It's a very strong record, and I think some songs will stand the test of time.

It feels very cohesive as an album in contrast to CY which felt like a collection of songs sticked together. It flows really well and even if each song has his own personality they all share a common theme.

To me this album feels like staring at a landscape through a window. It's always the same landscape but there are different tones to it. Sometimes it's cloudy (Dead to the World) and sometimes you can see the sun (Open The Door, See What You Find).

Production wise it could be better on some songs, but it won't stain the listening experience that much. As I was waiting for the release I listened to the first HFB album (his best one for me) and I was surprised to realize how much his voice has aged in recent years. I noticed on the EPs but I think it's much prominent on CS. He sounds really vulnerable and even fragile sometimes, singing in a very gentle way that really suits the mood of some songs but other ones could do with a bigger and more bold approach.

I'm Not Giving Up Tonight - The intro reminds me of the acoustic live version of Setting Sun, which is one of my favourite Noel live renditions ever. One of the best songs on the album and the first time I listened to it I thought it would work better as a closer, I felt validated when I read Noel thought the same

Pretty Boy - Always liked it and it has much more sense in the context of the album, even if it's the only one that sounds like this I think it serves a purpose.

Dead to the world - What else can be said about this song? It's a classic already, up there with his best.

Open the Door, See What You Find - A personal favourite. Love the uplifting vibe of it. Catchy vocal melody, cool strings hook. Reminds me of DBTT which is a good thing in my opinion.

Trying to Find a World That's Been and Gone Pt. 1 - Although I like it I'm not the biggest fan of the song, but it really works in the context of the album.

Easy Now - Catchy and very Oasis in a good way. I like how the tone changes a few times during the song from sad to uplifting, to sad again and triumphant at the end.

Council Skies - Same as Easy Now, wasn't impressed on first listen but I really like it now. Love the melody, the intro and how the different layers are being added through the song.

There She Blows! - A good surprise! Really enjoy this one.

Love Is a Rich Man - Does nothing to me. I've read people comparing it to Love is the law but I think LITL is way better. Throwaway song.

Think of a Number - Falling Down + Lovesong by The Cure. You can tell Disintegration is Noel's breakup album. Love the melody and lyrics on this one also the change of tone is one of the best things about it. Sounds new but classic at the same time. The verses sound like new Noel and then the on the chorus it brings back old Noel.

As for the bonus tracks I loved Don't Stop since he released that demo, and while I still prefer that version I think he did a great job rearranging it, love it. Could've been on the album.

1- NGHFB
2- Chasing Yesterday / Council Skies
3- EPs
4- WBTM

Less a review, more bits and bobs:

- Even my 10 year old son, Mr. Good Music Has To Be LOUD, said "That song is actually pretty good" after hearing INGUT for the first time this morning.
- PB is much better in-context.
- DTTW is no better than good. How hard is it to write one more verse? Apparently too hard.
- OTD is both a grower and maybe the worst offender in the "overcompressed tracks" conversation.
- I never listened to the TTF... demo, but this take is brilliant. Feels like an outstanding HC b-side, and I say that as one of the eleven people who really dig HC.
- EN definitely sounds louder than the other tracks. Why is it so loud? (That said, I've seen some people opine that the vocals were mixed too low, but I didn't feel/notice that anywhere.)
- I'm revoking Noel's right to talk about butterflies. So no more bells and no more butterflies.
- TSB sounds sleezy as fuck and I AM HERE FOR IT. I have probably previous revoked his right to do the plod/stomp style employed here, but I'll make an exception for this one.
- I understand that nonsense lyrics are kind of his thing, but LIARM just sounds like a bunch of English idioms strung together against a Holy Mountain 2.0 instrumental. That said, it's okay.
- I didn't realize how miserable my life was before June 2, 2023 until I heard TOAN. Some of these songs overstay their welcome a bit, but I could easily spend another minute or two in TOANland.
- DS is right where it belongs.
- The brass sounds a lot sharper on WGGTITE than on the main 10 tracks. Remember the first time you were hit with Round Are Way? It's not quite that, but the clarity is similar. Unlike the mud of LIARM.
- MG is forgettable.

It's nitpicky and sounds more negative than I actually feel about the album as a whole, which is that it's easily my second favorite of his solo works. I'm not sure he can touch CY. I love that there aren't a lot of long breaks between each song, everything just kind of flows. Looking forward to the 20th anniversary edition with an extra disc of everything else he recorded during these sessions.

The Fighters might not have released their record on the same day if he wasn’t such an asshole about the petition and Taylor tributes…

Seriously, if Noel wanted a number one that bad he could easily buy 501 copies himself

Noel´s management trying to push some extra sales

store.noelgallagher.com/product/116452

Council Skies Deluxe Digital Download With Exclusive Track By Track Commentary By Noel.

Go Foo ! For blocking Liam's performance at Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show, Noel deserves this loss.

For those saying Noel should have moved his release date well that would be lame as hell and cheap. It’s an ego thing too. Noel isn’t gonna look like a scared little boy. At the end of the day who really cares? His #1 streak hasn’t lined my pockets. In fact it has only depleted it.

I like FF and I like Oasis. 

This is truly desperately ridiculous - omg.

In the track-by-track available on the official store, Noel has confirmed that it's him playing the solo on TOAN.

Did my bit for this (lost) battle and ordered the CD off the website