REVIEW: ROBBIE WILLIAMS - REALITY KILLED THE VIDEO STAR

Reality Killed the Video Star is international megastar Robbie Williams' eighth solo studio album. Always full of wit, results were admittedly lacklustre on Williams' last effort Rudebox. That album leaned more in an electropop direction, not necessarily the best fit for his charismatic voice which is better set against thicker orchestration.

This album is perhaps Williams' best work yet and my expectations have been exceeded. He has hit his best stride as a songwriter – the melodies stick and his lyrics are brimming with insight. He took a full three years to flesh out ideas at his home studio with producers like Trevor Horn and Guy Chambers. The former was part of the band The Buggles, which were responsible popular hit Video Killed the Radio Star and this album’s title pays homage to it. With the current and perhaps passing public fascination with reality television including Idol/X-Factor, a title like Reality Killed the Video Star certainly rings true, making one ponder what might be next. Ironically, first single Bodies’ chance at a number one debut was foiled by recent X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke’s single Bad Boys in the UK.

Bodies was produced by a team of all-stars including Horn, Chambers and Mark Ronson. It has tons of bouncy pizzazz, touching upon public fixation on perfect body image and Williams goes on to play a game of word association taking the theme to great extremes from “Bohdi Trees” to “Body of Christ”. It is understandable why an up-tempo number as this was chosen to launch a comeback, but Bodies only skims the surface of the great things on this album.

You Know Me takes us back to the ‘60s much in the same vein that Queen did with Crazy Little Thing Called Love, although I am unsure of how it fits in with the current climate of pop music as a second single choice. Blasphemy has Williams addressing his much publicized battle with Depression with humour, singing “what’s so great about the Great Depression?/Is it a blast for you?/Blasphemy”. Utterly brilliant and quote-worthy.

Do You Mind? shows Williams at his brassy best with a signature swagger and a beat that reminds me somewhat of Sheena Easton’s Strut. And that’s a good thing. Deceptacon reminds us that he has an extensive range of emotions and above the bravado, he is a convincing balladeer. This track ranks alongside his greatest ballads including Angels, Sexed Up and Better Man. Starstruck is sophisticated and sexy – exactly the type of music George Michael would be making today if he could just manage to stay out of trouble.

To preview Williams’ second single You Know Me courtesy of EMI, listen below:

Robbie Williams’ Reality Killed the Video Star will be released via EMI in the UK on November 6, 2009 and November 17, 2009 in North America. Stunning. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Grade: A-.