Customer Reviews

Intensive Care

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a huge fan of Robbie Williams since 1998 when he released "The Ego Has Landed" in the U.S. His music is awesome and this album is no exception. This is my favorite Robbie Williams' CD so far because it is so different than the rest of them. It has a more mature sound than his earlier works and you can definitely tell that he has grown as an artist from his first album, "Life Thru A Lens", which was not released in the U.S. ("The Ego Has Landed", his first U.S. release is a combination of his first two albums, "Life Thru A Lens" and "I Have Been Expecting You".) His fans will either love this CD or hate it because it is so different than his previous CDs. You will not find a song like "Let Me Entertain You", "Rock DJ", or "Millenium". Practically all of his previous albums have had one great ballad and this album is full of them. If you liked "The Road to Mandalay", "Angels", or "Nan's Song", then you will love this album.

I was a little skeptical when I found out that Robbie Williams is no longer collaborating with Guy Chambers, who helped him write some of his greatest songs, but he is now collaborating with Stephen Duffy, who is an excellent replacement. I received my copy of "Intensive Care" two days ago and I have not stopped listening to it.

I absolutely love this CD and every song is great, but some are better than others. My five favorite songs are:

1. Tripping. This is a very catchy song that has a very reggae sound to it. I have been listening to this CD in my car and I know that I have gotten strange looks from other drivers because I can't help but to dance to it in my car. This is a great song and I can understand why it is the first song that he released from the album.
2. Advertising Space. I love this song! This is going to be the second song that Robbie Williams releases from "Intensive Care" and it is definitely going to be a number one hit.
3. Sin, Sin, Sin. This song is upbeat and is a very catchy tune. It is reminiscent of The Smiths, which is one of my favorite bands. It is awesome!
4. The Trouble With Me. This is my favorite song from the album. I cannot stop playing this song in my car. It is awesome!
5. The King of Bloke and Bird. This song is absolutely beautiful and it is probably one of his greatest songs. This song is absolutely mesmerizing and it makes me want to cry. Very few songs have ever affected me in this way before. If there is one song that I would suggest a person to listen to who has never listened to Robbie Williams before, this is the song that I would play for them.

I have been trying to figure out why America has not embraced him before because he is one of the most versatile and talented artists. He is an amazing musician and this CD truly reflects how immensely talented he is. He can actually sing and you will not see him on Saturday Night Live lipsyncing to one of his hits. I cannot think of another young musician from America who could actually come out with an album like this because there are no synthesizers to cover up their true singing voice. Trust me, Britney Spears or Ashlee Simpson will never come out with a CD like this.

Robbie Williams is one of those artists who I buy all of their CD's because I know that it will be amazing and I will not be disappointed. I loved him from the moment that I heard his first song "Millenium" in 1998 and I will continue to purchase his music because he is an awesome musician and incredibly talented. This is a much more mature sounding Robbie and I love every minute of this CD. Like a fine wine, Robbie Williams' music keeps getting better the older that he becomes and every CD is better than the last. This is definitely my favorite Robbie Williams' CD. Buy it because you will not be disappointed.

The much hyped album, "Intensive Care" is in town. Critics -- please excuse, Stephen Duffy has done the job from where Guy Chambers left. And indeed he has worked on to bring the original self of Robbie back to the surface. Per robbiewilliams.co.uk, "Robbie's eighth album and the first to be penned with new writing partner Stephen Duffy, has now topped the charts in a staggering 18 countries around the world".

A sharp deviation from Escapology...no experimental, high-pitched rock songs like "Hot fudge" or the "Song 3" not even boastful, "Handsome Man" but refreshingly the album reminds one of the good, old 80's.

The album cover--you guessed it right, the self-obsessed artist is everwhere with the world of symbology and allegory--resisting his fans, resisting his darker side and seeking some kind of guidance from the kings of rock n roll gone by (or is he trying to be on the same pedestal as Freddie Mercury or John Lennon).

Alltogether, he has maintained the same kind of tempo in this collection of 12 songs. The album starts with "Here I stand victorious..." and the song, "Ghosts". Not the best single in this album but yes, supported by good lyrics and the background tune, worth hearing. "I don't need you but I'm lost"--full of metaphors and revealing the insecuity of the artist.

The second song and indeed the most catchy one, "Tripping" is the nucleus for this album. Kudos to Claire Worrall, Max Beesely, Jerry, steve, Matt and others for the recreating the catchy music of the 80's. He declares, "When you think we're lost, we're exploring. What you think is worthless, I'm adoring". This is one of those songs that you would like to hear again and again. No wonder, it is such a big rage all across Europe.

And those who thought that days of "Angels" and "Better Man" were over, here's something for you, "Make me pure". The resemblance is still there. "I'm not perfect, but you don't mind that, do you?" Robbie yearns, "Oh Lord please make me pure but not yet".

"Spread your wings" -- starts with the narrative, "I used to live here. I was the boy with the flash clothes..." He surely reminiscences the past.....nice and motivating.

Quite sattirically, "Advertising space" talks about the emotional make up in today's world. Quite powerful line, "I saw you standing at the gates. when Marlon Brado passed away". An average song...

"Please don't die" reveals a little more of the darker side of the artist. The insecurity of being all alone. Reminds of the "Singing for the lonely". The momentum leaps bound and forth in this single. Soothing lyrics--altogether a good song.

"My gay friend" is one naughty one, "I'll be your gay friend. Cause your marriage never ends. Cool rock n roll style, naughty lyrics and the background, "woo hoo" has a striking resemblance with the dire straits, "Walk of Life".

"Sin Sin Sin" -- another good one and like the 80's popular music. You would love to rewind and hear it over and over again.

Robbie raises a toast for the ones, about to die and about to cry in his "Random acts of kindness". A calling for the generation. Simple lyrics without an allegory or metaphors. Worth hearing.

In "Trouble with me" like his old song, "Strong" Rob alleviates his strong emotional self. Robbies confesses the trouble with him. A refelection of the impact of his recent relationship/s. One of the other best song in this album.

"A place to crash" is the only experimental song on this album and it has come out very good. Funny lyrics, "Love, I'm a cynical bitch. Gonna scratch that itch. with a bitch like you" for the light headed. A hip rolling stones type.

"King of bloke and bird" reminds one of the softness like the "Nan's song". Very soft vocals backed by good lyrics." Summer me now summer my life away. summon me on toanother day". Good song.

Altogether, a complete album free from any experiments. An array of excellent songs. "Robbie at his best" -- a must buy album for everyone.

This is Robbie Williams' best album to date. This album sounds like a greatest hit album. A lot of people thought that Robbie would fall off after his partnership with Guy Chambers ended. But I think that was the best thing that could have happened to the man. Stephen Duffy and Robbie together is possibly the best duo in history. These men are ingenious. If you buy this album, I promise you will not be disappointed, unless you have absolutely no taste in music. I am from America, a place where Robbie Williams doesn't get the recognition he deserves. When I ordered this album, they had to import it from Britain. Of course this was a costly purchase, but it was definitely worth every penny. Robbie, keep doing your thing. Buy this album... you will not regret it.

(repeated from my review of the [Explicit Lyrics] [Import] version of the album)

I should share some background before giving my review.

Before this past summer, I knew Robbie only through his one and only US hit, "Millennium," from 1999. I always had hoped to hear more music from him, but that never happened here.

Flash forward to this past summer. I, like many millions of other people around the world, watched the Live 8 concerts this summer on-demand via the web. In the home stretch of the London concert, who appears on stage but Robbie Williams. Knowing next to nothing about him at that time (he, unfortunately, is very much an obscurity here, as many have noted and rightfully pined) I was absolutely FLOORED not only by his talent as an artist but also by his absolutely amazing skills as a performer. There very much is a distinction between the two skills...I have seen many talented artists who are mediocre or downright awful entertainers. Robbie, in the short 20 minutes that he was on stage, demonstrated an incredible talent to take a crowd of several hundred thousand people and wrap every single one of them around his finger. Talent like this on stage is a one-in-a-million kind of thing, and I can compare him to but a few acts who, in their own right and in their own times, were legends on stage. It absolutely blew me away, and I replayed that portion of the concert probably 100 times over the summer.

