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Posted by: LifeLight 2nd October 2006, 11:24 AM

Don't know if this has been posted...

from Q

Fallen Angel: He can do whatever he wants. But why, oh why, this?

What a bizarre, baffling and downright strange record this is. Robbie Williams' seventh studio album is easily the most peculiar of his normally streamlined career. It doesn't even seem like a "proper" album, more a collection of b-sides and experiments that would ordinarily be saved for the end-of-career boxset. Or a Pet Shop Boys boxset, since one one track, We're The Pet Shop Boys (originally by obscure electro artist My Robot Friend - chorus: "We're The Pet Shop Boys!") seems like a mix-up at the playlisting plant.
Another four of the remaining 16 songs are covers, increasing the feeling that something is not quite right at Williams HQ. Tabloid editors will find that Rudebox adds plenty to the saga of his tortued psyche. Staunch fans, such as the millions who turned out for his recent stadium tour, will ask one of two questions. Either, "Who's stolen our beloved entertainer, the brilliant song-and-dance man who brightened our the last decade of our lives?" Or, more bluntly, "What the hell is this?".
For Williams himself, Rudebox is an apparently straightforward affair. "I suppose I've been trying to please a lot of people that are unpleaseable," he said recently. "Now I'm 32 and I've just gone, Oh f*** yeah, this is me."
So how, exactly, has Robbie Williams pleased himself? He's decided to blow off some steam, billing Rudebox as simply a collection of songs and styles he loves. The reality is a sketchy mix of baggy, rap, electronic and pop tracks patched together by a whole gang of collaborators. His most recent aide-in-chief, Stephen Duffy, recieves a sole co-write, the Black Grape-lite of Keep On, plus a Hi-NRG cover of his 1985 solo hit Kiss Me. Elsewhere there's assitance from the Pet Shop Boys, fashionable New York hip hop DJ Mark Ronson and veteran dance producer William Orbit, among others.
Inevitably, Rudebox is all over the shop, although not without flashes of excellence. On the few occasions that song, collabarator and the Williams chutzpah chime, it is indeed a blast. Lovelight (penned by UK soul man Lewis Taylor) is nimble RnB that channels the spirit of George Michael's Fastlove. Cheek is added to the swagger with the cover of world music nabob Manu Chao's King Of Bongo (retitled Bongo Bong here). The Gypsy punk original - about misunderstood musical prodigy, "a King without a crown" - is now a thumping OTT romp, with chav princess Lily Allen chirruping, "King of the bongos/I'm King of the bongos/Bong!" in the background. The Pet Shop Boys offer their usual class and polished synths, producing She's Madonna, an ode to the titular star's pulling power with a killer chorus: "I love you, baby/But face it, she's Madonna".

And that's largely it for high points. All good pop stars are magpies and great ones - such as Madonna - make pilfered styles their own. Left to his own devices, without a Duffy or, God forbid, a Guy Chambers, to bounce off, Williams seems incapabale of editing hit output. The two junior baggy tracks, Keep On and Good Doctor, are particularly woeful. And not just because of Williams' ludicrous bid to out-gibberish Shaun Ryder ("Can't speak/Ting tong ting!"), but because he also mimics his intonation, attempting to plunder some kind of street cred into the bargain.
Anyone who's heard the album's title track will also realise that what's currently fun for Williams isn't quite so terrific for the listener - it's hip hop as interpreted by Michael Barrymore. For Williams this may be the point; he's happy being "some end-of-the-pier entertainer", as he recently described himself. After all, it's helped endear him to the nation, not to mention baffle perfectionist America. Sometimes, though, being a bit shonky isn't charming, it's substandard.
More worryingly, Williams sounds trapped, obsessing over his past during a final, vaguely themed section of the album that covers his childhood (The 80s) and the blissful interlude of acid house (the otherwise lovely, Orbit-produced Summertime). Sometimes he sounds like he's trying to bottle fleeting moments of happiness, others like he's still not grown up. (As Q went to press, The 90s, a track which covers the Take That years, was hauled off the album due to remarks about their manager, Nigel Martin-Smith).
He lashes out even more wildly on barmy "secret" track Dickhead. A psuedo-Eminem rant arriving seven minutes after the close, its venom is aimed at anyone who's ever crossed him, especially rock critics: "What do you expect?/Dickhead!/Radiohead?/Dickhead!" It doesn't do him any favours, especially not when he warns "Size 10s, dickead!/Break your shins, dickhead!/My security is a dangerous crew/They'll kick f***/Out of you".
If, as its authot insists, Rudebox showcases the "real" Robbir Williams, on this showing he's bored and directionless. Of course, he is also the leading British pop star of his generation, someone who's earned the right to do exactly what he wants. Including relase a confused folly of an album. But just because you can do something it doesn't mean that you should.

** - Average

Download: Lovelight, She's Madonna and Bongo Bong

Further Listening:
The Human League - Hysteria

Sly & Robbie - Rhythm Killers

Mano Negra - King Of Bongo

Pet Shop Boys - PopArt: The very best of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, electronic pop veterans and world-class songwriting duo, who lent their skills to Williams on the arch She's Madonna. ***** - Q Classic

Lewis Taylor - Stoned, Pt.1



LifeLight

Posted by: suse 2nd October 2006, 12:09 PM

Gee Thanks Lifelight...I was actually trying to avoid that one . I like the Mojo one much better.

Rudebox is another flick of the Vs to all those who doubt the substabce behind Robbie Williams' incorrigible irrepressibility. Initially concieved as a quick and dirty reposte to last year's occasionally overwrought Intensive Care, Rudebox, with its mixture of autobiography, Stoke-on-Trent vernacular and well-chosen covers ( among them Louise by Human League, Manu Chao's King of The Beat - with Lily Allen - and Stephen Duffy's Kiss Me ) ia an intriguing, funny and inventive listen. The highlight is the Pet Shop Boys collaboration,She's Madonna. Camper than Spanish footwear, it acts as a golden showcase for the glory of millennial pop. In another time, we'd have feted Williams as an ian Drury figure. With this sloppy,happy,ingenious record, maybe its time we did.

Thanks to tess at Purerobbie

Posted by: Scotty. 2nd October 2006, 03:04 PM

From Vicky


HIS BABY.....

Robbie's new album Rudebox is his baby - he loves every track and says it's a collection of songs he listened to in his bedroom.

It has eclectic mix of disco, hip hop electronica and Eighties pop and country.

Track by track.

Rudebox is released on October 23rd, with the single out on September 4th. Check out the Rudebox dance at www.rudebox74.com

1. RUDEBOX

I branded it the worst record in history.

Robbie says it's his favourite track on the album, but it is one of those tracks you either love or hate. I am pleased to say the rest of the album has some real corkers on it.

2. VIVA LIFE ON MARS

This has a real country feel about it with banjos and harmonica as accompaniment. You can almost imagine Robbie line dancing to this one in the video.

3 LOVELIGHT

This is Robbie doing his best Jake Shears impression with an impressive falsetto vocal performance.

This Mark Ronson collaboration will be massive on the dance floors, it has a catchy disco-inspired funky tune that Jamiroquai's Jay Kay will be miffed that he didn't come up with. A No.1 hit.

4. KING OF THE BONGO

This features the vocals of Lily Allen and is a cover of the Manu Chao world classic. Robbie adds his own touch to it by rapping in FRENCH.

5. SHE'S MADONNA

My favourite track, this collaboration with the Pet Shope Boys has beautiful chords, a simple but effective melody and Robbie's vocal sends shivers down the spine.

Robbie sings about wanting to take Madonna home. It's about him telling his current girl "I'm sorry love, but she's Madonna"

A definite No.1 single.

6 KEEP ON

This is Robbie doing 1989 style baggy pop - I am thinking Happy Mondays, Primal Scream. Robbie doing Indie funk with Lily Allen on backing vocals, a stomping, uplifting tune.

7. GOOD DOCTOR

A hilarious pop at American precription drug culture, it is a hip hop classic produced by Mark Ronson. Clever, funny and very different from anything Robbie has done.

7. THE ACTOR

This is Robbie's stab at German electro pop. And although he insists it isn't about any actor, he raps about Joaquim Phoenix.

9 NEVER TOUCH THAT SWITCH

Produced by fellow Stoke natives Soul Mekanik, Not my fav on the album..

10. LOUISE

Robbie asked William Orbit to help apply some of his genius to this classic Human League song. It was one of Robbie's favourites while growing up.

The end result is quite simply breathtaking. It's chilled, ambient and pop at its best.

11. WE'RE THE PET SHOP BOYS

A cover of a cover, Robbie teamed up with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe to cover their cover of My Robot Friend's track.

12. BURSLEM NORMALS

He rekindles his partnership with Rock DJ collaborators Danny Spencer and Kelvin Andrews.

It's a haunting electronic ballad with Robbie's vocals stripped back to basics.

13. KISS ME

Joey Negro helped work his magic to cover this classic Stephen Duffy track.

Robbie said: "I wanted to help Stephen realise what a brilliant song this is"

14. THE 80's

Inspired by Mike Skinner and the Mitchell Brothers, this is all about Robbie growing up in 1980s Stoke-on-Trent. Robbie is at his cheeky, hilarious best and the lyrics are so raunchy! he'll have to make sure his mum doesn't hear them.

15 The 90s

Love this track. It's Mike Skinner inspired. It charts Robbie's torrid time during the Take That years. He has a pop at Gary Barlow, and ex-manager Nigel Martin Smith should beware. Robbie's most inventive track on the album.

16 SUMMERTIME

Another William Orbit chilled anthem with soaring vocals and strings. I can just imagine listening to this as the sun sets in Ibiza at Cafe Del Mar

Thanks Jackie

Posted by: pink_princess01 2nd October 2006, 03:15 PM

QUOTE(Scotty. @ Oct 2 2006, 04:19 PM)

Posted by: Mayte 2nd October 2006, 04:50 PM

QUOTE(Scotty. @ Oct 2 2006, 03:19 PM)

4. KING OF THE BONGO

This features the vocals of Lily Allen and is a cover of the Manu Chao world classic. Robbie adds his own touch to it by rapping in FRENCH.

Posted by: Nada 3rd October 2006, 07:07 PM

QUOTE(Mayte @ Oct 2 2006, 05:05 PM)

don´t you love it, scotty

Posted by: jupiter9 3rd October 2006, 08:02 PM

Look at this review from someone called 'Peter' on Amazon. Wonder how he has managed to hear the whole album?
Or maybe he hasn't.

Funny he hasn't actually commented on any individual track except Rudebox.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B000HC2MFC/ref=s9_asin_title_1/026-1888425-8211665

Posted by: ZiggyStarDust 3rd October 2006, 10:35 PM

Whahahahaha, tasteless sucker this 'Peter" from Amazon. Some people dón't regonize diamonds when they see them.....

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y288/AhlS/RobbieWilliams/R0010375_av.jpg

Posted by: Mayte 3rd October 2006, 10:41 PM

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certainly not

Posted by: Scotty. 4th October 2006, 07:14 PM

Here is the full length review featured in the new October issue of Gay Times:

So Robbie’s gay after all then. Well one would certainly be forgiven for thinking so, if his latest “experimental dance� opus is anything to go by. May I present the evidence, m'lord?

1. The much-maligned Rudebox with it’s constant references to dirty bumsex including, shock, horror, the Robster himself on the receiving end. “So sick I just had to take it�? Well no one's forcing you.

2. Next single the insanely catchy Lovelight, with its pitch-perfect falsetto disco does the unthinkable and manages to out-camp the Scissor Sisters. No mean feat.

3. Lyrically the alluring electro-ballad Burslem Normals is a bitter Morrissey-inspired barb against Burberry bling chav culture though the music is pure ABBAesque Erasure only with a more expensive synthesizer.

4. And speaking of synth duos, he then ropes in his and our favourite double act Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe on two of the most accessible tracks here: We’re The Pet Shop Boys is a hard-edged cover of a cover where the narrator wistfully reflects back to a time in the 80s when he and his lover thought of themselves as the Pet Shop *Boys*.

5. And if that wasn't enough, PSB crop up again on She’s Madonna, a gloriously Motowneque sweeping synth anthem that manages to plagarise many of the pop duos past hits with a ridiculously rampant Robbie vocal. A future No.1 if ever I heard one and possibly the best thing Robbie or the Pets have put their name to for, like aeons. So ignore my tittle-tattle on which way Robbie is well swung, because, on the face of it, the song seems to provide ‘proof’ of Robbie’s heterosexuality. With a chorus of “I love you baby, but face it, she’s Madonna/No man on earth could say he don’t want her.� But hang on, surely even someone as buffeted from the real world as him would know that the 48-year old Madge vadge is about as appealing to the straight male population as rice pudding? Ah, she's one of those 'gay icon' type thingies, yes? I get it now.

Elsewhere there’s an intriguing ragbag of ideas, from solid covers of 80s pop faves Louise and Kiss Me (Human League and current writing foil Stephen ‘TinTin’ Duffy respectively), Hunky Dory-era Bowie tributes (Viva Life On Mars and The Actor) and a Streets-lite two-part autobiographical suite The 80s and The 90s, where lyrics such as “Ah it’s nice that you’ve got a mansion/While I’m treated like the drummer from Hanson� prove that the ex-boybander’s Post Take That Member Trauma is still as evident and as brilliantly twisted as ever. Strange fascination indeed.

****
Steve Pafford

Posted by: jupiter9 4th October 2006, 08:21 PM

A great review.

Really looking forward to hearing this album.

Posted by: suse 5th October 2006, 11:06 AM

And there was this one from August




His latest song is certainly strange, but Britain's greatest entertainer is brimming with new-found confidence, says Neil McCormick

Has Robbie Williams lost his marbles?


Is Robbie Williams' new single the worst record ever made?

A new single has been unveiled on the nation's airwaves, although you could be excused for not immediately recognising it as the work of Britain's most popular entertainer.

Over some squelchy noises, a sparse, electronic bassline and a chorus melody blatantly borrowed from reggae legends Sly and Robbie's '80s dance classic Boops (Here to Go), Williams delivers a nonsensical, scatological rap in a bored Stoke-on-Trent accent.

"Up your jaxie, split your kecks, sing a song of Semtex, pocket full of Durex." It's a long way from Angels.

Rudebox (as it is aptly titled) is more of an electro skit than a song, almost deliberately amateurish, squeaky clean yet oddly lo-fi.

It is a record so bizarre, it is hard to decide whether its a work of wonky genius or a bad joke.

That, in fact, may be its charm. The Sun, never a paper given to understatement, has declared it the worst record ever made, but Williams himself is so pleased he has announced that, after some 15 years in the music business, he has finally found his true musical identity.

"I was just doing my YTS [Youth Training Scheme] up until now," is his typically double-edged pronouncement, at once self-deprecating (suggesting his former work is nothing to be proud of) and egotistic (the best is yet to come).

