Chief Goods: Chasing Yesterday

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' new album, Chasing Yesterday, drops next week. With festival appearances and a world tour in the wings, it's been a welcome rush of interviews and Gallagher related soundbites. I've been listening to Chasing Yesterday daily for the last two weeks so how does it stack up in the solo Gallagher legacy? Pretty good I must say. My first listens it was hit and miss. One song was a bit meandering (nowhere near the levels of Beady Eye's sophomore release) or 60's mod that made me think I was watching Ocean's 11. Then the next song would be uptempo, ethereal and easy to get stuck in the brain. Personal highlights:

In the Heat of the Moment, first song released months back, still great, still rocking. Catchy and easily repeatable. Talking about cracking whips, being at his side, not letting go and other pseudo lovey dovey jazz.

Lock All the Doors, off and running from the first second, it sounds like another song I can't quite put my finger on or maybe I've just listened to a lot of Noel demos and it's all blending together...Nice upbeat charger though, what I expect or enjoy most from Noel.

The Dying of the Light & The Right Stuff, middle album paunch, just deliberately paced talking about streets paved with gold, no time to get out, it'll be alright if you dance with me tonight, etc. Kinda dreamy and out there. Right Stuff same thing, slow starter with sexy saxophone out of nowhere and then some piano, horns, drums, guitars, etc. Kinda wonder where these songs are going.

You Know We Can't Go Back, arguably my favorite track off the album. Just a here we go, off and moving long song about stuff being all right and you know we can't go back, taking you to a one horse town, running away, sun's out, the wind's in your hair, grab your gal (or guy) and just go. Love this song.

Ballad of the Mighty I, another upbeat, just gets moving tune, kinda sounds like a break up song.

In typical fashion, Noel leaves perfectly excellent song, Do the Damage off the album. A great charging, moody track about dreams and people dragging you down but not stopping the power of love.

Overall a great listen with several songs that get stuck in my head. Will have to try and score concert tix on Craigslist closer to his Los Angeles date.

Rock In Peace: Beady Eye

After 5 years and 2 albums, the Liam Gallagher lead, post-OASIS rock group Beady Eye has quietly disbanded.  After imploding backstage in 2009, then OASIS members Gallagher, Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Chris Sharrock quickly reunited sans Noel to form the new group.  Their first album, the fast paced, guitar and piano charging Different Gear, Still Speeding dropped in 2011 to mixed reviews and tepid sales.  Psychedelic and meandering follow up BE fared little better in 2013.  After keeping busy with launching clothing line Pretty Green (which Noel attributes to bringing tension to OASIS), starting Beady Eye, raising kids and sadly getting divorced after admitting to fathering a love child with a journalist, it sounds like Mr. Gallagher could use a little break to reassess.  It will be interesting to see where he goes from here as he's only known the rock and roll lifestyle since OASIS formed in 1991 when Liam was only 21 years old and found success shortly thereafter.

Never short for words or wit, Liam Gallagher is one of our last great front men.  He's brash, cocky, hilarious, driven and talented.  While singers today avoid the spotlight and don't look like lead singers, Liam's manic energy and one of a kind attitude is both mesmerizing and polarizing.  Whereas bands are only too grateful to be noticed, Liam has always been of the "if you like it, great, if you don't, fuck off" camp which is both refreshing yet off putting to parts of the desensitized yet hyper touchy population.  Not letting big brother Noel put the kibosh on his music career,  Beady Eye managed to headline world tours, appear at countless festivals and even popped up at London's Olympic Closing Ceremony in 2012.  Unfortunately Liam's voice is hit and miss these days since he was never trained as a singer and years of cigarettes and alcohol probably haven't helped.  But Gallagher doesn't seem to be the type who can sit still for long so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he's sticking his finger up our nose and reminding us what a true rock and roll front man is all about.

Track Star: Beady Eye

If I had to name my 10 favorite bands, # 1-9 would be OASIS and # 10 would be a big mess of everyone else.  Liam and Noel Gallagher not only put out some epic tunes but they're also equally witty and hilarious in totally different ways  You know, where one guffaws while the other just smiles with his eyes.  Right?

Here are some gems from a recent interview with everyone from OASIS except Noel, Beady Eye.

On Justin Bieber:

“Anyone who goes on two hours late is f*cking right in my book, man,” he raves, as the shoot is finishing up. “All these so-called rock bands that sit backstage going, ‘Hey, let’s wait 15 minutes.’ F*ck that, wait two hours and 15 minutes! He’s kicked the f*cking arse out of it – no one will beat that, ever. So get off his f*cking back, man: I am a Belieber!”

On naming their second album BE:

“My theory is that it’s gonna have Be on the cover, and then on the back I-E-B-E-R. [Stands up, shouts football chant-style] Biiiiieee-ber! I’ve got his f*cking back, man.”

On running into Noel during the Olympics:

“It was all right. I wasn’t that p*ssed actually, I’d only had like… four bottles of champagne.”

So much more good stuff can be found in the full interview.

http://shortlist.com/entertainment/music/liams-firm