Robbie Williams – Take the Crown

Robbie Williams’ ninth solo album to date has already proved to be a commercial success. After critics savaged his later career releases, particularly Rudebox in 2006, most have seen his reunion with Take That and most recent work as a conscious attempt at a comeback, hoping to return to the former success highlighted by the single Angels.

Having already reached number one with his lead single from Take the Crown, it seems that Williams has definitely returned to the spotlight.

Candy is shameless pop. Catchy with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, electronic bass and a highly repetitive melody, this single suggests that Williams has come back to the music genre that made him famous, rather than sticking to the more “serious” tone of his previous album releases, such as Reality Killed the Video Star, which incorporated elements of pop and alternative rock. Co-written with his band mate Gary Barlow, it seems that any future solo work will still be in tune with his comeback efforts with Take That.

Through this album however, Robbie Williams has clearly made an effort to keep up with, and blend into, mainstream music as it is today. Working with producers such as Jacknife Lee, instead of the “hit makers” who dominated the 90s – Guy Chambers and Steve Power – it shows through the electronically charged tracks of Take the Crown that Williams hopes to build on the success of electronic dance music in chart-topping music, made popular by artists such as Rihanna and David Guetta.

Despite being self-conscious in its populist aims, there is no denying that Williams has produced an incredibly popular album. His addictive songs and showmanship ensure that devoted fans will not be disappointed.

Williams recently said, “I want to dominate the charts. I want to take on the world. I want to be a top pop star. I’m re-energised and it’s called Take the Crown for that reason.”

With the album already selling 137,000 copies in its first week, he has certainly proved to still be a “top pop star”.

Standout track – Candy

The editorial unit

Take the Crown is released on 5^th November 2012. For further information or to order the album visit Robbie Williams’s website here.

Watch the music video for Candy here: