NME have today shown the world premier of the bands new single "Four Letter Word". The fanfare started early with a week long countdown in the form of a dramatic doomsday like clock ticking down the hours until it was screened. Daily updates on the site reminded everyone that Boxing day was "The Day!"
Really exciting stuff - and I'm sure it has been for the millions of Oasis fans around the world.
The harsh reality for these fans, including myself, is that all the build up and fanfare will mean fuck all if the music is toilet.
Liam Gallagher can claim the album is as good as "Definitely Maybe" all he likes, we have heard that one before from him and then he released Heathen Chemistry.
First things first, that name is a shocker. Oasis was hardly the greatest name for a band, but at least it grabbed your attention. Short, sweet, simple, easy to chant at gigs. Oasis fits.
Beady Eye is just stupid.
When you are discussing a bands music and you mention the bands name, the reaction you get shouldn't be one of confusion. A bands name should be simple enough to grasp, whether its something short like Oasis or something long and ridiculous like Neds Atomic Dustbin, people shouldn't have to spend time trying to figure out the name. Every time Ive mentioned the band to someone, this is how the conversation has gone;
Me - Heard Liam Gallagher's new band?
Person 1 - No. You mean Oasis?
Me - No, beady Eye
Person 1 - What?
Me - Beady Eye
Person 1 - Whats that?
Me - The name of Liam Gallaghers new band
Person - B D I?
Me - Yeah, Beady Eye
Person 1 - Whats that stand for then?
Me - What does it stand for?
Person 1 - Yeah, what does B D I stand for?
Me - It doesn't stand for anything. They're just called Beady Eye, as in 2 words, "beady" and then that's followed by the word "eye"
Person 1 - Oh right, I thought you meant B D I
Me - Na, its Beady Eye
Person 1 - That's fuckin' stupid
Gem Archer and Andy Bell remain and the last in the long list of Oasis drummers, Chris Sharrock, remains in the hot seat behind the kit. Obviously Liam continues his role as front man.
Now this is fine, Liam is still a fantastic front man even if his voice has started to grate as the years have gone on.
Gem and Andy are both talented musicians, both capable of writing a good tune and Chris Sharrock is a more than capable drummer having performed with The La's.........and Robbie Williams.
On paper, it looks fine. However, the knives were out early after the band released there first song for free over the Internet. "Bring the Light" was met with less than positive feedback from critics and fans and it was left to ex Creation Records boss Alan Mcgee to defend the band;
"I was on the Internet this morning, everybody's judging the band on one tune," he told NME. "How can you do that? Let's hear the album. It's a fucking free download. It's too early to fucking say. Think of the talent in that band: Gem [Archer], [Chris] Sharrock, Liam Gallagher, the best front man there's ever fucking been! And Andy Bell, one of the best guitarists up there with [Jimmy] Page. How can that be a bad band?" (Thanks NME)
Hes got a point to some degree, but what people will see above anything else is the name missing from the list, and that's Noel Gallagher.
Noel was the leader of Oasis. He was "The Chief". Without his songs Oasis wouldn't of even existed. And that's what it comes down to. The Music.
It was the music that elevated Oasis above the other indie bands at the time. Songs like Live Forever, Slide Away, Dont Look Back In Anger and Champagne Supernova defined an era in British music that can never be taken away from the band, or Noel.
Its the music that matters and if its not there, the fame, praise, hype etc will soon turn into negative hatred that becomes a tough thing to shake off. Just ask Johnny Borrell and Razorloght.
What Alan Mcgee also fails to mention is his own opinion on the song. Hes entitled not to give his opinion especially if hes not asked, but it would of been nice to hear what he thought. I have a feeling his opinion on the song is quite similar to the rest of us which was one of utter ennui.
Another 2 songs on and I'm still not convinced by Beady Eye, "Sons Of The Stage" is a cover which plods along and does nothing more, and "Four Letter Word" is really nothing special although I wouldn't say it was a bad song........its just not anything other than average.
The band still look the part and can still pull a crowd - tickets for there upcoming gigs sold out in less than an hour.
The album artwork is brilliantly retro, as is the font used for the bands name.
The sound of the songs is a slight step away from the Oasis sound which will come as a relief to most and there is no doubt the band will initially do well - the name Gallagher still carries plenty of weight.
However, its probably the eldest Gallagher's musical output that will hold up the longer time goes on and hopefully the new year will be the year we get to hear the real post Oasis album we all want - an acid soaked krautrock influenced Noel solo album - or is that just me?!
Beady Eyes album is due out in February but will no doubt make its way online before then, and I'm going to reserve full judgement until I hear the whole thing, but the warning signs are flashing and I'm not expecting much more than what I have already heard. But I just hope that Liam and co are ready for the backlash that usually follows the hype. Its the English way, and I'm sure they are.
But I guess my major gripe with Beady Eye right now is probably the same feeling many of the Oasis "haters" have had over the years. And that is the feeling of unjust hype, praise and airplay they have received when they are yet to produce a song worthy of it.
Over the years I constantly stuck up for Oasis whenever there musical output was questioned. I would argue that besides 2 average/poor albums, the rest of there work was of a high quality and you couldn't argue with them as a live act.
In my opinion Oasis were unfairly criticised because of the image they carried with them and there songs that wernt on the first 2 albums were usually overlooked.
Oasis made money, they were forever on magazine covers and in the papers and sold out stadiums not just in England, but all over the world.
However, I can now see why people hated Oasis. They did, for the most part, stick to there own sound. Noel Gallagher once compared his band to the likes of U2 and The Rolling Stones in that they made "Oasis music" and people either liked it or hated it. And I guess hes right - they had become big enough for this to be the case and therefor I think the hype and praise that always surrounded them and annoyed the haters so much could be justified.
The same cant be said about Beady Eye and they have to earn the same respect i would give Oasis - on first listen they've got there work cut out.
I'm going to leave it there with a song that wont receive any hype in the media and probably wont even get an official release as the band "Lovedust" are still unsigned.
I wanted to post this because its a song that generates more emotion and feeling than anything Ive heard from Beady Eye who are in essence, a stripped down version of one of my favourite bands. A band who should be able to drum up something within side me but who are unfortunatly getting an easy ride and not delivering the goods.
When it does go tits up for Beady Eye, which it more than likely will, I will be first in line at the bookies to place my bet for Beady Eye to feature on the X-factor. Mark my words, with a name like that and the songs ive heard so far, what has Liam got to lose?
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