Life Thru A Lens

Come on now chaps, stop your whinging. It’s only fair this list has a nice bit of Mum Rock.

An utterly bizarre inclusion. I bet even Robbie Williams doesn't think this album should be on the list. Completely unmemorable except for the whiny spoken word hidden track at the end where he's bragging about flying first class.

Ha ha, absolutely not! 😅

Angels is a banger, as are Lazy Days and South of the Border. The highs are high enough to make me wonder why nobody in America knows who he is. Good stuff, although I might not listen to the album as a whole for a while again. I get that the secret song at the end of the album was after a while of silence, but for Spotify purposes they could have separated the last two songs, thank you!

I've heard this guys name come up many times but had honestly never listened to any of his music before. Sounded very Oasis-y 90s in some of the tracks.

I was looking forward to Rock DJ. It’s not on this album. It wasn’t bad, Angels and Let Me Entertain You are great but the rest of the album felt like a weaker George Michael album.

Angels is the highlight of the album, but it's not like that's the best song ever. This was less boring than a out of other Britpop I've heard so it gets a point for that.

Derivative sub-Oasis but a cut above most 90s pop fare with two classics of the genre (the impact of each of which is cleverly magnified by being positioned after utter dross).

I have collectively belted out Angels at so many happy occasions that I might be biased but i do think it’s a great piece of pop music. For the rest though, while I understand Robbie’s star appeal and success, I find him pretty limited as a co-songwriter (a lot of cliched/borrowed ideas on here) and as a singer (like he’s just about getting away with what he’s trying to do), and overall it just leaves me cold.

Proper British indie, this

The influential post-punk band Wire did not like Robbie Williams' music. In a 2001 interview with Robots and Electronic Brains, Wire frontman Colin Newman explicitly criticised Williams' musical output, calling it "total shite and of really only marginal interest". On Angels: I have to begrudgingly respect any song universal enough to be adapted for serenading a football manager from the terraces. Still don’t like it, though. 📸 / 5

I liked it, may need more listens

British people stopped being cool after Led Zeppelin disbanded in 1980

I didn't know anything about him (or "Take That") until I started watching a documentary about him a while back. About half way through the doc, I sort of lost interest - Kind of like this album. Okay poppy sound but not very memorable. I guess he's a big deal in the UK having come from the boy band era, so not my cup of tea!

Not bad but not memorable either. Decent tenor voice, though almost child-like in its quality.

Not for me but a few bangers.

I tried but I couldn't get into these songs.

This mostly felt like generic alternative/indie rock. I liked Life Through a Lens, and Angels was a good ballad. Let Me Entertain You was good dumb fun. There were equal parts of songs that felt lame to me though - Killing Me and Clean. They also did the 15 minute track with 10 minutes of dead air. I thought my bluetooth was broken again on my computer. Eff this guy.

Hits are good. Seems to vary between Beatle-esque sounds to a Brit version of Guns N' Roses. I really should like him more but I don't.

I have lived under a rock apparently and never heard this guy except the "Angel" song. Not bad; however, surprised he is apparently absurdly prolific in UK.

I haven't heard anything that sounds this manufactured in a while. Every song felt like it was just working through a pop music checklist. Nothing sounded like actual organic songwriting. Great album cover, though.

Largely bland and insipid with plenty of weak lyrics. Kind of as expected really!

The majority of this album is poor quality bland pop that Take That would have been ashamed to release. Saved by well written and performed Angels and Let Me Entertain You.

I liked this album. I would call it Power Pop. The songs are catchy, easy to listen to, and the vibe is pleasant. Good vocals, good production. No complaints.

There are more undeserving albums in this list, but this one wasn't really needed.

I hadn't realised this was quite so Britpop, but you can hear that influence from the off. However it feels quite safe in the delivery, which is maybe a hangover from being in a massive boy-band..? It feels very clean and without many edges in the production. It's a perfectly fine listen, but it's kind of light and fluffy. Angels is a big hit for a reason.

