have yet to find love, but tells them to hang on as something beautiful will be coming their way. FOUR STARS.

MONSOON - "I'm here to make money and get laid."
Track Four - 3mins 46secs

Similar to the first track on the album, I'm not feeling the music, and I guess as a Robbie core-fan and not a hardcore, diehard fan, the singles are the sound that we're supposed to be used to. This is probably the first track on the album not to be singing about love, and it's more of just a track to singalong loudly to. A track about Robbie's stardom, wow, never heard that one before. TWO STARS.

SEXED UP - "Why don't we break up?"
Track Five - 4mins 19secs

This fourth released single was a massive success in Brazil, they must like their sex, but only peaked at ten in the charts over here. Maybe our hype for Robbie was starting to die out? Nah, us Brits? Never. Another song that you will find you recognise, and really quite good. The music is very ballad-like. The lyrics are about a relationship ending, and I've got a feeling the relationship is ending due to betrayal. FOUR STARS.

LOVE SOMEBODY - "Just wanna love somebody right now."
Track Six - 4mins 10secs

Whey, Robbie knows his main selling point. LOVE. The song is about not being able to wait for love, not much else to say here. Not a classic of his. TWO STARS.

REVOLUTION - "Love lingers on you're just feeling it wrong."
Track Seven - 5mins 44secs

Featuring Rose Stone, the two artists fair the lyrics out quite evenly and both are as good as one another. With a name like revolution, as you would expect the song is about moving on. Starting off well the song does feel like it drags on a bit, and probably could have done with being two minutes shorter. TWO STARS.

HANDSOME MAN - "Did you ever meet a sexier male chauvinest pig?"
Track Eight - 3mins 54secs

The music to this track kicks in straight away, and whilst the lyrics don't seem to fit with the music in some places, it's quite a good song singing about how popularity is what makes celebrities. It's so true, because once the press stop taking pictures and the papers stop selling they know no one cares about them anymore. I swear Robbie must have some hidden angst that he wants to show in rock music but isn't allowed to show in his released singles, because all his other tracks seem to be very rough around the edges. Is Robbie really as free from his management as he makes himself out to be? THREE STARS.

COME UNDONE - "It's so frustrating just get another drink in."
Track Nine - 4mins 38secs

As the second single this track had to follow up 'Feel' and was perhaps too shocking for its own good, with the video being banned in most countries as it shows Robbie engaging in three way sex with two pornstars. It was also banned for including unsettling images of snakes, rodents and maggots crawling over womens bodies. In the final shot, the two women who Robbie was sleeping with become men in drag, just adding fuel to the fire of Robbie's sexuality. The song is basically about Robbie unravelling as a person, and whilst it isn't Robbie bestwork it peaked at number four in the UK charts. THREE STARS.

ME AND MY MONKEY - "I'm hoping my monkey don't point that gun at anyone."
Track Ten - 7mins 12secs

This track has been described by Robbie himself as an open-ended track, where the ending is for the listener to choose. It's all just one long story in music really, similar to R Kelly's Trapped in the Closet.. but with a monkey. Ok, so it's nothing like that but you see where's I'm going. It's as pointless as that. ONE STAR.

SONG 3 - "I got plenty to say."
Track Eleven - 3mins 48secs

Strange to have song 3 as track 11, but whatever floats your boat. I really don't feel like there's much for me to say on this song, except it's about his fame again. ONE STAR.

HOT FUDGE - "Oh my Sunset Rodeo."
Track Twelve - 4mins 5secs

This is a real happy go lucky track with a country edge, singing about Los Angeles and I believe partly about a girl that comes from there. Of course if you've ever seen Robbie's Cribs you will know he has a pad out in LA, quite a nice one with a big trampoline. I swear if this was anyone but Robbie it would be a massive summer tune. THREE STARS.

CURSED - "You're not as stupid as I look."
Track Thirteen - 4mins 1sec

I believe for this song Robbie is referring to himself as a curse, perhaps admitting a few things he's not proud of and bringing people down with him. Of course I'm sure a lot of us know relationships can be a curse. Some fairly good lyrics here. TWO STARS.

NAN'S SONG - "And now she lives in heaven."
Track Fourteen - 3mins 52secs

Guess what? This song is for his nan. It's a really nice touch to finish the album off. The song starts really slowly, and for the most part the music remains the same, although Robbie's voice does pick up every now and again to add some difference to the song. I'm sure many people can relate to this song. THREE STARS.

BONUS TRACKS - 'Save The Children' and 'I Tried Love' are included as bonus tracks on the album. 'Save The Children' is also known as 'How Peculiar (Reprise)'.

Looking at some of Robbie's previous videos to give an informed opinion on this review, many of the comments on YouTube are saying about how Robbie has a heart of gold, and perhaps that is what makes people like him so much. I'm sure people remember Live 8 the other year, where Robbie was singing and the crowd was in tears with tracks like 'Angels'. Whilst this isn't Robbie's best work, and the album was for the most part slammed by the critics, it's not that awful. If you asked the fans they would probably describe it as a masterpiece.

A lot of lyrics on the album were recorded naked, so that's a nice imagine to put in your head whilst you listen to it, and with the amount of love on the album you kinda hope he wasn't naked for a few songs. It would be a bit harsh to say there is too much love on this album though, because compared to some he has just about the right amount. Whatever you think of Robbie now, with his efforts like 'Rudebox', this album was around the time where he still was close to the top of his game. If you're not a Robbie Williams fan, this won't make one out of you, but's ok, but it's a bit wishy-washy for me.