Music review: Liam Gallagher – 鈥楢s You Were鈥�
I really miss Oasis.
While on vacation, my daily reading involved 鈥淵our Favorite Band is Killing Me鈥� by Steven Hyden. In the book, Hyden outlines what pop music rivalries really reveal about the meaning of life. In one of the chapters, Hyden examines the feud between Oasis and Blur and the quest to achieve musical supremacy. The book is an enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has a passion for music.
To be clear, I鈥檓 firmly on the Oasis side after never really yielding to the Blur bandwagon. After reading Hyden鈥檚 entertaining insights, I had the strong urge to rediscover the two Oasis albums that left the biggest impact on me and millions of others as well.
With 鈥淒efinitely Maybe,鈥� brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher proclaimed their new rock star status back in 1994 with brash and infectious tracks like 鈥淩ock 鈥榥鈥� Roll Star鈥� and 鈥淐igarettes and Alcohol.鈥�
A year later, the brothers delivered a true Britpop masterpiece with 鈥�(What鈥檚 the Story) Morning Glory?鈥� by offering glorious tracks such as 鈥淲onderwall鈥� and 鈥淐hampagne Supernova.鈥�
Six albums later and after tenacious quarrels too numerous to list, the talented brothers parted ways and left the Oasis they created.
After side projects by both brothers, Liam releases his first solo effort with 鈥淎s You Were.鈥� And I couldn鈥檛 be happier.
I鈥檓 sure Oasis fans feel the same. It鈥檚 a glorious return to the classic Oasis sound that propelled the band to worldwide stardom and secured a place in rock history.
Opening track 鈥淲all of Glass鈥� sets the stage for the barrage of infectious, soaring and engaging tales dripping of pure rock coolness laced with soaring pop sensibilities.
鈥淏old鈥� follows with its hypnotic hooks that detail confessions of regret and lost opportunities.
鈥淕reedy Soul鈥� is a rousing burner that packs plenty of charisma and I-don鈥檛-care attitude.
The highlight of the album comes when Gallagher slows things down to examine loneliness on the moving 鈥淧aper Crown鈥� as the 45-year-old sings, 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 better if you hold your breath and don鈥檛 look down/At the pages of your paper crown.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e All I Need鈥� closes the set with Gallagher perhaps proclaiming that he鈥檚 truly ready to stand on his own and happy to step out from his older brother鈥檚 shadow, making 鈥淎s You Were鈥� one of my favorite releases of the year.
I guess it鈥檚 time for big brother to see if he鈥檚 up to the tall task of delivering a gem with his upcoming new release.
I鈥檓 sure the two brothers will have a lot to say to each other in the months to come.
That鈥檚 certainly good news for Oasis fans everywhere.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.