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Robbie Williams
Intensive Care
(Chrysalis/EMI)
Robbie Williams is full of himself. Fortunately he has a fair amount of talent to go with it and a knack for working with the right people.
The first boost to Williams' output has been the addition of Duran Duran founder and twee pop guru Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy as a guitarist and -- more importantly -- songwriter. Duffy's charming wit, talent for self-deprecation and skill with a pop hook make him an ideal foil for Williams' grandiose personal theatrics and stadium-rocking heart.
Grandiose? The ridiculously bombastic liner photos recast the less-than-humble Williams as everything from Vitruvian Man to the Second Coming, which makes some sense since a number of the tunes on Intensive Care sound like the work of other British acts recycled with all the edges sanded off and a whopping section of Elton John's DNA wired in.
Ghosts borrows the vocal style of The Manic Street Preacher, while Tripping snags the dance beats of Happy Mondays and adds several layers of oh-so-shiny production. (Williams' intellectual fancies also turn up when he paraphrases St. Augustine on Make Me Pure.)
In contrast you have tunes like the low-key closer King of Bloke and Bird and other Duffy touches that provide contrast and depth to Williams' over-the-top personality.
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Add in a very able band and you've got all the ingredients for a roaring success.
Track Listing:
1. Ghosts
2. Tripping
3. Make Me Pure
4. Spread Your Wings
5. Advertising Space
6. Please Don't Die
7. Your Gay Friend
8. Sin Sin Sin
9. Random Acts Of Kindness
10. Trouble With Me
11. Place To Crash
12. King Of Bloke & Bird