But seeing as Im back and have nothing to do right now I thought I would continue this thing. Writing that little bit of rubbish earlier has got me back on track...ish.
I havent really got much to talk about as far as music goes, I could post a load of obscure tunes but I dont think anyone really listens to them.
Infact, I dont think anyone even bothers reading this so what im going to do is review an album I earlier panned because its the lazy unimaginative thing to do, and as no one is reading or listening, I can do what i want.
So without further "Apu" (simpsons), heres my review of Beady Eyes - Different Gear, Still Speeding.
(a few posts ago I slated the tunes I had heard from the album, but left the door open for the band to proove themselves when the real deal came out - so this is that.)
Its hard to know where to start with an album thats been recorded by 4/5ths of the band I used to consider my favourate of all time. I would still say Oasis are probably the most important band within my lifetime, but its now easier to see there weaknesses for what they were. The fan boy shades have been taken off and I can now safely say that yes, they did peak on there first 2 albums (its hard not to when its those 2 albums), and yes, they released some pretty mediocre stuff post '97.
But one thing that became increasingly more evident the longer the band went on was the divide between noel gallagher and the rest of the band.
On there last 2 albums, Noel sang the majority of the songs he wrote. in the past, he wrote all the songs and Liam sang them, but the longer Oasis went on the Noel songs were almost halved on each record and the rest was filled in my the remaining band members.
On "Dig Out your soul", there last album, Noel wrote 6 songs and sang 3 of them. These were heavy, psychedelic numbers that were cutting loose from the old Oasis sound. the rest of the album paled in comparison, and by listening back to that album, you can hear the divide in the songs and it should of been obvious to everyone that Oasis were almost spent as a band.
So when Beady Eye came about, the 4/5ths of Oasis I would consider excellent musicians but weak songwriters, the alarm bells went off and I feared for the worse.
The first 3 songs that came about, The Roller, Bring The Light and 4 Letter Word, did not ease my fears. Infact, they left me feeling pretty numb with only 4 Letter Word being remotely interesting.
After listening back to those 3 songs when I got the album in full my opinion of the album opener (4 letter word) did change somewhat. Its Liam and co putting a big fuck off line underneath Oasis and starting again.
Liams vocals, as they are throughout the record, are excellent. Infact he probably hasnt sounded this good since the 90's. His aggression is there for all to hear as he snarls "nothing ever lasts....FOREVER" but rather than the croaky shouts of the more recent past, hes actually singing again.
And with the James Bond style strings and rumbling guitar, the album is off to a decent start.
Unfortunatly it doesnt contiinue down this road
"Millionare" is an jaunty accoustic number that skips along doing nothing in particular other than boast some pretty trippy lyrics about, of all peaople, Salvidor Dali.
"The Roller" is nothing but a mediocre pop song that rips off John Lennon and "Beatles & Stones" has one of the most cringeworthy titles in the history of music - and the song itself is another harmless but mediocre tune that wouldnt of even made it as an Oasis bside during there pomp.
One thing is for certain though, they arent trying to be Oasis and you have to applaud them for this. it would of been very easy to simply copy a formular that they know works but in all honesty, I think Oasis tried to do just that with there album "Heathen Chemistry". That was the sound of a band trying to sound like themselves, and other than a few exceptions (songbird & hindu times), it didnt work.
"Wind Up Dream" & "Bring The Light" are 2 examples of Beady Eye not trying to be Oasis. the honky tonk piano of bring the light is a million miles from anything Oasis did and its split opinion right down the middle. Some love it, others hate it. I still havent listened to it all the way through and I still maintain it should of been a 2 min song. It might work live though - who knows.
As for "Wind Up Dread", the only thing that grabs my attention is a nifty harmonica solo, but the song never elivates itself above "meh, its ooooooook I suppose...."
And that is the overall feeling I get from the album.
Its full of alright songs but there is nothing on here that makes you sit up and think, wow, whats this?!
Its also quite soft, which is no bad thing, but when you have heard Liam gallagher sing songs like "Morning Glory" all your life, you expect a bit more bollocks to an album hes in charge of.
Alot of the songs on here are accoustic ballads, heavily produced by Steve Lillywhite overloading them with strings and reverb to give certain tracks a psychodelic feel.
His production throughout is pretty much on the money but he cant do anything for songs like Liams 2nd attempt at bettering Songbird. "For Anyone" is quite offensive at just how poppy it is. I swear to god if I was told this was McFly or fuckin, Take That, I wouldnt be suprised.
liam does redeem himself though with the 2 long players on the record, both "Wigwam" and "The Morning Sun" clock in at over 6 mins and are in my opinion the albums highlights.
Wigwam is a soulful tale of a drunken walk home that builds up to 3 min psychodelic outro with Liam proclaiming that hes "coming up" complete with choir backing vocals.
"Morning Sun" is Liams sob story about Noel and the Oasis split, featuring some of his most personal lyrics.
"You'll never know, unless you try, your blinded by what/you idolise, I stand alone, nobody knows, the morning sun has rose.
Hes in my mind, hes in my soul, hes even in my/rock'n'roll. i stand alone, nobody knows, the morning sun has rose"
Now if thats not about Noel then im Tony McCarroll.
Its a fitting way to end the album, and it is actually quite beautiful.
However, its not enough to lift what was a very mediocre album from being just that, mediocre.
Im not suprised the album has got critics confused. Non of them seem to know what to do. they cant slag it off because its not all bad. For the most part its harmless fun that wont offend anyone. Not something I ever thought I would say about something Liam gallagher is involved in!
And at least Beady Eye have found a sound for themselves but whether that sound is to everyones taste remains to be seen.
What the album has done though, for all its faults, has shown that the 4/5ths of Oasis without Noel are happy, you can hear it in the songs cos theyre all so fuckin soft and cheerful! And they have well and truly put the ball in Noels court and I for one cant wait with what he returns.
This is where you would usually see a mark out of 10, or 5, or some gold stars, or a fuckin nipple.
But im just gonna leave it like this. Oasis fans will quite like this album because its Liam singing, and there are good songs on here.
Oasis haters, will hate it. Probably.
I think its very very average, boarderline poor if it wasnt for 4 letter word, wigwam and morning sun and I cant ever see me going back for a listen to "for anyone" or "stanidng on the edge of noise" and about 5 other songs on here......
I hope that helps you decide whether or not to download it illegally or not.
Peace & Love