Rudebox is to be released next month, with an album to follow in October, recorded in a flurry of creative activity with a variety of collaborators, including ambient boffin William Orbit and club guru Mark Ronson.

Rumours abound that Robbie has abandoned his pop fan base to embrace underground dance culture. So does this mark the birth of Electrobbie? Has he invented a new genre of pop hop?

Or is this set to be one of those embarrassing follies de grandeur that sometimes occur when you allow a star complete creative control, or even a blatant attempt to fulfill contractual obligations with the least possible effort (most notoriously achieved by Lou Reed in 1975 with two sides of screeching feedback released as Metal Machine Music).

Having had a sneak preview, I think its safe for EMI's shareholders to come in off the ledge. It is true that there is a lot of rapping (ranging from Williams's patented comic deadpan to high speed onomatopaeic nonsense), an emphasis on '80s-referencing synths and dance beats, some odd cover versions (from the Human League to world music star Manu Caoi) and a general sense of anything goes.

But, while the anthemic, widescreen pop that established Williams as a family favourite is nowhere in evidence, his well-honed entertainer's instincts, lively sense of the absurd and notoriously short attention span ensure that he remains engaging even at his most self-indulgent.

The songs are short if not always sweet, packed with hooks and delivered with a real spirit of fun and creative freedom. With 16 tracks, none of which outstays its welcome, the overall impression is of ideas piling up. If one crashes and burns, another one will be along in a minute.

It may not please the entire demographic of his enormous audience, but that is what makes it such an intriguing project for such an inveterate crowd pleaser.

At times, it has seemed Robbie Williams can't make up his mind whether he wants to be Liam Gallagher or Frank Sinatra, but this is the eccentric sound of a man with a new-found confidence in his own talent.

Given that Williams has been a solo star for 10 years, it is probably not before time.


Another good one in a long winded round about way

Posted by: Scotty. 5th October 2006, 02:57 PM

From Popjustice



Official is what this $h!t is: Robbie's 'Rudebox' is the best thing he has ever ever done. (We mean the album, not the single. Obviously.) It's funny and sad and danceable and sitdownable and just generally VERY GOOD INDEED.

Maybe we will do a proper review tomorrow

Posted by: dazzleland 5th October 2006, 03:18 PM

That's AWESOME!!!!

Posted by: jupiter9 5th October 2006, 04:15 PM

Posted by: jupiter9 5th October 2006, 05:29 PM

Hope there is a Popjustice review tomorrow.

Posted by: suse 6th October 2006, 09:51 PM

From Uncut Magazine

ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Rudebox ***

Robbie forgets America and hits a career high

Robbie's struggle between instinctive perversity and commercial ambition seems, for the moment, to have been won by the former. Rudebox is the album he should have made, but bottled, with last year's Intensive Care, and seems to mark his final disregard for breaking America. It's not always pleasant, it's a good half-hour too long, and he should have ditched the fairly pointless covers (the Human League's "Louise", Stephen Duffy's "Kiss Me"), but, at its best - as on "Burslem Normals" or diaristic "The 80s" - it's the funniest, most adventurous and liveliest record of his career.

STEPHEN TROUSSE


Thanks to RWAP

Posted by: Scotty. 6th October 2006, 09:56 PM

Excellent.

I was about to buy Uncut Mag today cause Oasis are on the cover. i will DEFINATLY get it now

Q is the only bad review

Posted by: jupiter9 6th October 2006, 10:03 PM

Is 3 stars good? Guess it must be.

Wonder if Rudebox is going to be an album loved by the critics and Robbie Diehard fans but not so loved by the 'masses'. After all, the masses buy Dido.

I really can't wait to hear this.

Posted by: Scotty. 6th October 2006, 10:06 PM

QUOTE(jupiter9 @ Oct 6 2006, 11:18 PM)

Is 3 stars good? Guess it must be.

Wonder if Rudebox is going to be an album loved by the critics and Robbie Diehard fans but not so loved by the 'masses'. After all, the masses buy Dido.

I really can't wait to hear this.

Posted by: suse 6th October 2006, 10:10 PM

I think a lot of "other people" are interested in this. I have been perusing a few general type forums and Pet Shop Boys forums and a lot of people say they will buy it...whether they like it or not is another matter. From what I can tell so far by all these great reviews is that it certainly isn't boring.

Burslem Normals seems to be getting a bit of a mention in the last few reviews too, and the Uncut review didn't even mention She's Madonna and Lovelight. It obviously is more than an album with a few hits and plenty of fill .

Posted by: jupiter9 6th October 2006, 10:36 PM

Here's what I think. And I may be way off. But anyway.

I don't think this album will sell particularly well among Robbie's 'normal' audience. I'm generalising big time here and I accept that. But I would suggest that most Robbie Cds in the past have been bought by the casual music fan. The 20, 30, 40 somethings who buy a couple of Cds every year, who like to sing along when driving the kids to school. The guys and gals who like to belt out Angels at Karaoke.
In fact, the people who do in fact buy Dido and James Blunt.
These people ain't looking for innovation or anything too leftfield in their music. They like sing-a-long tunes.
In the main, they ain't what I guess we'd term 'serious' about their music.

I work beside a lot of people who have bought Robbie Cds in the past. I have friends and family who have done likewise. And I hear the same thing from them again and again. ' I liked his early stuff like Angels and Millenium. But his new stuff is too weird. What's that Tripping all about?' Radio? Rudebox?
They don't 'get' his newer stuff. Rudebox will have terrified them. I saw the reaction of the audience around me at Hampden. Shock and horror.

But you know what? I think that's great. I don't think Robbie is intending his target audience for Rudebox to be 50 year old housewifes who pick up a copy in Tesco when doing the weekly shop.
I think his target audience should be the 'serious' music buyers who do appreciate something a bit different. A bit deeper. A bit more experimental.
But I don't think this 'new' audience will buy Rudebox straight away. After all, in the UK anyway Robbie is seen by lots of 'indie types' as some sort of joke. They aint gonna be queuing up in HMV on the 23rd of Oct to buy Rudebox. That's why I'm not convinced the first week sales will be especially high.
But I'm hoping if this album is as good as people are suggesting then those who have never considered buying a Robbie album before might take the 'risk'.

I think Robbie is desperately looking for credibility. Hopefully he'll get it with this album.

( I obviously exclude all of us on Buzzjack from being casual music lovers. We are music experts. We see Robbie's true talent. Others just haven't caught up with us yet.)

Posted by: Dory 6th October 2006, 10:57 PM

I think you are right Jupiter - I'm not expecting first week sales to match IC, But I have seen a number of people on other forums who have never bought previous albums , but are suggesting they may give this one a try.
I suppose a fair bit may be depend on what promotion it gets in the run up to christmas - which may be tricky since the tour continues...

Posted by: jupiter9 6th October 2006, 10:59 PM

Oh, and another thing to take into consideration when looking at UK album sales-

the On-Line retailers.

-HMV now ships from Jersey
-Woolworths now ships from Jersey
- You can now buy from Amazon Jersey at cheaper prices than 'normal' Amazon.
-CD101 ships from Jersey.

Apparently nothing shipped from Jersey counts towards the UK charts.

Posted by: Scotty. 6th October 2006, 11:00 PM

It is so very hard to predict. I mean I do think his core fanbace will buy it definatly so it's guarenteed to sell over 200,000 first week. But casual fans probebly won't. Then again as it has been mentioned many Pet shop boys fans will buy it and possible Madonna fans.

Posted by: Scotty. 6th October 2006, 11:01 PM

QUOTE(jupiter9 @ Oct 7 2006, 12:14 AM)

Oh, and another thing to take into consideration when looking at UK album sales-

the On-Line retailers.

-HMV now ships from Jersey
-Woolworths now ships from Jersey
- You can now buy from Amazon Jersey at cheaper prices than 'normal' Amazon.
-CD101 ships from Jersey.

Apparently nothing shipped from Jersey counts towards the UK charts.

Posted by: jupiter9 6th October 2006, 11:02 PM

I know Scotty.

It was someone on here who told me about that. Maybe E-Motion or This Is Pop?

Posted by: Dory 6th October 2006, 11:03 PM

cd-wow / Bangcd ship from hongkong - they don't count either
I'll probably buy from Asda - hate waiting for post on new releases.

Posted by: Scotty. 6th October 2006, 11:05 PM

What do they count for then? They are still thousends of copies of the album being sold

Posted by: jupiter9 6th October 2006, 11:09 PM

That's why you can't compare sales figures over the years.
All these On-Line retailers shipping from 'off-shore' plus all the legal album downloads which ain't counted towards the album charts either.

They say Robbie albums have been selling less in the UK over the years but they probably haven't. It's just the way people buy music has changed and the charts haven't caught up yet.

Posted by: Scotty. 7th October 2006, 04:05 PM

Pop Justice STILL have'nt posted a review

Posted by: Scotty. 8th October 2006, 11:04 AM

WHAT THE UK PRESS IS SAYING ABOUT RUDEBOX
Check out with the press in the UK is saying about the Robsters new album 'Rudebox'

MOJO - 4/5 - "Rudebox is another flick of the Vs to all those who doubt the substance behind Robbie William's incorrigible irrepressibility...An Intriguing , funny and inventive listen... A golden showcase of millenial pop."

UNCUT - "The Funniest, most adventurous and liveliest record of his career... A career high."

Robbie Williams - Rudebox - Out October 21


Thanks to TRWS

Posted by: Dory 8th October 2006, 11:32 AM

QUOTE(jupiter9 @ Oct 7 2006, 12:24 AM)

That's why you can't compare sales figures over the years.
All these On-Line retailers shipping from 'off-shore' plus all the legal album downloads which ain't counted towards the album charts either.

They say Robbie albums have been selling less in the UK over the years but they probably haven't. It's just the way people buy music has changed and the charts haven't caught up yet.

Posted by: jupiter9 8th October 2006, 11:59 AM

Oh, I didn't know album downloads now counted. I thought it was still just singles.

Posted by: Scotty. 10th October 2006, 12:52 PM

Music Week Hearts Rudebox
robbiewilliams.com

We knew it was good. And now music industry bible Music Week agrees as it names Robbie's forthcoming album as its album of the week.

The magazine describes the new album as "bonkers, witty...and hugely likeable". It also credits Robbie for being brave to "step out of his comfort zone" to do something "truly new". And of course we all whole-heartedly agree!

Applause please!

Posted by: Scotty. 10th October 2006, 01:42 PM

here is the review from music week, thanks to Mikey for typing it

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Robbie Williams: Rudebox

It is a brave artist who steps out of their comfort zone and attempts to do something truly new, so credit is due to Robbie Williams for being different. Rather than attempt to rewrite Angels ad nauseam, he has brought in a large team to produce a bonkers, witty, occasionally self-indulgent but hugely likeable record. With second single Lovelight playlisted by The Mix and Capital, and following his recent live dates, the boy's profile is high too

Posted by: jupiter9 10th October 2006, 03:55 PM

'Bonkers'. I like that word.

Posted by: monsoon 10th October 2006, 06:58 PM

Mojo and Musicweek are on our side, who cares about Q
Thanks to Scotty and also Mikey of course for that review, always nice to hear some praise for our man and his music. Especially lately

Posted by: Scotty. 10th October 2006, 07:24 PM

QUOTE(monsoon @ Oct 10 2006, 08:13 PM)

Mojo and Musicweek are on our side, who cares about Q
Thanks to Scotty and also Mikey of course for that review, always nice to hear some praise for our man and his music. Especially lately

Posted by: Scotty. 13th October 2006, 12:54 PM

It's the album of the months in Italian Mag XL


Robbie Williams-"Rudebox"
THE KING OF POP MAKES A "WEIRD" RECORD:ALL 80'S-ORIENTED. AND HE ALSO DEDICATES A TRACK TO HIS FRIEND-RIVAL MADONNA.

MANY COVERS,IMPORTANT GUESTS (FROM THE PET SHOP BOYS TO LILY ALLEN),AND LOTS OF IRONY IN ROBBIE WILLIAMS' BRAVEST ALBUM EVER.
The king of brit-pop is not tired. Prolific like ever before, he has filled up his new album with well 17 tracks.Robbie claims to be a child of the 80's, and Rudebox is a declaration of love to that decade,as if music was born only then, and not before.Lots of lyrics,covers,quotes,..you feel kind of "dazed" by such an abundance of contents. This mix of different sounds features rank-high covers, like Human league's "Louise" or Stephen Duffy's "Kiss Me", or praises -with due irony- the biggest pop icon of our time,ie Madonna, in the song "She's madonna", and it's even more personal and introspective, especially in two rap-oriented tracks, The 80's and The 90's, which Robbie is really proud of and that try a descriptive approach of the flowing time. So,the feeling you get from this record is that Robbie is growing a real artist and is probably getting sick of the showbiz glittery façade: in "the Actor" he pitilessly plays with the deceitful world of Hollywood movie stars that he has discovered ever since he moved to Los Angeles. And in "good doctor" he plays the part of a miserable and annoying star which holds on to his doctor like a drug addict to his pusher. And in "we're the pet shop boys" he creates a surreal short circuit: the song isn't by the pet Shop Boys but they had covered it and he covers their cover with their help. More recent is the cover of subversive Manu Chao's"king of the bongo", with the help of Lily Allen,whom he discovered while recording the album.Robbie, the cheeky king of modern hedonism,chases his memory,asks himself different and new questions, and he has a lot to say.This is his most complex and bravest record ever. His new dancefloor has larger walls and through its windows he can see wider portions of the world outside, but millions of people will still be dancing in it.
Rate:4/6
Reviewed by G.Castaldo- XL- October 2006-issue number 14

Thanks to yellow from TRWS

Posted by: Scotty. 13th October 2006, 12:54 PM

MUSIC
The Daily Express
13/10/06
Marcus Dunk

ALBUM OF THE WEEK
ROBBIE WILLIAMS: RUDEBOX EMI

ROBBIE'S RUDE AWAKENING

Robbie Williams has always been one of those stars who provokes strong reactions. The people who love him, really love him, while those who hate him, really, really hate him. It's difficult to know whether this album will change anybody's minds about him but it really should.

For not only is Rudebox a brave departure for Robbie, it's also his most accomplished record to date.

Not everything has changed, however. All the things that people love and hate about the boy Williams can be found here, from the cheeky-chappy joking through to the self-love and self-loathing that he seems to ricochet between. What's often missed by both the lovers (who think Angels is the pinnacle of his musical genius) and the haters (who despise him for the same reason) - is his smart sense of humour.

It's nowherw more evident than on two of the albums best tracks, The 80's and the 90's where he charts his rise from schoolboy failure to all-conquering boyband star to washed-out waster.

