Gary Barlow

Week 4: Robbie Williams- Britpop

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A track-by-track review with a bonus track thrown in:

Rocket (feat. Tony Iommi):

This punchy, guitar-driven opener is the leading single featuring ex-Black Sabbath lead guitarist Tony Iommi. The track reminds me of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts tracks. It’s raw, full of rock attitude, and has anthemic energy. Tony’s solo is the standout moment.

Spies:

The song has a jangly guitar and is mid-tempo Britpop with nostalgic chords.

Pretty Face:

Didn’t like it. Too poppy for me.

Bite Your Tongue:

An alternative rock track with spoken word.  It may feel odd, but it is playful, adding something different to the album.

Cocky:

Stomping glam-rock energy that’s fun with plenty of swagger.

All My Life:

An Oasis-inspired reflective ballad discussing dreams. Providing one of the  more emotional moments on the record.

Human (feat. Jesse & Joy):

Another reflective ballad.

Morrissey:

Co-written with Take That’s Gary Barlow, this tongue-in-cheek track is about Morrissey’s legacy. It’ll certainly divide opinion. The lyrics also might suggest he’s playing the role of someone in love with
the former Smiths frontman.

You:


Same attributes as ‘Bite Your Tongue’.

It’s OK Until the Drugs Stop Working:

I loved this track, and it certainly provided something different. This reflective, self-aware addressing of his past is Divine Comedy-esque.

Pocket Rocket:

An ethereal and dreamy closer of the standard edition.

G.E.M.B:

I included this track from the deluxe edition because it is my favourite. Robbie’s bold, tongue-in-cheek energy is captured perfectly over sublime indie rock, with his cocksure lyricism. It’s fun, bold, and catchy.

Coda:

“Britpop” is not about reinventing the wheel. It’s Robbie showing off to a sound he loved during the 90s, and that influenced him. The record is catchy, energetic, and fun, with songs that’ll become anthems. The lyricism may divide opinion, but this is one of his best albums to date. The title does what it says on the tin.

Song recommendations: ‘G.E.M.B.’, ‘It’s OK Until the Drugs Stop Working’, ‘Cocky’

8/10

Week 48: Take That- This Life

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Take That came to dominance in the 1990s and drove teenage girls and young women wild. The band split in late 1996 before reforming again in late 2005 without Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Robbie would rejoin the band in 2011 (I think) before once again leaving and recommencing his successful solo career. During the band’s 9-year hiatus, Mark Owen had a brief solo career. Howard Donald became a DJ after his debut album was shelved, and Gary Barlow released about four solo albums but had more success as a songwriter. The band reunited for a Channel 5 early-2000s documentary at a country manor to talk about the band without Robbie, who did leave a video message addressing each member. As we know, from there, the band reformed to release material and perform live again. The band is more democratic nowadays, with each member taking the lead vocals. 

They made their debut appearance recently on Later…with Jools Holland, where they played two songs off “This Life” and said that the album, which was recorded in Nashville, was inspired by the country scene. I will later explain what I thought it sounded like.

“This Life” comes six years after “Wonderland”. Of course, there has been a greatest hits collection, a live album of their greatest hits, and surprisingly, a musical, which became a film released in the summer starring the Irish comedian Aisling Bea. The band have already sold out a staggering six-night residence at London’s O2 in April next year for the upcoming “This Life” tour. We are currently in the era of nostalgia, so this is no surprise. Take That, as we know, has a fantastic song catalogue, making recording new material a challenge because it will always be challenging to match those world-renowned hits. 

One thing you will notice with this album is that it needs the singalong anthems we know the band for. I don’t know what chief songwriter Gary Barlow’s thinking is behind this, but he did tell Jools that this is a record that the band wanted to do rather than what the singles chart would dictate. ‘We Got All Day’ is one of the rare anthems on the album that will see the crowd waving their arms or holding their phones/lighters aloft. The final track, ‘Where We Are’, is more of the band revisiting their past glories by making this the record’s ‘Never Forget’ moment, where they sing about how far they have come over a bombastic production.

The album is quite eclectic for the band; the title track is something different. It sounds like a 1970s soap-themed tune with a jaunty piano. As you can imagine, it didn’t chart upon its release. The next track I will highlight is ‘Windows’, one of the songs featured on Later…with Jools Holland, an acoustic track more akin to their fellow Mancunians, the Smiths. They said the song is country, but I got a Smiths-esque sound instead. ‘Time and Time Again’ is the closest I came to hearing anything resembling country music with its relaxed acoustic strumming. ‘Brand New Sun’ was another song played on Later…with Jools Holland, and this one, with its electric guitar solo, reminded me of, once again, fellow Mancunians New Order. If I recall correctly, there is a Peter Hook-esque bassline. Although “This Life” differs entirely from anything they have done previously, you must feel it lacks the anthems we are accustomed to from the band. Despite that, this low-key album will not stop hardcore fans from flocking to their upcoming shows, and therefore, the band can enjoy themselves in the studio and have autonomy over what they want to record.

Song recommendations: ‘Windows’, ‘Brand New Sun, ‘We Got All Day’

7/10

Week 49: Gary Barlow- Music Played by Humans

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Whatever you may think about the chief songwriter and band member in Take That, he knows how to write a fucking song. As far as I am aware, he’s also bizarrely a Liverpool fan from Manchester, which is quite a rarity. Although his solo career didn’t go too well after the break up of Take That (They reformed in 2005 and are still going strong to date.), he was still very successful behind the scenes, writing songs for various artists and some of the songs he wrote for them might surprise you because you thought he was the forgotten man. So, is this Gary’s second solo album? It’s called “Music Played by Humans”, released almost two decades after his debut.

“Who’s Driving This Thing?” opens the record, and Gary can be heard introducing the album to the band in the studio and sharing laughs and jokes with them. It sets the mood for the whole record, which is very big band and swing. I’m not sure if he writes for Michael Buble (Who, funnily enough, does feature.), but the delivery is very much the same as how Michael would do it.

“The Big Bass Drum” is one of the essential tracks on the album, and Gary selflessly lets the musicians and the band take the limelight and blends in by accompanying them. For once, he hasn’t taken centre stage.

Again, Gary shows his abilities as a songwriter by switching moods and subjects. In “This Is My Time”, he talks about dying from love. “Enough is Enough” featuring Beverley Knight might prove his ability to write songs on any subject, but this track is not as melancholic as the title suggests. Now, the next track I thought I would want to skip and hate with a passion is “the Kind of Friend I Need”. Why? Because James Corden is on it, but he can sing, and it works. You can hear them ribbing each other between their verses, and as the album closes, James proclaims that he’s the best singer on the track. Gary replies, “It’s my album, you know?” I found the whole track lighthearted and funny. If you like big band and swing, this album is for you. I also was surprised to find out this from Gary. This kind of record should be played at restaurants or lounge bars. Very easy on the ear, funny, and guaranteed to make you feel upbeat.

NB: I later discovered that this is (Incredibly.) It’s Gary’s fifth solo studio album.

Song recommendations: “the Kind of Friend I Need”, “the Big Bass Drum”, “This is My Time”

8/10