Customer Reviews

Magnet

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Great solo album. Robin can definitely hold his own, as if there were any doubt about that!! My favorites on this CD are "Please" and "Watching You". I also like Robin's rendition of "Love Hurts". I found it ironic that "Wish You Were Here" is on this CD. The Bee Gees sang this song in tribute of Andy on the Documentary--This Is Where I Came In. It made me think of Maurice's death less than a month ago. I'm sure we will hear alot more from Robin in the future. This CD is a must for true Bee Gees fans. Thank you Robin.

The Brothers Gibb are the three greatest songwriters to have walked the earth. That's a huge claim which can of course be debated. However, facts such as songwriters of 16 US #1 hits cannot be argued with. Nor can album sales as songwriters being in excess of 175 million. With a collective songwriting talent that has not dried up after more than 40 years (check out the brilliant "Guilty Pleasures" that Barry has just done), why then would Robin do an album of other people's songs?

As a Bee Gees fan it is one of my most used comments when defending the group that they never record anybody else's songs. I am so proud of that fact! Barring some Australian stuff when they were kids and the Sgt Pepper soundtrack, the Bee Gees have never done any covers. Then Robin released "Magnet" and it all changed.

If the songs were good it would be a different story. I wanted them to be good. I genuinely love all Bee Gees and Gibb-written albums but this I have to pretend never came out. It is the most gross misuse of talent I have heard in many a year. Robin possesses one of the most brilliant and unique voices in popular music. As a songwriter he has few equals. But when he records an entire album of songs that bands such as Blue, Westlife and the Backstreet Boys would have rejected as being album filler, to say I was gutted would be an understatement.

Robin sings of "getting his freak on" and "popping crystal". Other reviewers have complained that the album is too funky. I disagree. The album is resolutely unfunky. The Gibbs have done many a funky song, "Love You Inside Out" being the best example. These songs are attempts at being slick r&b but miss the mark by being mechanically produced and devoid of decent melody.

The Gibbs have written the best melodies of the past 40 years and the only decent melodies on this album were murdered by being re-arranged. The songs in question are the remakes of "Wish You Were Here" and "Another Lonely Night In New York". Robin changes the melody of "Wish You Were Here" as well as the lyrics. What stands as one of the greatest songs in the Gibb catalogue (a heartbreaking tribute to brother Andy that also sounds like a potential #1 hit) is transformed into a generic and ultimately forgettable love song. Why? I have no idea and neither does Barry who expressed shock when he heard the remake.

Robin, if you ever read this please do not take offence. Realise your strengths of which there are many. First and foremost, you are a songwriter. I don't care what genre you write in, but as a Bee Gees fan I have no interest in you singing other people's songs, especially songs as trivial as these. Do a funky album! But use a real drummer for crying out loud! Do a country album! Whatever you do, do it with the same attention to detail you have always used. I will always be a huge fan and regularly try to listen to this album to give it a chance but it just pales in comparison to every other album in the massive and varied cannon that is the songwriting catalogue of the Brothers Gibb.

Tim Roxborogh,
New Zealand

I found this albumn to be a delightful departure from some of the standard sounds of the past. Wonderfuly diverse with a fresh new sound. "Don't Wanna Wait Forever" combines a fabulous soul like back up vocal with a great catchy tune and Robin's "I am a tortured man and it's all because I love you" vocals. "Please" delivers a memorable beat and fabulous vocals. Let us remember that there are also Bee Gee's albumns that don't sound like "The Bee Gees" per se, but rather show a diverse and unique talent. Think PROMISE THE EARTH, which I find to be a fantastic dance track with an alternative flair. It is this diversity which enables the brothers Gibb to always surprise and delight,and is precisely what MAGNET delivers.

Call me biased, but I have been a Bee Gees fan for many years (I remember singing "My world" with one hand on ear and the other holding the handle bars of my push bike) but the wait for Robin's first solo release since 1985's "Walls Have Eyes" album was well worth it. Even though I had to order it from overseas (I live in Australia, the cost is nothing compared to the enjoyment I got from this. This did go some way into forgetting the tragic loss of Maurice. Maurice had a lot of involvement on his previous three solo outings. Why this was not released in Australia is a joke and an injustice to Robin and the Bee Gees brand. Robin has diliberately moved away from sounding like the Bee Gees, and this time gone even further using different writers, producers and musicians, even on background vocals, He has always been progressive on his solo albums nad truly a great pity radio refuses to add his songs on their play lists.If ever his full solo catalogue is re-released do yourself a favour and listen to them all. While 1984's "Secret Agent" is the weakest of the lot it still has 3-4 gems. But enough of the past and to the present. Stand outs on this CD are the two singles "Please" and "(Don't wanna)wait forever" as well as "No doubt", Inseperable", Watching You" and "Special". Then a couple of remakes are the icing on the cake, starting of with a modern step up of "Lonely night in New York"(Remake of 1982 Solo) and "Wish You were here"(from Bee Gees One). There is no real weak song. Only dissapointment is that it could have had 3-4 extra songs, but perhaps I am being greedy". I love it, a true Bee Gees fan must have it.

