Greatest Hits

It is undeniable that Robbie Williams' foray into solo stardom was initially met with more than a touch of trepidation, but 19 top ten singles, 5 number 1 albums and global album sales in excess of 32 million can't be argued with.
Cataloguing the journey from boy-band oblivion to all conquering supreme, Greatest Hits is required listening for any pop fan. Opening the collection is lads anthem Old Before I Die, one of many high standards from the infancy of Williams' solo career, immediately followed by classic-in-waiting Angels, which will no doubt be the highlight of the album for many buyers.

One of the biggest problems facing Greatest Hits' compilations is keeping the release fresh, hence so many artists now include a new track or three to get the interest flowing and Robbie is no exception. Latest number 1 Radio is a hint towards a new era in Williams' evolution with it's darker edge and electronica, and with new track 2, Misunderstood, featuring in the latest Bridget Jones movie this collection surely can't miss! Standout tracks would definitely be Lazy Days, Let Me Entertain You and Kids, Robbie's duet with Kylie Minogue, and though not all tracks are as strong, Williams is an artist who weaves his soul into each release and such honesty alone makes every track deserving of your attention.

Sadly, Robbie favourites such as "Something beautiful" and "It's only us" did not make it onto this album, nor did his swingin' collaboration with Nicole Kidman, "Somethin' stupid", but the absence of certain tracks does not weaken this album in the slightest. Indeed, every single included here fantastically displays how far Williams has come in the music industry and how much both his voice and his musical direction has matured. So many of his hits are regarded as classics nowadays, notably the infectious "Let me entertain you", "Old before I die", "Millennium", "Rock DJ" and, of course, the stunning ballad "Angels", the song that arguably established Williams as the incredible musician that he is today. Astoundingly, this beautiful track did not even make the Top 3 in the UK, instead becoming the UK's biggest selling no. 4 single ever.

This album also shows how versatile Williams has been regarding his single releases, providing his listeners with ballads, laid-back pop and numerous rock-influenced tracks such as "Lazy days", an ultimate guitar fest, "Let love be your energy", one of the most catchy Williams songs with its infectious bass-driven bridge, and "Kids", his kicking duet with Kylie Minogue. "Angels" is not the only ballad that is thoroughly deserving of its classic status; "She's the one" is also a much-loved Williams track, despite being the only one of his singles which he hasn't had a hand in writing, and the haunting "Eternity" is just as popular among his loyal fans.

I personally admire Williams most for his mature, mid-tempo pop tracks, a genre which he has emphasised even more recently on his amazingly successful studio album "Escapology". Songs like "Come undone" and "Sexed up" are reminiscent of this laid-back style, and the mysterious use of the piano in "Feel" really moves the listener. Their lyrics are very meaningful and somewhat harsh compared to other Robbie tracks, except perhaps the disturbing reminder of his days in Take That, "No regrets", one of the best songs on the album in my opinion (although that was an exceptionally difficult choice to make). My other favourite is the totally unique "The road to Mandalay", which doesn't seem to fit into a particular genre. Its distinguishing chorus is very curious, with a slide guitar coming into effect over Williams' minimalist lyrics at this point ("pum, pum, pum, pa-da-da-pum-pum..."), and its minor key gives the song a mysterious aura.

The two most recent singles featured on this album are "Radio" and "Misunderstood". The former can be very strange on first listen as it is so different musically to anything Williams has released before, but it is instantly memorable. Synthesisers dominate this superb track, and its lyrics humorously show Williams' trademark innocent arrogance: "My performance is easy, I am the god of romance." "Misunderstood", on the other hand, is a much slower track smothered with a beautiful harmonica, again perfectly displaying Williams' versatility.

It is incredible when I consider just how successful Robbie Williams has become; I am sure he is the sole ex-boy band singer who has achieved five consecutive no. 1 albums in the UK and enjoyed over twenty top-selling singles, collecting fifteen BRIT awards and clocking up six UK no. 1 singles in the process. This Greatest Hits collection is an absolute must-buy for anyone who is a fan of mature pop music with a hint of individuality. In fact, a lot of individuality - there will never be another Robbie Williams.