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Post by The Invisible Sun on Sept 20, 2019 10:27:53 GMT -5
I think the whole swaggerish thing is overblown, especially musically. When I picture Liam and Swagger, it was him looking cool singing pop-ish songs. When I think of Liam with "swagger" in music, I think of Man of Misery. Liam has always been at his best singing songs like CS or SCHYHO. If people are looking for the raw sound of DM or the bloated sound of BHN, I mean those were over two decades ago. This whole Liam snarl rock n roll thing. To mean it means in the 2000s when his voice was the worst and he had to sing angry and raspy cause that was all he could muster. I don't get it, I don't get the desire for it. Can anyone give me more examples? The Meaning of Soul? Eyeball Tickler? Ain't Got Nothing? Is this swaggerish snarly rock n roll Liam? Gas Panic. His voice hadn't been destroyed yet. It was matured and had slight rasp. And his ego was 300%. Pinnacle of Liam's swagger.
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Post by alanjwhite on Sept 20, 2019 10:41:28 GMT -5
Liam sounds great, there are some catchy tunes. I find it kind of funny Liam always criticizes Noel for “cosmic pop” and then he puts out an expertly produced Pop record, but whatever. At this point I think I prefer the grit of “As You Were” but I do need to listen to this one some more.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 10:48:09 GMT -5
My review is out! Gonna translate it in the next minutes or so and post it in the review thread.
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Post by Anthony Martial on Sept 20, 2019 11:19:57 GMT -5
Listened the whole album for about 6 times, I think i'm comfortable at sharing my feelings about it with you guys.
Shockwave. Being a big Black Rebel Motorcycle Club fan I've been quite bothered by how much this song sounds just like "Spread Your Love" of their first record. It also has the same badass rock 'n' roll bravado of the BRMC tune, but the "hey" part in the middle of the chorus is such a dealbreaker for me, it completely ruins the feeling of the song by making it sounding softer than it should've been. Not a big fan, but I think it's decent. 6/10.
One of Us. This one grew a lot on me. I think it's one of the best tunes Liam has ever written. I love how it doesn't fit in exactly any of his songwriting conventional styles: It's not a stadium big ballad, it's not a underdeveloped psychedelic soft ballad, it's not a badass blues rock stomper ripping of some 60s band, it's just a class rock 'n' roll song. Maybe Liam discovered that he can actually write differents kinds of songs, which is a great thing. 7,5/10.
Once. From the time I first heard "It was easier to have fun back when we had nothing" I already felt that this song was gonna to be special. Not because of the lyrics, which are indeed a lit bit cheesy, but because of Liam's delivery. Guys, this is trully one of the most heartfelt performances our kid has ever done. I've never believed him so much. Even if the ONCEonceONCEonceONCE part is terribly bad and doesn't fit the song at all, I can't compete against the Noelesque melody with such a heartfelt vocal performance. His best post-Oasis song. 8,75/10.
Now That I've Found You. Rock 'n' roll fans are very often too afraid of catchiness. This song is not what I would expect from Liam, which is a nice thing. It's like Liam doing the Wonders. It's just a big, silly and catchy pop song about founding someone special in your life. Some fans takes rock music way too serious. I wouldn't love the Beatles as much as I love if all they had was the serious John Lennon stuff. The silly Paul McCartney stuff actually brings some balance to the force and adding some variety. As long as Liam doesn't want to fill the world with silly love songs I'm okay with that. If he can give us a couple of these in each record then I'll be happy. 7,5/10.
Halo. This one comes when the things started getting too soft and it sounds a lot like Stones "Let's Spend the Night Together", but not even closely as much exciting. It's not any close from being a dud, but it does sound a lit bit lifeless to my ears, a nice rock 'n' roll song played and sang in autopilot. 6/10.
Why me? Why Not. I've been quite surprised by the ambivalence towards this song on this forum. It's one of the best for me. The lack of melody in the verses doesn't bother me at all, since the chorus has one of his strongest melodies ever. The way he changes from his screechy voice on the verses to the falsetto in the chorus with the fashionable chords coming up behind him it's probably my favorite moment on the album. I love how this song has a classic Liam Gallagher swagger without sounding too much like a caricature, like "Shockwave" or "The River". 8/10.
Be Still. The most straightforward rock song of the album, it sounds somewhere in between "Greedy Soul" and "Doesn't have to be that way", but I like it better than both. It's the kind of Liam song that doesn't have a lot to be loved, but doesn't have anything to be hated either. Just solid. 6,5/10.
