Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Not bad, not spectacular. Didn't mind listening to it, but I'll probably never think about it again.
Containing an anthem like "Angels" the other tracks on this album seem to me even weaker than they already are. (To be honest "Let Me Entertain You" is fun too.)
Favourite tracks: lazy days; angel; let me entertain you
It's got some qualities I like and qualities I don't like. It's ok.
Angels and some decent songs but a lot of filler
Decent album, standouts are classics Angels and Let Me Entertain You
If Oasis went pop
If you weren't around in the 70's and never heard of Queen or the Beatles or the Bee Gees, then this will have to do. 3 stars or C for me.
Robbie is like a modern day George Michael... Or he trys to be anyways. Like a more upbeat James Blunt.... Or a shittier Oasis. Here are my favourite lyrics from the album: From the song Ego Agogo... "Hide away in your ivory tower And cover me in your golden shower" He wants someone to piss on him, lol. Favourite songs: Angels, Let Me Entertain You, South of the Border, Ego Agogo, Life Thru a Lens Least favourite songs: Clean, Baby Girl Window 3/5
Angels is a banger tho.
Harry Style v 1.0 - british boy band bad boy goes solo and pumps out popped up brit pop knock offs - I do want to see the monkey man movie
Not bad, 90s pop ballad vibe. He has that whiny voice that was popular during this time. Most songs blended into one, but I can see the appeal.
I don’t get it.
The album contains five singles: "Old Before I Die", "Lazy Days", and "South of the Border" are not bad, but "Angels" and "Let Me Entertain You" were massive; the rest of the album is OK.
Sometimes he sounds a little like Brian Molko and it's kind of jarring. Favourites: Lazy Days, Life Thru A Lens, Old Before I Die, Let Me Entertain You, Clean
3
Robbie Williams is still underratedI believe. 3-3.5
Not my cup of tea, even though the tracks are well produced and Robbie Williams embodies the song’s characters really well!
WTF!!!! I didn’t think this monkey looking twat would have an album on here. I felt in different tracks he kinda vocal mimicked other artists, lazy days had an oasis nasil and life through a lens had the occasional pet shop boys vocalism, like with the way he say well and life through a lens. He just frequently chases all of the nasally singers basically. Also please if you think this is britpop, britpop is far more than this, this album is just it’s commercial shell. With Robbie’s ego a go go. Oasis may not be an original band as such but Robbie’s then ripping them off so what does that make him. I won’t say the songs aren’t good because they are, angels is a highlight but still one I was surprised that I wasn’t too familiar with actually I liked all of the singles (bar let me entertain you, that one wasn’t for me) and one of gods better people is sweet. It’s passable 3/5
I suppose the "I'm loving angels instead" song was a surprise to me that that one is him. I am not sure how I feel about this album in all honesty.
Britpop that leans hard into the pop side. Oasis was clearly a reference point. A little vapid, but I enjoyed it. Best song: Angels
nothing too special, but enjoyable nonetheless!!
Smooth voice, but I don't like it much. Hearing 'She's the one' reminded me how much I like World Party, so I played that version and much preferred it. Wikipedia describes Robbie Williams as a singer-songwriter! Ha ha ha. No wonder there's no soul in the music - he sold it.
Just learned about this guy a few days ago cuz he's got a monkey man movie coming out. Good timing. Music was good, reminded me of Oasis a bit i think
Deb : not my favourite but still a solid RW album Sian : late to this album as at the time I was way too angry at him over TT breaking up. Surprised by how much I like it. I think I am one of the only people on the planet who hates Angels (I think it sounds like it belongs on football terraces)
Listenable. By default, had to listen with headphones because of the morning Christmas activities.
Average BritPop 90s album, not great, not bad, just as I expected.
Some decent ballads. I listened to this immediately after the Paul Simon album that was previous in the list and whenever I had to pause the album Paul Simon's songs would pop back into my head. Overall not bad, not great.
Never understood the appeal of Robbie Williams but then I am neither a straight woman nor a gay man so that is probably the reason. Don't hate his music but don't particularly like it either.
Not a massive Robbie fan but this feels like one of those iconic albums from my youth where it was a big deal that he went solo. I remember my Mum having this record on quite a lot so this was a bit of a nostalgia trip. Listening to it now, it's not awful and is probably one of his better sounding records. A middling 3
I fully understand how “Angels” was a hit in the 90s. Unfortunately, the rest of it is just another Oasis clone, with a little Queen and Blink-182 mixed in.
устарело и я устарел, но мелодично
I don’t mind admitting to enjoying a bit of Robbie Williams, especially now he’s not so off-puttingly omnipresent as in his heyday. Probably my favourite boy-bander-gone-solo actually - he’s got bangers for days. This album has a couple of his biggest on it but it’s definitely uneven; he was clearly still searching for his sound and maybe trying too hard to jump on the Britpop bandwagon. I suspect a couple of his later albums would better show him at the peak of his powers, but still, it’s not a bad solo effort.
Quintessential 90s
a pretty nothing album. not bad, not great. it's fine. it's completely listenable. it's about as middle of the road as you can get. sometimes there's a little hint of something interesting - maybe a harder britpop edge, or something a little beatles-y - but most of the time this is just very plain.
3.75
This is sort of like a KidzBop version of Oasis or Badly Drawn Boy. Maybe a Christian version of them, too? Not without its pleasures, but pretty soft rock.
This is the most 1997 album ever
It's '90s male pop, that is all.
Album 596 of 1001 Robbie Williams -Life Thru A Lens (1997) Rating : 3.25 / 5 Decent pop album. Am familiar with the name but that is all. This had some catch melodies and introspective lyrics. On a side note, it brought Oasis to mind a couple of times.
Pleasant, relatively mellow, nothing stood out but was enjoyable
Not bad. Big sound, good vibe, good voice. Surprised I've never heard of him before.
Ja wel bangers maar veelste poppie
Oasis inspired, with at least one fantastic song
3/5
It's Robbie innit. 3.6
3 phenomenal pop songs. The rest unlistenable
Mostly harmless.
