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Post by defmaybe00 on Nov 21, 2017 1:43:19 GMT -5
Ready? Go
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Post by oasis6 on Nov 21, 2017 2:09:48 GMT -5
Initial Review from first full listen.
1. Fort Knox - Great opener, its pretty wild and gets you pumped for whats ahead. Love the sound and the feel. 8/10
2. Holy Mountain - Catchy and fun, but just doesn't do it for me. 6/10
3. Keep On Reaching - Ok this one is catchy and fun too, but I love this one. I find it to kind of be HM's older brother and I think I know what the HM lovers feel when I listen to this one. Different, but great. 7.5/10
4. It's a Beautiful World - Dreamy and lovely. Love the French. Great overall atmosphere. Could use little more oomph. 7.5/10
5. She Taught Me How To Fly - Fun, upbeat and a great mood. Very New Order. Slightly repetitive 7/10
6. Be Careful What You Wish For - Nice groove to it and I like the touch of the woman singing, but this one does kind of plod along. Loving the bass though. 6.5/10
7. Black & White Sunshine - This one rocks. Love the riff and the drumbeat. 7.5/10
8. Interlude (Wednesday Part 1) - Loving the journey here. Wow. Very mysterious and tense yet calming. 7/10
9. If Love Is the Law - This is a great stomper, yet its fairly gentle. Loving the melody here. 8/10
10. The Man Who Built the Moon - Best song on the album for me, had a feeling it would be, its not really close either. Very menacing, but just so good. The chorus steps up big here. 9/10
11. End Credits (Wednesday Part 2) Basically Part 1 on steroids. 7.5/10
12. Dead in the Water - Incredible. Noel has such a knack for these heartfelt acoustic songs. As much as I'd like to hear this complete, maybe this is its completion. Don't want poor production to ruin it. 8.5/10
13. God Help Us All - Like what we originally heard, but a bit more powerful. Lovely and nice overall, nothing epic. 7.5/10
The Verdict. This is a good album and makes for a great listening experience. Musically much different than standard Noel and I'm glad he took this path. Incredible depth, and I know I will continually discover new elements on each listen. Lots of twists and turns, upbeat, then mysterious, then dreamy, then back again.
The first half isn't the strongest for me. I find the second half really picks the album up. Overall, the songs are fine, but the crop as a whole is not his strongest effort imo. There aren't really any clunkers, well, maybe HM..., but there aren't too many epic standouts either. Dead in the Water wouldn't have fit, but it would have been a standout. From an individual standpoint, yes it is still early and it will probably change, there are multiple songs from NGHFB and CY that if placed on this album, they would be the top song for me.
That's not any slight on the album. Once again this is more of an experience than a cherry picking songs album and I'm glad he did it. Based off one listen, the songs themselves could be a lot stronger, but musically he did well.
7.5/10
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Post by The Spider And The Fly on Nov 21, 2017 2:49:59 GMT -5
8.5 first listen. Classic. Best Gallagher solo album. Maybe the best since WTSMG. No bullshit. I love Liam btw
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Post by ricardogce on Nov 21, 2017 2:55:23 GMT -5
My "review" as written in real time, while listening for the first time:
Just reached the interlude. It's just not happening for me.
FK and HM are a great one-two punch to start things off, then it goes downhill.
STMHTF is, as I expected, much better on the album than live. But B&WS, which I loved live, loses all its power in its album incarnation.
Wednesday, Part 1 is the business, but it's ending as I type this.
Certainly the best-produced Gallagher record ever, but so far this is shaping up to be an album I admire rather than love.
ILITL is starting up, though, and it's lovely. "Side 2" may save it for me yet.
ILITL is absolutely brilliant. Standout track for me.
TMWBTM is NGHFB and CY with a more clever producer. The synth-strings remind me of Genesis' "Can-Utility and the Coastliners", which is really cool.
Wednesday, Part 2 really makes me wish for a Noel instrumental album. Again, shades of prog-era Genesis.
DITW: Joins Alone on the Rope as the best thing he's done solo. The piano enhances it, whatever Noel may have felt about it at the time.
GHUA: Wish it was better recorded, but I'll have it.
All in all, the "all-new, all-different" conceit mars the first half of the album. It feels exactly like a midlife crisis album. And then the Chief reasserts himself in the second half, and we end up with his strongest solo album, just on the strength of that half.
When the experimental arrangements are in the service of Noel's natural instincts as a composer, it all comes together beautifully. But when they take center stage (I'm already thinking of the first half as Holmes', really), it goes off the rails.
No hyperbole from me, not "the best since Morning Glory" or anything like that. I rank it below the Oasis canon, but above his previous two records.
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Post by chamu on Nov 21, 2017 2:57:01 GMT -5
For me, is Noel's weakest release. Both with Oasis&NGHFB. Music is not only about the sound, is about the songs too. And for me, there isn't any great song there. By the way, i love how different musical taste can be! And i really appreciate that a lot of people here can enjoy so much this album
Edit: Side 2 and bonus tracks are far better than side 1. Awful singles choice for this album! Love the interludes
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Post by A on Nov 21, 2017 3:00:27 GMT -5
Black & White Sunshine and Dead in the Water are fucking incredible. The rest are all kinda meh on first lesson. We'll see if that changes on subsequent listens.
I'm pretty disappoited by God Help Us All's production. It sounds pretty good, but has lost a lot of the passion from the old recording we have. I'm sure it will be much better live though. I'm glad he's clearing out all the old leaked songs slowly but surely.
Edit: Just relistened to God Help Us All and take back my earlier statement. The production is pretty good. Must've just had first listen apprehension.
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Post by Mean Mrs. Mustard on Nov 21, 2017 3:42:12 GMT -5
Black & White Sunshine and Dead in the Water are fucking incredible. The rest are all kinda meh on first lesson. We'll see if that changes on subsequent listens. I'm pretty disappoited by God Help Us All's production. It sounds pretty good, but has lost a lot of the passion from the old recording we have. I'm sure it will be much better live though. I'm glad he's clearing out all the old leaked songs slowly but surely. Edit: Just relistened to God Help Us All and take back my earlier statement. The production is pretty good. Must've just had first listen apprehension. I don't hear anything different on God Help Us All than on the previous version. What's more, I was wondering if this isn't just THAT demo version. Anyway, I'm listening to the album as a whole and so far I love everything. The only songs left to listen to are End Credits and The Man Who Built The Moon (listened to DITW and GHUA first). There's not a single thing I dislike. I'm sure my enthusiasm will eventually wane, but right now I love it. I didn't have that with Chasing Yesterday, which was quite underwhelming on first listen to me |
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Post by elephantstone93 on Nov 21, 2017 3:51:42 GMT -5
It’s just alright for me on first listen. It is different but it doesn’t seem to be that ‘out there’. Doesn't Have To Be That Way is more experimental.
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Post by A on Nov 21, 2017 4:04:29 GMT -5
Black & White Sunshine and Dead in the Water are fucking incredible. The rest are all kinda meh on first lesson. We'll see if that changes on subsequent listens. I'm pretty disappoited by God Help Us All's production. It sounds pretty good, but has lost a lot of the passion from the old recording we have. I'm sure it will be much better live though. I'm glad he's clearing out all the old leaked songs slowly but surely. Edit: Just relistened to God Help Us All and take back my earlier statement. The production is pretty good. Must've just had first listen apprehension. I don't hear anything different on God Help Us All than on the previous version. What's more, I was wondering if this isn't just THAT demo version. Well, unless I missed something over the years, the only other versions we have of God Help Us All are soundcheck recordings. So I don’t think it could be the same version. But If you’ve got something I don’t have, you gotta send it my way! |
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Post by Jessica on Nov 21, 2017 4:07:42 GMT -5
Love Be Careful What You Wish For, so was not expecting that!! That, The Man Who Built the Moon, and Keep On Reaching are my top three on the first listen. Really like If Love Is the Law too.
End Credits just left me wanting more.
I thought this version of God Help Us All was very similar to the soundcheck too. (First time we heard it was on the Lord Don't Slow Me Down DVD)
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Post by mystoryisgory on Nov 21, 2017 4:09:04 GMT -5
Congratulations, Noel. You made the album that we always wanted you to make, the one we always knew you could make. Something completely different from what you did in Oasis, something daring and bold, and yet still retaining your godlike ear for a pop song. And you did it better than any of us could have ever expected. Well done, Chief. I tip my hat to you.
Stick with Holmes. He's a keeper. Follow the wise words of your brother when he sang "never look back, and go where you're going to!"
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Post by GreedyTune on Nov 21, 2017 4:22:30 GMT -5
Finally I heard the whole album. This is my first impression.
