Rudebox May 2026

Most critics were confused by the shift in direction, often labeling the album a "career-killer" or a "dud".

: A collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys that remains one of the album's most critically acclaimed tracks.

It sold 147,000 copies in its first week in the UK. Rudebox

While the album debuted at number one in the UK and several other countries, it is often remembered as a commercial disappointment compared to Williams' previous multi-platinum successes.

The album is a "genre-hopping" project that incorporates Hip-Hop, R&B, Electropop, and Funk. Most critics were confused by the shift in

Its release coincided with the comeback of his former band, Take That , whose album Beautiful World eventually outsold Rudebox in the UK. Critical Reception

A famous (though frequently debated) report claims that due to poor long-term sales, nearly one million unsold copies of the album were shipped to China to be destroyed and recycled for use in road resurfacing projects. While the album debuted at number one in

: The lead single, which was polarizing for its attempt at rapping and 80s-inspired synth beats.