The highs on this album are fun but the lows are pretty low (Old Before I Die is almost single-handedly responsible for knocking off a full star - what a stupid song). Not mad I listened, but not in a rush to revisit. 3/5 Highlights: Ego Agogo South of the Border Let Me Entertain You
I've never heard of Robbie Williams outside of accidentally finding him when trying to Google Robin Williams, so this album was a new venture for me. For me, this was a very middling record. Some quality vocals for sure, but most of the other elements didn't stand out much to me. Was a pleasant listen, but had a very "loudspeaker music at a Kroger" energy to me. Notable Tracks: - Ego Agogo - One Of God's Better People 5/10
In ‘98 when Robbie’s face was on every screen and page, and ‘Angels’ washed out of every speaker in a constant stream of bland warbling I would have rather taken a kick in the nuts than listen to this album. More than a quarter of a century later he just sounds like a holiday camp entertainer.
legal
Perfectly good energetic pop.
Live Thru a Lens is the first solo album from Robbie Williams, who became famous in the boy band Take That. Williams makes brit pop. and this is album is a formulaic, overly produced example of it. This could be Oasis, Blur or any of the 90s versions of Beatles' song. Unfortunately, these songs aren't as memorable as Williams more famous contemporaries. These are good - but the all seem to be derivative. For example, Williams' biggest song is on this album, "Angels," and it could be an Elton John song.
Liked this better than I expected. Not great but not too bad.
I recognize this guy’s name from reading celebrity magazines: gossip columns over the years. Hadn’t heard his music before. Pretty generic bubblegum pop. Kind of like off-brand George Michael. Hah! The self indulgent hidden track at the end! Good Lord.
Angels is a forever banger.
曲风还行但是
I have always been fascinated by Robbie Williams as a US person. He is not famous here... his songs are not that popular. I suppose he's like a UK Justin Timberlake with a harder edge? Angels is a VH1 late 90s CVS ballad and Let Me Entertain You feels like Freddie would have loved it. Everything else? Totally fine!
Ah Robbie, this hasn’t aged well and is mostly a bit meh, isn’t it? The bangers don’t sound so banging all these years later. I forgot how huge it was when he left Take That and how his cheeky chappie persona was so popular. I think that is what drove his success more than anything else
I thought this one was Killing Me, but since I didn’t see any Angels I figured I was still alive.
Best Song: Let Me Entertain You. I would have really liked this album if it was all as big and high energy as this track. Worst Song: Clean. On some tracks, he uses this really nasal singing voice. The whole song is just a string of loosely connected "eeeee"s. Overall: A couple really fun mega hits in here, surrounding by otherwise pretty dull ballads. He's obviously got a nice voice, but it feels like the songs are too often orchestrated to perpetuate a sort of pretty-boy aesthetic that I could do without.
This is soooo British. I thought Robbie Williams was from some classic rock band like the Band or something. This guys must have been the inspiration for aldous snow. Hard to take seriously.
legal, podia ter menos sexo
Life Thru a Lens is starting strong, surprisingly entertaining. I can see why this was popular. I can do without the power ballad "Angels." "Old Before I Die" definitely trying to sound like Oasis, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Still, pop sentiment, it's all pretty shallow. It didn't hurt me to listen to this and now I am familiar with Robbie Williams.
Not half bad indie affair. Favourite tracks: Lazy Days, Ego Agogo, Angels, Old Before I Die, Let Me Entertain You.
Didn’t care for it too much. 3.0
6/10. It's not as bad as other reviewers appear to be calling this album, but it still isn't a masterpiece by any means. It isn't anything special, but it was pleasant, and it certainly has its audience.
Tras el estrellato colectivo de Take That, Robbie Williams supo buscarse un lugar en el firmamento musical en solitario a lomos del brit-pop y las continuas influencias de Oasis. Éste de 1997 fue su primer LP al margen de la banda, con su primer éxito internacional en la balada espiritual "Angels". Destaca la apertura del disco con "Lazy Days" y "Life Thru a Lens", canciones alegres y empoderantes para la juventud de la clase trabajadora. También las enérgica "South of the Border", quizás una metáfora de su propio salto hacia delante en busca de un futuro diferente y "Let me entertain you", toda una declaración de intenciones. Pero el tema que personalmente más me gusta es el vengativo "Ego A Go Go", con referencias veladas a su antigua banda y su sentimiento de traición por parte de alguien a quien apreciaba. En general, un disco de pop descarado y brillante en el que bajo el manto de brit-pop encontramos trazos de glam, rock alternativo y dance-pop.
I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but almost definitely not enough to ever listen to it again. It sounds like a proper anthology of 2000s music, which weirdly felt ahead of it’s time as a 1997 album. All still within the narrow scope of 2000s radio rock but a relatively decent range. Still some proper cringe moments though. Pretty on the nose lyricism about the class divide in the titular song, which was surprising but felt like a gcse English language unempathetic retelling of common people. ‘Clean’ made me feel really weird, the sterilised optimism of a person struggling with addiction really evoked an emotion that I’m not sure was intended.
Had no idea what to expect with this Did not expect some pop punk tho lol (title track) Range of genres on this Fave tracks: Lazy Day Angels - actually can’t unhear the big ange version anymore South of the Border Let Me entertain you
A few bangers mixed in with yawnfest. Would be two stars without them
Good album. Didn't expect much, but was surprised at how good it sounded.
You know how psyched I was to hear Rock DJ only to be let down? Anyway, its not bad, it feels like he's trying to grab some Elton John magic for this album, Angels in particular. Its okay, wouldnt revisit it though.
Angels is a great song. Most of the rest of the album is enjoyable but none of it was particularly memorable.
So yeah, Life Thru A Lens is a smaller guilty pleasure than his follow-up, which is excellent tbf, but this is a good pop album. The singles do all the heavy lifting and they're outstanding, but the weakness is in the rest of the album, they're basically all fillers and instantly forgettable. On I've Been Expecting You, the singles are a half-step below the ones on this record, but the rest stands up to closer scrutiny (Phoenix from the Flames is one of his best songs period). It gets a standard 3 because the singles are properly iconic and enjoyable, but IBEY would get a 4 if it was on here.