I was not previously familiar with this album. This is a rock album which to my ears sounds like Brit pop. I really like the track Let Me Entertain You, but otherwise nothing really stood out much. I could take or leave the album as a whole, probably would not pick this out to listen again.

kind of like if Oasis was my coherent but somehow way dumber. the spoken word hidden track at the end was insane

He has a uniquely sounding voice must be his wherever Brit accent. It's smooth but lacks depth n emotion on this LP anyway. Saw him on the Graham Norton Show his storytelling is hilarious.

# Album Name: Life Thru A Lens # Artist: Robbie Williams # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Old robs getting a lot of flack on the reviews for this one. But i duno, i enjoyed it. Maybe its a bit nostalgia. Poppy britpop for sure but some decent tracks on here. Angels is probably one of the best known songs of all time too. # Top Tunes: Lazy days / thru a lens / angels / old before i die / let me entertain you / killing me # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Jedinica iz principa PLAČEM on mi je najveći guilty pleasure ikad ali iz etičkih razloga sad ne smijem slušati pa mi je ovo dobro došlo da moram, bila bi barem veoma dobra četvorka od mene nažalost.

6/10

I've got a soft spot for Robbie Williams, mainly from the monkey movie. That said, he is just pure Britpop. Nothing wrong with that, but it is pretty funny. Favorite Songs: South of the Border, Let Me Entertain You, Angels

Over het algemeen leuke maar standaard nummers. Angels past niet op dit album.

10/28/26. First time listening to Robbie Williams! Very poppy but catchy songs; I can excuse watering down the 90s Britpop sound since the songs are well written and the vocals shine.

Oh, come on. Overproduced silliness.

My maw had me convinced this was a good album when I was young, it’s not. Top bops: Angels Let me entertain you

This was fine, actually somewhat better than I expected seeing a slightly lower global average. Not the greatest I’ve heard but solidly 3/5 no real complaints

I've heard a few of his songs and saw the movie and couldn't really figure out how he never broke through to the us but listening to this album it is painfully clear. He is soooooo British. He clearly did not want to break through. He had zero interest in American culture and that's fine. He's British. But man. It feels so corny coming from am American.

There is propaganda out there that Robbie is a monkey but I am not convinced. I think a monkey would have done better.

This was just okay

I can’t even begin to tell you how disappointed I am that I had to listen to an album from the monkey man.

Better than I expected for a Britpop album. Catchy tunes and enough variation to make it interesting.

oversteeg nooit niveau van N'Sync.. of nee, was het Westlife? of One Direction? of Take That? nu, was dus inwisselbaar met eender welke boysband uit de 90s (of 80s of 00s of 10s of 20s...)

I've not listened to this for a long long time. I think I had it on CD but would need to double check. It was a pleasant listen, he has a great voice and had strong song writers. I really can't say a bad thing about it, and I'd happily pay it again. I might even play some of his other earlier work, bit not past the first 4 albums... There was a definite drop off for him.

Just boyband pop filtered through Oasis. Generic yet fine for what it is. It's not trying to be amazing, it's for kids. Has some bangers.

This was good on the ears. I’ve seen some criticism on how he made an album that copies others’ sound. Regardless, I dig it.

Good

an average album by a former boy band member. nothing exciting or noteworthy. listen only if this is your genre.

Middle of the road here. There were some tracks that caught my attention, but I won't be seeking this one out in the future

The music itself wasn't bad but on the whole, it was painfully (and I mean painfully) British

forget monkey, this guy's a chameleon. good enough pop shapeshifting but idk, will never listen to this again

My perception of Robbie Williams as maker of shallow dance pop was absolutely shattered with this album. It’s no grand sweeping philosophical treatise but it’s an excellently catchy, just-deep-enough power pop album that had me audibly saying “Wow this is really good” multiple times.