I got wind that Robbie released a new album and I was hell-bent on getting a copy of it, never before hearing any of his material off of an album. I ordered this album, it arrived last week, and I have had a steady diet of Robbie since it arrived to give me a chance to appreciate this work fully. After many hours of absorbing this album, I came to a conclusion:

This album is excellent.

"Ghosts" is a great song. While others have said that this song may supercede "Angels" as the audience-favorite anthem, I do not agree...but it is a great song nonetheless. "Tripping" is his first single from the album, and it is a pretty strong song. My favorites may be the songs which are extremely funny to me: "Your Gay Friend" and "A Place to Crash." I mean, really...how can you not love songs whose choruses begin

"And I'll be your gay friend / 'cuz your marriage never ends"

and

"Find a place to crash / Move your boney ass"

The remainder of the songs, too, are quite good. There are a couple of slower songs to match the up-tempo songs, but there are no "true ballads" on this album. I have to spend some more time with this album to gain a better appreciation of a couple of the songs (I'm not placing all of the references), but on the whole it is an excellent album from a truly gifted artist.

"Greatest Hits" are on their way...can't wait.

Robbie, brother...you hooked another one here in the US.

"First they ignore you
Then laugh at you and hate you
Then they fight you - then you win"

First of all would like to state this: I was not a RW fan. I had no idea about his past or his first records, let alone own one of them, and the only song I knew and liked was supreme. Everything changed with his Greatest Hits. Then his DVD. Then his book. And Im a huge fan since. I hadn't heard of him for the last couple of years, so I've been anxiously waiting for his new cd. I got it 5 days ago. These are my thoughts:
Rob is getting older. And even though its not obvious by his looks, u can see it, or even better, u can hear it in his new sound. It's mature, it's serious, it's deep. And that's because Rob's moved from being a pop star to being an artist who's taking his job very seriously. The tracks are here to agree with me.

Ghosts, I think, its not a very nice song. At least, compared to the other ones. It's a kind of introduction to his new sound and music style. From the first seconds you realise you're in for something different. You enjoy listening.

Tripping, his most advertised single, is a very pleasant surprise. It is NOT a reggae song, but -to quote him- a mini gangster opera. I don't quite know what that means but as many of you might already have listen, it doesn't really matter because it is an amazing song. And by the way, it is not the best track in the album. You enjoy listening + sing along + move your body.

Make me pure is a song that you'd hear from a country singer. Its rhythm is calm, almost peacefull and the lyrics change from funny to cynical but always sincere. A truly great song. You enjoy listening + sing along.

Spread your wings is nothing special as far as music and rhythm are concerned. But the way he read the lyrics, and not really sing, makes it interesting to hear. You enjoy listening.

Advertising space was my best track while listening to the album for the first time. It has music that touches you deep inside, even though the lyrics are a bit harsh but, unfortunately, real. And just for the record, it talks about Elvis. You enjoy listening + sing along + get moved.

Please don't die has a great music. But something bothers me about this song, I can't really tell, maybe something in the refrain. But the lyrics are very interesting and his voice is sweet and gentle. I personally skip this one after a while.

Your gay friend presents the cynical persona of Rob, Robbie that is. I don't like the music and the rhythm that much. I personally skip this one.

Sin sin sin brings in mind songs from past years. I can't tell if it's the 80's, but this is a very happy song that will make you smile. You enjoy listening + sing along + move your body (if 80's do the trick for you!).

Random act of kindness is the last track I don't especially like, besides the... kind message of the lyrics. I personally skip this one.

The trouble with me is Rob turned inside out. That is how songs that come from the heart should be written. Its genuine, with a sweet melody and a refrain in which, even though the lyrics are sad, the music lifts your soul. You enjoy listening + sing along+ feel something happening inside of you.

