Progress
Take That
Enough has been written elsewhere about Take That's history (a humdrum tale of boys meet boys, exploitation and idolisation, dreams fulfilled and crushed, ruined friendships, success as vengeance, glorious pop and the furies of fame), so let's skip straight to the new chapter. If the title of Progress suggests the band's new sound will be a merging and evolving of Take That Mk.II and recent Robbie Williams fare, the reality is startlingly different. Progress is something entirely new – Take That Mk.III – and the strangest, most ambitious and most exciting record its creators have ever been involved in.
Taking in bombastic stadium rock, sleazy funk, up-tempo RnB, operatic techno, Bowie-esque whimsy and demented disco, Progress is most definitely not the sound of two wildly popular acts playing it safe and raking the millions in. Even the relatively conventional comeback single, The Flood, is unexpected: with its huge, widescreen production, booming drum rolls and faux-profound lyrics, it instantly makes the next U2 album redundant.
The Flood's enjoyable hokum is immediately bettered by SOS, a savage-of-bass, furiously paced disco romp with Mark Owen on gleeful lead vocals and Williams providing adrenaline-flecked back-ups. The latter sounds like he’s having a ball throughout, particularly on another Owen/Williams duet, Kidz, which exhilaratingly combines martial beats, glam guitars, Atari techno and the kind of absurd dystopian pomp ("Daggers of science evolving into violence / We're not sure where the fallout blows") usually found on Muse albums. On the space-funk of Underground Machine – the closest thing to a Williams’ solo track – he sounds more ruttingly, struttingly confident than he has in years.
Elsewhere, Progress is slightly more conventional. Pretty Things sees Williams' falsetto and Gary Barlow's hushed croon sonically merged into something uncannily like David Bowie, while its chiming keyboards, gorgeous harmonies and fluttering melodies make it an obvious single. Only one song falls flat on its face: even super-producer Stuart Price can't salvage much from Owen’s wobbly vocals and watery sentimentality on What Do You Want From Me.
What will happen next is predictable, for once: monster hit singles, eye-watering sales and a tour that will keep St John's Ambulances busier than they’ve been in years. After that? With this collection of erratic egos, who knows; but the ebullient, daring Progress sounds more like a fresh start than a final destination.
Reviewed by Jaime Gill
Amo !
какой же уебищный альбомчег
Great stuff.
Progress>The Circus>Beautiful World>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Their 90's music. [2]
This album was delivered by gods.
affirmation is the most awesome track EVER <3
The other 9 tracks are pure gems. That's how pop music should be done, not that stupid, lame and inspirationless crap made by Lady Caca, Ke$ha and all those pseudo artists. [2]
The Flood its awesome
144 scrobblings <3
THE FLOOD :) forever the best song for me, from it all began....
kidz!!!!! the best 2011 song!!!
This is the only Take That album I LOVED all the way through. Robbies style/lyrics have always been the most appealng in this group, to me.
I've never been a Take That fan at all, but this album is actually amazing!
The whole album is great! :) Hello fans of Take That! :)
My favorite pop album ever, this is the only really mainstream album I think I have ever enjoyed apart from plan b's
I love "The Flood"! The best song!!!
The only song that I skip is Eight Letters, but only because the lyrics of the chorus are the lamest thing ever written ("eight letter, three words, one meaning"? c'mon, that's all you could do!?). But as "Flowerbed" is the hidden track I am forced to listen to it... The other 9 tracks are pure gems. That's how pop music should be done, not that stupid, lame and inspirationless crap made by Lady Caca, Ke$ha and all those pseudo artists.
love it!
It's An SOS
the album gets really bad after pretty things imo
Progress>The Circus>Beautiful World>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Their 90's music.
записали свой желтый альбом
Where's that brilliant "Beautiful World/The Circus" style?? [3]
Why complain about how much Robbie is on this album, he did a great job. At the end of the day Robbie came to the studio with more material then the others, if Gary and Mark had stronger songs to offer at the time I'm sure they woud have featured more.
masterpiece <3
this album is FANTASTIC, I can't get enough of it.
I think this album is a great step forward. Basic haters can go away. [2]
It's An SOS
Isn't it funny? I knew this album would divide opinion. I think it is a daring, brash, brave album full of ideas and consequenly even getting the NME to praise it. I've never really been a Take That fan but I like this album. Well done!
Woohooo take that rulez
:D i got this one for christmas. :DDDDDD now, i has beatiful world (saw the tour), the circus and this one :D
I thought Robbie's return would be a complete disaster for the band, but I'm pleased to say that I was completely wrong! Great album.
Super wow!! what a fantastic album and a breath of fresh air!
This is easily my pop album of the year.
I think this album is a great step forward. Basic haters can go away.
KIDZ. Brilliant.
Where's that brilliant "Beautiful World/The Circus" style?? [2]
SOS! =*
Are you sure this isn't "Robbie Williams featuring Take That"? Jeez, I know his return is a big deal but he's on like 7 out of 10 tracks. Other than that, great album. [2] Most of the time I hear only Robbie singing. :/
Kidz <3
SOS <3
this album is definately not what I expected to hear, but it is FANTASTIC! I'm happily surprised.
Are you sure this isn't "Robbie Williams featuring Take That"? Jeez, I know his return is a big deal but he's on like 7 out of 10 tracks. Other than that, great album.
I have to ask: WHY WHY WHY?? Where's that brilliant "Beautiful World/The Circus" style?? This is rubbish, except The Flood.
With "The Flood", "Pretty things" and "Eight letters", there are only three good songs on it. I'm a huge fan but this album is horrible. :-(
LEAKED!!! LEAKED!!! LEAKED!!! [2] :DD
they're always changing to bizarre themes but i like it
wait wait wait