Artist: Robbie Williams
Title: The Heavy Entertainment Show (Deluxe)
Year Of Release: 2016-11-04
Label: Columbia
Genre: Pop/Rock, Dance-pop
Quality: FLAC (tracks) [24bit/44.1kHz]
Total Time: 01:01:12
Total Size: 741 Mb
Tracklist:
01. The Heavy Entertainment Show (03:23)
02. Party Like A Russian (03:03)
03. Mixed Signals (03:59)
04. Love My Life (03:28)
05. Motherfucker (04:18)
06. Bruce Lee (03:13)
07. Sensitive (03:16)
08. David's Song (04:14)
09. Pretty Woman (02:56)
10. Hotel Crazy (feat. Rufus Wainwright) (04:25)
11. Sensational (03:48)
12. When You Know (04:21)
13. Time On Earth (04:51)
14. I Don't Want To Hurt You (feat. John Grant) (04:19)
15. Best Intentions (03:44)
16. Marry Me (03:54)
"The Heavy Entertainment Show" is the eleventh studio album by English recording artist Robbie Williams. It was released on 4 November 2016 through Columbia Records. In May 2016, it was announced that Robbie Williams had signed a recording contract with Sony Music. Robbie Williams said in statement: "They're [Sony Music] inspired, I'm inspired. I'm more ready than I ever have been and I'm totally convinced I'm in the right place. I look forward to working on this album, which is an album I'm immensely proud of, in this exciting new partnership with Sony Music." The track "Mixed Signals" features all four members of the American alternative rock band the Killers performing all the instruments, as well as writing the song. The album was announced on 25 September 2016, and the same day the album's title track "Heavy Entertainment Show" was released as an "instant grat" through iTunes Store. The album's first official single, "Party Like a Russian", was released on 30 September 2016. The second single, "Love My Life", was released on 20 October 2016. On 7 November, Williams announced a concert tour titled The Heavy Entertainment Show Tour to promote the album. It will begin on 2 June 2017 in Manchester, England and will end on 10 September 2017 in Moscow, Russia. Two days before the album was released in the Netherlands, Williams received a gold edition of the album during his appearance on RTL Late Night on 2 November 2016 for over 20,000 pre-orders of the album in the country. It debuted at number 1 on the UK album's chart with combined first week sales of 67,000 copies sold.
~Wikipedia~
Establishing himself as the last of a particular breed, Robbie Williams makes his pop comeback on The Heavy Entertainment Show. Aptly titled, Williams is entertaining as ever, a consummate showman until the end. The album is a grab bag of ideas, darting here and there in its pursuit of a hit. However, this isn't too much of a distraction. Mr. Entertainment and his bombast do not disappoint. The Heavy Entertainment Show is his most invigorated album in years, a truer return to the pop realm than 2012's Take the Crown. Here, Williams dresses up his antics in expert production with plenty of cheekiness to spare. As the show begins, Williams announces "the charisma's non-negotiable" and "I'm about to strip and you're my pole." He's cocky, crass, and utterly engaging as a chorus of backup singers add, "He would sell his children for a hit in Belgium!" Few pop stars can pull this off, yet from Williams, it's almost comforting to see him once again embrace his braggadocious ringmaster persona. Longtime producer Guy Chambers makes his return to Williams' circus, along with a number of high-profile guests. The Killers-penned "Mixed Signals" is an open-road epic that sounds like a Battle Born castaway, while Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco join forces for the stomp-twang Avicii-lite "Pretty Woman." Rufus Wainwright contributes songwriting and his velvety voice to a trio of brassy tunes, kick-stepping alongside Williams on the aforementioned title track, as well as "Hotel Crazy" and the grand outro "Sensational." "David's Song" - penned by Jewel and Kara DioGuardi - is a heart-rending soft rock ballad that overwhelms with a powerful closing guitar solo and orchestral swell. However, it's producer Stuart Price who proves most valuable. In addition to the Killers track, he injects the album with a pair of addictive standout synth numbers. Highlight "Bruce Lee" is a Bowie-stomping glam number that struts its way through the pack, while "Sensitive" amps up the sensuality with echoing synths, handclaps, and juicy bass. Elsewhere, there are a couple love-or-hate tracks that stick out. The Prokofiev-sampling lead single "Party Like a Russian" - which sounds like something Muse would use to dramatically start a show - is big on drama and creativity, but might rub some listeners the wrong way with its cultural generalities. Meanwhile, the boldly titled "Motherfucker" seems like it's trying a little too hard to shock, yet it's the finest example of Williams' schtick. A heartwarming dedication to his young son, it is ridiculous yet completely uplifting. As it explodes into a guitar-drenched Oasis B-side, Williams recites a litany of family woes that could affect his offspring. It'll make grandma blush, but at the heart of it all, he's confident that his son will "break the chain" of sin. Despite that title and explicit lyrics, Williams allows some sincerity to shine through the sophomoric, remaining hilarious and full of heart. Eleven albums in and he's still one of the most likable acts around, truly one of a kind.
~Review by Neil Z. Yeung~