A place to crash should be taught in music schools for rock'n'roll wannabe writers. I bet Rolling Stones wonder why on earth they didn't come up with it first. It's good old rock 'n' roll music that shows Stephen Duffy's talent. You enjoy listening + sing along(once u learn the lyrics) + cant stop moving your body.

No longer king of bloke and bird. This is the best track of the album. Haunting piano music, heartbreaking melody makes this track very hard to bear inside. It is not an easy song to hear all the time. But it serves its purpose: it will definitely break one's heart and fill it with melancholy, even in 10 years time. You don't enjoy listening because it's sad + don't sing along because it might make you cry.

Conclusions:
-I don't know if its his best album to date, but it's the most serious, with real songs coming from a real artist
-The best tracks are not the pop or rock ones, but the slow ones
-There's both Rob and Robbie in this album. And that's best for both of them.

To make a long story short, I'd mainly recommend this album to RW non fans, as this is the best time for one to get to know the talented mr. Williams.

Those who thought that Robbie's solo career would not survive after the end of his partnership with Guy Chambers were completely wrong."Intensive Care" is the result of Robbie's hard work and it was recorded in his home studio, with the collaboration of Stephen Duffy. This new album is pure pop, inovative with great arrangements for the songs. "Tripping", the first single, is reggae music, related to dreams (or nightmares?) of Robbie. I love the rap part near the end of the song ("leave the house, leave the car, let the bad men where they are..."). Another song which is pleasing fans is "Spread your wings", which could be a great single and reminds me of Robbie's old songs. One of my favorites is "Please don't die", with its 80's strings. Other highlight song is "The trouble with me", which seems to follow the same inspiration. On "Advertising spaces", Robbie offers a tribute to Elvis Presley, as a popstar he is. Don't miss this album!

To me, this is a reaaly good CD. I can hear a few different influences in here. Ghosts sort of reminds me of a David Bowie's Heroes...Sin Sin Sin kind of puts me in mind of the Smiths. All of these songs are catchy and he hasn't lost his sense of humor. I like this. If you can find it, buy it.

The first single TRIPPING is excellent - but dont expect any of that new sound to flow through to the rest of the album. Very average, very bland. Maybe you need to listen to it a couple of dozen times. Apparently Robbies cleaned up his act and is off the drugs these days - judging by this album he should get back on them!

to make Robbie Williams a force to be reckoned with in the U.S. I've only recently discovered Robbie, and have been obsessed with working my way through his CDs. Intensive Care posesses much more depth and maturity than any of his previous CDs as a whole. It's obvious that a new writing partner in no way hindered him -- in fact, it seems to have inspired him. Some truly great songs on Intensive Care -- Advertising Space, Make Me Pure, Trouble with Me. His wit, ego and anxiety all come through not only with the songs but the title itself. This is definitely worth a listen for old and new Robbie fans, and those who have yet to discover him. You won't regret it.

Robbie Williams has always been my guilty pleasure. I discovered his music while on vacation in Canada. He was performing at an outdoor concert during the winter and he mooned the crowd, who cheered him on loudly. I instantly loved his bawdy style and sense of humor and ran out the next day to purchase my first Robbie Williams album, The Ego has Landed. What joy! What fun!

And up until this recent release, I've been proud to own Robbie's entire collection. Now I'm wondering if perhaps it was Guy Chambers' writing that I've been in love with all along, for Intensive Care is a bit of a disappointment. Although Robbie's attitude still shines through, the song writing is disjointed, as is the flow of the album, which vacillates between ballads, reggae, and rock. While I appreciate Robbie's desire to experiment, I miss the poppy music and humorous lyrics that I fell in love with on his previous releases. Upon first listen, the humor on this album falls flat. I can only hope that I'll learn to like it after hearing it a few more times. In the meantime, I'll continue to listen to my old favorites, as well as watch my Robbie Williams DVDs.