The singer’s 13th album is buzzing with energy and exuberance that makes it hard to resist but can also be exhausting to listen to at the same time.
As always Robbie Williams doesn’t do things by halves, showcasing his sheer energy and exuberance on his 13th studio album that is filled with 90’s nostalgia.
From the exhilarating ‘Rocket’ which sets the tone for the whole album from the start all the way through to ‘Pocket Rocket’, there is great variety and intention on display in what feels like the most confident album Williams has released since the early part of his career.
It is evident on each track that the singer has been inspired by groups such as Oasis and Blur – particularly so on ‘Pretty Face’ which has a romantic quality about it, yet told through a slightly edgier sound rather than a straight up ballad. It is a real highlight track as it showcases his confidence and the sheer joy he is clearly feeling in making music such as this.
Elsewhere, album closer ‘Pocket Rocket’ is the most surprising song on the album as is shows a different and more vulnerable side. It almost has a lullaby quality to it that ensures the listener sits up and pays attention.
Britpop as an album as a whole is filled with 90’s nostalgia in sound but it can also feel slightly overwhelming in places to listen to. Songs such as ‘You’ and ‘Bite Your Tongue’ while definitely edgy in many respects, can just get a little carried away musically that can mean they lose their impact by the end.
This being said there is plenty that is hard to resist. The swagger and confidence of ‘Cocky’ and ‘Spies’ in particular display this. You can tell that Williams is having plenty of fun on this album and you can’t help but wonder if this is the style of music that works for him best .
It is easy to imagine these songs being performed in arenas and have definitely been designed to be sung loudly and proudly – a key example of this is ‘All My Life’ with again a bit of an Oasis vibe to it and the playful ‘Morrisey’. Does it get a bit mad at times? absolutely but it wouldn’t be a Robbie Williams album if it didn’t!
Overall, fans will enjoy this latest release that showcases the singer’s confidence and joy in music.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️