Robbie Williams's early albums are exuberant pop classics and, as an entertainer, he's in a league of his own; you'll get no argument from me on that score.

But after losing chart ground to a younger generation, he needed the Take That reunion to give him a boost.

Take The Crown is the first Williams solo album to feature a few songs co-written by Gary Barlow, and their combined efforts on sparky lead single Candy have put Robbie back in the number one spot – for the time being.

But I can't help feeling that, while I might be getting my money's worth from the tightly-packed sound on songs that are all too eager to be considered stadium anthems alongside producer Jacknife Lee's work with Snow Patrol and U2, I'm being shortchanged in terms of actual killer tunes.

There's a glimpse of old twinkle-eyed mischief in the fizzy pop of S*** On The Radio, but a somewhat out-of-touch rock pomposity lurking elsewhere. Too often we get Robbie trying to be Bono, and that might keep the pop crown out of his permanent grasp for a wee while yet.