Reading the blurb for this, cannot believe that they had Angels as the fourth single of this and Let Me Entertain You as the fifth one... mad. How do you listen to this album and think anything other than those two are going to be the ones that are remembered? Agree with the rest of you, this isn't as good as I've Been Expecting You, but it's still a decent (if a bit trashy) listen. I think in my head I combined what I remembered from both of those albums into one imaginary top drawer album full of hits, this isn't that but it's OK. 3/5.
Music taste is so subjective. I SHOULD like a musician who sounds like a poppier version of Oasis…but I fucking hated “Millennium” so much when it was a hit in Canada, that I cannot get past that to enjoy this. I had forgotten all about “Angels” which I never liked either. Maybe a 2.5 but I’ll round up to be generous.
Oasis sound a like. Kæmpe bangers, stadion feeling med fælles sang. Ret godt album. Ikke noget jeg aktivt ville have sat på, men solid omgang musik.
De første 3 sange er svage og ret forglemmelige, men så sparke Robbie døren ind med en perlerække af sange. Angels er måske en af de 5 bedste ballader nogensinde. Hold kæft Guy Chambers ramte guld der. Den er altid kuldegys fremkaldende god. South of the Border og Old Before I Die er habile rocksange i bedste Oasis stil. One of God’s Better People er en lille akustisk perle og Let Me Entertain You er bare en party-banger der kan kickstarte en hver fest for 40 plus segmentet. Killing Me har en storladet James Bond score lyd som indvarsler den retning han tog på senere albums. Clean er igen mere Oasis feel, men efterlader en flad smag i munden. Desværre fader albummet ud i samme niveau som det startede med to svagere sange. Alt i alt et habilt album, men det kunne have været en killer EP med følgende track listing: Let Me Entertain You South of the Border Old Before I Die Angels Killing Me One of God’s Better People Hello Sir (Hidden Track)
I really liked this album. All new to me, but good stuff
If Oasis was a boy band, it would probably sound a lot like this.... Highlights: "Lazy Days" (catchy opening track), "Angels" (a bit cheesy, but he sells it well), "Old Before I Die" (catchy chorus) Notable: "Ego Agogo" (would not be out of place on the Austin Powers soundtrack), "Let Me Entertain You" (sounds like a Queen song)
Almost impressively inconsistent. There's a couple great tracks (Angels, Let Me Entertain You) and a bunch of slop. The good singles are a good enough addition to a playlist to drag the album up to a 3 though. 3/5
2024-07-23...
1001AG Diary - Day 115: Another category is emerging.. albums that I think squarely deserve a 2.5. Just a solid not-bad, not-great "fine" vote. But until we get half stars, I'll stay positive. 2.5
I really enjoyed how some of the songs sounded like oasis but not all hit for me
This is pretty good - I listened to most of it twice. Tom Petty said he found the particular "noise" of the Heartbreakers spoke to him, this artist's "noise" just never grabbed me.
nice, energetic, but not really me
Some bangers I know by heart from childhood, but overall mid
Good music, not its fault it didn't catch me. Just felt some of the music to be a bit corny.
Really great at that late 90's early 2000 thing of sounding "big". Really, really simple rhymes but the vibe sort of makes up for it. Decent all around.
En popskiva.
My dad bought me a few Robbie Williams CDs when I was a kid (I had his Greatest Hits), so this was a bit sentimental. Still catchy, more ballads than I might prefer
Pretty okay
Pretty cool album, great two songs that remind me of the childhood a lot, it's a bit more rock-like than I would have imagined. Robbie has a great voice, and a good team of producers and musicians behind him. Nice album, but nothing special, really.
Robbie in the early days; a consummate entertainer. What happened ? Not my most favourite of his tracks but a high 3*
Well it was a bit of a laugh wasn't it! A pleasant throw back. Our family wasn't a big RW family, but everyone knew the hits right! Funny how I was still remember the lyrics from Angels and Let me entertain you
Wow. It's complete utter crap isn't it. Or is it? I genuinely don't know. From listening to Robbie on various silly podcasts I get the impression he really doesn't care for his music and kind of talks about it like just doing his 9-5 job that he doesn't really care about but hey that's what he does. And it sort of feels like that here, his voice is so recognisable but it really sounds like his hearts not in it. Never the less the fame of Robbie is very impressive and I know all the words to Angels and Let me entertain you even through this is probably the first time I've ever actually chosen to listen to them.
Kinda liked it but probably never gonna listen to it again in full
Not dissapointed
Hailing from Yorkshire I should hate this cheeky Manx but I have to admit he does steam a good ham. 3.5 stars.
Ett bra popalbum. Inget som överraskade mig så mycket men det var hyfsade låtar rakt igenom. Hade tillochmed redan hört två av dem, så det var kul att veta vem som gjort dem. Inte riktigt min typ av musik just nu men gick bra att lyssna på och omslaget var ganska coolt ändå.
Rock, 1997 -> 3
Forgot how good let me entertain you was, while angels is obv a classic. One or two songs weren’t bad but some stinkers too
Hello sir, remember me? I do actually Robbie, and it wasn't exactly brilliant 27 years ago. It ended up being about as good as The Thrills, and you can't say fairer than that. I always maintain that the best thing to do with Robbie's voice is to bury it as low down as possible, and unfortunately they forget to do that on quite a few songs. Still, Old Before I Die is brilliant, and I totally forgot about the hidden track and got the fright of my life, so you can't say fairer than that.
It's a pop album, but it's a decent pop album. Nothing I found really wrong here and I wouldn't turn it off if it was on again.
Not my favorite. “Angel” was pretty decent, but the album as a whole felt monotonous and unoriginal.
