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Post by matt on Jun 4, 2023 6:11:42 GMT -5
Dead In The Water
A Dream Is All I Need To Get By
It's A Beautiful World
Holy Mountain
Everybody's On The Run
Broken Arrow
If Love Is The Law
Man Who Built The Moon
While The Song Remains The Same
Sail On
Too early to put Council Skies tunes in here but there will inevitably be a smattering here and there (I'm Not Giving Up Tonight in pole position).
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Post by matt on Jun 3, 2023 12:06:10 GMT -5
Knocking AI is not being a luddite. It's the automation and mechanisation of art, art through algorithm and demand.
Folk getting kicks out of something they want for instant gratification isn't art, as opposed to real art that gives people something they didn't know they needed. One of these days, people will be getting AI to write songs for themselves based on their music tastes, a mish mash of everything they listen to and call it 'art' (fucking hell, imagine narrow minded Oasis fans getting hold of this, bring on nuclear warfare and endless bloodshed if it produces a million James Hargreaves...). That only ever relies on old habits and old tastes. It'll lead to the death of exploration and curiosity for entirely new things. I hate it and nothing good will ever come of it.
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Post by matt on Jun 3, 2023 11:56:31 GMT -5
The Times gave it the full five stars.
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Post by matt on Jun 3, 2023 11:55:12 GMT -5
1 - Who Built The Moon
2 - Council Skies
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3 - Debut
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and way way down at the bottom:
4. Chasing Yesterday
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Post by matt on Jun 2, 2023 18:03:04 GMT -5
Really like the album, not blown away but better than I expected. No terrible songs although the second half is weaker than the first which breezes by with effortless tunes. Love the opener, when Noel digs into soul influences, he always produces some of my favourite songs. Also reminds me of U2, the low register verses seem to echo Running To Stand Still.
I've really come to dig Pretty Boy, even if the chorus is lacking but it has a driving rhythm to it that wins me over. Easy Now is a hodge podge of ideas but there's something of the old Noel spirit that has eventually endeared me to it but sadly weighed down by production issues, as it definitely deserves a lighter, brighter and sparser production. Surprised by the initial negative reaction to Open The Door, I absolutely love it with a top chorus. Reminds me very much of a mixture of Waiting On A Sunny Day by Bruce Springsteen and an All Things Must Pass track. Trying To Find A World... is beautiful though. The demo passed me by but something struck a chord with me this time around. Has that kind of langourous, dreamy melody that he always nailed as a songwriter in his 20s.
There She Blows and Love Is A Rich Man seem lacking though and start to veer into Chasing Yesterday's shite dad rock. There She Blows has a great verse but descends into stodgy and derivative bland chorus, while Love Is A Rich Man is a blander, poor mans If Love Is The Law without the latter's melodic and wall of sound qualities.
The album lacks the soundscapes and the little sonic curiosities of Who Built The Moon, to the point that I would like to have heard David Holmes producing these conventional songs in a more cinematic fashion - i.e. with the kitchen sink thrown at it completely. But for the most part, it isn't a rock album thank god, and it's a light and pleasant listen with lovely melodies. Nothing as in your face as Everybodys On The Run, Broken Arrow and Death of You & Me, but the album is much more consistent and I think it's probably the second best after Who Built The Moon. He's always been a pop songwriter, not a rock writer and he definitely plays to those strengths here.