4.3/10

Poppig rock. Let Me Entertain You och Angels hits man minns. Fler bra låtar.

Hits..

I feel the same about this as I did when it first came out. I shouldn't like it but I really, really do. There isn't a bad track on it - I think this might be a great album ...

Gówno nie mogłem tego słuchac

The only thing i know about this guy is how desperate he is to be remembered

This artist isn't new to me in the slightest. Neither is a few of the songs on this album. The hits are songs that I have heard before and I get why they are so much bigger than the other songs. The album as a whole is really good, its catchy and easy to listen through but the hits are so good, they raise the whole album a level above. A few more of those and this would be a perfect score for me.

Here's what I thought listening to this album: You know what I need? A biopic on this guy, who barely registered outside the UK. But instead of a normal biopic, let's make him an animated monkey. Yes, that would be amazing. To recap: A movie about a pop star who I've barely heard of, but as a monkey. It will PRINT money. Seriously, though, after listening through even I can't tell which of songs would have been the singles and big hits with the kids in Manchester and South London. That tells you all you need to know. EDIT: I looked it up and apparently Angels was the big hit, at least in the UK. Huh. You brits are weird.

If this was made more recently I'd say it was AI generated. It's the most generic 90s britpop I've ever heard.

Monkey!

Lo que me pasa con este disco es que yo no soy una chica pop Canciones favoritas: Angels, Life Thru a Lens, Let Me Entertain You

Favorite songs: Lazy Days, Life Thru a Lens, Angels, Old Before I Die, Clean

This is the monkey movie guy. He did a biography of himself as a monkey. It's true look it up. Thats all I know about Robbie Williams. Life Thru A Lens is way too poppy for me. Williams's singing is ok and the songwriting is meh. His voice is kinda harsh at times and nasally. There are some ok sounding songs but this album just doesn't do too much for me. There's just not that much here that this album does that many others don't. If I had to pick favorite songs, they'd be "Lazy Days" and "Let Me Entertain You" It's a 2.

The beginning of the songs sound pretty good but I feel like this album is literally everywhere 😭

Robbie Williams’ Debüt ist ein freches, charmant überdrehtes Pop‑Feuerwerk, das seine Unsicherheiten mit maximaler Attitüde kaschiert. Zwischen Britpop‑Restwärme und boybandfreiem Befreiungsschlag zeigt er schon hier die Mischung aus Ironie, Verletzlichkeit und Stadion‑Ego, die später seine Marke wird. Ein Album voller Ecken, Kanten und catchy Selbstbehauptung – überraschend rund für einen Neustart.

Better than I expected, man. A little too British but not so bad I guess. Kind of an Oasis thing going on but that’s probably a me problem. Didn’t really care for the softer songs whatsoever. 7/10

Bueno, conozco Angels y Let me entertain you.

The best he can do is sort of an Oasis-meets-Elton John/George Michael pastiche on Angels and the rest is extremely bland pop. I was honestly curious about this guy because he's so huge in England and completely unknown in the US... I think the Brits got this one wrong. The singles are kinda fun I guess

god, where to even start It's hard to press 1 here because this is competently made, well produced, ultimately fine pop music from a guy that clearly wants to be Oasis. Dude can sing! It's also unfortunately in service of some of the most embarrassing, amateurish lyrics and rhyme schemes. It's the kind of thing I'd respect more if it was worse. The combination of polish and talent with what it actually is feels like watching a child's play someone's overbearing parents threw way, way too much money into. It doesn't matter how talented these kids are or how well they made the sets, you still clap politely and wish you were better at saying no to people. My current vote for the most inessential album on the list, and I feel like I just wrote that in a different review less than a week ago. There is nothing of substance on this album.

6/10

I gave this an honest shot, but aside from one or two decent songs, it all sounded empty. Cheeky for the sake of cheeky.

It's like straight Elton John. That is to say, no fun whatsoever.