Pretty good when he's not trying to do a Liam Gallagher impression
I'd probably feel badly for whatever album came after Fela Kuti's "Zombie", because it's hard to imagine there are all that many albums that can match "Zombie", its messages, and the extremely disturbing political/military/physical violence that surrounds it. Sadly, this album ("Life Through a Lens") is *definitely* not one of those albums, which makes it a bit harder not to hear the typical sort of singer-songwriter music as a bit...trite. Which isn't Robbie Williams' fault at all, I know. That said, this seems like a decent debut album, and a decent sound, with plenty of nods to UK music from a decade earlier, and far too much similarity to Oasis at times, but still having some distinctiveness. I'm guessing, though, that he had better albums than this one, but prioritizing debut albums is just part of the deal with this collection. And I'm also guessing that this album was chosen because it's a distinctive departure from his previous band Take That? Regardless, he's definitely stronger on the harder-edged songs; songs like "Angels" aren't very interesting (to me, at least, as it sounds like this was got him attention). And I can definitely see why "Let Me Entertain You" became his opener song for all his (many many many many) subsequent concerts, a nice homage to The Who and many others.
Disappointing Of all the RW albums I'm familiar with, this is the least weird one, it's plain and the album tracks just do nothing. The singles are fantastic so 3 is a fair grade but I was looking forward to hearing this once I saw it was on the list, but after hearing it, it's clear it was only on because its his debut, when any of the next 3 seem more important and the two after that are far more interesting in terms of sound 3
When I saw this cover (which was some time ago, but it looked cool so I remembered it) I thought it was gonna be something else entirely. How dare you look like an angry gremlin on the cover and sound so soft. I want some angry gremlin music!!! UPPERCASE! Despite that it was alright
2.5/5
I think this is the least interested in a Britpop album I've been so far. Like, I'm not gonna say it's bad, but it's not particularly exciting. For the most part, it's radio music—incredibly safe, even acknowledging some weird lines I've read about. And I don't even mean "radio music" as an insult; it can really hit the spot sometimes. I'm just not sure what makes this so special compared to any other Britpop I've heard—blur, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, Elastica... Honestly, I'm not even sure how much I even hear this as a Britpop album; it feels way more like a straight-up pop album 90% of the time. My one big exception is "Let Me Entertain You"—not a Queen cover like I always thought it was, but still. With its very obvious Who influence, it's driving as hell and the biggest burst of excitement and energu on the whole damn album. I can shake my head to that one, seriously. And, y'know, maybe if the rest of the album matched up to that... As it stands, the album's fine, but I can do without it. Like, maybe, JUST MAYBE, this list could do with one less Britpop album, y'know? Maybe?
Some good tracks, but overall, it's just decent.
Algunos temazos
i don't know about this one. Some great songs, some funny lyrics, but still - is it anything more than a decent pop album?
Really middle of the road all inn all, would give 2,5, if it werent for Angels, which I have to admit is a really great pop song.
Sounds like oasis on some songs
I had purchased (the superior) Ego Has Landed album when it came out. Which is how they packaged this LP to North Americans. Life Thru a Lens has a couple of his hits, but there is so much filler.
Never heard of him or this album but enjoyed it!
This was okay overall. Some of the songs were fun, but others I thought were trying to be shocking just for the sake of being shocking. His voice, however, was really something at times. He has very different vocal styles that are very well done.
I liked this one. It has that 90's sound that I like, but I get the feeling they tried too hard to be something they're not on a few tracks. I'd listen again though.
This album is fine. Angels is great, Clean is fun and trippy, the rest of it is just okay
Upbeat pop music.
i don’t understand the low reviews of this album. it’s a generic 90’s album and i think that’s what’s fun about it!! not everything you listen to has to be revolutionary. sometimes a feel-good album is just what you need. it might not be the best thing i’ve ever heard but it’s definitely going to be one of those albums that stays with me and serves as nostalgia, and i think that’s good enough.
Nice. Very poppy. Lyrics are clever and are actually lyrics unlike so many pop lyrics which are just the same few phrases or words over and over. For some reason a few of the songs reminds me of smashmouths second album astrolounge. High energy songs. Pulls inspiration from a broad range of pop and rock. Let me entertain you is definitely going on the short list of songs to be played over the PA as I hunt down those who have wronged me. A fine pop album. 3/5. I'll definitely listen to more of his stuff
angel is a good song
I’m a big pop fan, but this is not a pop album worthy of this list. It’s fine late 90s pop but it’s nothing brilliant. And that weird spoken word poem at the end was dreadful
knockoff oasis and more pop but is also jonas brothers if they could write better songs.
# 186 : I see from the ratings that not a lot of people like Robbie Williams, I think Its OK, I could listen to it, it's Incredibly generic and overall pointless, but Angels is good. Favourite Track : Let Me Entertain You
Sin duda el miembro más talentoso de Take That
It's a straight-up good brit-pop album. However I don't really know if it belongs on this list.
Angel
It's fine. It's a pretty standard late 90's "starting a solo career" pop-rock sound. It seems like wants to be Elton John or maybe George Michael, but ends up falling a bit short.
2.9 - I actually didn't hate it. Some nice songs in there. Does feel like Angels and Let me entertain you are the big fishes.
Very solid britpop. Didn't care for it.
A collection of ballads and anthems that are individually rather pleasant but unremarkable collectively
i hate that i enjoy some of the singles, but i do. have to remove *'s for putting a song called 'let me entertain you' near the end of your debut album though
Pretty happy optimistic album Theres a few really good tracks i enjoy like Angels, old before i die, and Baby girl window.... But tbh i cant really imagine myself revisiting it tho.
Its like budget Coldplay in a way
I feel this album is just okay. I couldn't find much to distinguish it.
Robbie Williams was a big deal in the UK. Take That was supposed to be the British answer to New Kids on the Block, and was the biggest thing in England since The Beatles. But the manufactured boy band and Williams’ solo career barely made an impact across the pond. I recognize and remember Robbie Williams, but don’t remember his music. I was expecting “Life Through A Lens” to be a pop record, but most of it was not. The first three songs were surprisingly rock-oriented. Then the biggest hit, “Angels,” is a full-on piano ballad followed by a dramatic tonal shift to “South of the Border.” “Old Before I Die” gets back to the uninspired rock of the first few tracks, but it’s all quickly forgotten. No wonder the Oasis-driven Britpop of the mid to late 90s hit so big - it didn’t take much to top the boring generic pop and rock of Take That and Robbie Williams.
