Robbie Williams - Intensive Care (Parental Advisory) [PA] (CD 2005)

Some people dislike Robbie, thinking him arrogant, cocky, too full of himself.

They may be right, but he has many reasons to be pleased with himself with this album. It's evidence, if it were needed, of his ever-expanding talent, and I absolutely cannot get 'Tripping' out of my head now!!

This album will please existing fans, but will also draw in new admirers, many of whom may be getting this one for Christmas. And regardless of what age they are, they won't be disappointed.

OK, I have to admit, I am a Robbie fan, and yes I have all his albums, so my 5/5 rating probably comes as no surprise to you. What I found surprising was exactly how good it was. I had no preconceptions about this album after his two year break and listened to it with an open mind. I was hooked from the moment I heard it. I couldn't stop listening to it the first night and stayed up until 1am going through all the tracks again and again. Over the weeks since the songs have just got better for me and there is only one track I am not that fussed about. I am the same age as Rob and I think that helps me to relate so closely to the lyrics.

My favourite track : MAKE ME PURE.

I've never said this about music before, but this album is going to stay with me forever.

When Robbie Williams was beginning to make his one true push toward success in the United States, he released an album that compiled highlights from the two huge selling albums that he had already created in the United Kingdom. He called this compilation The Ego Has Landed.

On Intensive Care, the Ego finally lands.

Part of this is likely due to a new choice of songwriting partner. Stephen Duffy of The Lilac Time is now the man behind the curtain, and the version of Robbie Williams that he embraces is one that shows a bit more restraint than the Robbie of old while still retaining the tendency toward big sounds and big statements. The silliness is muted, the musicality is emphasized, and we end up with something that actually sounds like a real, honest to God album rather than a collection of songs.

This may not be evident from the start. The first, much publicized lines that Williams sings almost immediately at the outset of Intensive Care are "Here I stand victorious / The only man that made you come," and most anyone could be forgiven a roll of the eyes and a knee-jerk dismissal of the rest of the album. To be sure, Robbie Williams' muse is still Robbie Williams. As opening track "Ghosts" progresses, however, a settling takes place, and the song ends up turning into David Bowie through a foggy U2 filter, which is somehow a good thing. The slow build is wonderful, and the mood is one of regret for the past rather than pompous examination of the present. "Look at the time it's taken me / To get away from what was said," says Williams, simultaneously offering a plea for mercy from a singular antagonist and hinting toward the hurt that has been caused him via a merciless press corps.

These moments of openness and humility occur throughout Intensive Care, though they're often said with a hint of swallowed bitterness, as if our Robbie knows he's throwing us a bone here. "Tell a joke / Tell it twice / If no one else is laughing / Then why am I?," he asks toward the beginning of the country ballad (complete with gospel choir) "Make Me Pure", offering the possibility that perhaps he brings the criticism on himself. Still, in the same song, he outlines his own reluctance to change in the simple refrain of "Oh Lord / Make me pure / But not yet." It's this conflict, this sense of aging and a growing maturity against the wishes of the omnipresent, forever-young-in-his-own-mind narrator, that allows Intensive Care to remain fascinating on repeated listens.

Musically, the album takes on most of Williams' typical jack of all trades tendencies, careening from arena rock to country to synth-pop to ska-tinged Latin over the course of the album. Williams' songs tend to be strongest when he's being safest musically -- mid-tempo rockers like "Random Acts of Kindness" and "Spread Your Wings" sound as though Williams was born to sing them, while slower material like "Make Me Pure" and particularly the exquisite "Advertising Space" will get lighters in the air all over the world.

It's not clear that Williams was going into Intensive Care hoping to come up with a coming of middle-age album, but that's what we get. The Ego has landed -- Robbie's growing up.

