The knives are out for Robbie Williams. From Wapping to South Ken, you can hear the scrape of hairbrush against floor tile as the pop hacks sharpen their shanks. The reason for this shock rebellion is ‘Rudebox’, the first single from Robbie’s new album, which was apparently not very good. Actually, that’s quite misleading – in the hands of Girls Aloud, it would have been great. What spoiled it was Rob’s lacklustre attempt at rapping. It isn’t so much that he hasn’t got skillz like Zorro (‘Kids’, his collaboration with Kylie, has already proved he’s hardly iller than a porno), it was the utter lack of conviction in his voice. Despite all the talk about this being Robbie’s ‘dance album’ and him abandoning his pop roots – if ‘Rudebox’ the album has one fatal flaw, it’s simply that he sounds like he can’t be arsed.
Otherwise, it’s a pretty good record. For this big comeback, Robbie has adopted the songwriting template set by the big R&B stars, pulling in big-name producers to create the backing tracks on which he intended to shine. The album features collaborations with Mark Ronson, Pet Shop Boys and William Orbit, who certainly know what they’re doing. As a result, the tunes are all accomplished and well-polished, and there are enough big hooks to keep the crowd at the inevitable stadium gigs bellowing along. There are toe-tapping moments, like catchy confection ‘Lovelight’ and PSB pop anthem ‘She’s Madonna’, which is so postmodern it won’t even come into existence for another billion years.
The problem with this album isn’t that Robbie has ‘gone dance’ – everyone in the world went dance about ten years ago anyway – it’s that his performances don’t go the extra mile to live up to the potential of the material.
On this evidence, Robbie seems to have given up on competing with the Timberlakes and Legendses on the pop world and seems content just to be outperforming George Michael.
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10 comments
Admit it, you sods don't know a good thing when you hear it, unless it's new or 'til it's way gone. Btw, Rudebox is hardly a dance album!
la cancion de robbie es genial es la mas chido,,, jeje...
I THINK THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST MATERIAL ROBBIE HAS EVER RELEASED. IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S RELAXED AND DOING SOMETHING HE LOVES. FANTASTIC. MORE MORE MORE
hmmmmm well listened to it twice! still not convinced! ok so his vocal is compelling but haven't we heard all of this before? perhaps a case of the ego has landed! but can't be arsed? why make an effort when you know the gals will love it regardless? n
forza palermo
I have to admit that the first few times I listened to this album I wasn't sure but I have to say that I absolutely love it now. So very different but so very good. I agree with Hazel, music has to evolve and Rob's done just that with this album!
Rubbish
Not up to the standard of the Itensive Care album (at least that had some tunes on there). In attempting to be credible and changing with the times, this leaves you feeling a little cheated out of £10. Note - there was no big launch with this album unlike previous ones, no surprise why. Theres only a couple of potential singles on this album. Even loyal fans could go walkabout after listening to this. Bring back the big Robbie anthems we all know and love.
Rudebox is a very unique album.His voice on songs such as the actor is haunting ... in a good way i must say , hes a very talented young man and deserves credit for this album its amazing !!
like music moves on so has robbies style. Why should every song he sings sound like luv suprime or angels? His style has evolved, nothing wrong with that. The album is good. I like it.