Blah Blah Blah, wait...did he just say "cover me in your golden shower"? what am I listening to?! Some strange lyrical choices but mostly this album is just very meh.
I understand why it was on Spotify's Wedding playlist. I liked the spoken word of Hello Sir the hidden track on the album. None of the songs will remain with me besides Hello Sir, which isn't a song. His stories on Graham Norton are hilarious.
It's okay, but it didn't quite hook me.
Never heard of this guy but not too bad. Kinda a beetle's pop vibe sometimes
Hmmmmm.
Song: Angels I wanted to like this more than I did. The first verse was beautiful, and I really connected with it. Robbie Williams's voice is very raw, especially in the chorus—sometimes it adds extra emotion, but sometimes it just sounds like he isn't quite on pitch. The instrumental break/guitar solo near the end is also a high point, but the buildup doesn't really pay off as the final chorus sounds not much different from the others. Overall, this was okay, and I think I could listen to it again, mostly for the first verse—that brings it up to 3 for me. Ultimately, though, I just didn't connect with this song.
Fine not my favorite
Generic pop-rock. He has the ability to sing well, as heard in Angels, but the rest of the songs don't showcase it and are unmemorable. Stand-out: Angels
Pretty easy to listen to. Good pop album. Standout songs: Let me entertain you, Angels, Clean
The cover art does not accurately portray the music in this album. This album is more akin to Christian soft rock as opposed to the skinhead or German techno vibe of the album's cover. Overall, not a bad quality of sound.
I'm a big fan of Robbie but this is one of his weaker records. Of course it's adorned by his beloved Angels; aside from a handful of other minor hits I hear a fair amount of filler. Still a very worthwhile play though.
Meh. Just ok.
Rock.
Can't understand why this album is here beside the 2 hit songs
This album was pretty bland in my opinion. It’s not bad music, but it doesn’t stand out.
A bit lightweight. Maybe 3 good songs. Enjoyable
Even though he is now the official Global Ambassador for the Carlton Football Club, we couldn’t quite make this a 5/5 even though we wanted to! It’s a solid pop album with a couple of standout songs, but sounds very much of its time. As such we’re torn but are giving it 3.5/5, rounded down to 3.
"Life Thru a Lens," Robbie Williams' debut album released in 1997, captures the essence of '90s pop with a cheeky and irreverent touch. The standout track, "Angels," showcases Williams' emotive vocals and became a signature anthem. The album as a whole is a mix of energetic pop-rock and ballads, reflecting Williams' charismatic personality. While not groundbreaking, "Life Thru a Lens" is a solid introduction to Williams' solo career post-Take That. Its nostalgic charm, catchy tunes, and Williams' undeniable charisma contribute to its enduring appeal. Overall, a commendable debut, earning a respectable 3.5/5 for its infectious energy and pop sensibility.
Nothing stands out, just sort of exists without much personality. Very generic and meh.
A good singer, but not really my style. Let Me Entertain You was the highlight, really the only song I liked on the album. The rest I felt neutral about.
Angels is a bop still. Not bad for a pop album
Nostalgia makes me want to give this a 4 but it's at best a 3 being truthful.
ok
Het is dat Angels erop staat, die tilt dit album nog wel wat op. Verder is het vrij saaie doorsnee pop. Ook niet vreselijk ofzo, maar ook niet bijzonder. Angels en Let Me Entertain You maken het enigszins acceptabel, dus laten we een 3 doen.
Pretty easy listening collection of pop rock. Not my cup of tea but there are some catchy things here.
This has happened more than once on this journey. I feared this record because of my contemporaneous views of it. I did not like anything about Robbie Williams persona and so didn’t give it a second thought. Turns out it was pretty good.
Not bad. However it’s very much stuck in the late 90’s
Fantastic album but not a huge fan.
This album was a mix betweeeeeeen songs that i really enjoyed (“Let Me Entertain You”) and the type of songs that i had foreseeeeeen: kind of annoying and simple songs (“Clean” which had the worst lyrics).
I almost really liked this album, it’s close to other music I’d listen to but it’s just /not quite/ fave song: life through a lens
Nostalgia is a hell of a thing. I don’t mind this, it reminds me of driving through to that chop shop in Linlithgow as a family and it being the album that everyone in the care didn’t protest
Some great pop singles. Didn't need a full album
It's pretty appealing. Seasoned musicians but not particularly talented or creative. The best is Robbie and his lyrics--interesting but not belabored.
Could be a lot better, could be a lot worse. 90s Britpop really is a genre.
Fine. Seemed a little too English
Not bad for a wanker
Pretty good. Vocals remind of Oasis although this is more pop than rock.
I did not love or hate this, I was always curious why the Brits love him and he had not become popular here but it’s probably the same reason Justin Timberlake is not that huge over there. Perfectly fine but not my cup of tea.