Mega - Keep On Reaching, Black & White Sunshine, Dead In The Water
Great - Be Careful What You Wish For, The Man Who Built The Moon
Good - Fort Knox, If Love Is The Law, God Help Us All, She Taught Me How To Fly, Interlude(Wednesday Part 1), End Credit(Wednesday Part 2)
Average - It's A Beautiful World
Definitely not for me - Holy Mountain
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Post by Mean Mrs. Mustard on Nov 21, 2017 4:41:52 GMT -5
It’s just alright for me on first listen. It is different but it doesn’t seem to be that ‘out there’. Doesn't Have To Be That Way is more experimental. It isn't. Tame Impala did that for years. |
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Post by elephantstone93 on Nov 21, 2017 4:52:33 GMT -5
It’s just alright for me on first listen. It is different but it doesn’t seem to be that ‘out there’. Doesn't Have To Be That Way is more experimental. It isn't. Tame Impala did that for years. Yes it is. Everything on WBTM has been done before, it’s hardly groundbreaking, it’s just different for Noel. Doesn’t Have To Be That Way is the most different sound either has done, it doesn’t matter if Tame Impala have also done that sound. |
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Post by mrose on Nov 21, 2017 4:59:10 GMT -5
It's quite early so I don't know if this will make any sense:
FK: Initially I was a little underwhelmed but still thought it was a good song. I still think it's a bit too long, and that it feels like mid-2000's trip hop. There is a feeling of it being forced. 7.5/10
HM: Worst on the album for me still, even though it is a grower it's still hard for me to listen to. 5.5/10
KOR: I listened to the album the full way through and started a review but completely forgot anything about the song. So for me it's a bit forgettable but still upbeat, I remember thinking the beat was cool and that it was very radio friendly. 6.5/10
IABW: Still plods about a bit for me, musically it's great. However, I think the chorus ruins the song and some of his inflections bother me. Like the word "song" sounds like he's trying to do a southern accent. 7/10
STMHTF: Underwhelming, would sound better with raspier vocals 7/10
BCWYWF: Come Together meets Riders on the Storm. Cool groove, I think it might me my favorite, it is still too long though I think almost 6 minutes ruins it a little 8/10
B&WS: I'm having a hard time with this one, it feels forced.. I'm re-reading what I wrote and it's a bit harsh but I thought it was tolerable. 6.5/10
TMWBTM: Great song, I really like this one. There's a part of it that reminds me of a darker Paradise by Coldplay, I'm not sure of the proper term but I think it's the chord progression of the bass line. I listened to this at 3:30am so I could be wrong on the Coldplay bit. This is a bit annoying, but if Alex Turner sang on this I would give it a 9/10 but he's not so 8.5/10
ILITL: Initially it reminds me of Harry Styles or Mumford and Sons. I'm reading what I wrote down and the first thing I wrote was just "Christmas". This one I think will be on the radio a lot. 7.5/10 (this will probably increase)
W.P1: I can hear the David Bowie influence here (only a little though). For some reason it reminded me of a Cinemax film lol or one of the Twilight movies. 7/10
Everything else I couldn't listen to as the link was removed. From what I've heard so far, musically it's the best post Oasis album. However, my attachment and the way those songs make me feel doesn't do much for me. My initial worry when I heard about the album and when Noel was describing it was that it would feel forced. Some of the songs on here feel just that way. Thinking back, my issues with a lot of the songs come down to the vocals. A few of the songs I think could have been better if someone else sang them (doesn't mean Liam should). You can hear all of the influences in each song, some a bit more obvious than others. I can't remember what song it is but it sounds like he literally used sounds from space in it. There was a song with a pan flute or something that bothered me a bit. On some of the songs there are little bits of sound that jump out and when you hear it you can't ignore it- like the alarm or what sounds like those wooden frog instruments in I think STMHTF. I don't think Liam's and Noel's albums should be compared as they're completely different, but they're both good solid albums.
7.5/10
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Post by revol on Nov 21, 2017 5:02:56 GMT -5
The only song I dislike right now is 'If Love is the Law'. It sounds like a post-mortem Ed Sheeran tune that hasn't been released during his life, cause it wasn't "happy" enough.
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Post by andypandy on Nov 21, 2017 5:10:23 GMT -5
Amazing album, best Gallagher related album since BHN without any doubt. I like Noel’s first two solo albums but they aren’t even a patch on this.
I hate the comparisons with Liam’s album as they are completely different but in terms of overall quality i went 2/5 for AYW, I’d go 4.5/5 for this one.
Well done Noel for going down a route a lot of us have been waiting a long time for, and the influence from David Holmes is more than welcome, truly hope Noel work with David again next time.
Mind blown.
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Post by chamu on Nov 21, 2017 5:33:37 GMT -5
Amazing album, best Gallagher related album since BHN without any doubt. I like Noel’s first two solo albums but they aren’t even a patch on this. I hate the comparisons with Liam’s album as they are completely different but in terms of overall quality i went 2/5 for AYW, I’d go 4.5/5 for this one. Well done Noel for going down a route a lot of us have been waiting a long time for, and the influence from David Holmes is more than welcome, truly hope Noel work with David again next time. Mind blown. Totally opposite for me. It´s the weakest album by Noel. Not bad, because Noel couldn´t produce a bad record, but very forgettable. Please Noel, pick up an electric guitar and give us that incredible riffs you used to. And pick up an acoustic guitar and continue giving us very exciting/magical moments like Dead in the Water. I just hope after this record he realized what he´s the best on. If i urge to listen some experimental, mood, ambiental, based on vibes music there are a lot of groups out there i´d listen first than Who built the moon |
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Post by mossy on Nov 21, 2017 5:34:02 GMT -5
I've had TMWBTM on repeat all morning.