Some extra Robin Gibb release availble on import are:
"Wait Forever" single which has a fanstastic remix.
"My Lover's Prayer" which he duets with Alistair Griffin a UK artist.

I must also recommend the DVD "This Is Where I Came In". I spend a lot of money on the Bee Gees and have everything available, this is by far the best documentary on the band.

Enjoy

Robin's 2003 solo album still isn't available in the United States. And after hearing it, I don't understand why. Then again, I am also a bit mystified by this album. All my reviews up until now have been relatively positive, but Magnet begs the question: Where's Robin?
Although his intentions were to collaborate with new, young up and coming talent, Magnet sounds more like `Everyone else featuring Robin Gibb'. Don't get me wrong, the modern sounding soulful r and b surprised me, and I liked it. However, anyone expecting all out Robin Gibb should stick to Robin's Reign.
Please was rightfully the first single released, and I liked it right off just by hearing the sample on the ecard. Robin's vocals are the strongest here. It makes me wonder why the rest of the album sets him up as some old man who can't sing and needs a lot of background singers. Amazingly not written by a Gibb (I probably should go and look up who really did write it, but anyway) Please also seems a bit eerie if you listen with the passing of Maurice in mind. Although made before Mo's death, Magnet had the misfortune of being released shortly thereafter.

Wait Forever helps get you out of the teary rut Please can sometimes create. It's quite catchy, and the part that's catchiest for me isn't even sung by Robin! Wish You Were Here is Robin's spin on The Bee Gees 1989 tribute to Andy. Ironic enough, Robin added a verse to make the song about parted lovers. Instead you get an almost in tears Robin singing about another passed brother, or so it definitely seems now. The almost acoustic feel here also isn't as good as the original's arrangement.
No Doubt returns to the modern soul glow feel. Robin variates his voice here, and his style fits all the nasty modern lingo. Surprisingly again Robin didn't write this one. Special is how I would define slow jam. You start off with Robin singing some really cool lyrics, then these other people cut in. I think to myself, `That sounds cool, but Hey! I was enjoying listening to Robin.' The interlude in Special shows the most hints here of Robin's powerhouse voice.

Inseparable is the only new song on Magnet penned by Robin, credited with Decon Smith. Honestly, it may be the song I like the least. After all his oh yeahs and slow baby babys Robin talkingreallyfastlikethis sounds, well... crappy. Again like a real old timer who either speeds up or slows down because he can no longer carry the tune. I beg to differ!

I like Don't Rush, but again Robin unnecessarily shares the vocals with these people. This song is also tough to categorize. Is it a dance song or a slow jam? Sometimes I want Don't Rush to rush though. I don't like these other people enough to listen to them regularly like I do The Bee Gees.
Watching You again has its catchiest moments without Robin. This song would be a hit here I know it! You go to the club and you here the same thing. And believe me, no one could stigma this song over its Gibb attachment. You hardly hear Robin on this one.
Earth Angel is a lot like Special with less Robin. I honestly think there is more Decon Smith on this album. Entire choruses and verses on this album are sung by other people. Does that confuse anyone else? The other singers do sound good though. Robin certainly picked talented lyricists.

Lonely Night In New York is the update of Robin's own Another Lonely Night In New York from How Old Are You It has some very cool sound effects added, but I can't tell if it's the same vocal track reused or not. The dark and edgy techno update sounds very cool, and frankly I wonder what the rest of How Old Are You would sound like if the eightes twang was replaced. As annoying as it is to have so many other people's material on this album, Love Hurts concludes Magnet fittingly. This rendition by Robin has the Nazareth feel, yet Robin's tone harkens back to the original Everly Brothers sound. It bookends well with Please, especially since Robin's quaver voice comes through-you can feel his hurt.
Listening to Magnet on its own it's a great contemporary album with several gems. Listening to it with The Gibb feel in mind? I can definately recommend better. Still, I've got a few hip teeny bopper friends I just had to copy this for, and they loved it! Magnet is a great `gateway' to attracting new fans who wouldn't expect a Bee Gee to be up for this kind of material. And it still hasn't been released in the US!