There's been a lot of talk about The 90's which had to be re-recorded due to some petentially libellous lyrics about Robbie's Take That days. Lead singer Gary Barlow, for example, comes in for some pummelling: "I adopted four brothers/some I liked more than others..but the lead singer made it hard to like him/but I still loved him, despite him". Its a witty ditty that proves yet again that Williams is a skilled songwriter.

It's musically, however, where this album really takes off. He leaves behind the stadium pop of earlier efforts to make the sort of music that he likes. As a result, the album ranges from stomping electro pop through raucous Primal Scream-like blues to French pop, and yet somehow manages to sound coherent.

Robbie's always been a more complicated act than either his rabid fans or detractors have aknowledged. Hopefully, Rudebox will go some way to making that clear.

Posted by: Scotty. 13th October 2006, 12:55 PM

Robbie Williams
The Times

Rudebox
EMI


A few years ago Mojo magazine canvassed its contributors and came up with 50 quintessentially eccentric British albums. Jostling for pole position were records by Syd Barrett, Kate Bush, Scott Walker and Julian Cope. Should they choose to revise that list in a few years Robbie Williams’s seventh album will be up there too.

We might finally have to start believing him when he says that he doesn’t want to be big in America. Listening to Rudebox you wonder if he even wants to be big in his own country. More likely, he’s past caring. Which is an exciting place for any pop star to be.

If you’ve already heard the first fruits of his collaboration with the production of Kelvin Andrews and Danny Spencer, you’ll be forgiven for not rushing out for this. Even performing Rudebox’s eponymous opener live to more than 250,000 fans in the week of its release failed to push it higher than No 4.

It’s a false start, however. On other collaborations the three plough a wonky electropop furrow that reconciles Williams the wit with the Stafford boy blooded on Eighties pop. In particular, Never Touch that Switch is sinuous synth-funk of the first order.

Williams’s blossoming facility as a wordsmith repeatedly takes the breath away. Even if you want to believe that the rhyme on She’s Madonna — “No man on earth could say that he don’t wanna� — came with assistance from his co-writers the Pet Shop Boys, it’s clearly Williams who shoulders the conceptual burden on The Actor. Here, a sleek slice of moody Europop frames a take in which the singer attempts to locate a kernel of humanity in his thespian conquest.

Coming from anyone else, the amounts of autobiography Williams insists on sharing would have long become tedious, and you fear the worst when you see that the penultimate two songs on here are called The 80s and The 90s. But, for an album made so casually, the attention to detail stops you in your tracks: “School was a laugh/ They didn’t have ADD/ Thick was the term they used for me,� he sings on the former, while minor chords hint at the pain.

Of course, we all know what happens to Williams in The 90s — “I met the other guys/ One seemed like a c**k/ ‘I think it’s going to be like New Kids on the Block’ � — but that does nothing to dissipate the sense of alarm when he recalls facing his own demise after leaving Take That, at the age of just 19.

More than a decade on, Williams has dealt with another career crossroads in the only way he knows how — by doing exactly as he pleases.

With Thanks to Purerobbie.com

Posted by: Scotty. 13th October 2006, 02:46 PM

The mirror gave it an awful review but no matter how amazing it is they would've anyway

Predictable bunch of t****

Posted by: jupiter9 13th October 2006, 07:01 PM

The Mirror have an agenda. I believe they have never forgiven Robbie for giving that lengthy exclusive interview to The Sun the other month there.
They've been 'Robbie bashing' ever since then.

If he'd given the interview to The Mirror it would now be The Sun dishing out the awful reviews.

Posted by: Scotty. 13th October 2006, 08:25 PM

I agree Jup

Well I for one would much rather have good reviews from proper mags like NME, Mojo, Music week and proper papers like The Times than the joke that is the bloody Mirror

Posted by: jupiter9 16th October 2006, 05:25 PM

From http://www.popjustice.co.uk


The last great pop album of 2006
Story filed Monday October 16 2006

After we did that graph the other week we never got around to actually reviewing the Robbie album, and now it's leaked so there isn't very much point.

There are lots of things we were wanting to say about it, but here are the key points.



1. It is the best album of Robbie's career.

2. It is a very clever album.

3. It is also a very funny album.

4. It is also a very touching album.

5. It is all a bit of a relief really.


Here's what some of the punters on the Popjustice messageboard have been saying about it over the last 24 hours.



"Never been the biggest Robbie fan, but for the first time ever I found one his songs instantly attractive."

"I really am shocked at how good it is."

"It's clear already that it contains some brilliant pop songs."

"This is easily the album of the year and BY FAR the best of Robbie's career."

"I listened to the whole album twice today and think it's the best album he's made in years."

"A few songs take a couple of listens, but this is fresh, catchy, different, witty, sad and very funny and definitely the best album Robbie has ever done. I too don't know why they decided to release 'Rudebox' as the first track - it is the worst single on there."

"I'm pleasantly surprised at this album."

"It's one of the best albums I've heard this year."

"I must admit after Intensive Care, I was well and truly done with Robbie Williams. Then he released Rudebox, which I loved... And now I've just had a listen to the new album, and well, I'm shocked at how good it is. To go from the naffness that was Advertising Space and Sin Sin Sin, and pull this out of the cupboard, is quite amazing. One of the CDs of the year."

"This album is an absolute masterpiece. The 80s and The 90s in particular is ****ing outstanding."


You can't argue with popularity. Well, you could...



"My ears have never heard anything as $h!t as this album."



...but you'd be wrong.

Posted by: Scotty. 16th October 2006, 07:22 PM

I posted that last sentence about the 80's & 90's

I would still like a track by track review by them though.

Still a great review however

Posted by: Scotty. 17th October 2006, 06:57 PM

We are going to be getting a load of reviews in the papers/mags at the weekend. I hope The Sun reviewer likes it as much as Vicky. They gave IC 4 stars so hopefully it will be the same for Rudebox

Posted by: Exodus 17th October 2006, 08:21 PM

Ill do a more detailed review closer to the weekend but for now i will leave you with this :

Now ive never been a Robbie fan, ive never liked any of his previous album, bar some of the singles on IC. However, Rudebox (the album) is seriously amaze! This coming from someone who doesnt like Robbie, it is a very diverse album, yet manages to be a strong album and it doesnt seem as if hes trying to be something he isnt.

I never thought id enjoy listening to a Robbie album....Ive been proved wrong!

Posted by: jupiter9 17th October 2006, 08:23 PM

are you going to buy a copy though?

Posted by: Exodus 17th October 2006, 08:35 PM

oh yep

when is it out?

Posted by: Scotty. 17th October 2006, 08:37 PM

Monday

We all really want to it pass his last album's first week sales of 375,000 so buy at least 10 copies

Posted by: jupiter9 17th October 2006, 08:57 PM

Aye very good Scotty. Dream on.

Posted by: jupiter9 18th October 2006, 04:41 PM

From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun


Robbie reinvents on new album
October 19, 2006 12:00am

CAMERON Adams checks out Robbie Williams' new album track by track.

There's a music-world cliche that when artists are in their imperial period they could release an album of themselves farting and it'd still make No.1.

Welcome to Robbie Williams' farting album: the experimental album he's made because he can.

Except Rudebox is the most interesting album he's done in six years.

Gone are the anthems ready-made to woo stadiums and keep Robbie's golden goose laying platinum eggs.

Rudebox has moments that may alienate Sharon and Shane Suburbia, yet he's never sounded so creative and musically alive.

Gone are his regular songwriters, replaced by dance and electronic producers, some famous, some not.

There's a handful of covers -- most obscure -- there's no rock, no real ballads and lots of rap.

This is everything a pop star of his status should do, but rarely does; completely reinvent himself and see just how open-minded his fans are.

Posted by: jupiter9 18th October 2006, 05:29 PM

Here is the review from Teletext on Channel 4. (I've had to type all this up )


For the 2nd album in a row, Robbie's led off with the worst song. Though, with 17 songs, the title track isn't the only duff moment on here.
Skip past the songs where he tries to rap and what's left is an adventurous- no, really- exercise in someone not caring about their supposed legacy.
Certainly, if anyone tries Angels drunken karaoke to the sparse Man Who Sold The World-style desolation of Burslem Normals then good luck to them.
There are moments of fabulous Hi-NRG, not least a wild cover of writing mate Stephen Duffys 80s hit Kiss Me which is his most outright pop for some time, straight off Madonna's Confessions.

Pet Shop Boys production She's Madonna is lavish, DJ Culture-style theatre.

Best is Good Doctor, as colourful Gorillaz getting stuck into 2 Tone era Madness thanksto Mark Ronson's faithful recreation of the Nutty Boys menacingly matey skanking.

The biggest surprise is Williams's skill at recreating early electro, with Dont Touch That Switch infused with the era's carefree experimentation.
With around a dozen good songs here it's a shame someone didn't pare down the duff parts: Keep On is a hideous Mondays tribute, while the 80s is a new low in trying to be Mitchell Brothers.

Overlong then but in years to come it may well be regarded as Williams's most interesting work.

7/10.



What a load of pretentious twaddle.

Posted by: suse 19th October 2006, 10:21 AM

Robbie reinvents on new album
October 19, 2006 12:00am
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia

CAMERON Adams checks out Robbie Williams' new album track by track.

There's a music-world cliche that when artists are in their imperial period they could release an album of themselves farting and it'd still make No.1.

Welcome to Robbie Williams' farting album: the experimental album he's made because he can.

Except Rudebox is the most interesting album he's done in six years.

Gone are the anthems ready-made to woo stadiums and keep Robbie's golden goose laying platinum eggs.

Rudebox has moments that may alienate Sharon and Shane Suburbia, yet he's never sounded so creative and musically alive.

Gone are his regular songwriters, replaced by dance and electronic producers, some famous, some not.

There's a handful of covers -- most obscure -- there's no rock, no real ballads and lots of rap.

This is everything a pop star of his status should do, but rarely does; completely reinvent himself and see just how open-minded his fans are.




Here is the rest of the article, track by track...

Rudebox - if you hate this single, you're going to loathe this album, the electro white-boy rap here wasnt a one off.

Viva Life On Mars - Robbie perfectly described this as "O Brother Where Art Thou meets Primal Scream when they were good". A cyber hoe-down with lyrical shout outs to George Michael's I Want Your Sex and Pet Shop Boys West End Girls.

Lovelight - The albums first cover and a master stroke. Robbie and producer Mark Ronson turn Lewis Taylor;s nsoul slowburner into a potent marriage of Jamiroquai and Justin Timberlake, complete with the falsetto he flirted with on Tripping and synths that sound like trapped beans. Gold.

Bongo Bong/Je Ne T'aime Plus - Another cover, this one French folk singer Manu Chao. Its not too different to the original, which means its alot of fun. Robbie goes tribal with help from beat king Mark Ronson, with Lily Allen along for the ride. Unlike anything he's done before, totally bonkers (the chorus runs "I'm the king of bongo baby") but totally brilliant.

She's Madonna - This is stunning. Robbie writes with the Pet Shop Boys and it sounds simultaneously morose and poptastic as you'd expect. The canny lyrics are about Guy Ritchie dumping his last girlfriend Tania Stecker (also one of Robbie's many ex-girlfriends) by saying "I love you baby, buy face it, she's Madonna". Robbie also shoehorns in the line "We're having drinks with Kate and Stella, Gwyneths here she's brought her fella" as well as random Madge song titles.

Keep On - An random collision of music - inspired by Happy Mondays - and gibberish lyrics that somehow works. More Lily Allen on backing vocals as Robbie notes "I think with my dingaling".

Good Doctor - Could have come from the Lily Allen album, a retro bluesy swagger with Robbie leaving illegal drugs behind for the over-the-counter variety: "No raves no more, just bedside cabinet". He also repeatedly says "Take that!" before comparing his chemical intake to that of of the late Who drug fiend Keith Moon.

The Actor - Another diversion, this is dark '80's Teutonic electro pop with a female starlet mocking the LA acting world along side Robbie's lyrics. Also includes a nod to Madge's Vogue.

Never Touch That Switch - The first real misfire, a throwaway electro mess written by is mates Soul Mekanik with no input from Robbie.

Louise - Faithful cover of the Human League's stark 1984 ballad. Produced by William Orbit, who adds trademark bleeps and electronic graffiti.

We're The Pet Shops - If the housewives havent given up yet, this cover will test them - its clearly here purely to amuse Robbie. This is a cover of My Robot Friend's obscure ode to the Pet Shop Boys, who also sing on it. Oh, the irony. SOunds just like Robbie fronting the Pet Shop Boys, he even gets to quote from a string of their hits.

Burslem Normals - Hmm. Downbeat electronic lament that is the anti-Angels.

Kiss Me - Easily the most sunthpop things he's done since Take That, here Robbie photcopies writing partner Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy's 1985 hit. Commercial radio will wet their collective pants over this.

The 80's - The album's centrepieces see Robbie channel Mike Skinner of the Streets and Ian Dury fr is Brit rap. Robbie details his misspent youth of stolen cigarettes, flriting with drugs and losing his virginity. Fantatsic.

The 90's - Even better, detailing his start and messy end in boyband Take That. Frustratingly, his former manager Nigel Martn Smith has had enough of being dissed by Robbie and hence the huge gaps in this song are where offending lyrics have been removed because of a pending court case. Still, more sad lyrics about his time in the boy band ("I cant conform no more, I cant perform no more"), his clashs with Gary Barlow ("I met the other gys, one seemed like a c**k"), and his premature exit" "I'm thinking I can sing, why am I stood at the back? so f*** the band, give me vodka and gak." Best song on the album, but far from a hit.

Summertime - More William Orbit bleepy production, though the tune's a throwaway.

Dickhead - Abrasive hidden track, many will think its not hidden far enough.

The verdict: **** (4/5 stars - excellent)
After a few ropey auotpilot albums that seemingly pleased everyone but himself, Robbie's returned to being a risk-taking, divisive, exciting pop star not afaid to shed fans to save his sanity. Welcome back.


Thanks to tlc at TRWS


This guy has always slated Rob so this is a total triumph

Posted by: sparkle 19th October 2006, 10:28 AM

Robbie Williams farting album

That's a great review, its so good to read the nice ones

thanks for posting it

Posted by: monsoon 19th October 2006, 01:26 PM

The Channel 4 one - I think even the parts that are meant to be complimentary don't really sound like it.
A strange review if you ask me, although it gets 7 out of 10 the whole write up dosn't sound very positive to me.
But maybe I just don't get it
Anyway, the Australian review sounds fab, this one doesn't get me confused

Posted by: Scotty. 19th October 2006, 02:38 PM

Apperently NME have gave it a brilliant review. Can't find it on their site though

Posted by: Scotty. 19th October 2006, 03:21 PM

I just read that review from Mr Adams and it is brilliant

Posted by: jupiter9 19th October 2006, 03:25 PM

It is indeed. When I posted the first part yesterday I wondered where the actual review of the individual tracks had got to.

Superb review.