People are saying the track sounds menacing, but it makes ME feel menacing, swaggering around the office with a red wine hangover, downing coffee like a bad ass. "Get me those files, I want them yesterday!"
Might go out and buy some cigars on my lunch break.
X
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Post by bathqueen1 on Nov 21, 2017 5:34:38 GMT -5
"If love is the law" is one proper tune!! seriously as cute as a Venessa Paradis song (yea just said it deal with it  ) |
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Post by oasisserbia on Nov 21, 2017 5:37:25 GMT -5
It’s just alright for me on first listen. It is different but it doesn’t seem to be that ‘out there’. Doesn't Have To Be That Way is more experimental. It isn't. Tame Impala did that for years. And others did that for years before Tame Impala  |
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Post by oasisserbia on Nov 21, 2017 5:42:41 GMT -5
I have to mention vocals. They are not on the same level as everything else. I am not crying for Liam, but Noel's voice is just not my cup of tea and there is nothing he can do about it. And that will always stops him to make really enjoyable record. In my book anyway. But I believe that wider audience think the same.
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Post by andypandy on Nov 21, 2017 5:47:39 GMT -5
Amazing album, best Gallagher related album since BHN without any doubt. I like Noel’s first two solo albums but they aren’t even a patch on this. I hate the comparisons with Liam’s album as they are completely different but in terms of overall quality i went 2/5 for AYW, I’d go 4.5/5 for this one. Well done Noel for going down a route a lot of us have been waiting a long time for, and the influence from David Holmes is more than welcome, truly hope Noel work with David again next time. Mind blown. Totally opposite for me. It´s the weakest album by Noel. Not bad, because Noel couldn´t produce a bad record, but very forgettable. Please Noel, pick up an electric guitar and give us that incredible riffs you used to. And pick up an acoustic guitar and continue giving us very exciting/magical moments like Dead in the Water. I just hope after this record he realized what he´s the best on. If i urge to listen some experimental, mood, ambiental, based on vibes music there are a lot of groups out there i´d listen first than Who built the moon I doubt Noel will ever go back to his old style of music and thank god he won’t, glad he’s moved on, if I wanted his old style I’d put on an old album |
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Post by discworld on Nov 21, 2017 5:48:09 GMT -5
I love Noel's voice.
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Post by ninestonecowboy on Nov 21, 2017 5:48:53 GMT -5
1. Fort Knox: Good album opener 7/10
2. Holy Mountain: Still rubbish 3/10
3. Keep On Reaching: Brass is quite nice but that's about it. I think the vocal melodies are lacking. There's not a lot to love or hate about it. 5/10
4. It's a Beautiful World: Meh, i still think it could have been lifted straight from a Coldplay album. 5/10
5. She Taught Me How To Fly: Quite a nice catchy guitar pop song. Honestly sounds like it could have been a filler on an a Vaccines album though. There's thousands of bands all over Soundcloud making this music, no better or worse. It's ok as far as generic guitar pop goes. 6.5/10
6. Be Careful What You Wish For: The initial groove is nice enough but it doesn't go anywhere. That groove could have been a bed for a much more interesting song and journey. Just plods along without any inspired ideas. 4/10
7. Black And White Sunshine: I honestly find this one to be dreadful. I'm sure Noel has thrown better songs away than this. It's so generic and dull. 2/10
8. Interlude (Wednesday part 1): Just a boring little instrumental, nothing clever or interesting about it musically, sounds like a half finished idea. 3/10
9. If Love Is The Law: Some of the music is nice, bit of a Motown beat and some of the instruments underneath are a bit Spector. Vocal melodies are ok in the verse This song was crying out for a great chorus that never comes. 5.5/10
10. The Man Who Built The Moon: By far the best song musically. This is more what i expected the album to be like. It's well put together and creative. If they had the ability to make a good piece of music like this, then i can't understand why things like Be Careful What You Wish For are such boring plodders. 7.5/10
11. End Credits: Like the interlude, just sounds like a half finished idea. Nice enough. 5.5/10
As for Dead In The Water and God Help Us All, i think they're just pure Noel-by-numbers. Boring. It's no wonder he forgot about Dead In The Water. I bet he's thrown away better songs than that too. DITW is probably 5/10 and the other one about 3/10.
As a whole, the album is probably 5/10. For something that was meant to be a creative collaboration, it's extremely generic and bland in most places. Certainly not the "cosmic pop" album that Noel says/thinks it is. It's a collaboration between people that are out of touch, devoid of any great ideas and middle aged. Also, i do find it difficult to listen to Noel's voice for an entire album and always have done.
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5