I like it, don't rate it as highly as many do tho

Songbird is a lovely tune but I think context is important...

Had Noel written it we'd slate it. Fact.

The fact that Liam wrote it (a drunken shagger who would never normally show off his inner softie) makes it what it is. I love Songbird but I think the fact that Liam wrote it makes it better.

He's admitting he didn't have the songs. It's harsh to to get to down on Andy and Gem about the contributions they made to Oasis when the primary songwriter is no longer capable of carrying an album on his own. They were asked and so they did.

Let me be clear about it though, saying the above isn't a criticism of Noel. Precious few songwriters maintain a high level throughout their career, even fewer have a purple patch like Noel had at the start of his.

Never seen that Mojo interview before, seems alright.

To my acknowledge it's one of the very few times (the 1st time?) he's actually said the 2000s stuff was naff. (Specifically LAG tunes)

I'm not saying he said it, that's why I wrote "my take on it is"
I think it became such an automatic thing for them as the time went by that I think Noel himself, as he was regaining form, started approaching it with the mindset that he needed to come up with 5-6 quality songs and if he had more he'd save it for the next time
Put Come On Outside and Record Machine on DOYS instead of Ain't Got Nothing and The Nature Of Reality and it's a much better and consistent album, the others are still contributing and the flow's still there
By the way I'm not saying it's the other guys' fault, I just think they (mostly Noel) could've still been democriting while working things out in a more flexible way

They could put I Believe in All, Boys with the Blues too.

This just reminded me that Flick Of The Finger was first attempted with Death In Vegas. Hope those sessions see the light of day at some point. X

Nonsense

This is typical Noel really though isn't it? Depends what day you catch him on with shit like this. he put Songbird on Stop The Clocks and apart from this particular interview where he's clearly in nobhead mode, he's always regarded it as one of Oasis best songs. 

I struggle to see how releasing I'm Outta Time as a single was plugging holes or filling a purpose though, strange thing to say even for Noel.

Noel letting the rest of the band write songs, then the first interview outside of Oasis start slating them all as not songwriters was just typical. Not only are you admitting you've not given a shit about the true quality of what you're putting out but you're showing how much you regard your fanbase too. This of course is assuming he's being truthful. In reality he probably thought the others songs were good and was only saying this because they all went to Beady Eye and of course telling everyone enough that none of them can write songs used to make a certain amount of the Oasis fanbase listen. He really has lost the ability in recent years to make his opinions resonate to the fans. I'm not sure that's a bad thing either. 

But back to the songwriting issue, he never even used to pick the others best songs. As was proven on countless occasions. Andy got A Quick Peep used as an example of his best song when he joined? A Quick fucking Peep. Then Thank You For The Good times ended up a b-side. Gem was sitting on The Roller for 10 years, Liam had Boy With The Blues turned down for Aint Got Nothin?

The cynic in me would suggest all of this was about Noel Gallagher. Not only does writing less allow him to save songs for the inevitable solo album, but picking the others "best" songs for the album allows his efforts to juxtapose against the worse songs and keep him as The Chief. 

I think you're being harsh. Beady Eye's first album wasnt critically bashed. It actually got pretty good reviews until Noels press conference in my opinion.

I think Noel certainly did get it wrong with what he picked from them to go on albums, but I suppose to play devils advocate he did the same with his own material more often than not.

I remember listening to DGSS for the first time and certainly thinking Four Letter Word, The Roller and Morning Son etc were a lot better than what had been served up by LAG for the latter Oasis albums. I see more and more comments about how people are still listening to them too, i think time will be kinder to Beady Eye and I certainly don't hold the views you do for them.

Each to their own though of course and I do hear what you're saying. Good to have a different perspective to what Noel was doing.

Don't disagree with anything you've said. 

There were elements of Beady Eye i preferred. Liam's style for one was much more like a Rockstar. I hate the Stone Island boring as fuck look. Maybe it's been a weight issue that's dictated it but wearing the same black jacket for a year was just plain weird. I did admire 4 lads just making their own music and going bravely (if naively) under a new name and starting again. It certainly felt more real than the process of how Liam's last album was made, and i'd certainly rather live in a world where he didn't have to play the game as much as he does to be successful.

But having said that i'm just glad he is doing well and he didn't end up how quite a few seemingly wanted him to end up on here. I think he certainly has a better ear for melody than Andy and Gem ever seemed to. The songs he did for Beady Eye certainly could have done with help to give them the structure his solo songs have.

Some of what he has done solo isn't any better imo but overall it is. I think Beady Eye starting as Liam Gallagher's (insert name) certainly does a lot better. Especially if they did what Noel did and played half an Oasis set live. I think an Oasis 2.0 was the way forward if they wanted to retain the popularity to a good enough level. It was admirable they didn't do that though.