Posted by: Nada 19th October 2006, 04:43 PM

I get downloaded songs from Rudebox, now!!! My friend download them for me...

Just now I'm listening songs...

Posted by: monsoon 19th October 2006, 07:48 PM

QUOTE(Scotty. @ Oct 19 2006, 02:56 PM)

Apperently NME have gave it a brilliant review. Can't find it on their site though

Posted by: Scotty. 19th October 2006, 08:32 PM

What does it say Monsoon?

RW.com won't open for me, well the article won't

Posted by: Scotty. 19th October 2006, 08:45 PM

Here it is thanks to RWAP

The NME review

BOXING CLEVER

Your least favourite popstar's gone electro and it's - whisper it - good

With his Take That past coming back to haunt him, tabloids sharpening their knives and missed appearances, clearly all is not well with Williams. And yet he has claimed that this is the first musical venture where he is being himself. The stakes are extremely high. Luckily, 'Rudebox' is the best thing he's ever put his name to.

From a career of trying on different ill-fitting identities (CampPop Robbie, Fat Dancer Robbie, Swing Robbie, Stadium Robbie) he has finally found one that fits. F***ing about on laptops with the likes of Lily Allen and Pet Shop Boys, he has hit on a fun, frantic, pisstaking mixtape of crystalline '80s electropop, Skinner derived rap-ups and lazy skank pop.

Lyrically, Williams has always been a very British mix of redcoat self-deprecation and zietgeisty, chemically-enhanced moodiness, but on 'Rudebox' he continues this without falling into the previous pratfalls of whininess or navel-gazing.

There's the double-headed autobiography of 'The 80s' (currently at the centre of a legal dispute) and its follow up 'The 90s', the clattering 'Vogue' rap in the LA tale 'The Actor' and 'She's Madonna' - possibly his most bonkers song ever.

'Rudebox' is not 'Robbie Williams, the serious artiste', but it is an amazing pop album. It remains to be seen if it will be his undoing with the mainstream and those tabloid hacks. But it seems, musically at least, he's just getting started. And, if you leave your preconceptions at the door, you might just love it. 8

Priya Elan

Posted by: suse 19th October 2006, 08:49 PM

That is a superb review

Rob will be stoked with that one...(except maybe the heading ...least favourite )

I have such a great feeling about this album being successful. I hope its his biggest ever...he deserves it

Posted by: jupiter9 20th October 2006, 06:43 AM

Pretty crappy reviews in The Independent, The Guardian and The Sun.
Hardly surprising though given how much the UK press hate him. Talk about 'stabbing your own'...

Posted by: sparkle 20th October 2006, 11:27 AM

I gave up reading UK newspapers a long time ago

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 01:42 PM

My Madonna song's stalkerish
The Sun



IT’S taken a decade and nine albums but Robbie Williams has finally dared to make the album he’s always wanted to make.

Teaming up with Pet Shop Boys, Lily Allen, William Orbit and uber producer Mark Ronson, Robbie has turned his back on his usual pop niche market, bravely stepping out of his trademark music zone with his most experimental album to date.

Gone are the lighters-aloft ballads and cheeky sing-along anthems, replaced by rap (well Robbie’s attempts to) electro-grooves, covers of Eighties hits and a self-confessed stalker tribute to Madonna.

Robbie says: “I’m more confident now. When I left Take That and started my solo career, I developed a songwriting partnership with Guy Chambers that just ran and ran for five albums and you get into a comfort zone. You know this person and you know what you’re going to do — you’re not scared to try things out.

“And as that ran its course, I had no other option but to go out and explore and go and work with other people. Mark’s given me the confidence to go and do that.�

Clearly Robbie has got bored with the musical style that made him a star — and you have to admire him for daring to break away. But is it too late?

Rudebox, his first release from the album has been ridiculed. Rightly so. Robbie’s attempts to rap are more Goldie Lookin’ Chain than Mike Skinner.


When it does work, as on the anthemic Lovelight — a sweeping funked-up cover of the Lewis Taylor soul track — it is up there with his best.

And Never Touch That Switch, a track written by Soul Mekanik gives him the credibility he is desperate for.

Robbie says: “When I was a kid all I listened to was hip-hop. My first records were Electro-1 and Electro-5. At school, all I ever listened to was Eazy-E, NWA, Public Enemy and The Jungle Brothers. Every week I’d buy a new tape with the money my grandma kindly gave me.�

On Bong Bong and Je Ne T’aime Plus, a cover of French folk singer Manu Chao, Lily Allen provides backing vocals and it is one of album’s decent cover versions.

With its pounding tribal beat and Lily’s dreamy-vocals, this track is one of the best. Robbie says: “I picked songs only a certain cross section of people would know. King Of The Bongo was one and Lovelight was one of those. I wouldn’t have known about Lovelight if it hadn’t have been for Tom Middleton’s The Trip album. I fell in love with it instantly. I can’t believe how big that song is and no one knows it.

“And King Of The Bongo was played to me by a couple of friends of mine six years ago and I always thought ‘I’ve got to cover this’ and now was the right time.

“There is a whole catalogue of things I’d like to do, I’d like to do a covers album of covers. There are some really good covers of covers to cover.�

She’s Madonna is the talking track of the album. Written by Robbie and his pals Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, it’s got the signature chiming electro sound of the Pet Shop Boys all over, with witty lyrics about Guy Ritchie dumping ex Tania Strecker (also an ex of Robbie’s) for Madge.

Robbie explains: “I sent the track to Madonna and she really liked it. I also sent her Rudebox and she didn’t really like it. You could say that the track is a bit stalkerish. She wanted to know what it was about. I lied.

“She said, ‘Is it the futility of being in love with Madonna? Is it the futility of being in a relationship with Madonna? Do you like Madonna in the track?’ It’s quite a day sending a song to Madonna about her. She’d heard I’d done it.�

But this album isn’t going to win over any new Robbie fans because as a ninth album, experimentation comes too late.

His covers of Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy’s Kiss Me and The Human League’s Louise are akin to any karaoke down your local pub — despite Joey Negro and William Orbit twiddling the production knobs.

Plus, the rapping really makes this album an easy target to laugh at.

SFTW VERDICT: All in all Robbie deserves a pat on the back for finally rounding up some cool-name co-writers and producers.

It’s just a shame his comedy rap vocals let the songs down.

(3/5)

Posted by: monsoon 20th October 2006, 02:39 PM

Those latest reviews ...
I wouldn't really worry about if we could rely on loads of people buying the album, but this time I'm not so sure about that either, so I'm getting increasingly worried

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 02:42 PM

Most of the bad reviews are only from music snobs who have no sence of humour. Unless he is a boring Indie band then they will always dislike him

Posted by: TWINKLE 20th October 2006, 07:51 PM

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 07:55 PM

They're is a brilliant review from the Star

4 out of 5

If I can't find it on their site I will type it up

Posted by: jupiter9 20th October 2006, 07:58 PM

Good grief!

The Star's Music Critic must not have realised it was Robbie!


I've never seen such a mixed bag of reviews. And I guess that will be the reaction of the general public. Some will love it and think it's genius. Others will think it's total $h!t.
Don't think there's going to be any in-between with this one.

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 08:38 PM

Yes, it was a really good review. The star's site is absolutelly useless. All it shows is the front page of the paper and some sport info

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 08:38 PM

I'll type it up after my cuppa

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 10:26 PM

Here is the Star's review


ROBBIE WILLIAMS - RUDEBOX

We've been hearing alot about this record _ how Robbie has gone completely underground; how loyal fans will be outraged; how he's embarassed by,and looking to ditch, his earlier work.

As it turns out, Rudebox is actually rather excellent, and isn't the record label-destroying album of weirdness we has been led to expect.

All the things that people love and hate about Robbie are present and correct, from the cheeky-chappie joking through to the self-love and self-loathing that he seems to ricochet between.

It's in a musical sence that this album really takes off though - Bob goes for the sort of music that HE is into. As a result, the album ranges from stomping electro pop through raucous blues to French pop, and yet somehow stays coherent.

Employing the Pet Shop Boys to produce two tracks - including a superb cover of Human League's Louise - was a stroke of gernius, and it appears the PSB's touch is precisely what he has been searching for.

Robbie's always been far more complicated than either his rabid fans or detractors have acknwledged. Rudebox should go some way to making that clear.

****

Posted by: jupiter9 20th October 2006, 10:28 PM

I've read that final line in an earlier review. Someone is copying!

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 10:30 PM

QUOTE(jupiter9 @ Oct 20 2006, 11:46 PM)

I've read that final line in an earlier review. Someone is copying!

Posted by: jupiter9 20th October 2006, 10:32 PM

QUOTE(Scotty. @ Oct 13 2006, 02:12 PM)

Posted by: jupiter9 20th October 2006, 10:33 PM

It's the same review I think.
Wonder if the Daily Express and Daily Star are in the same 'stable'?

Posted by: Scotty. 20th October 2006, 10:40 PM

Hmm, must be

It's does'nt even say who reviewd it in the Star

Posted by: monsoon 21st October 2006, 09:00 AM

As long as someone is copying a good review I don't mind
They better not take anything from the Guardian or Independent though
Yes, the reviews are pretty mixed. Trying to sum this up (papers or magazines only)

Q, Guardian, Independent, Mirror

Mojo, Music Week, NME, Times, Daily Express , Star

Sun (Vicky gave it a good review but the one from yesterday's edition wasn't so positive)

Did I get this right ? Hope so, because then the score would be 6-4 for the positive reviews

Posted by: thisispop 21st October 2006, 09:09 AM

QUOTE(jupiter9 @ Oct 20 2006, 11:51 PM)

It's the same review I think.
Wonder if the Daily Express and Daily Star are in the same 'stable'?

Posted by: Linz 21st October 2006, 09:12 AM

The Telegraph give it a nice review too.

On the back of a stadium tour and with last year's seven-million-selling album still presumably fresh in his fans' minds, Britain's most popular entertainer makes an unexpectedly rapid return with the most eclectic and yet madly compelling album of his career.Electro-pop, hip-hop, surrealist rap (in a northern comic meets ragga MC style), romantic crooning, space-age country and western, disco, world rhythms and Bowie-esque balladeering all vie for space, sometimes in the same song.

Crammed with hooks, rippling with snappy couplets, replete with some of the oddest cover versions ever released by a major star (one of which has Williams belting out "We're the Pet Shop Boys" with the Pet Shop Boys), the almost frantic mix of styles and ideas risks confusing and even alienating some of Williams's mainstream audience, yet it is probably the record that most reflects his complex inner world
He's like a hyperactive manchild with attention deficit disorder, rooting around in a musical toy box, using (to quote a typical glib yet revealing couplet) "my cuts and lacerations/ To feed myself a new sensation". If you stumbled across this on MySpace, you might think a pop genius had been born. Neil McCormick

Posted by: monsoon 21st October 2006, 12:51 PM

Thanks Linz, good to get another nice one.
So the score is not looking bad. Too bad though that there are still so many articles floating around all carrying the same annoying line "RW, whose album Rudebox has been panned by the critics..."
Wants to make me Get real you ignorant journalists, it is getting brilliant reviews as well and that by the likes of NME and Musicweek

Posted by: Scotty. 21st October 2006, 12:54 PM

Yes, the repected papers/mags are mostly praising the album but no the critics just concentrate on the jokes of papaers like the Mirror and Sun

I love the last line in that review Linz posted

If you stumbled across this on MySpace, you might think a pop genius had been born

Posted by: jupiter9 21st October 2006, 09:10 PM

Another $h!t review from http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music

Robbie Williams' just-couldn't-be-bothered seventh studio effort contains no fewer than five cover versions.

Robbie Williams
Rudebox (EMI)
**
Say what you want about Robbie Williams, he isn't predictable. As the childish single and title track might suggest, his seventh studio effort salutes Eighties electro. Encapsulating the just-couldn't-be-bothered feel are no fewer than five cover versions including anaemic versions of The Human League's Louise and Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy's once-uplifting Kiss Me. The co-penned material ranges between unlistenable (Burslem Normals) and inane (She's Madonna, a career low for collaborators, Pet Shop Boys). Worse still, for a man who genuinely has nothing to be resentful about, Williams is astonishingly bitter: the track called The 80s finds him still banging on about Take That, while the unpleasant Dickhead could hardly be more appositely titled. Does nobody care enough to say "no" to him?

John Aizlewood

Posted by: jupiter9 21st October 2006, 11:43 PM

From http://www.observer.guardian.co.uk


Oh great. Another fan.


That's enough of his favourite things

Kitty Empire
Sunday October 22, 2006
The Observer


Robbie Williams
Rudebox (EMI) £12.99
Like most millionaire megalomaniacs, Robbie Williams doesn't like being told what to do. Wisdom dictates that white boys from Stoke shouldn't rap. Rudebox - both the relatively unsuccessful single and Williams's eighth album - is jam-packed with Robbie raps. Industry consensus suggests being sparing with cover versions. Here are five, spanning genres, eras and moods. This is an abnormally crowded record. There are samples of, references to, or appearances by Pet Shop Boys, Lily Allen, Mark Ronson, David Bowie, Madonna, the Streets, William Orbit, Sly & Robbie. Most recordings at this level employ a constellation of talent, tipping their hats to a welter of influences. Rudebox feels more like a teenager's wall: pure homage.

It's unfortunate. One of the most likable things about this album (and Williams himself) is what a fan he is: of the pop of his youth, of the latest sounds, of his peers. He wants to be in Pet Shop Boys, if only for a while. So he covers 'We're the Pet Shop Boys' by My Robot Friend, and asks Tennant and Lowe in to produce 'She's Madonna'. He loves her, too, hence a song about Mrs Ritchie, who he later namechecks as a great actress (yes, a great actress) in his 'Vogue'-alike list of luminaries ('The Actor'). You suspect Williams wants Rudebox to be his Confessions on a Dancefloor, or his Fundamental, the two recent, acclaimed, returns-to-basics by his totems. Instead, Rudebox is a hodgepodge: a vanity project, a disc of experiments in thrall to the music Williams loves, but is unable to process into a crowd-pleasing long-player.

Perhaps the entertainer has tired of the game. Indeed, Williams has indicated he's made this album for himself. And if his fans are bewildered, at least he's having a ball, rolling around in hip hop, electro and retrofuturist synth sounds, puncturing Hollywood pretensions and mourning lost simplicities ('Burslem Normals'). Instead of whingeing about his ills, he pokes fun at them on the amusing 'Good Doctor', in the style of the Streets. It can only be good news that Williams's 'poor me' quotient, so high on the tracklistings of Intensive Care and Escapology, his last two albums, has come crashing down.

Proper fans of Robbie's - those who spark up lighters for 'Angels' - will beg to differ, but some of us would rather listen to 'Bongo Bong/Je ne t'aime plus', a cover of Mano Negra's 'King of Bongo', on endless repeat than ever hear 'Angels' again. That's not a ringing endorsement of Rudebox per se, more a plea for a folly that is, in many ways, the least awful Williams album thus far.

