Escapology [Explicit Lyrics]

It is difficult for Americans to fathom just how big Robbie Williams is overseas. The only contemporary American to achieve this level of success at home is Eminem. And although they would seem to be oceans apart, there are similarities.

Both have won their countries biggest music awards. Both get widespread critical and commercial success in their homeland. And both are the subject of seemingly insatiable public appetite for details on their private life. Both have a strong creative partner - Dre for Eminem, Guy Chambers for Robbie.

But where everyone in the US under 30 has grown up in a hip-hop dominated country, the youth of the UK were raised on pop (Spice Girls)and rock (Oasis). Robbie neatly straddles the border between those two genres by contrasting often gorgeous melodies with biting lyrics. And serving it up with boundless energy and commanding stage presence.

Like Eminem, Robbie often uses his own life as the source of his material, and, also like Eminem, saves the sharpest barbs for himself. In Handsome Man, the verses sound like the biggest ego trip imaginable ("It's hard to be humble when you're so ******* big. Did you ever meet a sexier male chauvinist pig?") but the chorus reveals his insecurities and the transient nature of celebrity ("If you drop me I'll fall to pieces on ya. If you don't see me I don't exist").

Yes there are a few cuss words on the album - not nearly as many as on any single track by 50 Cent, but enough to deserve the Parental Advisory label.

Bizzarely, while he has clearly crafted this album with the American market in mind, some fool decided to exclude the most commercial track from the UK release that would seem to be an absolute natural for the US market: "Hot Fudge" - an uptempo number that would be right at home on any Elton John album of the early 70's.

This is an album for adults that don't "Feel" that good singing requires saccharine lyrics. Or that rock just has to leave you with a headache.

Come on, America! Give Robbie a chance. The Brits have supported you - now you can support a Brit.

I'm a Californian and I have all six of Robbie's albums. This one is my #2 favorite (1st is Sing When You're Winning). The song "Always and Forever" is a beautiful, slow tempo song. "Sexed Up" is in that same vein; it's kind of sad if you understand what it's really about. If you like songs that are more uppity and pop, try "Hot Fudge" or "Monsoon". Great song and lyrics to sing along to! One of my favorite songs on the whole album is "Come Undone" which is his new single I think. It's very powerful and is true Robbie. The booklet also has cool photos. I hope Robbie tours America very soon!!!

The UK's biggest pop artist returns with his first album of original material since 2000's "Sing When You're Winning." Now, after selling and selling and SELLING copies of this latest release in his homeland, he's set his sights on American audiences once again, coming April 1st. Will the latest trend in quirky, original, "artists actually wrote it themselves" music help Robbie finally gain airplay, Billboard success, and US respect? We will have to see. In the meantime, here's what the UK version of Escapology has to offer. (NOTE: The American CD track list is slightly different.)
This album can be best-described as typical Robbie. It's his mixture of pop-driven songs that win over fans and highly opinionated tracks that might shock a first-time listener. He uses a variety of sounds and different genres; from the bluesy piano/guitar concoction Feel to the catchy acoustic self-appreciation cut Handsome Man. Also find a bit of disco (Hot Fudge), hard rock (Monsoon, Song 3, Cursed), mariachi (Me and My Monkey), grandiose Angels-esque choir style (Love Somebody), and simple unplugged (Nan's Song). While there is obvious experimentation with instruments, each song's lyrical content is unmistakably Robbie: brash, true, and clever. On the whole, the album is great. The highlight song for me was Something Beautiful, a great addictive pick-me-up.
Since "Sing When..", it doesn't seem like Robbie has broken much new ground. He has maintained remarkable consistency between these two albums. His real test will be his next album. Since parting ways with his right-hand-man composer Guy Chambers, he's got to prove that he can carry on and still churn out hits. I hope this pressure works positively for him, pushing him to work hard to generate his best material ever. Again, we will have to see.