I am a Robin Gibb fan, unashamedly! Believe it or not every modern band owe all their artistic nuances to the Bee Gees - probably more so than the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan and Elvis. Robin Gibb as well as Jim Morrison had the same vision in 1969 - Music will one day be Automated! Robin then went on to record 3 ground breaking albums in a similar spirit(in his Second wave of his solo career) beginning in 1982. The results spoke for themselves, with German fans craving for the Robin sound harder than for Michael Jackson, when he was knocked off from the Chartbusting position in 1983. Audiences in Germany as well as France, and Britain loved Robin Gibb, and his tint of mystical vocal echoed through New Romanticism which he produced (with beloved brother Maurice, and occasionally Barry) became cultural furniture of the era.

Now we enter the Third Wave, Robin has entered into much publicity (including American Idol judge, and Fame Academy where he has endorsed Allistair Griffin to Stardom!) and he is humble as ever, taking the whole publicity machine tongue in cheek. He has given the Pop kiddies of today much to learn from.
What amazes me about Magent, its fresh sounds delivered unfalteringly. On offer a little bit of jazz soul, mostly R&B, and some remix dance "Lonely Night In New York" (his 1983 hit). Wish you were Here, beautifully fuses ballad R&B with some unplugged pop guitar strums - top effort at respinning a Bee Gees archived moment of history, the death of brother Andy.
Robin Gibb always understands trends in Pop. What is beautiful, Robin has proven to be gifted in utilising the sounds of the day AND crafting it into a real work of art which is profound. Art that stands the test of time, music you can listen to over many years and still feel the essence of it between each and every note. And he makes you want to get up and dance till you drop! He may not be the last but I reckon the Bee Gees were the first band to get people to dance on a mass scale!
You will be amazed at the 11 track offering of MAGNET.

Robin's vibrato is nothing short of magical. Even though I don't like every track on this CD, I found it well worth the money. The remake of "Wish You Were Here" is especially haunting, especially when you realize that Maurice died not long after this CD was created. "Love Hurts," originally done by Nazareth in the 1970's, seems totally new and original when sung by Robin. If you are a true Bee Gees fan (and especially a Robin fan), you will want to add this CD to your collection.

I really liked this cd. I know Robin has a great voice and vocals so pure that they give you cold chills but, it was nice to hear him do an upbeat cd for a change. I know others have stated they wanted to hear his passion pure vocals but, I for one was looking forward to hearing him sing something that is not depressing and is a little more up tempo. Sure I love his earlier works and will continue to listen to them but when I feel I would like something more upbeat I can put this cd in. It doesn't sound like the Bee Gees because it is only one of them. As for the photos I thought they were really cool. I know they don't look like they are hard to do but they are something different from the totally glossy photos you usually see on cd's. I for one really liked this cd and would recommend it for anyone that wants a good cd to dance to.

I love Robin Gibb and have loved his singing ever since I can remember listening to h im and his brothers back in the 70's. However, this CD was a terrible disappointment to me. Robin has such an angelic voice mixed with sounds of passion and soul. He sings like an angel. But this CD was, in my opinion, not the typical Robin. He sounds like he is trying to keep up with the current trend of hip hop instead of singing songs that match the passion and soul in his voice. I am very disappointed with his choice of music in this CD. I still love him and all of his previous albums and will continue to listen to his other songs that he recorded with his brothers. I would like to hear a solo album of just Robin singing more from his soul with the passion that he has inside of him reaching his listeners.

Let me preface by saying I have been a life-long Bee Gees fan and have great admiration for Robin's vocal prowess. However, Robin Gibb's voice is NOT suited for this genre of music which is better left in the hands of today's forgetable "boy bands". Beyond the tolerable "Please", the rest of the album was a major disappointment. Why do an inferior remake of "Wish You Were Here" when the orginal version he did with his brothers was so much better? Why do an inferior remake of "Another Lonely Night In New York" and rename it "Lonely Night In New York"? I have every one of Robin's solo efforts, and this one is by far the worst of the bunch. If you want to buy a good Robin Gibb CD, go buy "How Old Are You" which I believe is his best solo effort by far! To be fair, I agonized through each song on the CD in its entirety before I wrote this review just in case it got better as the CD progressed, but sadly it never did. Robin is an excellent song writer, but the production here is all wrong. With the proper arrangement and a different style of music, this could have been a very good CD as his classic vocals are still impressive. But his fans don't want to hear this pop gibberish. I have no idea what made Robin think he would be good singing this type of music. Usually I would complain about a CD with only 11 songs, but in this case, I was glad when the CD finally ended and I was put out of my misery. I hope he gives it one more go, but I hope it'll sound nothing like this one!!