Robbie gets back into the swing of things with his latest album
ROBBIE WILLIAMS/ SWINGS BOTH WAYS
After professing his deep love for swing in the form of 2001's Swing When You're Winning, the reigning king of British pop is back at it with a sequel that sees him reuniting with a long-time producer Guy Chambers and former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow. Cheekily titled Swings Both Ways, Williams' second venture into the genre features both cover versions of old-school favourites (including one of his own) as well as new compositions. And in the same vein as Swing When You're Winning, there's also a handful of duets for us all to delight in with a guest spot from the likes of Rufus Wainwright, Lily Allen, Olly Murs, Kelly Clarkson and the king of swing himself, Michael Buble.
The album opens with an uptempo original track, Shine My Shoes, which is basically a diss to his detractors _ "The way you don't love me kind of makes you look ugly and the words you say." The "Hey, hey, hey," bit makes the song shine, but other than that it doesn't really leave a lasting impression. Not a bad start but not that great either. Next up is the first single, Go Gentle, in which the singer puts on a protective daddy hat and warns his daughter of "the zoo" and "bitter disappointments" brought about by men. "So when you go dancing with young men down at the disco/Just keep it simple/You don't have to kiss though," he sings over a warm swell of horns and a toe-tapping melody.
Williams then gets whimsical on the Olly Murs-assisted rendition of Louis Prima's Jungle Book classic I Wan'na Be Like You, and a come-hither, double entendre-filled duet with Rufus Wainwright on the title track where the pair croon: "Everybody swings both ways/From the butchest, the bandits, the fairest, the faggots and singers with everything they need," before Wainwright wittingly quips: "Face it Robbie, you're a little bit gay." As expected, Lily Allen lends her cutesy coo to the sweet lullaby Dream a Little Dream, while Buble adds his trademark razzmatazz to another original, Soda Pop and Clarkson delivers a slightly held-back performance on Bobby Russell's Little Green Apples.
More highlights, apart from his duet with Wainwright, include a serene cover of If I Only Had a Brain from The Wizard of Oz, and the album's grandiose closer No One Likes a Fat Pop Star whose opening lines are perhaps the best we've heard of late _ "I come from a land of kebabs and curries/Second helpings, no worries." He then concludes: "No breakfast, no luncheon/Just carpets I'll munch on/And a thimble of self esteem." All in all, Swings Both Ways marks Williams' welcome return to a genre that he loves so much, providing equal amounts of fun and substance only he can successfully pull off.
THE PLAYLIST
Moving and Cut/ Hai Jai
Moving and Cut is a solo project by local musician Parin Korawis, who's currently making a name for himself with a crowd-pleasing acoustic sound and lovelorn lyrics. His first single, Ploi Hai Tua Chan Pai (Let Me Go) was a sleeper hit last year, and Moving and Cut is offering more of the same on his second single, Hai Jai (Breathe). "Please, I beg you, to wait for me/To get ready and to breathe/Don't disappear just yet," he whispers alongside the melodic guitar. If easy-listening music is your thing, he's definitely your new go-to guy.
Lea Michele/ Cannonball
Singer and actress Lea Michele is breaking out of the hit musical TV show Glee to fully embrace the pop world with the release of her debut album, Louder. With help from Norwegian hit-makers Stargate (Rihanna, Katy Perry), the 27-year-old star embarks on her solo career with Cannonball, a hopeful ballad co-written by in-demand lyricists Sia Furler and Benny Blanco. Singing during the soaring chorus: "And now I will start living today/Today, today I close the door/I got this new beginning and I will fly/I'll fly like a cannonball," Michele projects admirable positivity following the death of her fiance and co-star Cory Monteith last year.
Mike WiLL Made-It (featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J)/ 23
After lending a hand to big-name pop artists including Rihanna, Ciara and Miley Cyrus, rising hip hop producer Mike WiLL Made-It calls upon rappers Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J to aid him on 23, the first single taken from his highly-anticipated debut studio album, EST in 1989 Pt3. Production-wise, it's typical Mike WiLL fare, complete with synth loops and slick bass lines. Lyrically, we have Cyrus attempting to rap _ "If you're a lame, that's a shame, you can't hang with us/I'm MC Hammer fly, you can't touch J's so fly/I should work at Flight Club," _ followed by some big talk about footwear and getting high courtesy of Khalifa and Juicy J.
Broods/ Never Gonna Change
Thanks to Lorde, who single-handedly dominated the music scene last year, music fans have now shifted their attention towards New Zealand for exciting new artists. Among them are brother-sister duo Georgia and Caleb Nott who craft a stunning sound mired in sophisticated melancholy under the name of Broods. Following their gorgeous first single, Bridges, the pair have dropped another lush single, Never Gonna Change, which was co-written and co-produced by Joel Little (the same guy who put his magic touch on Lorde's Pure Heroine). The track finds Georgia putting her glacial croon to good use while singing about relationship woes: "And I hate that I can't say your name/Without feeling like I'm part of the blame."
James Vincent McMorrow/ Red Dust
For those who aren't familiar with the name, James Vincent McMorrow is an Irish singer-songwriter who started out as an indie folk artist with an impressive debut album, Early in the Morning, back in 2010. Now, almost four years later, McMorrow returns with a second studio album, Post Tropical, which marks a significant departure from his old sound. As it is, Red Dust comes furnished with twinkling piano, subtle electronic flourishes and a hint of classic R&B flavour while his mesmerising voice is thankfully kept intact. "Sometimes my hands/They don't feel like my own/I need someone to love/I need to someone to hold," he unravels the words in his trademark falsetto. Breathtaking stuff.
