Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 12
  2. Negative: 3 out of 12
  1. 'Rudebox' is not 'Robbie Williams the serious artiste', but it is an amazing pop album.
  2. Mojo
    80
    An intriguing, funny and inventive listen. [Nov 2006, p.101]
  3. Undoubtedly one of the year's strangest releases.
  4. Uncut
    60
    It's not always pleasant... but at its best... it's the funniest, most adventurous and liveliest record of his career. [Nov 2006, p.134]
  5. After 16 songs ranging from electro-country to the parody-heavy We're The Pet Shop Boys and various quasi-conversational raps à la the Streets' Mike Skinner about losing his virginity, I felt the man should rope things in.
  6. Billboard
    40
    Things hover uneasily somewhere between wholesale reinvention and mere superstar vanity project. [28 Oct 2006]
  7. All too often Rudebox plays like an undeveloped collection of half-baked ideas.
  8. Q Magazine
    40
    On this showing he's bored and directionless. [Nov 2006, p.134]
  9. A scant handful of highlights aside, it is packed with half-baked ideas, bad jokes, music that any other star of Williams' stature would be terrified of the general public hearing.
  10. His new lyrical equation seems to be rip off someone else's words, add some street slang that would have been out of date five years ago, mention some brand names, say something offensive and then shoe horn it all together.
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 77 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 77
  2. Negative: 16 out of 77
  1. TylerD
    Oct 27, 2006
    10
    The best album of his career.
  2. Jul 24, 2020
    9
    I still don't understand why this album was so hated back then, probably because of Rudebox as a lead single, but the album is still amazing.I still don't understand why this album was so hated back then, probably because of Rudebox as a lead single, but the album is still amazing. Lovelight, She's Madonna, The 80s (probably the best track), Kiss Me... And many more. Great album. Full Review »
  3. Apr 3, 2020
    10
    I haven’t heard a male pop album like this, very unique and fun, it stills fresh, people were not ready for this...