Take That - The Circus Review

Gary Barlow probably can't believe his luck. For years he's been ridiculed as the fat, unpopular one from Take That, while his nemesis Robbie Williams has been showered with fame and glory, and all this in spite of having a voice resembling a mockney Dick Van Dyke in "Mary Poppins". But, oh, how the tables have turned. As Barlow and chums continue to enjoy the transition from boyband prancers in tight leathers, to man band with blissful harmonies, Williams has opted to hunt down UFOs in the Mojave Desert.

That's not to say that it couldn't have ended very badly for Take That after their decision to reform in 2005 following 10 years of inactivity. The staunch refusal of Robbie Williams - arguably the most popular, definitely the most successful member of the Mancunian boyband - to rejoin the pop group responsible for making him a household name, could have rendered Barlow's plans a complete failure. And yet, several sell-out tours later, cameo appearances in Marks & Spencer commercials and two albums in, Take That mark II has been successful beyond anyone's comprehension....full text At the time, Take That's decision to reform two years ago didn't look the smartest move. With former colleague Robbie Williams selling out stadiums, the reformation of Gary, Mark, Jason and Howard looked like one desperate last throw of the dice.

Of course, it now looks like a stroke of genius. Take That made the smart move of maturing with their audience, meaning the thirtysomething housewives who grew up with them could fall in love all over again. It helped that, in Patience and Rule The World in particular, Gary Barlow had lost none of his knack for penning a great pop song. Robbie Williams, meanwhile, is now a bearded Californian recluse hunting for aliens. Funny how things turn out.

So, apart from the unfortunate knock on effects of inspiring other former teen idols such as Boyzone and New Kids On The Block (surely a job for the Trades Description Act?) to give it another go, Take That v2.0 can be counted as an unqualified success. And just one listen to The Circus is enough to convince that the commercial success of Beautiful World is very likely to be repeated....full text hammering-piano technique for their own album, The Circus. It seems the rejuvenated five have also been listening to Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to The Head for inspiration, delivering a set of earnest songs full of chiming guitars and a dozen violins, which should soar through Wembley Stadium when they embark on their stadium tour next summer. There's even a song called Hold Up a Light, designed to encourage a lighters-aloft moment. Though Mark Owen reprises the jaunty ELO-style pop of Shine on Hello and Up All Night, there are too many well-buffed ballads here, and the songs lack the restraint that made Back for Good truly great. So, what next for Take That? Will Brian Eno get the call? Stranger things have happened in their remarkable comeback....full text