Posted by: Scotty. 22nd October 2006, 04:29 PM

Well at least they called it his least awful album so far

Posted by: jupiter9 22nd October 2006, 05:03 PM

Guess that's progress!

Posted by: suse 22nd October 2006, 09:12 PM

The danish newspaper (BT) is really positiv about Rudebox. Here is there comments (sorry for my translation):

Robbie in the footsteps of Pet Shop Boys

Robbie Williams next step is pure and updated 80´s feeling

What a fresh breath of air!!!! In stead of reviewing a Robbie Williams-album using the same recipe as his debut-album 9 years ago, Robbie has renewed himself – as an artist and as a musician.

As you know, if you heard the single “Rudebox� with the melody-line from Sly & Robbie, this is Robbie with a brand new style. A good style!!! When you get use to it. With a mixture of Pet Shop Boys and Mike “the streets� skinner, Robbie has made his best album to date. This is his 6. album which will be released Monday.
It’s electronic like never before. Disco-house, electro-funk and blue-eyed soul. An updated feel of the 80’s. The 32-year old has never singed better. Even his rap, which other critics hate, has improved. His rap-style sounds like mike skinner which especially works on “The 80’s� and the hidden track “Dickhead�

Quite fabulous is the collaboration with Pet Shop Boys – which haven’t been heard better in years. In the beautiful celebration of Madonna with “She’s Madonna� and the cover-version of “my Robot Friend� called “We’re The Pet Shop Boys� where you won’t hear the difference between Robbie and Neil Tennant…..!!
And then the next single, “Lovelight�, which purely sounds like George Michael…..!
Liberating himself from his previous song-writing collaborators Guy Chambers and Stephen Duffy and moving in to a new musical direction has been the right move to do. The key-element of the musical progress is not only that he writes all the material on his own, but also the possibility of getting new input from various places. The 5 cover-songs are very good. Among others a fresh Manu Chao song “Bongo Bong….� and the Williams Orbits produced Human League-classic “Louise� which has plenty of qualities to be played on the phono.
One could might say that the album lacks straight forward melody, choruses and stadium-hits. But that’s that. This album is, with the exception of “Good Doctor�, a more artful, challenging and feel-good album from Robbie Williams in years.



Thanks to purerobbie.com

Posted by: Scotty. 22nd October 2006, 09:13 PM

Their have been some very nasty reviews today

This is a weird review so I'll post it From RWAP.

Sunday Herald

No Angels, no delight

ROBBIE WILLIAMS – RUDEBOX (EMI) **

THE SCENE : EMI OFFICES. LONDON

A middle-aged executive – paunchy, ruddy-faced – sits behind a desk. His name is unimportant. Another man – younger but still wearing the traces of youth with mild desperation – sits on a sofa, smoking furiously. His name is Robbie.

ROBBIE : Yeah, a hip hop album. A dance album. Something different. I need to do it. I’m going out of my mind singing Angels night after night. And the rest. It gets boring, so boring, it makes me want to kill myself. People want that bloody song played at their funeral! I want to make an album that gets played at conceptions. Not bloody wakes.

EXECUTIVE : It’s not that simple, Rob. There’s … I mean do you know how much work we’re talking about here? It’s not like you can just hand everything over to Guy Chambers this time …

ROBBIE : Look, Mark Ronson’s up for it, and he’s gonna get Lily Allen in too. And William Orbit. And the Pet Shop Boys. And I’m gonna do some covers: Human League, Manu Chao. And there’s this song by a guy called My Robot Friend, all about being the Pet Shop Boys. Neil and Chris are gonna produce it, and do backing vocals. Y’know: We’re the Pet Shop Boys, as sung by the Pet Shop Boys! It’ll be ace. And you should hear some of the beats Mark’s done; the demos are boss.

EXECUTIVE : (apprehensive) There won’t be too much rapping, will there? I mean, surely, aren’t you a bit … English?

ROBBIE : Um … (sheepishly) there’ll be some. Bu think about it this way: nonsense verse, Morecambe and Wise, Spike Milligan. Classic English eccentricity. That’s where I’m at right now.

EXECUTIVE : And that song about when you were in Take That? Is that still happening? Only, we’ve had some calls. You know, from your ex-manager’s lawyers. Not happy people, I must say.

ROBBIE : Oh, I’m defo still doing that. My therapist thought it might be a good idea. Get it all out in the open.

EXECUTIVE : (wary) Well … OK.

ROBBIE : Anyway, that’s not the important part. The important thing is that this is really me, all of it. (bold and confident) This album is Robbie, all of it. All of me.

Robbie stubs out his cigarette and absent-mindedly wanders off. The Executive picks up the phone, his stubby fingers punching in a number.

EXECUTIVE : George? It’s me. Think we have a problem. (Pause) Yes, Robbie. He’s just been here. I swear our bonuses were shrinking with every bloody word he said. It’s going to be a harsh winter.

RECOMMENDED DOWNLOAD : We’re The Pet Shop Boys

Posted by: Scotty. 22nd October 2006, 09:14 PM

QUOTE(suse @ Oct 22 2006, 10:30 PM)

The danish newspaper (BT) is really positiv about Rudebox. Here is there comments (sorry for my translation):

Robbie in the footsteps of Pet Shop Boys

Robbie Williams next step is pure and updated 80´s feeling

What a fresh breath of air!!!! In stead of reviewing a Robbie Williams-album using the same recipe as his debut-album 9 years ago, Robbie has renewed himself – as an artist and as a musician.

As you know, if you heard the single “Rudebox� with the melody-line from Sly & Robbie, this is Robbie with a brand new style. A good style!!! When you get use to it. With a mixture of Pet Shop Boys and Mike “the streets� skinner, Robbie has made his best album to date. This is his 6. album which will be released Monday.
It’s electronic like never before. Disco-house, electro-funk and blue-eyed soul. An updated feel of the 80’s. The 32-year old has never singed better. Even his rap, which other critics hate, has improved. His rap-style sounds like mike skinner which especially works on “The 80’s� and the hidden track “Dickhead�

Quite fabulous is the collaboration with Pet Shop Boys – which haven’t been heard better in years. In the beautiful celebration of Madonna with “She’s Madonna� and the cover-version of “my Robot Friend� called “We’re The Pet Shop Boys� where you won’t hear the difference between Robbie and Neil Tennant…..!!
And then the next single, “Lovelight�, which purely sounds like George Michael…..!
Liberating himself from his previous song-writing collaborators Guy Chambers and Stephen Duffy and moving in to a new musical direction has been the right move to do. The key-element of the musical progress is not only that he writes all the material on his own, but also the possibility of getting new input from various places. The 5 cover-songs are very good. Among others a fresh Manu Chao song “Bongo Bong….� and the Williams Orbits produced Human League-classic “Louise� which has plenty of qualities to be played on the phono.
One could might say that the album lacks straight forward melody, choruses and stadium-hits. But that’s that. This album is, with the exception of “Good Doctor�, a more artful, challenging and feel-good album from Robbie Williams in years.



Thanks to purerobbie.com

Posted by: suse 23rd October 2006, 11:10 AM

Another good one thanks to Linz at RWAP

www.metro.co.uk give it 4 stars


Robbie Williams pulls out the stops again for the entertainingly flawed, dance floor stylee Rudebox.

It's jam-packed with pop culture references: Sly & Robbie, the Sugarhill Gang and especially the Pet Shop Boys, who contribute two tracks including camp 'n' classy pop symphony She's Madonna. Kiss Me is a slick electro reworking of Stephen Tin Tin Duffy's 1980s hit, here produced by disco king Joey Negro.

These highlights remind us that Robbie's an undeniably versatile crooner (albeit a pretty weary rapper) and the flurry of ideas suggests he's desperate to win over the unconverted – although fans holding out for Angels II might be less impressed

Posted by: jupiter9 23rd October 2006, 09:25 PM

Not sure if this one has been posted.


From http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp


ROBBIE WILLIAMS - 'RUDEBOX'

Y'know, some of us had just about given up on this fella. Far too much time making smug to the camera, far too many 'outrageous' quotes for the press and far too little putting anything of himself into his tunes, most of which were all starting to melt into each other like Rolos on a hotplate.

The song 'Rudebox' changed all that. It was like someone had flicked the 'reboot' switch on the fella who made 'Rock DJ' and all those startling pop records at the turn of the, erm, 'Millennium'. And suddenly we're getting another load of smart, witty, pretty and re-energised pop tunes where once we just had snoozy old arena therapy-rock.

I'll not spoil things by giving away the plot, but suffice to say Robbie has suddenly become someone worth listening to again. Give the man some room, people, he's ready for take-off!



I can't believe how all these reviews are poles apart. It's so strange...

Posted by: Scotty. 23rd October 2006, 09:31 PM

They either hate it or love it seeminly

Posted by: Scotty. 27th October 2006, 05:05 PM

A good review from cdwow

When you are such a reluctant pop-star, you gain inspiration from other acts to inject into your own. So RW has taken a slab of Sly & Robbie (no relation) on the title track, covered a tune from the Human League, and generously lifted words and music from the Pet Shop Boys. Then to add bonus street cred, he’s f**king sworn all the way through. The music press can’t decide if this is his best or his worst, and such division will split the fans too. But bizarrely, and for all the rampant plagiarism, this is the most imaginative Robbie Williams album yet.

At least we were forewarned. The “Rudebox� single is a million miles from “Angels�. It also continues this massively misguided misconception that he can rap. But surrounded by sycophants throwing cash in his footprints, of course this is a “brilliant� side to his multi-faceted burgeoning talent. The chav-ish invitation to strut “your jaxi and split your kecks� will also put paid to any concept that he can ever make it in the US. But to be fair, this is a sparkling production. The chorus riff borrowed from “Boops (Here To Go)� almost 20 years ago is inspired, and the newly funky side to Williams is truly welcome.

The first hint that this is a personal retrospective from an unhappy chappy is the lead line on track two: “I lost all faith in what I know�. That and the repeated refrain that “I just wanna be�. It’s also the first time he nabs lyrics from “West End Girls�. You don’t really sing “from Lake Geneva to the Finland Station� by accident. And although the tune is a jaunty banjo pop plucker, it’s apparent that he’s a closet Pet Shop Boys fan – so got them to help out too.

“She’s Madonna� has the shuffling synths that herald a Tennant / Lowe production, and they also produce “We’re The Pet Shop Boys�. A great song, but actually not one of their own penned tracks, yet it did appear as one of their B-sides – and this is a carbon copy of it. Nice, but particularly redundant on this album.

He seemingly enjoyed the last Gorillaz album too, as “Bongo Bongo� has the same joie de vivre that ‘Demon Days’ had. It’s also the daftest, catchiest, and stupidly foot-tapping track on the album. Even his French rap (no really) doesn’t deflate the wonderful silliness of it. And the final (grammatically incorrect) line of “je t’aime les filles� tries to cast aside those pesky lingering questions about his sexuality.

“Lovelife� shows his falsetto style around a nicely jittery R&B rump-shaker. “Keep On� is a strange combo of funky pop, lounge lizard, and Rob-rap – where he pronounces that he thinks with his “ding-a-ling�. Of course. It’s different though, so has every right to be included. “Good Doctor� equally unusual, as a bar-room styled rapped cocktail list of prescription drugs that he has (presumably) struggled with.

The most autobiographical tracks are “The 80’s� and “The 90’s�. The first comprising of sketches about growing up through A.D.D. (“thick was the term they used for me�), puberty, losing virginity, and being picked on. “The 90’s� is the infamous Take That track which supposedly slammed their former manager, but those references have been magically edited out on the CD used in this review. What’s left are reminiscences that he “adopted four brothers – some I liked more than others� and that “the lead singer made it hard to like him�. That they evolved into a “bag of nerves, not band of brothers� and he then fell off the lorry – and out of the group. Disarmingly honest, unashamedly explicit, and surprisingly good.

Who knows why he wanted to cover the Human League track “Louise� but it is inoffensive enough, if not a patch on the original. Stephen Duffy helped the Robster on his last album, so RW repays the royalties favour with a hyped-up disco reworking of “Kiss Me� – Duffy’s biggest claim to fame. “Never Touch That Switch� and “Never Touch That Switch� keep it moody, low-key, and although hardly inspiring, and well chosen diversions from styles on past albums. Although he rips off goodness knows how many lyrics on the final track, the William Orbit production turns it into a pithy dreamscape.

It’s the album that he himself wanted to make, with much less of the limp-lettuce warbling of before. You feel you know the man better, even though the pictures aren’t all pretty. But that illusion is well overdue to be shattered anyway. He has a mega-bucks, multi-album deal with his label, so this will cross one off his “to do� list and put him one step closer to reluctant retiree from reluctant star. At least he can say he was proud of this opus when that happens.

Neil Chase
Music Editor

Posted by: Scotty. 29th October 2006, 10:17 PM

Canadian review

Robbie Williams, Rudebox

3.5/5


For some reason, Robbie Williams has had difficulty translating his superstar success in North America. It's too bad, because right now there are lame excuses for mass appeal male pop stars right now — the whiny Justin Timberlake is as "good" as it gets. And unfortunately, though Rudebox is Williams' best album since 2000's Sing When You're Winning, its electro-pop leanings are a deficit in today's hip-hop heavy marketplace.

But that aside, Rudebox is relentlessly catchy and fun, and its appeal lies in the fact that it never takes itself too seriously — even the horrendously bad title track works because Williams's lame Cockney raps are so knowingly delivered. However, the album's straightforward pop tracks are the true killer singles here, including both "Lovelight" and "Summertime" – though don't mistake the sincere-sounding "She's Madonna" as one of those tracks, as it's supposedly a knock on Guy Ritchie, who allegedly dumped a serious girlfriend as soon as he caught the Material Girl's eye.

While Rudebox is never brilliant, there are a few duds ("Louise" and "The 80's" come to mind) but there's more good than bad, and its hard to fault an album that is so consistently entertaining. (Chrysalis/EMI)

http://www.popjournalism.ca/pop/reviews/2006/00252robbiewilliams.shtml

Posted by: jupiter9 29th October 2006, 10:20 PM

I was just in the middle of posting that review when my Internet died a death.

It's quite good I guess (whiny Justin Timberlake ) but how can they say the 80s is a dud?

Posted by: suse 31st October 2006, 08:32 AM

This is from ARIA.com chartfacts

Rudebox number 1


Cheeky chap, Robbie Williams is back and ruder than ever! The ex- Take That member turned pop royalty has tantalized fans all over again with the release of his highly anticipated seventh studio album, Rudebox. The singer has enjoyed a whirlwind of superstardom since embarking on a solo career almost a decade ago, where he has managed to hold on to his notably cool image despite his ex-boy band roots. Robbie has set fire to the charts with a series of previous releases including; Escapology (#3 Dec. '02), Swing When You're Winning (#3 Feb. '02), Intensive Care (#1 Oct. '05) and Robbie Williams: Greatest Hits, which hit #1 from October 2004 to January 2005! The lucky singer currently has seven albums in the Top 100, which has not occurred since Metallica way back in 1998! Rudebox features collaborations with super 80s electronic duo, The Pet Shop Boys and fellow cheeky Brit, Lily Allen.

