Take That are a massive British band that first came onto the music scene 20years ago as a 5 piece boy band and rose to success. They disbanded in 1996 when Robbie Williams left the band and embarked on his solo rise to worldwide fame and the band went their separate ways.
A relatively recent reunion has demonstrated that Take That still have whatever it is that enthralled a nation and the world in the 90’s!
In November 2010 Take That released Progress in the United Kingdom. It was their 6th studio album and the first since 1995 to feature Robbie Williams. As of June 2011 Progress has sold 2.8 million copies in the UK, it was the biggest selling album of the year selling over one million copies in 24 days. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the fastest-selling album of the century and the second fastest selling album of all time.
Progressed is the first extended play released by Take That, packaged with Progress and available from June 10, 2011 with 8 previously unreleased tracks. It was released in the middle of the Progress Live tour that will see Take That play to 1.6million fans across Europe.
The content personifies it’s title! This is a new sound, a new feeling… real PROGRESS for Take That. The boy band have seen a lot and experienced a lot since their early days in the 1990’s. They have come back together as a talented man band and written a lot of new material together. It is a new sound and a new direction, I have had the extended play with both discs on repeat for the last couple of days and it grows on me a little more with every listen.
The lyrical content is definitely very different from the Take That of old, and the the sound is much more progressive. There is a great deal of variety in the sound contained on these 2 discs. From the harmonious keyboards, booming bass, deafening drums (when you listen to it at the volume I have been anyway).
All of the tracks were written and composed by Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams and you can feel that they come from a place of experience and are heartfelt. It was originally thought that Robbie Williams may only rejoin the band for the Progress album and tour but the band are enjoying writing together and I guess only time will tell.
Their place in the hearts of the British public has been held sacred and they are well and truly back at the forefront. With new material that is a far cry from their back catalogue, yet still catchy and snakes it’s way deep into your mind and soul. It’s easy to relate to and you can’t help but sing along after the first few listens.
A surprisingly enjoyable listen.
Track Listing.
Disc 1:
When We Were Young – Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow
Man – Gary Barlow
Love Love – Gary Barlow and Mark Owen
The Day the Work Is Done – Mark Owen and Gary Barlow
Beautiful – Gary Barlow
Don’t Say Goodbye – Gary Barlow
Aliens – Howard Donald and Mark Owen
Wonderful World – Mark Owen and Jason Orange
Disc 2:
The Flood – Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow
SOS – Mark Owen and Robbie Williams
Wait – Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams
Kidz – Mark Owen and Gary Barlow
Pretty Things – Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow
Happy Now – Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams
Underground Machine – Robbie Williams
What Do You Want from Me? – Mark Owen
Affirmation – Howard Donald and Mark Owen
Eight Letters – Gary Barlow
Flowerbed (hidden track) – Jason Orange
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I never really got into Take That when they were around years ago. They were a bit too young for me then but I really love Robbie so I began listening to there first Take That album when they first got back together and really enjoyed it. I don’t know if they were ever this good before or if they have just got better with age but this is a really good album. The Flood is an awesome song.
I never really listened to them back in the day either. They were too boy band for me, not heavy enough.
And this one took a while to grow on me too but I really like What Do You Want From Me? and The Flood is great too