WHO IS HE? The formerly supersonic frontman of Oasis and Beady Eye. Brother Noel’s eternal sparring partner and constant foil. Britpop’s leading parka and anorak enthusiast. The singer with the most distinctive performance posture in rock ’n’ roll. And a guy who’s never going to change in the slightest, much to the delight of your dad.
WHAT IS THIS? His second Greg Kurstin-produced solo album, fourth post-Oasis studio release — and a surprisingly satisfying disc whose title comes from a pair of John Lennon drawings that Gallagher owns, one of which was given to him by Yoko Ono. Take that, Noel.
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE? Exactly what you think it sounds like — yet another batch of self-described ‘meat and veg’ songs that try to channel John, Paul, George and Ringo at their late-’60s creative peak. If you’ve got a problem with that, Liam will be happy to discuss it with you outside the pub after a few pints.
WHAT WOULD BE A BETTER TITLE FOR THIS ALBUM? Why Change?
HOW SHOULD I LISTEN TO IT? While drinking Guinness, wearing an anorak and trolling your sibling on social media.
WHAT 10 WORDS DESCRIBE IT? Beatlesque, nostalgic, dependable, anthemic, crunchy, jangly, melodic, straightforward, psychedelic, glammy.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SONGS? As with all things Gallagher, it depends on whether you prefer the arena-sized rockers or the arena-sized ballads. In the former category, the shuffling Shockwave, the chiming title track and muscular numbers like Be Still, Halo and The River hit the mark. In the latter, the pretty One of Us, the Lennonesque Once and the trippy Meadow get the job done.
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY? ‘Yeah, it’s good. But you know what would be better? Another goddamn Oasis album.’
HOW OFTEN WILL I LISTEN TO THIS? More than you might anticipate. Though the real question is: Will you listen to it more than Noel’s next EP, which comes out Sept. 27?
IF THIS ALBUM WERE A MUSIC FESTIVAL, WHICH FESTIVAL WOULD IT BE? Glastonbury.
SHOULD I BUY, STREAM OR STEAL IT? Why buy it? Why not?