I love the pop royalty comment .

Posted by: TWINKLE 31st October 2006, 01:21 PM

An american review (thanks Bry )


Robbie Williams, Rudebox

For some reason, Robbie Williams has had difficulty translating his superstar success in North America. It's too bad, because right now there are lame excuses for mass appeal male pop stars right now — the whiny Justin Timberlake is as "good" as it gets. And unfortunately, though Rudebox is Williams' best album since 2000's Sing When You're Winning, its electro-pop leanings are a deficit in today's hip-hop heavy marketplace.

But that aside, Rudebox is relentlessly catchy and fun, and its appeal lies in the fact that it never takes itself too seriously — even the horrendously bad title track works because Williams's lame Cockney raps are so knowingly delivered. However, the album's straightforward pop tracks are the true killer singles here, including both "Lovelight" and "Summertime" – though don't mistake the sincere-sounding "She's Madonna" as one of those tracks, as it's supposedly a knock on Guy Ritchie, who allegedly dumped a serious girlfriend as soon as he caught the Material Girl's eye.

While Rudebox is never brilliant, there are a few duds ("Louise" and "The 80's" come to mind) but there's more good than bad, and its hard to fault an album that is so consistently entertaining.


REVIEWED BY ROBERT BALLANTYNE, ON OCTOBER 29, 2006

Posted by: dazzleland 15th November 2006, 03:45 PM

I know it's been out a while, but I had to post this review. 4 stars!!

http://entertainment.ie/reviews/review.asp?ID=4750&subcat=CD

Love him or loathe him, you simply cannot deny that Robert Peter Williams has been responsible for some of the greatest pop singles of the 90s and beyond. C'mon - No Regrets? Strong? Rock DJ?. So, it came as something of a surprise when last year's Intensive Care (actually the best-selling album of his career) - was disappointingly drab. Choc-full of reflective, mostly mid-paced ballads, it signalled a change of pace for Williams, and apparently waved goodbye to the incendiary, cheeky, likeable pop that he excelled in. We should have known better. Williams has returned with possibly not only the finest offering of his career to date, but one that sounds like the album he's always wanted to make. On this evidence, it would seem that he's been immersing his lugs in 80s nostalgia; not only are most tracks smattered with electronica, but the both Pet Shop Boys and Human League also feature in some form or other. The former's influence is prevalent throughout; on the title's track's funky, robotic-laced bleepfest, Buslem Normal's sparse, spacey glow and not least on synth-laden tongue-in-cheek homage She's Madonna. Messrs. Tennant and Lowe also make an appearance on the excellent cover of My Robot Friend's We're the Pet Shop Boys (irony is alive and well in RW HQ), which isn't the sole cover on offer, either. Manu Chao's Bongo Bong receives a spicy, colourful makeover with Lily Allen on guest vocals; Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy's 80s classic Kiss Me is well-suited to Williams' warm voice, which has now made it a surefire dancefloor hit at G-A-Y, and the Human League's Louise also gets the treatment - albeit with none of the bittersweet charm that the original exuded. Most of Williams' original compositions are also top-notch, oozing the cheeky-chappy charm and clever turn of phrase he was once famed for; and though there are a few bloopers (Good Doctor, Summertime), overall, Rudebox is a thrilling return to form that suggests that Williams still has a hell of a lot to offer.

Posted by: Scotty. 6th February 2007, 09:49 PM

This is a great write up about Rudebox from the Sanity mag with thanks to Suse from TRWS for typing it up

OUT OF THE BOX

No-one can ever accuse Robbie of being predictable. Just when it looked as though the middle-of-the-road had him trapped forever, Robbie has said no to another album of arena sized anthems. Instead he has put together a killer collection of tunes designed more for the clubs than Kansas. It's his Confessions On A Dance Floor and you are going to love it!!

Christened Rudebox, this is a brilliant and brave step for someone in Robbie's superstar stratosphere to undertake. This album sees him collaborating with a bevy of topnotch producers and they have created something of a mini masterpiece. Thank God the whispers he had planned to record another Swing album proved false. Rudebox is so much more fun.

Its leading single has already divided fans. Working wryly as a mininal electronic production-with a wink to 80's hiphop- Rudebox surprised people who were expecting Feel 06 or Angels (again). Indeed before it was released in the UK it was first broadcast on Pete Tong's highly influerntial show to gauge public opinion. The single reached as high as number 4 on the UK charts despite it being widely criticised. It was also a worldwide smash reaching the top position in Chile, Germany and Italy. It was the 2nd best selling single in Europe for a number of weeks and was the 5th best selling single in the world. Not bad huh!

Typically Robbie remains unfazed by the more unkind comments about his new material. In fact he admitted on MTV that Rudebox was his favourite "it has a very very special place in my heart. I think out of any RW song, I have listened to this the most"
He has conceded however he is a little thrown by how strongly some fans have reacted to his new direction. "Its confused me. Lots of people have said "We don't like it, we don't get it" but to me its strong. "Rudebox is more of a single than Tripping was.. I love it. Other standouts on the album are the fetching She's Madonna, the 80's and The 90's, there is even a track called We're The Pet Shop Boys, which the said boys themsleves produced (the title alone deserves to win next years mercury prize). The soft and warm melodies of Lovelight is the perfect worm to lure those fans who find themselves sitting back on the fence.
C'mon people, jump, he won't bite.

Posted by: suse 7th February 2007, 09:56 AM

Thanks Scotty. I meant to put it on here the other night but I was so cross eyed after typing it up I had to go to bed LOL. Its a great article...see how easy it is to put a positive spin on things .

Posted by: Scotty 28th April 2007, 07:52 PM

I saw this idea in the Madonna forum and thought it would be an interesting thing to do. Go through each Robbie album, and discuss it by answering a few questions about them.

So lets start off with:

RUDEBOX



Favorite Song On The Album?


Rank The Songs On The Album
Rudebox
Viva Life On Mars
Lovelight
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
She's Madonna
Keep On
Good Doctor
The Actor
Never Touch That Switch
Louise
We're The Pet Shop Boys
Burslem Normals
Kiss Me
The 80's
The 90's
Summertime
Dickhead


Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?


What Would you give this album out of 10?


What Do You Like Most About The Album?


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?


What Do You Dislike From The Album?


What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)


Favourite Video From The Album?


Favorite Live Performance From The Era?

Posted by: Scotty 28th April 2007, 07:52 PM

Favorite Song On The Album?
The 80's now


Rank The Songs On The Album
1. The 80’s
2. The 90’s
3. The Actor
4. She’s Madonna
5. Lovelight
6. Keep On
7. Viva Life On Mars
8. Summertime
9. Good Doctor
10. Louise
11. Rudebox
12. Never Touch That Switch
13. We’re The Pet Show Boys
14. Burslem Normals
15. d!*kh**d
16. Kiss Me
17. Bongo Bong



Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?
It is my 4th favourite album behind his first three.


What Would you give this album out of 10?
9/10…… It would be a 10 if a few songs were taken off.

What Do You Like Most About The Album?
It just has so much energy and is so exciting. The most diverce and bizarre album he has ever made. So many different styles of music and much fun to listen to, no matter what mood you are in. There is something on it for everyone. It is so unbelievably underrated..


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
Diverce, exciting, bonkers


What Do You Dislike From The Album?
Bongo Bong I don’t hate anything on the album. Although, I definatly think it is a bit too long. If it was a 11/12 track album it truly would be a 10/10 album

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
Oh dear, both are so amazing and timeless in so many ways It’s a bit like asking what’s better, $h!t or Diarrhea I’ll go for Lonestar Rising


Favourite Video From The Album?
She’s Madonna


Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
Rudebox live in Mexico

Posted by: Jupiter9 28th April 2007, 07:54 PM

Oh, I'll do this later.

Posted by: Jupiter9 28th April 2007, 08:53 PM

Favorite Song On The Album?

The Actor


Rank The Songs On The Album
Rudebox (16)
Viva Life On Mars (5)
Lovelight (3)
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus (13)
She's Madonna (9)
Keep On (7)
Good Doctor (8)
The Actor (1)
Never Touch That Switch (14)
Louise (12)
We're The Pet Shop Boys (15)
Burslem Normals (17)
Kiss Me (6)
The 80's (2)
The 90's (4)
Summertime (10)
d!*kh**d (11)


Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?

Probably about 4th.


What Would you give this album out of 10?
8


What Do You Like Most About The Album?
It's so different. The variety is amazing.


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
Eclectic, groovy, interesting.


What Do You Dislike From The Album?
It's a bit too long. He could have dropped a couple of the cover versions.


What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
Errrrr......


Favourite Video From The Album?
Lovelight


Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
Not really seen much. Rudebox at Hampden went down like a lead balloon. He did Lovelight in Australia didn't he? That was ok.

Posted by: Sparkle 28th April 2007, 08:54 PM

1. Lovelight
2. She's Madonna (used to be my fav but the wig and fish nets put me off a little)
3. The 80's
4. Keep on
5. Summertime
6. Viva Life on Mars
7. The Actor
8. Rudebox
9. The 90's
10. Good Doctor
11. Never Touch that switch
12. Louise
13. We're the pet shop boys
14. Kiss me
15. Burslem Normals
16. Bongo Bong
17. d!*kh**d

Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?

Too hard to say, I can choose my fav album easy enough but it isn’t this one


What Would you give this album out of 10?

8



What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?

Different , fun , and sad



What Do You Dislike From The Album?


d!*kh**d, I know its not supposed to be serious and its just for fun, but I truly hate it



What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)

Mess me up, I quite liked this, Yeah I know, I was probably the only one that did



Favourite Video From The Album?

Lovelight



Favorite Live Performance From The Era?

Rudebox at MK because I was there


sorry, I didnt answer all the questions

Posted by: Nada 29th April 2007, 08:29 AM

Wow, looks really fun! I'll definitely do it later.

Posted by: TessaT 29th April 2007, 10:23 AM

Favorite Song On The Album?

The Actor

Rank The Songs On The Album

The Actor
Lovelight
The 80's
The 90's
Summertime
Louise
Viva Life On Mars
Keep On
Never Touch That Switch
Good Doctor
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
Burselem Normels
Kiss Me
Were' The Pet Shop Boys
She's Madonna
d!*kh**d


Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?

Number 3


What Would you give this album out of 10?

8/10

What Do You Like Most About The Album?

Uplifting....great lyrics... Rob sounds like he is enjoying himself when singing these songs

What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?

Fun....Mad......Very Cheeky

What Do You Dislike From The Album?

Too many covers... not necessary... he could have carried the album just on his own songs alone

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)

Lonestar Rising

Favourite Video From The Album?

She's Madonna ( but dont like the song )... sorry

Favorite Live Performance From The Era?

Rudebox Live from San Siro... Milan ( Saw the video.... looked really good ... best performance of Rudebox live )............

Posted by: Sabrina 29th April 2007, 10:58 AM

Favorite Song On The Album?

changes on a day to day basis atm: Lovelight

Rank The Songs On The Album

Rudebox 5
Viva Life On Mars 2
Lovelight 1
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus 10
She's Madonna 13
Keep On 12
Good Doctor 9
The Actor 11
Never Touch That Switch 8
Louise 4
We're The Pet Shop Boys 15
Burslem Normals 14
Kiss Me 3
The 80's 6
The 90's 7
Summertime 17
d!*kh**d 16


Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?

1


What Would you give this album out of 10?

9/10


What Do You Like Most About The Album?

It's so different and very new


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?

underrated/fun/innovative


What Do You Dislike From The Album?

/


What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)

are you kidding


Favourite Video From The Album?

Lovelight


Favorite Live Performance From The Era?

/

Posted by: thisispop 29th April 2007, 02:42 PM

Rank The Songs On The Album

The 80's
The 90's
She's Madonna
Keep On
Viva Life On Mars
Summertime
Lovelight
Rudebox
Burslem Normals
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
The Actor
Kiss Me
Louise
We're The Pet Shop Boys
Never Touch That Switch
d!*kh**d
Good Doctor

Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?

#2 behind Life Thru A Lens

What Would you give this album out of 10?

9

What Do You Like Most About The Album?

The experimentation, coming off the back of his two weakest studio albums to date the irratic Escapology & the dull Intensive Care it was a breathe of fresh air to here Robbie taking risks.

What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?

Fun, Experimental, Sad

What Do You Dislike From The Album?

He choose the wrong two tracks to release as the first two singles, when there was so much better to choose from.

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)

-

Favourite Video From The Album?

She's Madonna - in the long line of UK tradition of dressing up in drag in videos (i.e. Rolling Stones - Have You Seen Your Mother Baby; Kinks - Dead End Street; David Bowie - Boys Keep Swinging; Queen - I Want To Break Free, etc + Rocky Horror Picture Show, Monty Python, The League Of Gentleman, etc)

Favorite Live Performance From The Era?

I saw the gig on Sky 1 & to be honest I felt he lacked the energy & spark of his Knebworth Gigs.

Posted by: Scotty 29th April 2007, 02:49 PM

Yeah, as much as I loved the Leeds gig, it was nowhere near as good as Knebworth, Cologne, Slane, RAH. I think it had something to do with him being so tired after such a large tour. After he had his break, it seemed the South American gigs (Argentina, Brazil & Mexico) were brilliant. They are on youtube (well most of them I think).

Thanks TIP and everyone else, keep em coming

Posted by: Osiris 29th April 2007, 02:54 PM

Favorite Song On The Album?