Never really listened to Robbie before. I think I get it having come from that era. Angels is good and I love the showmanship of Let Me Entertain You

Is this the best album to use for this excersise? I guess you have to cover british pop music. Does this mean I should expect some Take That albums? All Saints maybe? This album is very mid, obvious hits, but the rest sounds like a fan of Oasis trying to hit it big

It was just so incredibly boring. It wasn't even interesting british pop! It's just mediocre. Angels isn't even particularly good?

09/27 Mediocre. Apparently this artist is supposed to be well known enough to where he had a biopic made where he's portrayed as a monkey. I'm gonna forget this album, artist, and the songs I listened to by tomorrow morning

I like the movie where a monkey plays him but I never needed to listen to his music.

Now that was some bullshit what the fuck.

Have I always hated the Brit-pop influence and I just didn't know that's what it was? I feel this commercial, too "pop", and not in the epic ways I could appreciate on occasion. Give me Lady Gaga before this, even Taylor Swift. Then again, I haven't given him a fair shot as a poet... The bits I've heard throughout this initial listen haven't been particularly amazing. 1.7/5

Meh

6.0/10

Am I entertained? Kinda.

Yooo, it's the monkey biopic guy. I don't know anything about this him aside from that, but I feel like I'd like him; he seems like a genuine, down-to-earth guy, even through his lyrics. All that just to say that I didn't actually enjoy this album. This is one of the most derivative records I've heard in a long time; Williams really isn't bringing anything new to the table. And the fact that he's taking from '90s Britpop of all genres, a sound I'm generally not fond of, didn't help. I will admit that a lot of the similar-sounding Britpop albums from this list were far more underground than this, so I guess Robbie can be credited with bringing this sound up to the mainstream? Doesn't make it any more interesting but still worth mentioning. The massive song on this album, 'Angel', is probably my favourite, a sort of power ballad and, again, showcases William's pretty sincere edge. I get this guy's a big deal in the UK, but again this thing just lacks any sort of unique identity. It is admittedly a debut, so it could just be him trying to find his sound. Wouldn't be surprised if he appears on this list again, but for now, not a huge fan.

🤮 honestly, what the fuck !?

This was more pop-ish than I would tend to choose to listen to on my own accord but it wasn't bad. I liked it and found it interesting enough that I listened the whole way through without skipping songs despite some pretty bad lyrics.

I had heard Angels before, and I know about a video where Robbie Williams rips off his skin. Anything else I know about him, I learned against my will. That being said, this is a REALLY good album. It did feel a bit disjointed, like he couldn't quite figure out a style, so he just threw all of them at the wall. So yeah, a couple didn't sit with me as well as the rest, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. That being said... could I have lived without hearing this album? Yeah. I don't see what this really did to dramatically alter the direction of popular music, or influence generations to follow. But it's really good.

Sehr gut

I didn't love it, didn't hate it either. Honestly I probably would've given it 3 stars if not for that bullshit 10 minutes of nothing between the last song and that poem.

ja, stimme den anderen zu

No thank you,

Listened before? No Familiar with the artist? Yes Thoughts: - Ok, this is the album with Angels on it so that'll get it a decent score from me. - Other than that and "Let Me Entertain You," there isn't much I'd come back to though. - it reminds me though that I still want to watch the monkey biopic 😅 Favorite track(s): Angels

monke man

Better than I imagined it would be. Slightly Indy sounding in places. Reasonably listenable but ultimately not my cup of tea

I mean, the singles are really good but oversaturated. Robbie is great though, if you weren’t around when this came out you should definitely listen to it. I’ll give it a 3/5, it’s a solid debut and a great evolution considering he came from a boy band. I’d also argue his solo work has aged far better than his boy band era (which is probably why he doesn’t tour with them anymore?)

2.5

It is not great. I am shocked Robbie Williams got an album on here. Probably the most British thing I have ever heard. 3/10 Top song... Angels

oasis za siromašne