Robbie Williams' musical taste varies from album to album. While his previous record still sounded like a commercial indie band thanks to the driving basses and guitars, Williams comes out with a full orchestra on his latest creation. The title suggests that this is Swing When You're Winning part two and that is partly true. There is not a single instrument that is not used; Williams does not shy
… away from the grand gesture. But unlike the big band album from 2001, most of the songs are now written by the singer himself. It is hard to imagine that this material, which is of a stale kind of sociability, is sung by a tattooed enfant terrible. Yet this is the material that the ex-Take That'er may be able to handle best. Williams has a great voice with which he hits high, low croons and comical talkative vocals convincingly. The British tongue-in-cheek is present in almost every song, giving the basically old-fashioned material a pleasant dose of lightness. The richness of this album is completed by the excellent guest appearances from Rufus Wainwright, Michael Bublé and Lily Allen, among others. (HF)more