Alright Now. Remember what I said about Liam embracing his fun McCartney side? He took it quite literally on this one. The music sounds a lot like some lost Wings track, even if the guitar sound reminds me of Harrison. Another song that doesn't sound exactly like anything that he has ever recorded, even if the influences are still the same. The way he sings "When the light goes down on Broooooadwaaay“ part is just lovely, one of my favorite moments on this record. 7,5/10.
Meadow. The production here reminds me of Beatles “Free as a Bird”, even if the song sounds more Harrison than Lennon. It’s a nice contemplative ballad with a lonely feeling that sounds fresh, even if the composition is kind of bland, these little beatlesque details make it more interesting. 6/10.
The River. I was quite unimpressed when it first came out, but it grew on me while listening to it within the album, even if it’s kind of cliché Liam’s stomper. What if “The Nature of Reality” wasn’t utter shite? This song aswers the question, even if it isn’t great either. 6,5/10.
Gone. Boys here love to talk about big songs sounding like James Bond songs, but on this one I feel a whole “Ennio Morricone soundtracking a badass western movie” atmosphere. Even with the weird spoken word part that doesn’t add up anything to the tune, I feel like this is the most Oasis-like song on the album. A great way to end an record. 8/10.
Invisible Sun. Okay, I need to admit it. This track is just bad. Sounds like a leftover from The Roses “Second Coming”, with just a big riff and not much of a tune. 4,0/10.
Misunderstood. Sweet balladry from our kid and one of the finest compositions from the bunch, but I don’t think it would have fit anywhere in this album. It sounds too much like an adult contemporary radio song, even if it’s a pretty good one. 7/10.
Glimmer. This one sounds a lot like “Paper Rings” from Taylor Swift’s last album. Really. I’m serious. It’s a compliment. Embrace the catchiness. Dance to it. It’s okay to like pop songs. You don’t need to tell anyone about it. 7/10.
Overall, I quite like this album and think it’s better than As You Were. I just found it to be more consistent, since the only obvious dud here is a bonus track. It’s obviously not a masterpiece, I wouldn’t expect that from Liam, but it’s really solid and fun, even if some of the tunes here sounds a lit bit too calculated.
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Post by Beady’s Here Now on Sept 20, 2019 11:36:19 GMT -5
Whenever I hear Liam’s voice, I feel like I’m home. 😊
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Post by davitpr on Sept 20, 2019 11:51:35 GMT -5
Finally, finally listened to the whole thing. You know, for all the love I have for Liam's swagger and hard man attitude, I absolutely adore this album and the places it takes him. After the success of AYW, I was worried he'd stick too close to the formula and come out with a bunch of generic stompers with call-and-response verses and shouty choruses. And this was so much more, in so many different ways. Now That I Found You and Glimmer may be my favorite Liam Gallagher songs since 2002. The entire album has this lovely late-60s/early solo Beatles vibe. The Rod Stewart comparison I read early sounds spot on, and to me it's a compliment: Liam has done something much more momentous than just dropping a great second album: He's established a style that will carry him into the next decade without trying to be his 20 year old self forever. In short, he's staked his claim to his solo persona. This is the album Beady Eye clearly wanted to make, but lacked the tools for. And when you listen to Noel's own excursions into Motown and 70s rock, you can see where Oasis might have gone if they'd survived into this decade. Great analysis spot on SEcond this. You described it perfectly
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 11:55:46 GMT -5
I've only been able to listen to this once. really like WNWN, Alright Now, Gone (except the spoken bit ), Invisible Sun I'm not that crazy into NTIFY like others have mentioned weakest ones for me are Halo and Glimmer I thought Halo was rather strong. Gones spoken bit is a little odd, it'll be interesting to see if and how he does it live. Overall the album is pretty good.
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Post by asimarx on Sept 20, 2019 12:01:39 GMT -5
Could someone please point me towards the Once demo? I only bought the regular deluxe edition. Thanks in advance.
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Post by LlAM on Sept 20, 2019 12:28:41 GMT -5
We should arrange a listening party! We all get beers (our other favourite drinks in) listen to the album at the same time, and have an absolute rave 🤘😎
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Post by welshylad on Sept 20, 2019 12:38:41 GMT -5
WMWN - the chorus is a complete rip off of a Green Day song. Can't remember the name but I'll find it
(Awaits the Green Day are shit and nothing compared to Liam etc comments)
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Post by leongti on Sept 20, 2019 12:41:04 GMT -5
WMWN - the chorus is a complete rip off of a Green Day song. Can't remember the name but I'll find it (Awaits the Green Day are shit and nothing compared to Liam etc comments) I love green day lol
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Post by stillilllife on Sept 20, 2019 12:45:22 GMT -5
WMWN - the chorus is a complete rip off of a Green Day song. Can't remember the name but I'll find it (Awaits the Green Day are shit and nothing compared to Liam etc comments) It also reminds me of the chorus of Wall of glass, but with the first few notes sung in falsetto instead of full voice.