Versatility: One of the standout features of "Life Thru a Lens" is its versatility. Robbie Williams effortlessly navigates through various musical styles, from pop and rock to ballads and dance-infused tracks. This diversity showcases his broad musical talent and sets the stage for his future albums. Hit Singles: The album includes some of Robbie's early hits, such as "Angels," "Old Before I Die," and "Lazy Days." These songs remain staples in his discography and helped him gain a massive fan base. "Angels," in particular, has become an anthem and is considered one of his signature songs. Lyricism: Robbie's lyrics are often witty, introspective, and at times, cheeky. They reflect his personal journey and struggles, which adds depth to the album. Tracks like "Life Thru a Lens" and "Ego a Go-Go" show his lyrical prowess. Production: The production on "Life Thru a Lens" is polished and well-crafted. It benefits from a blend of contemporary pop and rock sounds that were popular in the late '90s. The catchy melodies and memorable hooks make the album easy to listen to. Emotional Range: The album showcases a broad emotional range, from the melancholic and introspective tracks like "Angels" to the more upbeat and playful ones like "Let Me Entertain You." This emotional diversity adds depth to the listening experience. Personal Growth: "Life Thru a Lens" marks Robbie's personal growth and independence as an artist. It was a critical moment in his career and life, signaling the start of a successful solo journey that would continue for years to come. In conclusion, "Life Thru a Lens" is a fantastic debut album that set the stage for Robbie Williams' enduring career. Its variety, hit singles, and thoughtful lyricism make it a classic in the pop music landscape. If you're a fan of Robbie Williams or '90s pop music in general, this album is a must-listen and a testament to the talent of one of the UK's most iconic artists.
Blind album and artist period it's the 90s I can't hate it but it's not breathtaking.
Very George Michael. Nice to listen to in the background but got tired halfway through when actively listening. Would revisit
There's no doubt that there are some really good pop songs on this album. And I did enjoy listening to it. Will I be playing the album again, probably not.
It was good but generic as if you asked AI to create a UK male singer that was liked across all demographics.
Listening now to the tracks on this album it strikes me that it was only ever really about Robbie as a performer. The 2 hits are pretty good and the rest of the album is pretty generic but it's all about him as a personality magnet. If you don't buy into the persona then I guess this will be pretty blah to you, but boy did Robbie hit the pinnacle of stardom at the time.
Good dnoygsupzcwj 90s pop album. Nothing too revolutionary or outstanding, but of course that’s not the point here. It’s good enough to put on in the background although some tracks are just weird. Angels is amazing though, a perfect pop ballad. There’s plenty of references to britpop, some tracks just plain sound like smoothened out Oasis. There’s also a Beatles reference, when Robbie tries singing like Lennon on Old Before I Die. There are some nice instrumental additions here and there, occasional piano passage or the horns in the back of the chorus on Ego Agogo. Not sure if it should be on the list, maybe as a perfect embodiment of a specific time and place in music? It would be a 2.5 but Angels is really good, so let’s go with a 3. Oh and the cover art is pretty.
3.5 stars. Reminds me of Everclear~esque 90's radio alt rock. Thought the slower, ballad-y stuff wasn't as good as the higher energy alt rock sound. Standout is "Let Me Entertain You".
Robbies debut, britisk pop, et par bangers, lidt generisk
Ik kan hier best van genieten, maar ik snap eigenlijk niet waarom het in deze lijst staat. Het valt voor mij in de categorie ‘guilty pleasure’.
Had always heard this name but didn't know what type of music he made. It was pretty generic radio friendly stuff. Nothing to write home about and nothing that really impressed. Could have been done by a few hundred different artists. 2.5/5
This has kind of a Blur vibe, which is pleasant. In fact all this aims for is pleasant. One Of God's Better People has some nice acoustic guitar work.
On UTOPIA release day?!!!?!?!
It's not bad, but still kind of meh. I mean sure, boy band member goes solo and puts out a slightly less pop album. But it's still pop even with the rock elements. And it's not like he added anything rock to it; he's not playing any instruments, just singing. So I don't get what the big deal is even though I think Robbie Williams carved out a nice solo career and he showed he has talent. I did particularly like the screw you ode to his former teacher in the bonus track - good lyrics and wordplay. Let Me Entertain You was my favorite actual song - almost a modern Elton John feel to it. Baby Girl Window wasn't too shabby either. A solid 3 but I don't think I can give it more.
3+
Strikes me as decent run-of-the-mill Oasis-era made-for-the-masses brit pop. I like his voice for the most part, but some of the lyrics were embarrassingly cliche - "Angels" being the worst offender in that regard. I thought the softer, more stripped down songs were standouts, they sounded more natural and less like he was just trying to impress us (thinking of "One of God's Better People" and "Killing Me").
Great for the 1 hit, angels, although i would have been a fan 5 years ago in highschool, i am not so much of a fan of pop, but still a good album 3/5
first listen this album is not very good
Heard before. *me screaming the lyrics of Angels* I had this weird, but short, Robbie Williams phase as a grade-schooler. I enjoyed this album, it's almost a 4, but I'll still rate it 3. Or should I? + Angels + Old Before I Die + Let Me Entertain You + Killing Me + Clean + Baby Girl Window and a shoutout to the hidden track
pretty good pop album.
It’s alright I guess
I know this dude has a huge following, but it sounds like standard British pop. Meh.
Life Thru a Lens and Ego Agogo were bops, even if the lyrics are stupid. This album is shades of that Kid Rock album with South of the Border. I'd argue the music is better, but the lyrics and singing are pretty garbage. Kinda whiny.
Classic 90s alternative sound. I was really expecting a completely forgotten one hit wonder banger that would come on while at the neighborhood pool in the summer of 1998 to be on this album randomly
One of the most aggressively British albums I've ever heard. I didn't mind any song, but I also wasn't moved by anything.
Good album.
I also didn't need to listen to this, British guy who made the list. ego agogo, let me entertain you
This is very commercialised pop-rock music - Robbie's voice is good and he has a charisma so it was more listenable. 'Angels' and 'Let Me Entertain You' stand out to me, otherwise it can get quickly boring musically. I'm giving it a 2.5/3 just because it was pretty enjoyable as a background music while I was cleaning windows lol.
As far as pop music goes this is more my speed. A bit overproduced but it was a fun listen. Kind of "more of the same" don't really see why this makes the list.
Miehen vanha musa osuu kyllä johonkin kohtaan mustaa sielua ja pidän tyypin soundista. Ei yhtään totaalista hutia ja pari megalekaa riittää kolmoseen.
Tää ei iskeny teininä, mut myöhempinä vuosina Robbie on saanut kyllä meikältä arvostusta. Levyllä kaverin paras, myös karaokebravuuriksi noussut, Let Me Entertain You. Varma kolmonen.
