Luke Smith

Daily Arts Writer

Known more for his arrogance and squabbles with Oasis' Gallagher brothers than his brash snob rock, Robbie Williams' latest release, Sing When You're Winning, is a diverse dose of Brit-pop. Ego-maniac Williams lands his second stateside release showcasing lyrical wit and album-wide dynamics.

From the hook driven opening track "Let Love be Your Energy" to the concluding "The Road to Mandalay," Williams and collaborator Guy Chambers provide an entertaining 51 minutes. The first single, "Rock DJ," is Williams bass pumping, butt-shaking party anthem, with '70s grooves shaken up for the millennium.

"Supreme" contrasts the optimism found within "Millennium" with the lyric, "When there's no love in town/This new century keeps bringing you down," one of many couplets on Sing When You're Winning.

Williams' quirky lyrics pinnacle on the fifth track "Kids," when the pop-smart Englishmen rhymes "Do I care for sodomy?/I don't know, yeah probably."

Williams seems to take his music as he comes, infusing humor into his tracks and singing often about sex. He makes no qualms about the overuse of obvious rhyming couplets. However, he makes it work behind a wall of produced keyboards, drum loops and the occasional string samples.

Sing When You're Winning is exactly what it claims to be: A theatrical performance, highlighted by Williams' angelic voice both lulling the listener and punching home abrasive, irony-free lyrics. Huge hooks, catchy lyrics and smooth melodies all sang with a half-crooked smile keep Williams out of the loser's circle in 2000.

Grade: B