Robbie Williams – Take The Crown Album Review

Robbie Williams – Take The Crown

Let’s be honest here – you probably missed this, despite it and lead single Candy debuting at Number 1. This 9^th full-length from the Northern prince of pop shouldn’t seem like a comeback album, but if it was meant to be so, then the Robbie of this decade is thoughtful, slightly self-deprecating and honest. Be A Boy and Gospel are both reflections on youth, and his career and lost love respectively. Candy, written with Take That pal Gary Barlow, is a masterpiece of pop, whilst Different, also written with Captain Barlow, is this decades’ Feel. He moves into summery, electro-pop with S*** On The Radio and All That I Want, before slowing down for Hunting For You. He gets slightly bitter on Into The Silence before ramping it up for Hey Wow Yeah Yeah – it’s not a lyrical masterpiece, but that doesn’t seem to matter for Vauxhall, who use the track in the advert for their Corsa. Not Like The Others is anthemic for a song seemingly about sex, whilst Losers is just acoustic loveliness. If you’re lucky enough to get the deluxe edition, you’re treated to Reverse (another slow-but-good ‘un) and Eight Letters, a solo piano reworking of the Take That track. Don’t think just because your mum probably likes Robbie that you can write him off as old; Mr Williams is still alive, kicking and bringing out some brilliant albums while he’s at it. 9/10

Download: Candy, Different, Into The Silence, Not Like The Others