7/10 being generous 8/10.

I don't usually suffer from recency bias. I always maintained that HFB1 and AYW were the brothers best solo efforts even after enjoying new subsequent releases the day they came out but I really think this one might be at least on par with HFB1 or maybe even better. It's a weird one though, the early singles apart from Dead To the World are the weakest songs on the album and the songs that were held back easily stand alongside his best solo output.

In this case I'm rating against every album ever released. I'm leaning towards a strong 8.5 as a rating. For reference I'd give HFB1 an 8, CY a 7 and WBTM a 7.5 from Noel. Liam gets a 7.5 for AYW a 7 for WMWN and a 6 for COYK and the last few Oasis albums I'd give HC a 6, DBTT a 7 and DOYS a 7. 

5.

To be honest, I have heard so much of this album piecemeal already that I feel entirely incapable of judging it as a single body of work. And yet I can't resist a poll. On the whole I feel like this is Noel in a mode I just don't care about. I do really like a few songs (mostly ones already released), but there's not enough real rock for me, too many ballads.

6/10.

5/10 for me.

I think the production is pretty good though, even the more upbeat songs are still understated in a way. Nothing is too busy. I think that's à good thing, I never felt noel has a voice that works with a wall of guitars and whatnot.

But in general I've always struggled to get through a full album of Noel, I just don't don't think he has the voice to carry a full album, but that's just my opinion.That's probably a bit unfair though because its not like he was the lead singer of Oasis, so maybe I shouldn't make the comparison.


Anyway, some of the songs are OK. Some are plodders. Some are a dirge.

I think it just is what it is. Sounds like a middle aged musician playing middle of the road music, but I suppose it reflects who he is now, so maybe it just needs to be judged with that in mind.

If I'm looking for some excitement, it definitely won't be found in this album.

7/10

It's like the grown up kid of NGHFB1 and CY reflecting back on his life.

No bad songs, but quite a few average ones sprinkled with 2-3 corkers.
The songs work REALLY well together as an album and the instrumentation and arrangements are (almost) perfect.
I love the sound, I wish they had produced Don't Believe The Truth like this and added Stoo The Clocks, Record Machine and Come On Outside.


Highlights:
Trying To Find A World.
Think Of A Number (Possibly my favourite solo song).
There She Blows!
The ending of the album "I hope it comes round again..." with the white noise fading out.

Low lights:
The accordion on Dead To The World.
Dead To The World ending by going back to the first verse.

100%.

Just listened to the deluxe version (apart from the instrumentals) and don't really like any of the other songs. He didn't really improve Don't Stop 

A solid 8/10 for me.

I give it a 6/10 and it wont probably go higher than that. Too many flaws, not enough great moments.

A missed opportunity for NG.

A 7/10 for me at the moment. Might go up, certainly won't go down.

I'll briefly have a go at the mixing/mastering choices. I think these make a huge difference on the listening experience. Since WBTM?, Noel's music has become more and more compressed, muffled and leaving no room for things to breathe. Listening to some of Chasing Yesterday and some of this back-to-back, the difference is astounding. I specifically compare these two cause they're both produced by Noel himself, which confuses me a bit, but WBTM? suffers from poor mixing/mastering as well (even though I love the production choices and the colour palette there).

I read on the hype thread someone talking about this being the most consistent and not-having-skippable-songs Noel album and I wholeheartedly agree. There's no duds – even the songs I'm personally ranking the lowest, like Pretty Boy or Love Is A Rich Man, are enjoyable listens. It's got a tone, a vibe to it as a whole which is cool to both achieve and perceive.

I don't find its highest points to be as high as those on Chasing Yesterday or Who Built The Moon?, though. My personal favourites being I'm Not Giving Up Tonight, Dead To The World and Think Of A Number, they don't just reach the levels of, say, The Man Who Built The Moon, Riverman or The Death Of You & Me – and that's saying more of how fantastic these are than putting down the new ones!

Overall a better album than what I was anticipating with the singles. Thank you, Noel.

I gave it 7/10 but that might change in time after a few more listens.

9 for me. Strong, balanced, cohesive, fully formed and by far his strongest solo offering.