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The careers of most music celebrities are like passenger ships, able to steam along nearly indefinitely without the least chance of modifying course. With his work of the 21st century, Robbie Williams appeared to have set himself on a course that was guaranteed to keep him working for decades, remaining important to thousands of fans, but never varying from the type of adult alternative singer/songwriter material expected of him. Then came Rudebox, which proves he's not that simple -- or at least, not that satisfied with himself. It may be a good album because it says little about his inner life and emotional troubles, which are unceremoniously dropped in favor of hyper-sexualized or sarcastic dance music and ironic laugh-getters ("Make your body shake like you stood on a land mine," "Dance like you just won at the Special Olympics"). It may be a good album because it has some of the best productions of his career, usually amped-up electro-disco from the duo Soul Mekanik or goofy hip-hop soul from Mark Ronson (which makes him come across as Justin Timberlake at some points and Gnarls Barkley at others). It's certainly a good record in comparison to its two predecessors, which suffered from a lack of vitality. (For example, while 2005's Intensive Care desultorily attempted to rewrite the Human League's "Louise," Rudebox simply covers the song, with much more feeling.) Compared to Escapology and Intensive Care, Rudebox is not only loose and fun but, for the first time in Williams' career, receptive to outside help; aside from the producers, Lily Allen and the Pet Shop Boys make appearances, and Robbie covers songs from Manu Chao, Lewis Taylor, Stephen Duffy, and the indie band My Robot Friend. Not that the record is perfect; in fact, it has a few of the most embarrassing moments in Williams' career. The lyrics occasionally devolve into hip-hop nonsense ("Got no strings, but I think with my ding-a-ling/Wu-Tang with the bling-bling, sing a song of Sing Sing"). "The 80s" is even worse, a nostalgic but monotone rap that oddly balances adolescent trauma and pop culture ("Auntie Jo died of cancer/God didn't have an answer/Rhythm was a dancer"). Still, the next track after "The 80s" is "The 90s," a surprisingly bewitching chronicle of his boy-band years from 1990 to 1995. The fact remains that every track here is better and more interesting than anything from the previous two LPs, despite the occasional embarrassing couplet or misguided musical idea.
© John Bush /TiVo
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Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sly Dunbar, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Williams, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kelvin Andrews, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, ComposerLyricist - Richard Scott, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Spencer, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - K Andrews, ComposerLyricist - R Shakespeare, ComposerLyricist - W Collins, ComposerLyricist - D Spencer, ComposerLyricist - B Laswell, ComposerLyricist - C Aitken, ComposerLyricist - Soul Mekanik, Producer - Matt Kemp, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marsha Thompson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Charmaine Baines, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Background Vocalist, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kelvin Andrews, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Richard Scott, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Spencer, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - K Andrews, Composer - D Spencer, Composer - Soul Mekanik, Producer - Matt Kemp, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charmaine Baines, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Fil Eisler, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Ralph, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Karl Miller, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Terry Earl Taylor, Banjo, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Meehan, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Mark Ronson, Producer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lewis Taylor, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Mark Ronson, Producer, Engineer, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Raymond Angry, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - MANU CHAO, ComposerLyricist - Jesse Gladstone, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Marcinkowski, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Derek Pacuk, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vaughan Merrick, Engineer, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Guy, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Neil Sugarman, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Tiggers, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2007 Robert Williams / The In Good Company Co. Ltd. Under Exclusive Licence To Chrysalis Records Ltd.