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Post by zogallagher on Sept 20, 2019 13:08:31 GMT -5
Early feelings:
Don't care for the bonus tunes, but it's not the main tracklist so whatev; maybe Invisible Sun, but I get the negative Stone Roses comparisons haha.
Shockwave was the only single so far I didn't care for, but it serves well as an intro and is a better than Wall of Glass, so I give it a pass as among the "good tunes."
Meadow is obviously gonna get flack for being a "Beatles rip-off," but it's decent to me; would get non-Oasis fans completely slagging it off tho haha
The only two tunes I don't care for at all are Halo and Be Still.
The rest of the tunes are solid!
The production is a lot less life-sucking than on AYW and Liam's voice sounds far more natural as well. The drums have that compressed, unnatural sound that I don't like but that's about my only complaint.
Without a single doubt my favorite post-Oasis Gallagher release (was not a fan of any of the releases so far in full, so not a high bar to meet), but also trumps at least two post-"prime" Oasis records — I might be alone in this, but, to me, the closest to strong records among those were SOTSOG and DOYS. The highlights probably aren't as strong as on the cream-of-the-crop songs on those two records and my bias for Liam's voice on SOTSOG could possibly be clouding my judgement; but as a wholesome release, I could see it taking over the spot od best post-"golden age" record, maybe.
Yes yes, it's to early to say, but... at worst, the highlight-dud ratio is 7–4, at best it's 9–2. I'm fairly confident further listens will make me pick either extreme or throw me somewhere in between (6–3 I guess haha), there won't be anymore drastic changes in my opinion. So, yeah: proper record!
Good job Liam & co.
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Post by Didi on Sept 20, 2019 13:37:55 GMT -5
same as with As You Were, too many pop songs for me - I love Shockwave, The River, One of us, Be still and Glimmer - the live version of "Now that I've found you" is way better than the album track - the other songs don't do much for me now, maybe they grow in the future
overall I get the feeling again, that the guys from Warner only wanted the next album that will bring them money, so they decided to let the RNR-frontman sing mostly balldas and pop-songs again....
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Post by thestylecouncil on Sept 20, 2019 13:56:42 GMT -5
Anyone else noticed that Liam has his own emoji on Twitter today (don't know if it's only today or if it will last a little longer?)? Seems like it automatically appears when you use the hashtags #liamgallagher and #whymewhynot I think this is amazing Edit: The preview on this forum doesn't seem to show the emoji, but just look on Twitter yourself.
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Post by Didi on Sept 20, 2019 14:02:43 GMT -5
Anyone else noticed that Liam has his own emoji on Twitter today (don't know if it's only today or if it will last a little longer?)? Seems like it automatically appears when you use the hashtags #liamgallagher and #whymewhynot I think this is amazing Edit: The preview on this forum doesn't seem to show the emoji, but just look on Twitter yourself.
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Post by lg on Sept 20, 2019 14:09:21 GMT -5
In the pre chorus of wmwn the bass plays the riff of come together
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Lundblad
Oasis Roadie
Nothing ever lasts forever
Posts: 461
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Post by Lundblad on Sept 20, 2019 15:39:59 GMT -5
First listen of the 11 main songs is now complete! I think Liam and his team has managed to make the most retro Gallagher album yet – which is quite impressive. Like most people have said already, it rocks a little less and it is a little more colourful than what we are used to. It is very 70s. I am not sure about how strong the songs arae compared to the first half of As You Were, but it feels like there is a bit more feeling and depth in the delivery.
Grades: Shockwave 7/10 By the numbers Gallagher rocker. T.Rex meets latter-day Stones. It itches into your brain, but it's a quite shallow song that doesn't really affect you. Despite the strong feelings Liam articulate.
One Of Us 6/10 Simple pop song. I think I'm hearing a bit of Coldplay's Violet Hill in it. I like the "in time" part.
Once 8/10 Majestic song that should've been longer and without that weird middle-eight.