Take two years of continuous writing and recording, throw in Lilac Time's Stephen Duffy as a new writing partner and you may have thought 'Intensive Care' would be a worringly apt title. Fear not, Robbie emerges fighting fit with his most complete CD to date; 'Tripping' is just the beginning.
Track List
Ghosts
Tripping
Make Me Pure
Spread Your Wings
Advertising Space
Please Don't Die
Your Gay Friend
Sin Sin Sin
Random Acts Of Kindness
The Trouble With Me
A Place To Crash
King Of Bloke And Bird

Having been a massive Robbie fan since his TT days I have very album, and I cant believe that every album just gets better & better. Ghosts is the perfect start to the album upbeat and entertaining and as the album goes on the songs don't disapoint my favourite has to be your gay friend just for the laughs and sin sin sin for the catchy lyrics. This album is a must for any music fan not just a Robbie Fan!

Once again Mr Williams delivers the goods with his fantastic new album 'Intensive Care' Mostly written with Stephen Duffy, Robbie has taking a slightly different direction that with Escapology. It's been 2 years since his last studio album but well worth the weight. If it's dancy numbers you like, you'll love 'A Place To Crash' - This song just makes you get up and dance about or a slow ballad like 'Advertising Space'. Intensive Care has something for everyone. I Love the song Spread Your Wings. It's one of those songs you can imagine at his concerts with everyone's hands in the air. Also the first song on the album, 'Ghosts', will be a fantastic opener for any Rob gig, Replacing 'Let me Entertain You'. If you like any type of music..This Albums for you

Well for the die hard RW fan such as myself you couldnt be blamed for buying this latest album.
This shows a more carousmatic side to our Robster with a few extra dreams and idols thrown in.
There are 12 tracks on this album including MAKE ME PURE and TRIPPIN just to name two.
Robbie has takern another leaf out of madonnas book and made hisself into another fine representaion of todays charts with a new sound and approach to his music.
One of Robbies tracks has even been dedicated in a way to the king of rock Mr ELVIS PRESLY.
Im not saying everything is new because this is definatly tyhe robbie we have all grown to love, tracks 4, 5, 7 and 10 are definatly his old ways reappearing.
The New album INTENSIVE CARE shows a bit more of his insecurities coming to the surface.
Personally I dont think he has any worries all of the tracks are a masterpiece in themselves speading a bit more ROBSTER magic in the world.

Just remember its not just his music its the words and the meanings behind it all that makes this album one of his best yet.

Robbie Williams arguably one of this countries greatest ever musicians!
Is there anything bad to say about this man? cocky...arrogant...full of himself? I dont think so, this guy is a legend in his own right. His latest album is another monster that will undoubtably not be his last. I had the good fortune of meeting Robbie way back in 1991 in Mansfield at what was then Limited Editions when he was doing the club circuits with Take That, he was funny and a genuinely warm nice bloke then but as he's matured he has got better and better. I really think there is no stopping him. Keep doing what you do best Robbie and long may you reign King of Pop

Where do i begin with this review! This has to be the absolute best thing i have heard in such a long time. The album is fantastic! when you listen to it it is as if you have haerd all the songs before it is mesmerizin. I hope that when i go see him next year it is better than the cd which i dare say it will be. You just keep gettin better Robbie carry on with all your hard work.

This has got to be Robbie's best album yet! He keeps getting better and better. I would highly recommend this album to anyone!

williams is not a likeable person.Hes like the unfunny funny man,so i judge this on his ability as an artiste.it is disappointing but will sell massively on his name alone.truthfully the songs are average and instantly forgettable yet he has a fair voice.it will be interesting to see how he changes his style in years to come,assuming he stays out of intensive care

I have been a fan of his since the days of take that, and this album is fantastic. Ive played it soo soo many times and wow when he sings low, it really gets to me lol.... I love Ghost!!!! i love make me pure, there all good songs! Cant wait to see him in concert next year!!!. Hope he will enjoy doing them as much as i enjoy listening to them!!

Robbie William's new album Intensive Care has so much more musical and lyrical treats from the tattooed crooner, well he can still pack a punch! This album has an added reggae and 80's influences chucked in for extra zest, pure pleasure for me, listening to the album in the car!!

What i like about it, i have every cd/album Robbie as done and i think every album just keeps on getting better and better.

