Review: Robbie Williams Latest, Reality Killed the Video Star

Let me start this by saying that I love Robbie Williams, so, if you're looking for an unbiased opinion on his new album Reality Killed the Video Star, you're in the wrong place. Then again, I can't speak for the rest of The Round Table, so I'll just say that you're reading the wrong post. Though, I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason Jayvee hates Whitney Houston so much is because Whitney is, in fact, not Robbie Williams. But I digress...

My Robbie Williams high-water mark was Intensive Care. For me, it hit a perfect balance between ballads and "move-it" tracks. It took the strongest parts from previous albums and made them better. "Ghosts" could have been "Monsoon," platinum edition. There is no substitute for "Rock DJ," but if I had to pick, it would probably be "Tripping." I know people love "Angels," as I do, but I think "Advertising Space" was pretty awesome.

And then there was Rudebox. Let me again flavor this review by saying that I loved the album - from "The 80's" to "She's Madonna." Plus, he covered Human League's "Louise!" Girl please, if Lady Gaga's hairstylist can sell a million records, then Robbie Williams should have been king of the airwaves.

But, assuming you didn't like Rudebox, or just don't want to hear Robbie rap - the new album, Reality Killed the Video Star, should be a welcome return to form.

There are a few Rudebox holdovers on here, at least stylistically - see "The Last Days of Disco" and "Difficult for Weirdos." But we're also seeing songs like "Morning Sun" which wouldn't have been out of place on Escapology. There's the awesome "Bodies," which isn't so far from "Supreme" or "Millennium."

In short, Reality Killed the Video Star seems like a good place for Robbie right now. It's pulled together a lot of his strengths - simultaneously giving us a taste of the old, without being awkward on the shelf next to Rudebox. Forest's top 5 Robbie songs:

1. Win Some, Lose Some
2. Ghosts
3. She's Madonna
4. Monsoon
5. Supreme