Now That I've Found You 9/10 A light-weight 90s Eurovision pop song. I love it! And it'll ring in my ears for weeks. Really cool guitar solo.
Halo 7/10 He pronounces "sun" in a new way, which confuses me a little. It's a nice song, sounds a bit like early ELO maybe. And a better and more complex version of Bring The Light.
Why Me? Why Not? 7/10 Letting Go by Wings became my favourite songs in the last couple of days after someone here wrote that this song sounded like it. And it really does. It feels a bit deeper than the first five songs so I suspect this one will grow old slower.
Be Still 7/10 This is a Beady Eye song with a stronger chorus. Sounds a bit like a Be Here Now B-side, but there is something about the guitars that bothers me. It feels a bit empty.
Alright Now 7/10 A bit weird American lyrics. Musically it really sounds like ELO, very nice.
Meadow 7/10 The guitar sounds like it's taken off Something. Another "nice" song, very Beatles post-Beatles.
The River 9/10 Powerful rocker. I think that this song does what Shockwave was supposed to do, it's a lot deeper and better produced. I like the lyrics.
Gone 7/10 Dramatic song. The spoken part is weird but I think it's alright.
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Post by The Escapist on Sept 20, 2019 16:49:14 GMT -5
Still digesting the other songs, but God, I really love One of Us. Proper Mancunian tune. Adore it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 16:59:24 GMT -5
It's been awesome, I'm jumping ship to 3rd solo album hype thread.
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Post by mrmojorisen on Sept 20, 2019 17:06:24 GMT -5
Little movement of tracklist to this and it runs delightful...
SHOCKWAVE HALO ONE OF US WHY ME ? WHY NOT ? ONCE BE STILL ALRIGHT NOW THE RIVER NOW THAT IVE FOUND YOU GONE INVISIBLE SUN GLIMMER MISUNDERSTOOD MEADOW
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Lundblad
Oasis Roadie
Nothing ever lasts forever
Posts: 461
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Post by Lundblad on Sept 20, 2019 17:20:09 GMT -5
Did anyone else see the Parka Monkeys praise in the credits?
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thatlad
Madferrit Fan
MAD FER IT
Posts: 72
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Post by thatlad on Sept 20, 2019 17:58:19 GMT -5
Here's my rating for As You Were tunes...
Wall of Glass - 8/10 Bold - 8/10 ...grown on me. Greedy Soul - 9/10 ...the more I listen to it, the more I love it. Paper Crown - ~Invalid ...shite.~ grown on me throughout the years ahaha 8/10 For What It's Worth - 6.5/10 When I'm In Need - ~8.5/10~ giving it a 6. Don't listen to it these days You Better Run - 8/10 I Get By - 7/10 Chinatown - ~6.5/10~ raising it to 7.5 after the years. Come Back To Me - 10/10 Universal Gleam - 7/10 ...not a big fan of it. I've All I Need - 10/10
Doesn't Have To Be That Way - 7/10 All My People / All Mankind - 6/10 I Never Wanna Be Like You - 8/10 ...class.
Shockwave 8/10 - A try hard rocker kind of chorus. Other than that, solid lead single. One of Us 10/10 - Good melody, good lyrics, good instrumental Once 10/10 - Not much can be said x Now That I've Found You 8/10 - Catchy, good melody, love the MTV Unplugged version Halo 7/10 - Reminds me of Millionaire...but much better Why Me? Why Not. 8/10 - Wouldn't mind the album titled tune to be the lead single. Be Still 7/10 - Feel the verses are a bit too American pop to me 😂 Alright Now 6/10 - All right I guess. Wouldn't specifically play this time but sounds all right Meadow 2/10 - The vocals mate, utter dross. Other than that, too tame for me. The River 7.5/10 - Fits Liam's voice nicely. Utter nonsense of middle eight 😂 Gone 9/10 - Next Bond tune anyone?
Haven't listened to the bonus tunes... 🤭🤭🤭
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Post by The Chief on Sept 20, 2019 19:16:39 GMT -5
There's a hidden callout to Noel in the booklet!!! Reunion is imminent
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Post by matt on Sept 20, 2019 19:37:50 GMT -5
Still digesting the other songs, but God, I really love One of Us. Proper Mancunian tune. Adore it. Couldn’t get the album today so haven’t listened to it but I’d be surprised if anything was as good as this tune. Not a criticism or any sense of low expectations, it’s genuinely probably the best song he’s sung since Shock of the Lightning, for me anyway. Got a swagger but has a real emotional punch.
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