Louise

Rank The Songs On The Album
1. Louise
2. Rudebox
3. Viva Life On Mars
4. We're The Pet Shop Boys
5. Keep On
6. The Actor
7. Burslem Normals
8. Kiss Me
9. d!*kh**d
10. Lovelight
11. She's Madonna
12. Never Touch That Switch
13. The 90's
14. The 80's
15. Summertime
16. Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
17. Good Doctor



Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?
4th best

What Would you give this album out of 10?
10 like all his albums

What Do You Like Most About The Album?
The difference, the fact that he took a chance to do something he wanted

What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
Different, Risky, Brilliant

What Do You Dislike From The Album?
The video clips for the singles

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
Lonestar Rising

Favourite Video From The Album?
Lovelight

Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
Rudebox in Brisbane december 13th 2006

Posted by: Josh 29th April 2007, 02:55 PM

RUDEBOX




Favorite Song On The Album?
Viva Life On Mars


Rank The Songs On The Album
1. Viva Life On Mars
2. Dickhead
3. Keep On
4. Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
5. She's Madonna
6. Lovelight
7. The 90's
8. Never Touch That Switch
9. Good Doctor
10. We're The Pet Shop Boys
11. The Actor
12. The 80's
13. Summertime
14. Burslem Normals
15. Louise
16. Rudebox
17. Kiss Me


Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?
#19 I think I put it at


What Would you give this album out of 10?
9.5ish


What Do You Like Most About The Album?
It's different


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
Very Good Crap


What Do You Dislike From The Album?
Quite a few songs actually, some bore me cause he talks about god knows what and some of the singing ones are boring to


What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
Dont ask me


Favourite Video From The Album?
She's Madonna, then Lovelight


Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
Rudebox I guess

Posted by: Sparkle 29th April 2007, 07:39 PM

QUOTE(Josh @ Apr 29 2007, 03:58 PM)

Posted by: Jupiter9 29th April 2007, 07:54 PM

QUOTE(Josh @ Apr 29 2007, 03:58 PM)

Posted by: Sparkle 29th April 2007, 08:05 PM

if he has, I havent got them all yet

Posted by: Nada 29th April 2007, 08:06 PM

Favorite Song On The Album?
Viva Life On Mars


Rank The Songs On The Album
01. Viva Life On Mars
02. The 90's
03. The Actor
04. The 80's
05. She's Madonna
06. Lovelight
07. Rudebox
08. Summertime
09. Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
10. We're The Pet Shop Boys
11. Kiss Me
12. Keep On
13. Louise
14. Never Touch That Switch
15. Burslem Normals
16. Good Doctor
17. d!*kh**d


Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?
4th or maybe even 5th. That doesn't mean that it isn't good, just there are better.


What Would you give this album out of 10?
8/10


What Do You Like Most About The Album?
The fact it's unusual and we didn't expect something like that.


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
Different from others.
That's 3, right?
Different, modern, interesting.


What Do You Dislike From The Album?
Hard to answer. I know something isn't good but I can't say what. Must be the fact I'm just not used to listen that kind of Robbie's songs. I say and I think that a bit of change is good, but I still like old Robbie's songs more.


What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
I love both, so it's hard to chose... Oh... I'll say Lonestar Rising, because I really don't have comment for Mess Me Up... I think I listened it just one time.


Favourite Video From The Album?
Lovelight, I think...


Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
None of it isn't very special for me, because I haven't anything seen live, just on my comp. I guess, it's Rudebox, but if Robbie promoted album more, I'm sure I'd say some other song.

Posted by: TessaT 29th April 2007, 08:18 PM

QUOTE(Scotty @ Apr 29 2007, 03:52 PM)

Yeah, as much as I loved the Leeds gig, it was nowhere near as good as Knebworth, Cologne, Slane, RAH. I think it had something to do with him being so tired after such a large tour. After he had his break, it seemed the South American gigs (Argentina, Brazil & Mexico) were brilliant. They are on youtube (well most of them I think).

Thanks TIP and everyone else, keep em coming

Posted by: Actionman 30th April 2007, 09:17 AM

Favorite Song On The Album?
The 90´s

Rank The Songs On The Album
1. The 90`s
2. The 80´s
3. Keep On
4. The Actor
5. Shes Madonna
6. Burslem Normals
7. Summertime
8. Good Doctor
9. Lovelight
10. Viva Life on Mars
11. Louise
12. Rudebox
13. We are the pet shop boys
14. Never Touch tat switch
15. d!*kh**d
16. Bongo Bong
17. Kiss Me

Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?
#8

What Would you give this album out of 10?
8+

What Do You Like Most About The Album?
like that its something different...its brave album

What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
oh, my, go(o)d

What Do You Dislike From The Album?
covers and single choices

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
lonestar rising

Favourite Video From The Album?
Lovelight

Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
Rudebox

Posted by: stevyy 1st May 2007, 02:35 PM

Favorite Song On The Album?
The 90's

Rank The Songs On The Album
The 90's 10/10
d!*kh**d 10/10
Summertime 9/10
Keep On 9/10
She's Madonna 8.5/10
The 80's 8/10
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus 8/10
The Actor 7.5/10
Lovelight 7/10
Rudebox 6/10
Viva Life On Mars 6/10
We're The Pet Shop Boys 6/10
Burslem Normals 5/10
Good Doctor 5/10
Louise 5/10
Kiss Me 3.5/10
Never Touch That Switch 2/10



Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?
no. #3 (#1 IC, #2 sing when your're winning)


What Would you give this album out of 10?
8/10 = B+


What Do You Like Most About The Album?
the lyrics


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
autobiography electro rap


What Do You Dislike From The Album?
boring melodies and lyrics in 3 songs

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
lonestar rising


Favourite Video From The Album?
She's Madonna and Lovelight are both very great


Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
/

Posted by: Poprocks87 2nd May 2007, 11:34 AM

Favorite Song On The Album?
Burslem Normals

Rank The Songs On The Album
Burslem Normals 10
The Actor 9
The 80's 8
The 90's 8
Summertime 8
d!*kh**d 8
Never Touch That Switch 8
Good Doctor 8
Viva Life On Mars 8
Louise 7
We're The Pet Shop Boys 7
Keep On 7
Lovelight 7
Rudebox 6
Kiss Me 6
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus 6
She's Madonna 5

Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?
1 (but I only have Intensive Care and Escapology

What Would you give this album out of 10?
8

What Do You Like Most About The Album?
Renewed Robbie

What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
Brillant - New - Inventive

What Do You Dislike From The Album?
She's Madonna lol

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
Dunno those songs

Favourite Video From The Album?
Lovelight

Favorite Live Performance From The Era?
Haven't seen many lol

Posted by: Mayte 4th May 2007, 01:56 AM

RUDEBOX



Favorite Song On The Album?
Bongo Bong

Rank The Songs On The Album

Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
The 90's
Never Touch That Switch
Keep On
Good Doctor
Louise
Lovelight
The Actor
Viva Life On Mars
The 80's
Dickhead
Summertime
Rudebox
She's Madonna
We're The Pet Shop Boys
Burslem Normals
Kiss Me



Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?

5th

What Would you give this album out of 10?

8
What Do You Like Most About The Album?


What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?

new, sad,changes

What Do You Dislike From The Album?

not good videos

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)

Lonestar Rising



Favourite Video From The Album?

Lovelight

Favorite Live Performance From The Era?

Rudebox

Posted by: Jackie 12th July 2008, 12:38 AM

thanks to Jo on http://forum.rwap.co.uk/ for this review.

Rudebox: Mixed reviews (2006–2007)


Williams' seventh studio album was announced in early 2006. It was originally scheduled to be called 1974, the year Williams was born, and then Rudebox '74. It is a dance/electro album with collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys, William Orbit, Soul Mekanik, Joey Negro, Mark Ronson and more.

The first single, "Rudebox", was premièred on radio by Scott Mills on his show on BBC Radio 1. The event caused some controversy, as the record label's embargo date was broken, although the artist himself later backed the presenter for doing so. Right after the single was unleashed, it caused controversy due to Williams' radical change in the single in direction from his other releases. British Newspaper The Sun named the song "The Worst Song Ever". However, Victoria Newton stated that there were sure-fire hits on the album. When the song was released in September that year, it reached number four in the UK Singles Chart; elsewhere the song did a lot better, hitting number one in Honduras, Argentina, Chile, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Lebanon, Turkey, and on the Australian Airplay Chart; it also peaked at number two in the

Williams released his much anticipated dance/electro album, Rudebox, on October 23, 2006. It received mixed reviews: The All Music Guide gave it a four star rating, the NME 8 out of 10, and Music Week and MOJO were equally positive, but it received much weaker reviews from some of the British press. Despite reaching the number one spot, sales were far below what was expected by his label, and overall sales in the UK were overtaken by his former band, Take That,'s Beautiful World. The album has sold a little under 500,000 copies in the United Kingdom, becoming his lowest-selling album in the country, being certified 2x Platinum by the BPI. Elsewhere, the album was received with a warmer reception by the public, hitting number one in fourteen countries including Argentina, Australia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Switzerland, and reaching number two in the United World Chart selling 378,000 copies in its first week. On November 8, 2006, IFPI certified the album 2x Platinum in Europe with sales of over 2 million making it the fastest platinum selling album of 2006. The album finished at number eighteen in the list of 2006's best selling albums worldwide, Neil Tennant from the the Pet Shop Boys commented the album had sold 4.5 million copies by early 2007.

Promotion for the album was almost non-existent due to Williams' Close Encounters Tour around Latin America and Australia.

The second single, "Lovelight", came out right before the release of the album, and was commercially released on November 13. The single reached the top ten in the United Kingdom and many other European countries, reaching number two in the Eurochart. The track became also a hit in Latin America and Australia, but failed to reach the success of Williams' previous releases when the track showed no longevity in the charts.

Williams finished 2006 as the 16th most played artist in Latin America and the third most played international artist.

During this time, Williams entered the The Guinness Book of World Records when he announced his World Tour for 2006, selling 1.6 million tickets in one single day.

The third single, "She's Madonna" incl. Remixes from Kris Menace and Chris Lake, was released to European radio in late January to precede the commercial release which was scheduled to March 5, 2007. The track failed to be a massive success in the United Kingdom, reaching number sixteen on the Singles Chart, but it did far better in Continental Europe hitting the top ten in most countries and rose to number one on the European Airplay Chart after spending four weeks at number two, a feat his former band, Take That, failed to achieve. It was confirmed that this single was not going to be released in Latin America or Australia, but did receive heavy airplay in the later of the two. Despite this, the single was released as Digital Download in Mexico in four different formats. In August 2007, the single reached number 12 in the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart.

"Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus", a collaboration with British singer Lily Allen, was released as the third single in Latin America and other European countries, hitting radio in January 2007, and as a Digital Download in February. It managed to chart in Mexico and Latvia.

To promote his album, Williams commissioned a series of short films. Goodbye to the Normals was directed by Jim Field Smith and features "Burslem Normals" by Robbie Williams.

On 17 January 2008, it was reported that EMI planned to ship one million unsold copies of Rudebox to China to be recycled and used for resurfacing roads.

Source : Wiki

Posted by: Sydney11 4th January 2019, 05:52 AM

Found this thread from back in 2007 , was reminded of it from an article I read by Better Man on Robbe Williams Feelfine Stranger ( http://forum.robbiewilliamsmusic.ru/ ) where he posted this brilliant Rudebox review - well worth reading


https://themusicbx.wordpress.com/2017/0/

Posted by: Laura130262 4th January 2019, 02:00 PM

It was really interesting reading these comments. The "very good crap" made me laugh out loud

Interesting also that most people were positive on here when I remember a lot of fans disliking the album. There seemed to be a lot of drama surrounding it and it's new sound. ( I love it. It's my favourite RW album. Way ahead of its time). Interesting also reading your views Tess from ten years ago. You were spot on then with your comments and continue to be to this day

Posted by: Sydney11 4th January 2019, 07:10 PM

QUOTE(Laura130262 @ Jan 4 2019, 02:00 PM)

It was really interesting reading these comments. The "very good crap" made me laugh out loud

Interesting also that most people were positive on here when I remember a lot of fans disliking the album. There seemed to be a lot of drama surrounding it and it's new sound. ( I love it. It's my favourite RW album. Way ahead of its time). Interesting also reading your views Tess from ten years ago. You were spot on then with your comments and continue to be to this day

Posted by: Sydney11 5th January 2019, 12:01 AM

I might try & resurrect this type of review for UTR3

Posted by: Tombo 5th January 2019, 12:07 AM

Thanks Josh for giving the love to Dickhead, I love that song!

I am a big fan of Rudebox, I think for me this could be his best album too!

Favorite Song On The Album?
Rudebox

Rank The Songs On The Album
Rudebox
Lovelight
Dickhead
Bongo Bong & Je Ne T'aime Plus
Never Touch That Switch
She's Madonna
Kiss Me
The Actor
The 80's
The 90's
Viva Life On Mars
Burslem Normals
Keep On
Good Doctor
Summertime
Louise
We're The Pet Shop Boys

Where Would This Album Rank in a list of your favourite Robbie studio albums ever?

1


What Would you give this album out of 10?
10

What Do You Like Most About The Album?
The tracks are eclectic and different and 'futuristic' for the time they came out in

What 3 words sum up Rudebox for you?
fun, crazy, weird

What Do You Dislike From The Album?
A few of the tracks are slightly dull and a bit repetitive

What's your favourite B-side from the Rudebox era? (Lonestar Rising or Mess Me Up)
Lonestar Rising

Favourite Video From The Album?
Rudebox

Posted by: Laura130262 5th January 2019, 12:43 AM

QUOTE(Sydney11 @ Jan 4 2019, 07:10 PM)

Laura, that was nearly 12 years ago , can you believe it . I had forgotten what I said at the time , but no I still feel the same way about it

Posted by: Laura130262 5th January 2019, 12:44 AM

The 80s and 90s are still bloody masterpieces.

Posted by: Sydney11 7th January 2019, 06:35 AM

The Hard Rock Show
Published on Jan 6, 2019
In this video the THRS Crew give their thoughts on the 5th album from British singer/songwriter Robbie Williams! Check out what we think, give the music a listen for yourselves and give us your thoughts.

This is taken from our Torture Episode 2 of 2019!



Interesting !! - seems to be fairly recent review of an Escapology , some good, some bad but definitely interesting opinions . Robbie should be pleased if he reads this.

Posted by: Laura130262 8th January 2019, 12:11 AM

QUOTE(Sydney11 @ Jan 7 2019, 06:35 AM)

Posted by: Laura130262 8th January 2019, 12:12 AM

I reckon if he saw that he'd say he'd like to meet them and hang out. He'd be interested by them I think and they'd probably get on like a house on fire.

Posted by: Sydney11 8th January 2019, 08:49 PM

QUOTE(Laura130262 @ Jan 5 2019, 12:43 AM)

No I can't believe it. We've been nattering on about this man on an almost daily basis for over a decade.

Posted by: Laura130262 9th January 2019, 12:05 AM

QUOTE(Sydney11 @ Jan 8 2019, 08:49 PM)

A bit like one of those cults

Posted by: Sydney11 10th January 2019, 04:54 AM

QUOTE(Laura130262 @ Jan 9 2019, 12:05 AM)

Like Hotel California

You can check out anytime you like
But you can never leave

Posted by: Sydney11 15th October 2022, 06:49 AM

I think it's a shame there was not a nod to Rudebox in XXV even as a bonus track, I guess they felt an orchestra could not add anything to it

Been reading back some reviews from when it was released . I always think the album had it's own band of secret admirers

"Quote "
Where problems might lie with this album is the gulf between its content and anything that Williams has done before – challenging his fanbase to either jump on board or wave the Robbie express goodbye, and, with the negative vibes that preceded the album's release, the latter unfortunately seems more likely to win out.

