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Hello Robbie,
I am a firm admirer of yours, what I think of you I have already said before, so let's skip the niceties and pleasantries and get right to the point: I like you a lot even in your modern version. Your "Advertising Space" is more or less one of my 50 favorite songs of all time, not forgetting "Sexed Up", "Supreme" and others. I just listened to your newly released album, and I must say that overall, I liked you here too; the final result is more than satisfying, you're still the best at what you do, there's no doubt about that, and you even gave us a super cool cover. Okay, but it could have been a bit better: after all, you're Robbie Williams, surely you understand why I am being a bit picky, simply because I hugely admire you.
"The Heavy Entertainment Show" is entirely your album, and this is a great thing: all your signatures are there, your modus operandi is what it is, and it remains perfectly recognizable, even though you have been around for about two decades. You've aged well and most importantly, you continue to march at your own pace, not everyone does that. For example, you open with a title track that harks back to that swing/big band universe that we like so much, seasoning it all with a sagacious irony, another thing we have in common. I noticed that you focused a lot on the power-ballad formula, and that's another thing I really appreciated, also because it's not a very trendy solution these days, not many nowadays seem to appreciate these loaded, loud 'n' proud sounds, I'd almost say politically incorrect, without falsettos and unnecessary frills, and then those powerful and catchy choruses are perfectly suited to an explosive vocal like yours: "Mixed Signals" and especially "Motherfucker" are two great tracks and certainly among the highlights of this album of yours.
The same goes for the single "Party Like A Russian" and for "Pretty Woman", where you added a bit of zest and extravagance, things you don't lack even in "Bruce Lee", a fun funky performance with bombastic choirs and falsetto that I particularly liked; I also appreciated the jazzy/retro atmosphere of "Hotel Crazy", where you showed a more elegant and sophisticated side of your personality, even in "Sensitive", where you played the trendy American electro-RnB, and you did it well. But let's also talk about your classic ballads, which I usually enjoy a lot; here perhaps you could have done something more; "David's Song" is a really nice song, with that sweet ingratiating touch, that angelic-like voice (yeah, yeah...), that smooth sound, not too heavy, not too bland. You did everything right there, because as your admirer, a piece like that can only please me, but apart from that, there's not much else; "Love My Life" is really bland, and you choose it as the second single? Oh, come on. Robbie, I didn't expect a new "Advertising Space," it's hard to return to those levels, but I honestly expected better.
And then, another thing: you close such a great album with the scholastic and forgettable "funk" of "Sensational": why? Oh, Robbie, Robbie, it so happens that I have the deluxe version of the album, all five bonus tracks deserved inclusion in the actual album, more than "Love My Life," definitely more than the aforementioned "Sensational": "Time On Earth" with that beautiful full and engaging synth rhythm? A touch of extra grandeur with "I Don’t Want To Hurt You", great melody and arranged with great style? You could have added a pleasant semi-acoustic touch with "When You Know" (which however you ruined with a chorus this time unnecessarily pumped and off-topic), or a delightful ballad like "Marry Me", or even "Best Intentions"; very catchy, nice flow, nice atmosphere, why ever keep it out, I wonder?
Robbie, darling, I've thought about it very carefully, but I'm still giving you four stars, even if I'm not entirely satisfied: I'm giving them to you because anyway you've pulled out a great, sumptuous album, with a certain undeniable class and seasoned craftsmanship, as we like it, you still remain very cool... and quite a rascal, to make Pop great again we would need more people like you, and you've given me another confirmation.
Your new, very trusted DeBaser campaign manager,
Daniel T. Kid
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