The outspoken one has returned and this time he is flying solo. The Gallagher brothers have been engaged in a heated war of words since the demise of Oasis, with both Liam and Noel determined to top the other with their new musical ventures. Liam basically rehashed Oasis in all but name, creating the mediocre Beady Eye.
Noel on the other hand has spent his time putting together his debut solo album under the intriguingly named moniker, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Whilst there was interest in what form Liam’s ‘new’ band would take, the anticipation for Noel Gallagher’s solo album was undoubtedly greater, considering he was Oasis’ central songwriter.
The lead single from Noel’s debut solo effort, ‘The Death of You and Me’, sets the tone for the rest of the album. Whilst not drawing too many comparisons with Noel’s previous work with Oasis, it is reminiscent of ‘The Importance of Being Idle’, with a prominent strum of the guitar and a bouncing beat. It is incredibly infectious - without being remarkable - and Noel is on fine form lyrically, “And is it any wonder why the sea is calling out to me / I seem to spend my whole life / Running from people who will be / The death of you and me.”
The second single from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, ‘AKA... What A Life!’, is a huge anthem that you will have no doubt heard on the Vauxhall TV add, subliminally embedded in the deep recesses of your brain.
It is one of the standout tracks from the album, featuring a jangling piano groove and chugging bass line before lifting off with a soaring chorus.
The album’s rousing opener, ‘Everybody’s On The Run’, finds Noel putting a definitive stamp on his vocals, demonstrating that he is more than capable of taking lead with a powerful, reverberating vocal. ‘Dream On’ is another unashamedly Noel song, with a pounding beat underlying his robustly strummed guitar before bursting into another straightforward, but ever so addictive, chorus. The strong opening to the album continues with the mesmerizing ‘If I Had A Gun...’, another standout track that once again leans on the piano and acoustic guitar. “If I had a gun, I'd shoot a hole into the sun/ and love would burn this city down for you,” sings Noel over the gently strummed rhythm guitar. There is something very comforting in how familiar it all sounds, like returning to your favourite holiday destination.
It is one of the standout tracks from the album, featuring a jangling piano groove and chugging bass line before lifting off with a soaring chorus.
The album’s rousing opener, ‘Everybody’s On The Run’, finds Noel putting a definitive stamp on his vocals, demonstrating that he is more than capable of taking lead with a powerful, reverberating vocal. ‘Dream On’ is another unashamedly Noel song, with a pounding beat underlying his robustly strummed guitar before bursting into another straightforward, but ever so addictive, chorus. The strong opening to the album continues with the mesmerizing ‘If I Had A Gun...’, another standout track that once again leans on the piano and acoustic guitar. “If I had a gun, I'd shoot a hole into the sun/ and love would burn this city down for you,” sings Noel over the gently strummed rhythm guitar. There is something very comforting in how familiar it all sounds, like returning to your favourite holiday destination.
Noel hasn’t deviated far from what he knows how to do best on his solo album, and what he does best is make stirring, lofty anthems, songs that sound good when belted out by thousands in stadiums across the world. ‘(I Wanna Live In A Dream In My) Record Machine’ and ‘AKA... Broken Arrow’ further prove Noel’s ability to write choruses that instantly grab you. The former is one of the songs that has been knocking around for years in demo form, whilst the latter is another of the newbies that has a truly captivating chorus, one that will ring in your ears even after the song itself has finished.
As the album nears its conclusion, Noel picks up the pace with ‘(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach’, an effervescent garage rocker with a thumping drum beat and Noel’s throaty growl coming together perfectly.
The album closes the with the wistful ‘Stop The Clocks’, another track that was around during the Oasis years as a demo. It features a reminiscent guitar in the manner of ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, before bursting into life twice, including a guitar solo breakdown towards the end that will go down well when Noel hits the live circuit.
The album closes the with the wistful ‘Stop The Clocks’, another track that was around during the Oasis years as a demo. It features a reminiscent guitar in the manner of ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, before bursting into life twice, including a guitar solo breakdown towards the end that will go down well when Noel hits the live circuit.
Noel Gallagher’s debut solo album suggests a bright post-Oasis future, making an album with a collection of consistently strong, anthemic tracks that will certainly satisfy those who have waited with baited breath to see how he would fair on his own. There is no point considering the worth of Noel’s solo effort in the light of the Oasis back catalogue, because Noel was Oasis. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds is not a drastic departure from the Oasis sound, rather it is unashamedly harking back to Oasis in their heyday. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
4/5
4/5
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