Still, it's nice to see an artist taking a bit of a risk. And why not? Let's face it, his future popularity, or indeed wealth, hardly depend heavily on the success of this, which makes risk seem somewhat of an overstatement. But that aside, change is good.
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/music-reviews/2006/1130/449468-williamsr/

Posted by: Better Man 15th October 2022, 06:59 AM

Yes... He could do an orchestral version of Burslem Normals instead of Nobody Someday, for example.

Posted by: Sydney11 15th October 2022, 08:50 AM

Or She's Madonna. I guess they might have had too little choices from that album to do something different with the songs under Guy/Jules interpretation ,I think it could have been outside their comfort zone

Interesting reading some of the reviews here https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/robbie-williams/rudebox/

Posted by: Sydney11 19th October 2022, 07:06 AM

I always find the reviews of Rudebox at the time so interesting, here are some more from back in the day


ROBBIE WILLIAMS: RUDEBOX
By Michael Lomas / 15 March 2007
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
RUDEBOX
EMI


It’s a bit of a strange experience writing about Robbie Williams’ seventh album, Rudebox now, some four months after it was released to deafening howls of critical derision and public indifference. It seems like anyone that has even a passing interest in Britain’s Greatest Entertainer™ has already made their mind up about the record, and duly written it off as a disastrous experiment in garish electro-pop and awkward, unconvincing hip-hop. Indeed, so overwhelming was the negative noise that greeted the album, it has obscured the fact that Rudebox, far from an epic failure, is by an absolute country mile, the best thing Robbie Williams has done since he sauced up Lulu on Take That’s “Relight My Fire”. That is not to say it’s a great album –- it’s at least five tracks too long, and some of the musical ideas Williams gleefully pilfers come across as nothing more that half-baked tributes to superior originals. However, listening to Rudebox, you get the impression that for the first time in his career, Robbie actually gives a shit about the music he’s making.

Previously Robbie Williams’ music has been the least interesting thing about him. That might sound a little harsh when you consider that, with former writing partner Guy Chambers, the man is responsible for at least a dozen Britpoppy anthems that have found their way into peoples hearts in a way most singers could only dream of. Just try stopping someone in the street between the age of 20 and 40 anywhere in Britain and asking them the words to “Angels” — you could bet your life they would swoon and croon the whole thing through. No, he may have had the hits, but the fascination with Robbie has always been the conflict of the man driven to take to the stage, play the clown, and entertain us at all costs, who outside of the spotlight has cut the figure of a desperately sad bloke, addicted to the all of the things that make any sort of normal life impossible for him.

Certainly musically, Robbie has never come even close to making a consistently decent album. His last two records in particular were packed full of the strangely anonymous session musician MOR rock that always seemed custom built to crack America, and always failed miserably. Rudebox on the other hand, desperately patchy though it is, at least has a vigour and life to it that goes some way to doing justice to Williams’ larger-than-life personality. Certainly, you suspect that the electro-pop and glaring rude-boy hip-hop (think MC Hammer rather than Public Enemy) to be found on Rudebox is far closer to the music Williams grew up with, and actually listens to, than the turgid FM rock of his previous albums — and even when he’s spending too much time clowning around, spinning tacky raps about the special Olympics and spaceships — at least he sounds like himself.


The title track and first single is probably the curveball that killed the albums commercial prospects stone dead — and even now, removed of its shock value, it’s a bloody odd song. A re-jigged cover of a Sly and Robbie track, it’s built around the kind of bleeping, ’80s gameboy synths that would probably be praised as cutting edge if they came from an American artist rather than a class clown from Stoke on Trent. And perhaps I’m just easily amused but the lyrics — dumb, crass and nonsensical though they are — are actually pretty funny. His affected, jokey street slang and references to TK Max sound like the babblings of someone who has stopped giving a toss about any notions of musical credibility and is revelling in the absurdities of throwaway pop music at its most ridiculous.

Trawling through the rest of Rudebox, you’ll come across gonzo country (“Viva Life on Mars”), brooding, slightly demented synth pop (“The Actor”) and swinging narcotic rap funk (“Good Doctor”). It’s the musical equivalent of Attention Deficit Disorder but crucially, Robbie Williams isn’t really an artist who has to make a coherent, steady album — he’s a born entertainer, a fantastic pop star making mostly brilliant, fun pop music.

“We’re the Pet Shop Boys” is a cover of a My Robot Friend song featuring the actual Pet Shop Boys on vocals, and as a kitsch ’80s tribute, somewhat bizarrely, it works. “Lovelight” also, may be another cover but it is still a brilliantly produced (by Mark Ronson) neon-lit ballad that recalls Prince at his most throwaway, surely never a bad thing. Even the reworking of the Human League, “Louise” is a surprisingly understated and heartfelt croon made more affecting by the fact it never once threatens to drift into widescreen epic ballad territory.

What lifts Rudebox above just being a funny, deliriously schizophrenic pop album though is the presence of two remarkable songs, “The 80’s” and “The 90’s”. Such is the shadow they cast over just about everything else Robbie Williams has ever done, it’s almost embarrassing. Inseparable in the running order, it’s impossible not to imagine these barbed, bruised and tender poems to misspent youth not being celebrated were they written by anybody else other than the eternally uncool Williams. “The 80’s” is flecked with the earliest memories of teenage years spent drinking Newcy Brown and fumbling around with girls down the park, that would strike a chord with anyone even vaguely familiar with an English working class upbringing. Better still is the “The 90’s” with its picture of a lost kid, shot to immense fame who’s now “running away from everything that I’ve ever been… pissed and f***ed and only 19”. Maybe after all this time, beneath all the smirking and winking and empty whinging, Robbie’s had something to say after all… who’d have thought it.


Given the critical reaction to Rudebox already, there isn’t much point in dwelling dwell on the songs here that don’t work -– “Bongo Bong and Je Ne T’aime Plus” which is so badly conceived and executed that even Lily Allen’s presence can’t save it. Likewise closing couple of tracks “Summertime” and “Dickhead” are best forgotten, the latter being a f***ing insane, pissed up rap that should never have made available for public consumption in a million years (to be honest I could only manage to sit through to about two minutes of it but it wasn’t pretty).

Despite these misfirings, Rudebox is an astounding, brave release from one of the worlds most high profile pop stars. It has already alienated much of his Heat reading fanbase and the folks that only buy two albums a year from Tesco will for the first time not be tempted by a Robbie Williams album. No record company in their right mind will surely allow a star of Robbie Williams’ stature and size to deliver something like Rudebox for a very long time. Which is a shame, because the record displays an edge and a wicked sense of fun sorely missing from most mainstream pop. Whether it’s a one off or not, with Rudebox, Robbie Williams seems to have lost a sizable portion of his audience in return for finding his musical voice. Rudebox is a flawed, stupid, incoherent mess of an album, but like the very best pop music, it isn’t half fun.

https://www.popmatters.com/robbie-williams-rudebox-2496145792.html

Posted by: Better Man 19th October 2022, 06:45 PM

That's why I'm looking forward to Rudebox vol.2!
Or at least some mini tour of Rudebox.

Posted by: Laura130262 19th October 2022, 11:28 PM

It's hard to imagine that Rudebox caused such a kerfuffle and what all the fuss was about.

More to do with an excuse to bring down a peg or two, the most popular artist in UK at that time than the album itself surely?

I wonder if it could happen again?

If say Ed Sheeran brought out an album that was unlike anything he'd ever done before -would it be so derided?

I think maybe music nowadays is more diverse than in 2006 and people are more accepting.

I could imagine RW doing something similar again and albums sell so little nowadays -why not?

I'd rather he did that than keep playing safe.

Posted by: Sydney11 20th October 2022, 03:38 PM

QUOTE(Laura130262 @ Oct 20 2022, 12:28 AM)

Posted by: Laura130262 20th October 2022, 11:43 PM

Plus do you remember at that press conference in 2005 he p***ed a lot of them off by sticking up for someone (was it Kate Moss?) who they were dissing about cocaine use and he said that they were hypocrites as he had taken cocaine with most of the journos?

So they were gunning for him regardless of his musical output.

I can accept it's not to everyone's taste - but it felt fresh and new to me and to my girls I remember who were only 14/15 at the time.,

It wasn't nice for him what he went through straight after but he got to meet Ayda in the space that followed and matured as a person so he got his happy ending.

Posted by: Sydney11 21st October 2022, 05:18 PM

QUOTE(Laura130262 @ Oct 21 2022, 12:43 AM)

Posted by: Laura130262 21st October 2022, 11:53 PM

He said after the Strictly performance two weeks ago - he saw he was trending on Twitter but didn't go in and read which was just as well because he got slated.

But for every one of them there is a brilliant performance or a Brilliant review that he probably doesn't read either.

The reaction to Rudebox together with what he was taking at the time nearly killed him.

He's matured now and how he does professionally, whilst it's important, - it's not the most important thing in his life.

So I guess lessons learnt after Rudebox but that doesn't detract from it being a great album and has already been stated -the 80s and 90s are two of the best songs he's ever written. They are complete gems.

Posted by: Sydney11 23rd October 2022, 01:39 PM

Posted by: Sydney11 24th October 2022, 11:55 AM

Do The Rudebox As We Take On Robbie Williams' 'Rudebox' On 'Flopstars' - Stick with it, it's worth a listen

Written By Sam Murphy on 10/21/2020






LISTEN TO PODCAST IN LINK BELOW


https://www.theinterns.net/2020/10/21/do-the-rudebox-as-we-take-on-robbie-williams-rudebox-on-flopstars/

Do the rudebox! Shake your rudebox! Robbie Williams' controversial record Rudebox is in the hot seat for the latest episode of Flopstars.

The 2006 album is one of the most outrageous albums you’ll hear by a popstar at the peak of his powers. The inventive, electronic album was an outlandish, surreal and often absurd collection of songs that divided his core fan group. To this day, people still go into fight for Rudebox while others have erased its very existence.

Join Project U's Nic Kelly and our editor Sam Murphy as they attempt to decode the riddle that is Rudebox.

Posted by: Better Man 24th October 2022, 09:22 PM

Oh thanks!
So many different materials about Rudebox... Need to find some time for combining all info together... Hard work!

Posted by: Sydney11 25th October 2022, 10:12 AM

Robbie Williams - Rudebox

Love him or loathe him, you simply cannot deny that Robert Peter Williams has been responsible for some of the greatest pop singles of the 90s and beyond. C'mon - No Regrets? Strong? Rock DJ?. So, it came as something of a surprise when last year's Intensive Care (actually the best-selling album of his career) - was disappointingly drab. Choc-full of reflective, mostly mid-paced ballads, it signalled a change of pace for Williams, and apparently waved goodbye to the incendiary, cheeky, likeable pop that he excelled in. We should have known better. Williams has returned with possibly not only the finest offering of his career to date, but one that sounds like the album he's always wanted to make. On this evidence, it would seem that he's been immersing his lugs in 80s nostalgia; not only are most tracks smattered with electronica, but the both Pet Shop Boys and Human League also feature in some form or other. The former's influence is prevalent throughout; on the title's track's funky, robotic-laced bleepfest, Buslem Normal's sparse, spacey glow and not least on synth-laden tongue-in-cheek homage She's Madonna. Messrs. Tennant and Lowe also make an appearance on the excellent cover of My Robot Friend's We're the Pet Shop Boys (irony is alive and well in RW HQ), which isn't the sole cover on offer, either. Manu Chao's Bongo Bong receives a spicy, colourful makeover with Lily Allen on guest vocals; Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy's 80s classic Kiss Me is well-suited to Williams' warm voice, which has now made it a surefire dancefloor hit at G-A-Y, and the Human League's Louise also gets the treatment - albeit with none of the bittersweet charm that the original exuded. Most of Williams' original compositions are also top-notch, oozing the cheeky-chappy charm and clever turn of phrase he was once famed for; and though there are a few bloopers (Good Doctor, Summertime), overall, Rudebox is a thrilling return to form that suggests that Williams still has a hell of a lot to offer.

https://entertainment.ie/uncategorized/robbie-williams-rudebox-177068/

Posted by: Sydney11 25th October 2022, 10:12 AM

QUOTE(Better Man @ Oct 24 2022, 10:22 PM)

Posted by: Sydney11 25th October 2022, 10:21 AM

ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Rudebox
EMI
***

For years Robbie Williams has been caught between the pushpull of stadium-filling clout and critical kudos. The former he has in spades, the latter he desperately craves, and grabs for it on his ninth album with a triple-pronged approach: a press blurb that cites impeccable references like Kraftwerk (The Actor), The Happy Mondays (Keep On) and Prince; covers of Manu Chao, Human League and Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy; and guest production by The Pet Shop Boys and William Orbit. The result is a chunky 75 minutes of wideboy narratives that rip through genres like a hyperactive child (no coincidence perhaps?). When Robbie's not mimicking Mike Skinner, there's edgy pop aplenty: Summertime, a brilliant cover of Louise, and 90s, the latter a heartfelt account of an up-and-down decade. Robbie, you don't have to convince us you're talented. Just stop trying so damn hard. www.robbiewilliams.com Sinéad Gleeson

ISOBEL CAMPBELL
Milk White Sheets
V2
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/pop-rock-1.1018428

Posted by: Sydney11 25th October 2022, 10:24 AM

QUOTE(Better Man @ Oct 19 2022, 07:45 PM)

Posted by: Sydney11 25th October 2022, 11:12 AM

Links for these very interesting podcasts provided below so head on over

EP 4: Robbie Williams (Part 1) - Childhood & Take That to Solo Pop Star
Episode 4, Aug 16, 2020, 3:15 PM

https://audioboom.com/posts/7659028-ep-4-robbie-williams-part-1-childhood-take-that-to-solo-pop-star


EP 4: Robbie Williams (Part 2) - Knebworth to Family Man

https://audioboom.com/posts/7664518-ep-4-robbie-williams-part-2-knebworth-to-family-man?playlist_direction=forward


Move these if you wish Alex although second podcast covers Rudebox

Posted by: Sydney11 31st October 2022, 10:21 PM

QUOTE(Sydney11 @ Oct 25 2022, 11:12 AM)

Links for these very interesting podcasts provided below so head on over

EP 4: Robbie Williams (Part 1) - Childhood & Take That to Solo Pop Star
Episode 4, Aug 16, 2020, 3:15 PM

https://audioboom.com/posts/7659028-ep-4-robbie-williams-part-1-childhood-take-that-to-solo-pop-star
EP 4: Robbie Williams (Part 2) - Knebworth to Family Man

https://audioboom.com/posts/7664518-ep-4-robbie-williams-part-2-knebworth-to-family-man?playlist_direction=forward
Move these if you wish Alex although second podcast covers Rudebox

Posted by: Sydney11 28th November 2022, 03:02 PM

GOOD DOCTOR




Video thanks to Captain Glack

Posted by: Sydney11 24th October 2023, 07:31 AM