A reasonably enjoyable album, but nothing special. 3/5
Nothing awesome but a couple good jams.
I wanted to give this a higher score as I genuinely believe Let Me Entertain You and Angels are two of the best pop songs of all time, and there are some other great deeper cuts on here, but unfortunately there are also songs like South of the Border which is absolute dog shit
Not bad, but nothing special besides the 2 obvious bangers.
Typical music of the late 90s. Rock was in fashion, so the pop album perfectly mimics the rock. The artist's voice is pleasant, but I didn't hear anything catchy in the album. The cover is not catchy, at least there is a man's ass in Under The Radar.
I was expecting to find reasons to hate this, but it's actually alright. It sounds like a second tier Britpop album, or like Oasis, but with a bit more humour and a bit less plod. Guy Chambers is clearly a smart songwriter, taking tropes and just expanding them enough they become fun again. In hindsight, his success is obvious on the strength of this album - to be fair, I thought more of these hits came later in his career, but it was pretty front loaded!
I know this is fairly good 90s pop, but really can't be fucked to listen to it. Sorry
It was actually kind of enjoyable. Few big hits. Not my favorite genre, but surprised 3 stars.
the cover art made me want to dislike this album more than I did. does not seem like a person I want to hang out with
it was okay. weak 3 I think
Nothing particularly bad, nothing memorable. Two songs I, and most people, like: "Angels" and "Let Me Entertain You".
Innofensive, the hits make it.
nothing but bangers.
I remember Robbie’s few solo hits from growing up in the UK in the mid 90’s. I always enjoyed them, they’re high energy, passionate, and fun. They’ve held up pretty well and I had a good time reminiscing while listening to this one. Good mix of Brit pop and rock
Not essential, but some good pop tunes. He's like Oasis without the balls, but he takes himself less seriously.
Inesperat triomf de pop lluminós i infecciós. Venint d'una boy band, ningú esperava que Williams es treiés de sobre les puces de les expectatives amb aquesta col.lecció inspirada, on més enllà dels triomfs de 'Let Me Entertain You' i , és clar, 'Angels', també sobresurten altres com 'South of the Border', 'Clean' o 'Old Before I Die'
There is much that is strange about this album. I don’t like the start. Then you get Angels, which is objectively speaking an excellent song. Then a load of forgettable stuff. Then Let me Entertain you, which should have been the opener. Then some sweet stuff at the end. At times it is 2-star but for two smash hits I’ll nudge it up to 3.
there was nothing special about this album
Getting real tired of this british alt rock. I guess this was fine.
Solid pop rock with some really bad ballads
6.5/10. weno pero es medio fome y las letras son dms simples/generic (maybe pq robbie williams es asi noma pero igual)
A few good tracks
It was ok. Very 80’s pop sounding for an album released in 1997.
The year was 1997, and there’s a very high chance I skated hand-in-hand with Lauren Winder at the Classic Skating in Sandy while listening to “Angels” from this album, or at least I imagine I did. It’s a classic love song, which, funny enough, was written for the singer’s aunt & uncle. A great love song on an album full of traditional late 90s rock.
Overall fun to listen to
Musically tight, but also lyrically fairly interesting. A lot of the pop music in this period, with all the boy bands, seems to get a bad rap, and rightfully so, but this stands apart as far more compelling and not nearly as insipid.
This album had a nice level of energy and variety of songs. It was easy to listen to. The later tracks were more interesting than the earlier ones. But it seemed very generic. Sometimes I felt that this could be the modern version of The Monkeys or The Partridge Family with a new sound every week to go with the episode story line. Other times it seemed as if Williams clipped his favorite sounds and riffs from other musicians and used them as the basis for his own songs. I’d listen to it again but there is plenty of similar music that has to compete with for my time.
Really good album that I have never heard of.
Ok. Wanted to dislike this but tbh its ok. It is, as they say, a bit "full of itself". The Oasis influence is clear. He comes across as a bit needy especially in the lyrics. Having said that there are some decent tunes and Angels is pretty timeless. Just take the 3 and piss off
I played the heck out of this album when I was at school. Angels, Let Me Entertain You, and Old Before I Die are classic 90s singles and the rest is as you would expect for former boy band cheeky chappie britpop. It's dated now but still an unchallenging and enjoyable listen. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Angels Date listened: 24/11/22
Funny to think that 'Angels' rescued this album. Actually, it rescued Mr Williams' career, even before it had begun.
Ok
topical 90's UK pop hits
Ill never listen again but it was a'ight
Solid 90's adult contemporary pop
Fun poppy and occasionally alt rocky. Fine album.
Very enjoyable, very unoriginal
This is decent 90's brit pop. It's fun to listen to, but I'm not sure there's a song here to call out.
That was a pleasant album. 3.5*.
Oasis but much better. Has a touch of pop punk.
Didn't mind it. Probably would not listen again but I like the hits.
This is ok britpop. Trying to be Oasis without that level of talent. I also hear a little Elton John influence thrown in. Don't know why it deserves to be on this list. Nothing special about it
Fine. Not much to say about this except I assume it was big in England?
Prime holiday advert music, primary school disco vibes, yesterday's was middle aged man music and today's is middle aged woman music, can't say I did have a particularly "jolly good time". Album was consistent so I'll give it that, also a nice balance of upbeat pop and sad ballads. (I appreciate that he's a good singer, but at times it did sound as if someone had his testicles in a vice)
Reeks of “take me seriously now that I’m no longer a part of Take That”. Saying that, it’s actually a pretty good album. Still won’t take him seriously though.
A bit soft pop rock in places.. But still some nicely written songs.
It was so so
I liked this
There's a few really strong tracks like 'Old before I die' and 'Lazy Days', crowd pleasers like 'Let me entertain you' (which I quite like) and 'Angels' (which I hate). So a mixed bag overall but on the whole not bad.
Meh. Pop bangers, but not my thing. Good sing along tunes.
This was played to death by mates during my Uni days. As far as 90s pop albums go, this is fine, consistent and well produced. Although the real talent of the album was co-writer/producer Guy Chambers.
