Robbie Williams
Escapology

THE REVIEW

My first review... About an album (and an artist) that has been much criticized... Trying to adhere as much as possible to the DeBaser rules, I begin my review...

I start by promoting the undeniable catchiness (if it can be said so) of this pop/pop-rock record, which nevertheless should not be misleading...

Indeed, if the figure of Robbie Williams has always been emblematic of the light and constructed pop star, here we are faced with an (at times) rather complex and deep work. It is an album that shows two faces of this artist: the persona Robbie Williams and the person Robert Peter Williams...

Let's proceed with the individual tracks:

-How Peculiar: an example of typically British irony that (naturally) is also found in Robbie's character, who, without mincing words, states "I have absolutely no idea what to do with you"... the legend (told by Williams himself) says that the song is inspired by a crush (probably the one on Nicole Kidman) that made him feel like a 7-year-old boy... It seems that Williams managed to get her into bed... Musically speaking, a piece that can also disturb after prolonged listening... A rather bold intro in some ways.

-Feel: splendid... a masterpiece... a sincere manifesto of the sadness of a 28-year-old lacking the love he needs... Moving and catchy, "Feel" also highlights Robbie's vocal skills, who pleasantly surprises with the raspiness of his voice in the high notes (quite daring for a smoker of his caliber). A track that, for the record, turned out to be one of the biggest hits of 2002 (entering the Top 10 in more than 15 countries).

-Something Beautiful: initially written (according to Williams) for Tom Jones, the track turned out to be a summer hit in 2003... a text devoted to good humor and optimism... Very pleasant song...

-Monsoon: a bitter reflection on the success of Ours... "Yes, I'm a star but I will vanish, if you don't pierce me now it will eventually be your turn" ...The cruelty of showbusiness... A pop/rock track that makes listening to the album pleasant without the need to change tracks... A classic of the 2003 Live shows, successfully reprised in the 2006 tour thanks to the strong energy of the piece.

-Sexed Up: a piece from 1999 if I'm not mistaken, about the troubled conclusion of the troubled relationship with Nicole Appleton of All Saints... Despite the melody being like a "ballad," the lyrics contain quite harsh words (note a nice "FUCK YOU")... The particularly personal subject of the lyrics limited the live replays of the track, which nevertheless turned out to be a good success... An intro similar (according to many) to "Don't Look Back In Anger" by the friend/enemy Oasis.

-Love Somebody: the track you don't expect... a rather surprising vocal extension for a singer so criticized by the critics, a text that once again manifests a visceral need for pure and simple love... And a particularly suited gospel choir make this track a very pleasant song...

-Revolution: perhaps one of the most anonymous tracks on the album... a bit too pretentious... Precisely because of this atypicality, it boasts very few live reprises.

-Handsome Man: Williams plays at mocking (himself and the critics, the press, the tabloids) by self-proclaiming himself a cool guy (on par with Roger Moore) and then declaring himself overrated and accusing the press ("come, take a piece of me"). Very catchy song.

-Come Undone : here Williams goes a bit Elton John in "The Bitch Is Back"... A new critique of what surrounds him, where his need for people's affection ("so need your love") but also the disdain for what fame brings with it ("so fuck you all") transpires. One of the most famous songs in Ours' repertoire... Very very beautiful...

-Me And My Monkey: a "story song" composed in the haze of alcohol and smoke... A song with surreal lyrics, but once you put yourself in the shoes of a "bandit" driving around in a chevrolet with a monkey on rollerblades, well, it makes you want to read the translation of this song which ends with the trumpets of a mariachi band (also monkeys???).

-Song 3: neglectable, confusing... only a die-hard fan can listen to it looking for some noteworthy peculiarity...

-Hot Fudge: brilliant piano intro, fast rhythm, a somewhat light track but still very pleasant... Very successful in live performances...

-Cursed: angry and a little different from what Williams usually offers... Probably written after the death of a friend or a friend... makes you wonder what the unfortunate person did to deserve being called "cursed"... After an experimental listen, it enters your head forcefully... Very catchy (but watch the rock riffs, dear Williams, don't indulge in them too often).

-Nan's Song: beautiful song composed entirely (music and lyrics) by Robert Peter Williams... a touching text dedicated to his grandmother who died a few years earlier... Truly splendid... It's really necessary to look for the translation if you don't understand English well because it's truly pure poetry...

At the end of Nan's Song we find two Ghost Tracks ("save the children" and "I tried love") that however seem like the result of impromptu jam sessions almost as a joke... with track number 14 the album can be considered finished...

Objectively, it turns out to be a good album, with 11 out of 14 songs capable of attracting considerable attention... I doubt that anyone who bought (or received as a gift) the record was disappointed... In my modest opinion, "Escapology" remains the best product churned out by Williams, the apex of the artistic journey of the duo he formed with Guy Chambers (former co-author of his tracks).

Rating: 4 and a half rounded up to 5!!!

Until next time