There are three pretty basic sounds you will hear on a Robbie Williams record:  Brit-poppy guitar rock, widescreen ballads, and mid-tempo dance music.  On his third disc, there is less rock, and the ballads are almost non-existent.  But there is plenty of the percolating dance music that is reminiscent of acts like the Pet Shop Boys, latter day Roxy Music and ABC, but stamped as uniquely Robbie by virtue of the distinctive, clever lyrics and the wonderful voice that in it's lower range sounds like a less foppish Midge Ure and it's high range is supple and soulful.  My friend Jill Gardner said "Rock DJ" sounds like an old Captain Sensible single, with it's pseudo-rap and lite-funk hook, and she's right.  That track is followed by two other lively numbers:  "Supreme", which is a decidedly less histrionic pastiche/lift of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive", and "Kids", a swell duet with Kylie Minogue, where Robbie shows off a David Ruffin-ish falsetto.  Quite a few other tracks are very low key, unusual for a pop star with the wide screen presence of Williams, but "The Road To Mandalay", "Better Man" and "Knutsford City Limits" state a case for Robbie being this generation's answer to Elton John in his prime.  The biggest knock on the album is the lack of one ultra-killer cut, like "Angels" or "Millennium".  Still, this is as good as mass appeal pop gets.
MIKE BENNETT (7)
 

Ex-Take That frontman Robbie Williams has come a long way. From the Teen orientated music of the aforementioned band to his third solo album. On his way, he has taken the whole world by storm and has earned his respect in both the commercial camp, who like his music because Robbie has the good looks, and in the critical camp, who like his music despite the good looks! Robbie Williams is one of the few commercial acts that I like. He’s a talented and above average songwriter and his previous two albums (I'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU/ LIFE THRU A LENS) contain some pretty strong songs. His latest CD SING WHEN YOU'RE WINNING  is in the same league as his two previous efforts: a decent album, with a conglomeration of different styles of music (pop, disco, rock, soul, easy listening) and a few very strong songs. Album wise he will not produce the ultimate album. He’s doing too many styles, to please any lover of just one of those styles. But, his music is always melodic, well produced and wrapped in catchy arrangements. Best songs on SING WHEN YOU'RE WINNING are the haunting ‘Love Calling Earth’, ‘The Road To Mandalay’ and ‘Singing For The Lonely’. An extra bonus goes to the man behind the idea of the extra track on this album. Why? Well, just find out for yourself. As far as I am concerned, Robbie may keep on singing, he’s still on the road to victory.
PATRICK BECKERS (7)
 
 
 
 

Sing When You're Winning can be purchased at Robbie Williams website
  

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