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great cd fantastic store my favourite and trusted 10/10
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
When Robbie Williams was beginning to make his one true push toward success in the United States, he released an album that compiled highlights from the two huge selling albums that he had already created in the United Kingdom. He called this compilation The Ego Has Landed. On Intensive Care, the Ego finally lands. Part of this is likely due to a new choice of songwriting partner. Stephen Duffy of The Lilac Time is now the man behind the curtain, and the version of Robbie Williams that he embraces is one that shows a bit more restraint than the Robbie of old while still retaining the tendency toward big sounds and big statements. The silliness is muted, the musicality is emphasized, and we end up with something that actually sounds like a real, honest to God album rather than a collection of songs. This may not be evident from the start. The first, much publicized lines that Williams sings almost immediately at the outset of Intensive Care are "Here I stand victorious / The only man that made you come," and most anyone could be forgiven a roll of the eyes and a knee-jerk dismissal of the rest of the album. To be sure, Robbie Williams' muse is still Robbie Williams. As opening track "Ghosts" progresses, however, a settling takes place, and the song ends up turning into David Bowie through a foggy U2 filter, which is somehow a good thing. The slow build is wonderful, and the mood is one of regret for the past rather than pompous examination of the present. "Look at the time it's taken me / To get away from what was said," says Williams, simultaneously offering a plea for mercy from a singular antagonist and hinting toward the hurt that has been caused him via a merciless press corps. These moments of openness and humility occur throughout Intensive Care, though they're often said with a hint of swallowed bitterness, as if our Robbie knows he's throwing us a bone here. "Tell a joke / Tell it twice / If no one else is laughing / Then why am I?," he asks toward the beginning of the country ballad (complete with gospel choir) "Make Me Pure", offering the possibility that perhaps he brings the criticism on himself. Still, in the same song, he outlines his own reluctance to change in the simple refrain of "Oh Lord / Make me pure / But not yet." It's this conflict, this sense of aging and a growing maturity against the wishes of the omnipresent, forever-young-in-his-own-mind narrator, that allows Intensive Care to remain fascinating on repeated listens. Musically, the album takes on most of Williams' typical jack of all trades tendencies, careening from arena rock to country to synth-pop to ska-tinged Latin over the course of the album. Williams' songs tend to be strongest when he's being safest musically -- mid-tempo rockers like "Random Acts of Kindness" and "Spread Your Wings" sound as though Williams was born to sing them, while slower material like "Make Me Pure" and particularly the exquisite "Advertising Space" will get lighters in the air all over the world. It's not clear that Williams was going into Intensive Care hoping to come up with a coming of middle-age album, but that's what we get. The Ego has landed -- Robbie's growing up.Read full review
Take two years of continuous writing and recording, throw in Lilac Time's Stephen Duffy as a new writing partner and you may have thought 'Intensive Care' would be a worringly apt title. Fear not, Robbie emerges fighting fit with his most complete CD to date; 'Tripping' is just the beginning. Track List Ghosts Tripping Make Me Pure Spread Your Wings Advertising Space Please Don't Die Your Gay Friend Sin Sin Sin Random Acts Of Kindness The Trouble With Me A Place To Crash King Of Bloke And Bird
Having taken a new job, which meant a round trip of 100 miles or so, it meant that I could listen to the 'Today' programme on Radio 4 on the way to work. When driving home, I had decided to listen to some cds which worked well for a while, until I realised that some of them were becoming too familiar. I felt that I needed to update my collection. At first, I made the bold, yet unwise, step of asking my daughters if hey had anything that their dad could listen to. The universal 'no!' was, perhaps, not unexpected. Having no clear of which cds I wanted to listen to, I heard a song on one of the music channels and realised that I had heard it before, although it was by Robbie Williams, called 'Advertising Space'. Two weeks went by before I heard it again and I asked my daughters if they had the cd with the song on it. They said it was his latest cd and, no, they did not have it. They also laughed. Once they told me the title of the cd, I checked for details on eBay and eventually succeeded in a winning bid, where I was happy with the price. I could not wait for the delivery which was not long. Driving to work with my new cd, Robbie got the better of the 'Today' programme and I played 'Advertising Space' - it was wonderful! A lovely melody with lyrics which gave a completely different angle to 'The King'. The last verse is both personal and poignant building up to an ending that DJs loathe. I replayed the song time after time, and still do, and never get tired of hearing it. Most of the other songs are good and some are superb. Yet it is strange when listening to an artist's new work, how some songs stand on a far higher plane than others: the arrangement and sheer power of the song. That is certainly the case with 'Advertising Space'. Another excellent song is 'The Trouble With Me', which has very clever lyrics and a surprisingly catchy choral arrangement in the middle and at the end. I am delighted with my cd and have not become tired with it yet. Meanwhile, my cd has not won me any Brownie points with my daughters, for when my eldest daughter announced that she bought 'us' tickets for Robbie's concert in Milton Keynes, I asked if she had one for me. Laughing, she said 'No! Only for Sophie and Mum.'. However, once again, perhaps the answer was not unexpected. Well, they did all see Robbie at Knebworth, and clearly want more. As for me, I will be envious if he sings 'Advertising Space' and also 'The Trouble With Me'at the concert, which would work incredibly well. Still, I shall continue to listen to a thoroughly enjoyable cd on my journey.Read full review
Well for the die hard RW fan such as myself you couldnt be blamed for buying this latest album. This shows a more carousmatic side to our Robster with a few extra dreams and idols thrown in. There are 12 tracks on this album including MAKE ME PURE and TRIPPIN just to name two. Robbie has takern another leaf out of madonnas book and made hisself into another fine representaion of todays charts with a new sound and approach to his music. One of Robbies tracks has even been dedicated in a way to the king of rock Mr ELVIS PRESLY. Im not saying everything is new because this is definatly tyhe robbie we have all grown to love, tracks 4, 5, 7 and 10 are definatly his old ways reappearing. The New album INTENSIVE CARE shows a bit more of his insecurities coming to the surface. Personally I dont think he has any worries all of the tracks are a masterpiece in themselves speading a bit more ROBSTER magic in the world. Just remember its not just his music its the words and the meanings behind it all that makes this album one of his best yet.Read full review
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