I'm not a big fan of pop music by all means but every now and then I will make an exception because the artist/band actually has talent and puts out music that isn't so contrived and ridiculously cheesy (in a bad way). Robbie Williams is one of those pop artists whose music is actually enjoyable to listen to. I loved his covers album "Swing When You're Winning" but that cd was only available as an import. "Sing When You're Winning" was good but it was a flawed album. Still that album is by far better than Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlton, and Pink's albums combined. Robbie's US debut "The Ego Has Landed" was a solid [US] debut album with one or two misses on a mostly consistent album. Why Robbie isn't popular in this country is beyond me? After listening to "Escapology" I sure hope he doesn't get the shaft again by the American public. "Escapology" is by far Robbie's best album released on this side of the Atlantic ocean. I guess people don't get his cheeky British humor like on the song "Me and My Monkey" and on "Rock DJ" from "Sing When You're Winning". What I like about Robbie Williams so much is that he doesn't take himself remotely seriously unlike his American peers Justin Timberlake (blech!) and Christina Aguilera. I think Robbie's songwriting skills have improved over the years. Although he still collaborated with longtime writing partner Guy Chambers, Robbie has branched out and wrote a few songs with Boots Ottestad and even one song "One Fine Day" by himself. All the songs are incredibly infectious and catchy. I loved every song on this cd and didn't find one I didn't like unlike his previous albums. I sure hope Robbie gets the recognition that he so deserves now that he is on a different record company. Capital Records did a horrible job of [not] promoting Robbie as an artist. "Escapology" deserves the publicity and airplay as any other pop artist receives.

Hopefully so.

Robbie is a worldwide superstar, on the same level as Madonna, everywhere but here in the U.S. Why? Maybe his cheeky British persona doesn't translate well to U.S. audiences. I'm not sure, and I don't understand why because other British acts with less talent than Robbie have had major success on these shores. It really makes no sense, but it might have had something to do with Capitol Records failure to market Robbie's U.S. releases. (Capitol did a horrible job with Duran Duran in the mid-to-late 90's- so it's not like they don't have some sort of track record with screwing up big acts careers!)

With "Escapology" Robbie has jumped the Capitol ship and has moved to Virgin Records. Hopefully they'll know what to do with him. The first single is "Feel" and it is easily one of the catchiest and hit-worthy tunes of 2003. There is actual songwriting going on here kids- that's something that is up for debate on most of what appears on today's hit parade. There is no mistaking what Robbie is singing- each song tells a story. This is an artist with something to say. It may be a bit bittersweet at times, but it never turns out preachy. He says exactly what is on his mind as is evidenced by the parental warning sticker that appears on the cover. The language doesn't go over in a rap-styled, offensive, "hide your kids ears" sort of way at all. Lyrically it's just very real, heartfelt, confessional, and at all times highly listenable.

One of the interesting things about Robbie's music is that it really doesn't strike a chord as being overly British at all. In fact, "Escapology" is his most "American" sounding effort yet. It doesn't sound like a calculated move to sell cd's either. "Escapology" might not grab you with hook laden arrangements like anything from "The Ego Has Landed" or "Sing When You're Winning", but everything starts clicking after subsequent spins. There aren't any obvious poppy songs here like "Millennium" or "Rock DJ". This is a more serious side of Robbie. But don't worry, you can't help but feel that his tongue isn't far from his cheek.

What you get here is 14 more Robbie Williams gems. There's not a stinker in the bunch.

You have to love any album where out of nowhere comes a reference to Sheena Easton! ("Me And My Monkey")

I know it's only April, but this is my album of the year (so far).

I think too many people reviewing this album tend to write Robbie Williams off as a brat and therefore start off biased to anythin he does. Shame really, because the guy's much more than a popcorn munching teenybopper. Escapology is an album that sounds different from anything he's done before and covers a lot of new ground. Tracks like Feel, Revolution, The World's most handsome man, Monsoon and Hot Fudge are all first class and deserve extended airplay. The other tracks are excellent too, but special mention must be made of Me and my Monkey and Nan's song which are by far the best songs on the album. Don't mis the hidden tracks on the CD especially the second one which is a scream.

Go on give the guy a chance to grow on you. I promise you he's worth the trouble. Music needs characters like Robbie Williams to kee things interesting.

The US version has most of the same songs, but its missing the great songs "Hot Fudge" (the best RW song yet), "Song 3" and "Cursed". But here you get "Get A Little High", "How Peculiar Reprise" and "One Fine Day". Its better to get the import because you get Get A Little High and One Fine Day on the Come Undone and Sexed Up import singles. Still, the US version is Robbie, so its great too.

Warning! When I bought this from Amazon, it came as one

of the new "copy protected" not-CDs that have recently

been coming out.

These may not play on all systems, especially computers.

Music is pretty good, some outstanding tracks, a couple fillers.