NEIL TENNANT, Producer, Performer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Williams, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tim Weidner, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Gleadall, Programmer - Pet Shop Boys, MainArtist - Chris Lowe, Producer, Programmer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Mark Ronson, Producer, Percussion, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Raymond Angry, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lily Allen, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Williams, Vibraphone, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Smith, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - R Williams, Composer - S Duffy, Composer - C Heath, Composer - Jerry Meehan, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tiggers, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Kopelman, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Mark Ronson, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Raymond Angry, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Serban Ghenea, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Guy, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Meehan, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Neil Sugarman, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - J Meehan, Composer - Sam Kopelman, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Judie Tzuke, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Christy, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Craig Russo, Composer, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - PAUL LANI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bailey Tzuke, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Marsha Thomason, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Lanni, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kelvin Andrews, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Spencer, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer - K Andrews, Composer - D Spencer, Composer - Soul Mekanik, Producer - Matt Kemp, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Holroyde, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Karl Miller, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Clover Ray, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Steve Sidelnyk, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - WILLIAM ORBIT, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Laurie Mayer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rico Conning, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Robertson, Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - A Wright, Composer - J Callis, Composer - P Oakey, Composer - Kristina Paraskeva, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
NEIL TENNANT, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Zippel, Producer - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Weidner, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Gleadall, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pet Shop Boys, MainArtist - Chris Lowe, Producer, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - My Robot Friend, Composer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kelvin Andrews, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Danny Spencer, Programmer, Synthesizer, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer - K Andrews, Composer - D Spencer, Composer - Soul Mekanik, Producer - Matt Kemp, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Meehan, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Lee, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Katherine Ellis, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John O'Donnell, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Duffy, ComposerLyricist - Michele Chiavarni, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Neil Taylor, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Brooke, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Matt Kemp, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Meehan, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - J Meehan, Composer - Adrian Meehan, Drums, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Neil Taylor, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Brooke, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Christy, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Matt Kemp, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Knight, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry Meehan, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - J Meehan, Composer - Adrian Meehan, Drums, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Nicol Thompson, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Steve Sidelnyk, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - WILLIAM ORBIT, Producer, Mixer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Laurie Mayer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rico Conning, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Iain Robertson, Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Kristina Paraskeva, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - A Genn, Composer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Neil Taylor, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Wheatley, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Brooke, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brandon Christy, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Williams, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - R Williams, Composer - Matt Kemp, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jerry Meehan, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - J Meehan, Composer - Adrian Meehan, Drums, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Leona Ness, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - MC Tofty, Rap Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
Album review
The careers of most music celebrities are like passenger ships, able to steam along nearly indefinitely without the least chance of modifying course. With his work of the 21st century, Robbie Williams appeared to have set himself on a course that was guaranteed to keep him working for decades, remaining important to thousands of fans, but never varying from the type of adult alternative singer/songwriter material expected of him. Then came Rudebox, which proves he's not that simple -- or at least, not that satisfied with himself. It may be a good album because it says little about his inner life and emotional troubles, which are unceremoniously dropped in favor of hyper-sexualized or sarcastic dance music and ironic laugh-getters ("Make your body shake like you stood on a land mine," "Dance like you just won at the Special Olympics"). It may be a good album because it has some of the best productions of his career, usually amped-up electro-disco from the duo Soul Mekanik or goofy hip-hop soul from Mark Ronson (which makes him come across as Justin Timberlake at some points and Gnarls Barkley at others). It's certainly a good record in comparison to its two predecessors, which suffered from a lack of vitality. (For example, while 2005's Intensive Care desultorily attempted to rewrite the Human League's "Louise," Rudebox simply covers the song, with much more feeling.) Compared to Escapology and Intensive Care, Rudebox is not only loose and fun but, for the first time in Williams' career, receptive to outside help; aside from the producers, Lily Allen and the Pet Shop Boys make appearances, and Robbie covers songs from Manu Chao, Lewis Taylor, Stephen Duffy, and the indie band My Robot Friend. Not that the record is perfect; in fact, it has a few of the most embarrassing moments in Williams' career. The lyrics occasionally devolve into hip-hop nonsense ("Got no strings, but I think with my ding-a-ling/Wu-Tang with the bling-bling, sing a song of Sing Sing"). "The 80s" is even worse, a nostalgic but monotone rap that oddly balances adolescent trauma and pop culture ("Auntie Jo died of cancer/God didn't have an answer/Rhythm was a dancer"). Still, the next track after "The 80s" is "The 90s," a surprisingly bewitching chronicle of his boy-band years from 1990 to 1995. The fact remains that every track here is better and more interesting than anything from the previous two LPs, despite the occasional embarrassing couplet or misguided musical idea.
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:13:35
- Main artists: Robbie Williams
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Chrysalis UK
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2009 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd ℗ 2006 Robert Williams/The In Good Company Co Ltd
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