Robbie Williams surprise releases new album BRITPOP – track by track review

Three weeks ahead of schedule, Robbie Williams has dropped his LP BRITPOP in attempt to land a 16th No1 album. Is he doing it for the fans or running scared from Harry Styles? Either way its a return to form and great love letter to the 90s. Play spot the 90s references with nods to songs by Oasis, Elastica, Divine Comedy, Damon Albarn, Spice Girls and more.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS has surprised released his new album, BRITPOP three weeks early.

Out now, the 11 track collection had already been delayed once to avoid competing in the charts with Taylor Swift last year. Robbie currently holds the record for the most UK No1 albums by a solo artist (15), a record he broke in 2022 with his album XXV. He is tied with The Beatles for the most No1 albums overall.

His hope is that BRITPOP will land him that 16th No1 album: “I want that more than anything in my career right now.”

BRITPOP had been scheduled for release on February 6 and while no official reason for the change has been given, it does give fans the chance to get to know the tunes better before his intimate Long 90’s Tour’ which kicks off in Glasgow on February 4 where he will play the LP in full along with debut album, Life Thru A Lens.

However, there are whispers that Rob changed the release date to avoid competing with another big release, possibly Harry Styles in his attempt to claim that 16th No1.

Whatever the reason, BRITPOP is undoubtedly a return to form for Rob who describes it as the music he wishes he had made after quitting Take That back in the day. The end result is a love letter to the 90s with plenty of opportunities for fans to spot familiar nods to 90s classics.

The world loves Robbie when he’s strutting around enjoying being Robbie Williams, and it does sound like he’s rather fond of himself again. Here’s the Daily Star’s low down on the music track by track:

ROBBIE WILLIAMS / BRITPOP ****

1. Rocket – featuring Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi this is Rob playing the garage rocker with aplomb and turning the guitars up to 11. It’s raw and visceral, but Rob’s vocals can’t help but keep it in the realm of pop.

2. Spies – the first of two anthemic Oasis-alike moments, Rob acknowledges its similarity to Champagne Supernova and joked: “Noel don’t f**king sue me – all the things you’ve nicked!”

3. Pretty Face – armed with guitars crunchier than a bag of McCoys crisps this is an anthemic ode to Rob’s missus Ayda Field who he serenades with “the biggest prize is what’s behind those eyes.”

4. Bite Your Tongue – Rob is on his ‘best behaviour’ for this electro charged rocker with echoes of Republica (remember them?) and Damon Albarn: “I don’t condone bad things, I condone what’s nice…embrace the madness.”

5. Cocky – The DNA of Supergrass star Gaz Coombes is all over this swaggering 70s glam rocker that sounds a bit like The Sweet’s classic Blockbuster. “You get to talk to Jesus while I get to talk to God,” he hollers Rob confronts his alter ego.

6. All My Life – don’t be fooled by the chirpy intro, this rousing mid tempo anthem soon morphs into another Oasis pastiche with a gargantuan chorus you can almost picture Liam Gallagher singing with his hands behind his back. Lyrically it’s a celebration of everything that Robbie is: “The only thing I miss is misbehaviour.”

7. Human – Rob’s delicate AI takedown, “We’re too smart. We’ve got hearts, we’ve got souls. This is a song about our dystopian future.” He’s assisted by Chris Martin and Stoke’s favourite son gets to compliment God on his decor skills during the middle eight.

8. Morrissey – amusing synth pop gem about stalking The Smiths legend who he clearly feels is misunderstood. Gary Barlow helped write this one, and it recalls Rob’s Pet Shop Boys collab She’s Madonna in spirit.

9. You – Rob was clearly an Elastica fan as he pinches the verse to their hit Connection, but the soaring chorus has all the hallmarks of prime Lightning Seeds or You & Me by The Wannadies.

10. It’s Okay Until The Drugs Stop Working – Top of the lot, this is blatantly a love letter to the Divine Comedy with a few cheeky doffs of his Union Jack pants to the Spice Girls, namely their smash Stop.

11. Pocket Rocket – a sweet ballad style reworking of the opening track shifting the focus of the lyrics from Robbie himself to a woman.

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