Review
by Nicholas James |
 |
How Old Are You is Robin Gibb's second solo
album, coming 14 years after his first,
1969's Robin's Reign. This isn't really a
Robin Gibb solo album, it is a Bee Gees
album without Barry. Although Robin sings
lead vocals on all the songs, Maurice Gibb
is present on backing vocals. More
importantly, Robin and Maurice co-write all
the songs, and the album is produced by
Maurice and Robin. Oh, yes, and most of the
instruments are played by Maurice, too.
So, how would the Bee Gees sound without
Barry? If this album is anything to go by,
absolutely superb! Let's get the negatives
out of the way first. This album is entirely
electronic, with endless programmed drum
beats and harsh synthesizers. This can get a
little wearing after a while, but it is a
product of the era and the sound that
Maurice and Robin were trying to achieve.
And two or three of the songs in the second
part of the album, don't work perhaps as
well as they should. But that is it, as far
as the bad points go. Everything else is
good. In fact, it is very good.
Most of the songs are perfectly composed,
highly emotional love songs, that just drag
you into their tales of heartache. Each song
tells a different story, and Robin's vocals
are extremely powerful (and very high, which
is a new departure for the singer!) It is
lacking in that extra vocal variety that
Barry Gibb provides, but this is a Robin
Gibb album, so you can't really expect to
get Barry, too!
The first track, 'Juliet', was a massive
European hit and is one of the greatest
Gibb-composed songs of all time. Just let it
take you into its world and you won't want
to leave. You will want to play it again and
again. 'How Old Are You' is a daring trip
into the world of underage sex, and manages
to be a beautiful song as well. If you like
big songs with soaring harmonies, you will
adore 'In And Out Of Love', which shows that
Robin and Maurice were more than capable of
continuing this particular Bee Gees
tradition. 'Kathy's Gone' is a tear jerker
that, from its simple opening bars to its
powerful chorus, will have you crying and
humming along in equal measure.
'Another Lonely Night In New York' was
another single release from the album and a
beautifully atmospheric track, perfect for
Robin's vocals. Generally, the second half
of the album is weaker than the first,
though, with the drum beats and tinny
synthesizers starting to grate, but 'He
Can't Love You' rises above the electronic
monotony that surrounds it with a powerful
and touching love song.
For an album that is handicapped (in
hindsight) by its electronic sound, and
which suffers from a few weak tracks, I have
still awarded it a clear 5 stars. It has to
be listened to in the context of its era.
Some have described this album as soppy and
overly sentimental, but that is surely to
miss the point. This is a genuinely
affecting album, through a series of strange
and moving stories, strikes a nerve with
your own personal experiences. Yes, it is
manipulative and calculated, but it is also
warm and honest, with song writing of a
calibre that is rarely seen these days. It
therefore gets its 5 stars for its pure
self-confidence, for the quality of the
song-writing, and because I just completely
adore the record, and have done since the
first time I played it all those years ago.
I wish that Robin Gibb would get back to
what he does best and write another album as
good as this, rather than the seemingly
endless cover versions and retrospectives
that he has been involved in since 2003.
Please, Robin.
Why Buy How Old Are You?
Because it is divine. Robin Gibb's best solo
album, and one of the most personal,
touching albums released. You will need
tissues. |