Very much a pop album, but not formulated. I love his Live 8 performance. This was my introduction to Robbie Williams. I like the songs I knew. I did enjoy his use of vocabulary and the way he developed a lyric.
Feels like an adult alternative album. Very easy listening.
3/5 Pretty good. Nothing amazing but enjoyed it.
Angles is one great song. The rest is very good. I'd like to hear this more often!
decent pop album with 2 big hits on it, some of the more slow paced songs get a bit boring however.
Robbie Williams is a very talented singer and dancer. One of the very best in the world. The only problem I have with him is that he just will not stop having sex with disabled pensioners. This directly affects my mental health as the only thought in my head most days is Williams pounding 93 year old Doris in the ass as she howls in both pleasure and pain.
Well written alt-pop, it almost sounds like a squeaky clean Supergrass at their more whimsical at points. Kudos to whoever wrote the music, not so much the cringe inducing lyrics. The bit about girlfriends doing the dishes in particular hasn't aged well.
All in all a solid pop effort.
Pop rock with some variety, but nothing very memorable. Decent ideas with solid execution outside of some occasional annoying vocals.
Pop comercial. Ni fu ni fa.
"Life Thru a Lens" is the debut album from Robbie Williams following his departure from the boy band Take That. This was really my first time listening to Robbie Williams as he is very big in the UK but not in the US. I was expecting to not like this album at all but I thought was fine for it tries to do and can see why it was very popular. The music definitely fits in the "pop" category; However, I did hear a lot of Britpop influence especially Oasis. The overall production is at a very high level. The songs appear to be grouped into more rockin pop, straight-forward sort of glossy pop and power ballads. The album had five singles released. "Lazy Days," single #2, starts the album off with more rockin' pop; it's enjoyable enough. "Angels" was the fourth single and biggest hit from the album. A power ballad which kind of reminded me of a decent hair metal ballad from the decade before (Good Lord! Was there such a thing?) I think I did hear this song before. "Let Me Entertain" might be my favorite song on the album and kind of reminded me of Elton John. Highly produced and fast paced. If you were a pop fan, I'm sure you've heard this or at least would like this album. It was enjoyable enough for me even if I don't typically listen to pop.
I'm admittedly not sure why this was included. This was fine, but I'm not sure it's a must listen. Is it supposed to be an inclusion symbolizing the modern pop boy band's split and a member having individual success? Is it supposed to be a shining example of 90s Britpop? I'm not sure, because it's not really a glowing example of either, in my opinion. I didn't get much out of this. It was fine. It was listenable. But it didn't stir me in any kind of way. This falls somewhere between a high 2 and a low 3.
Some classics in there and a hand hold through the journey to being a single artist
I was close to loving this album but there’s something just not quite right about it
I remember getting this the Christmas of '97. I wasn't interested in the slightest. Angels was alright but this was Robbie from Take That, and that was what my sister listened to! Outside of the singles this feels like Robbie trying to establish himself in the Britpop scene, as here are some serious Oasis/Blur similarities here. He was a little too late to the show but this isn't bad.
The whole album wasn't available but I do pull some other later songs of his. Solid late 90s pop/brit-rock.
Buen disco de pop de un cantante con una buena voz y con alguna canción muy reconocible. Sin aportar mucho excesivamente, se puede escuchar en cualquier momento. Pop inglés
Bollocks sir, kiss my ass. I did have a negative reaction when I realised I had to listen to a Robbit Williams album.... twice... but I was pleasantly suprised on the first listen and not completely turned off. But still, it's just not for me. Let Me Entertain You is certainly a bop, but Lazy Days is my fave.
This one was extremely hard to listen to in the US. At a glance it seems like a lot of other Robbie Williams albums are readily available, but this one in particular isn't.
Very poppy but very well produced.
3.5
Classic Robbie
Really didn’t want to put this on but it was actually good?!
Meh. This dude has a few catchy songs, but is mostly an example of how big music corporations can use marketing to bulldoze slightly talented singers to the top of the pile and make them millionaire megastars.
Better than what I thought it would be
3-; Angels is a classic but album is kinda repeatable and monothematic
Pop comercial. Ni fu ni fa.
This surprised me as to how much i liked it.
Not my style.
This album was horribly difficult to find on different apps and streaming services. And the tracks were so hit or miss it didn't feel worth the effort. The best thing I can say about this artist is that he seems to be similar to MIKA in terms of music style choices on some songs, and I fucking love MIKA. But this took so much effort to track down and I found some of the tracks to be rather dull and forgettable. Eh, maybe it was groundbreaking for its time but it was just okay in my opinion. Fave track: Clean. That one kicked ass.
This album isn't on Spotify that I could find, but I found a playlist with most of the tracks. The sound of this reminds me a bit of U2. I like it so far.
I wanted to give this album a fair shot, but I'm not feeling it very much. The album has a fairly likeable poppy sound, if not particularly memorable. As a vocalist, Williams is fine, but ultimately neither here nor there. His voice is neither pretty nor gritty nor soulful enough to be particularly memorable. I can hear the Brit pop influences, but Williams didn't take them far enough to make it very interesting. The best song by far is "Killing Me," which is nicely arranged and features Williams' best vocal on the album. Fave Songs: Killing Me, Life Thru a Lens, Old Before I Die, Angels
Much more guitar based than I remembered. Quite good actually!
My face when this came up 😒 My face during the first coupla tracks 😯 My fave when frickin' "Angels" came on😡 I had the singles from this rammed down my throat for years so they can absolutely get in the bin. However, I actually quite liked the album tracks I hadn't been overexposed to, so fair play to the chap I guess. Fave track - "Lazy Days" and "Life Thru a Lens" both struck me very favorably, possibly just because I was expecting horribleness!
Solid enough, I’m just not as taken with the charisma here as I think I need to be
it's fine I guess, but I wouldn't say you need to listen to it
Kind of boring - it's like the vanilla pudding of 90s music
Full album not available on spotify