Music
Take That: 'The Flood'
Released on Monday, Nov 8 2010
Published Saturday, Nov 6 2010, 17:35 GMT | By Nick Levine | 17 comments
Re-enter Robbie Williams, a man essentially allergic to being predictable, alongside Stuart Price, the synth-poppy knob-twiddler who's worked wonders with Kylie and the Scissors this year already. This amuse bouche for the reunited five-piece's upcoming Progress platter initially seems confusing, perhaps even messy, but after four or five plays it reveals itself to be a genuinely epic pop belter, a winning mix of Williams wonkiness - those lyrics are pretty cryptic, right? - and Barlow's knack for cranking out choruses that make even Wembley Stadium feel cramped. Oh, and hats off to the boys for being ballsy enough to name what is potentially the biggest single of their career 'The Flood' when there's a joke about sticky old mops knocking about in Gaz's attic just begging to be cracked.
> Click here to watch the video for 'The Flood'
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I have loved Take That for quite some time now, and I'm so happy that Robbie's back! I can't believe he almost pulled out! Anyway, I can't wait for til I can get my hands on that new album! Take That 4 eva!
I echo the comments about Robbie- they were fine without him to be honest. The song is catchy after a few listens and you can feel the quality of what your hearing with their well crafted lyrics, even if at first I couldn't quite understand why they were talking about a flood! My only reservation is Robbie now taking over as frontman and lead vocalist, I can't stand him whatsoever. Gary rules in my view, he's a million times more talented.
amazing lead single, the best since patience!
Made three great singles on their comeback. Patience,Shine and Rule the world. The rest have been pants. This is just an attempt at a stadium anthem again like Greatest Day . Horrible.
Just heard their new album this morning and It's a bit of a let down. "The Flood" is no doubt the epic song of the album, but "Kidz" is the best of the bunch and is an unexpected early 80's electro stomper of a tune. No doubt this one looks set to be a future single. "Wait" is brilliant also but the beats are stale and long out of date. Mark's vocals on "S.O.S" are pitiful and is an awful attempt at punk rock as it get's but considering Robbie pulls things together after Mark pulls things out of his arse, all is forgiven. "Pretty Things" isn't bad either, but the intro echoes "Burslem Normals" from Robbies "Rudebox" album. :-S It's a shame they've took a stab in that direction because that album was rumoured to have been used for paving roads in china when the bulk failed to sell. On a majority of the songs it seems like Mark takes the driving seet this time around but the question remains, why? Robbie's vocals comes second and was only to be expected but i'm really p*ssed off that Gary's been chucked into the boot of their car rather than the passenger seet. Had this album featured MORE of his vocals I would have enjoyed it more, but instead I was left feeling empty, almost like I'd just spent 45 minutes listening to a Mark/Robbie duet album. No doubt this will sell by the boatload, but longtime fans will probably be disappointed. Progress?...I'm not so sure.
I like the song and the gorgeous Gary, Mark, Jason and Howard. But I just cant stand Robbie Williams. It would have been excellent without him. Let us hope Gary kicks him out when the tour is over next year.
and I thought robbie coming back would be a godsend! This song is SO unbelievably dull! More like a step back than "progress".
It would have been better without Robbie and his melancohly voice, how big of Gary to let him rejoin the band to help him save his flagging career.
they are amazing. no other words and now 4 has became 5, anymore perfect? people have been waiting years for it, they deserve this five, its beautiful.
I am a huge Take That fan and was so excited to hear Robbie had rejoined as I never got to see him with the boys on tour as he left just before my first Take That gig.The song is fantastic and I am really looking forward to the tour!
very very good deserves 5 stars cannot wait for more tracks and love the flood
Love it. First ever hearing it was "oh no. Robbie's single. Where are Howard, Jason and Mark?" then I remembered of course that Robbie always did share the solos with Gaz (Everything changes, Could it Be Magic etc) By 3rd listening I loved it and still do. If the new album is anything like the single it will be a fitting tribute to their (full) reunion. Just hope that the differences ARE really buried and that Rob's ego doesn't bring them all down again. He never wanted to be Gary Barlow's backing dancer but he might have to be when they wheel out "Patience" and "Rule the World"
Ahhh, come on DS, this surely deserves a 5* rating. Your reviews have slipped recently(favouring Katy Perry, Kylie etc...)but at least you gave this more than a 3*, unlike Rule the World. Do you seriously think that trashy songs like JLS's The Club Is Alive are better?MADNESS! anyway, looking forward to the next TT tour and album.
With the flourish of new boy bands at the moment, jls, the wanted, diva fever (cough cough), we was forgetting about the biggest manband of them all. Gary, mark, jason, howard... And now robbie are back and better then ever. Admittedly, on first listen this sounds more 80's power ballad then 2010's biggest comeback but after a couple of plays, you can get to grips with the heavy chorus and dramatic verses and really appreciate this 5 piece for what they are. Epic.
Ok, I'm so anti-Robbie its untrue but he just suits the opening of this song, building to the crescendo of lyrical perfection from Take That for a truly epic song, dramatic,pained and just a slice of pop perfection!
To be honest Take That were doing fine without Robbie :/ but its nice to know they have reunited which will make the fans happy (Robbie's three tracks Bodies,You know Me and Morning Sun were not that great :|)Anyway enough of the past this song is not bad has nice chilling tone to it ,its a nice slow songNot bad....not bad at all 3/5 :)
Not bad....maybe not as good as old singles (E.g Rule The World, Greatest Day, etc)But not bad....