This is the best of all Robbie's albums. The others were hard to top, but this is the best one. From the opening of Ghosts to the last moments of King Of Bloke And Bird, Robbie shows why he is so loved by many music fans. Make Me Pure is my favourite track which (dare i say it?) is better than Angels. Recommend it? Certainly!

Having taken a new job, which meant a round trip of 100 miles or so, it meant that I could listen to the 'Today' programme on Radio 4 on the way to work. When driving home, I had decided to listen to some cds which worked well for a while, until I realised that some of them were becoming too familiar. I felt that I needed to update my collection.

At first, I made the bold, yet unwise, step of asking my daughters if hey had anything that their dad could listen to. The universal 'no!' was, perhaps, not unexpected.

Having no clear of which cds I wanted to listen to, I heard a song on one of the music channels and realised that I had heard it before, although it was by Robbie Williams, called 'Advertising Space'. Two weeks went by before I heard
it again and I asked my daughters if they had the cd with the song on it. They said it was his latest cd and, no, they did not have it. They also laughed.

Once they told me the title of the cd, I checked for details on eBay and eventually succeeded in a winning bid, where I was happy with the price.

I could not wait for the delivery which was not long. Driving to work with my new cd, Robbie got the better of the 'Today' programme and I played 'Advertising Space' - it was wonderful! A lovely melody with lyrics which gave a completely different angle to 'The King'. The last verse is both personal and poignant building up to an ending that DJs loathe.

I replayed the song time after time, and still do, and never get tired of hearing it. Most of the other songs are good and some are superb. Yet it is strange when listening to an artist's new work, how some songs stand on a far higher plane than others: the arrangement and sheer power of the song. That is certainly the case with 'Advertising Space'.

Another excellent song is 'The Trouble With Me', which has very clever lyrics and a surprisingly catchy choral arrangement in the middle and at the end. I am delighted with my cd and have not become tired with it yet.

Meanwhile, my cd has not won me any Brownie points with my daughters, for when my eldest daughter announced that she bought 'us' tickets for Robbie's concert in Milton Keynes, I asked if she had one for me. Laughing, she said 'No! Only for Sophie and Mum.'. However, once again, perhaps the answer was not unexpected.

Well, they did all see Robbie at Knebworth, and clearly want more. As for me, I will be envious if he sings 'Advertising Space' and also 'The Trouble With Me'at the concert, which would work incredibly well. Still, I shall continue to listen to a thoroughly enjoyable cd on my journey.

Robbie fans and music fans are in for a treat! The Ablum *insenstive care* is very good music featureing his no. 1 based on the album *Insenstive care!* Very good lyrics to all of his songs. THis will hit your music collection with a bang! enjoy!

what i like about it is robbies easy way,he is the best that is why i bought it
when he is singing he just seems to relax you and make you feel all hot and bothered

Loved all music and saw tour in Paris which was awesome. Lost orginal cd and just longed to hear it all again!! Probably wore out original as played it so much. Great music by great performer. Will probably weare this one out as well - on case!!

From the brilliant escapology album previously you would have expected this to be a moment of greatness. However that was not meant to be. Whereas every track on the previous album had something to shout about and was by far his crowning glory, intensive care lacks the passion and sing-a-long quirkiness that we have come to expect from the robster! Certain track stand out though from the otherwise mediocre album, namely, Ghosts (classic line "here I stand victorious, the only man to ever make you come"), Make Me Pure, Advertising Space and Your Gay Friend. The rest being brutally honest sound like poor B-sides. As a massive Robbie fan, seen him 3 times live, it was a album I wanted to own but cant see me playing it much. Even sing when your winning is better!!!

I bought the cd as i am a robbie fan. It was recieved quickly and in fantastic condition! Great E-bying!!!

Theres about 6 really good tracks on here and the rest are ok. Trouble with me, sin, advertising space, dont die are the pick of the bunch. Well worth buying for those as you can get it for a couple of quid off ebay.

i have all robbie williams cds apart from this one,so i decided to buy it ,it is in excellent condition,great music