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Post by matt on Jun 1, 2023 17:58:38 GMT -5
Holy crap, I take back everything I said in my last post. Shouldn't have doubted you Noel! This is stunning. Think of a Number, just wow, the layers, the instrumentation, and there's complexity throughout the songs we hadn't heard I worried would be completely absent from the album.nLove the dark n dirty vibe of There She blows. Noel doing soul on INGUT, more of that please. OTD, SWYF has already grown on me too which bodes well. And it's a real heart break album hey? Some of those lyrics, glad I'm not in a heart broken place right now or some of this could be a tough listen. Odd to hear such direct personal vulnerability from Noel, knowing what the songs are about, though being him he does it without making the songs a depressing listen. Guess the marriage problems began a long time ago given when this was all written. Absolutely love the additions to WGGTITE, and respect to him for deliberately ensuring it wouldn't be a single - one in the eye for those who claim this album is a cynical attempt to regain commercial appeal with the masses. If it was about that this song would be a single. (If you haven't seen there was an interview where he said he could tell the record label had big plans for it and would make it a single if they could, which he did not want at all). While a fantastic piece of pop, I can see why he felt it didn't fit the spirit of the album. I wonder if he wrote it when he hoped for a different outcome to what was going on in his personal life, hence not wanting it on the album proper when things went how they did. What was going on with the single choices I have no idea, but it makes a very pleasant change not to have heard the best songs already and be left with the lesser stuff on release. When does that ever happen? Noel's obviously had a very tough time of it, and I think we should probably stop claiming he's bottled it after WBTM by doing a note traditional album. Firstly, I don't think that's what he's done, and secondly, I think it's pretty clear why he would want to make this album at this point in his life even if he had other plans before events took over. I doubt his head was in a very cosmic pop place - that is what would have been fake, not this. Thank you Noel, take a bow son. P.S do find someone without tinnitus to do the mixing though :-p It may not be the album I need, but damn, this post makes me understand it's maybe the album Noel needs. Looking forward to giving it a spin tomorrow. |
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Post by matt on Jun 1, 2023 14:57:41 GMT -5
I enjoy all of Noels albums (why we are all here surely). But for me the one that i go back to and has grew on me the most is Who Built The Moon? Dont undertand why it pulverises so much. At the start i wasnt sure but over the years its just grew and got more interesting as the years have past. Holy Mountain, She Taught Me How To Fly, Love Is The Law and Who Built the Moon are all true classics in my eyes with plenty of other interesting stuff going on in between. Moon is a belter of an album, and I've resigned myself to knowing this album will not be as good (awaiting a proper listen for tomorrow). But if this is better than the first two, then good enough for me. If it's on a par with the dreadful Chasing Yesterday, we're in big trouble. |
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Post by matt on May 31, 2023 14:26:57 GMT -5
Is this shaping up to be the worst Gallagher related release ? BDI included… Haha, it may be bland. But it ain't that bad! |
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Post by matt on May 29, 2023 6:30:52 GMT -5
This is another issue for an Oasis reunion, Liam couldn't possibly ditch his versatile band that allows him to sing properly, to then revert back to Noel turning amps up to 11 and Liam destroying his voice in the process. You know he sings into a mic and has monitors, right? He doesn't have to scream louder because the guitars are louder 😂 Are you sure?! Maybe I'm fooling myself but when I listen to Oasis and Liam's solo, he's really battling against a wall of noise in Oasis, compared to his solo band that seems to be more dynamic. Thought I'd read it that he himself complained about Noel turning the amps up too much. |
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Post by matt on May 29, 2023 6:19:30 GMT -5
Liam's band is EXCITING? They're a bunch of session musicians with zero chemistry on stage. This is absolute nonsense. Liam’s band are a top outfit, I’d say the sound they can create these days is exciting. Roll It Over is probably the best example. This is another issue for an Oasis reunion, Liam couldn't possibly ditch his versatile band that allows him to sing properly, to then revert back to Noel turning amps up to 11 and Liam destroying his voice in the process. |
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Post by matt on May 29, 2023 6:15:48 GMT -5
This is the first album from Noel I have had zero interest in, but I'll listen to it anyway. Same old same old plodders like the first two albums (where the novelty factor of Noel solo sold the records for me), no surprises here unfortunately. It's the first Noel album I've got no plans to buy. Who Built The Moon had colour and vibrancy with a classic dose of Noel at the end with Dead In The Water. This album is shaping up to be as boring as the first two sadly. |
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Post by matt on May 28, 2023 17:03:32 GMT -5
One of the worst songs Noel has ever wrote. Peak dearth days, as you describe it. Sardy mixing the drums like they're pounding a metal pot, miserable lyrics, all papered over by an excellent Liam vocal, one he has never been able to semi-replicate live ever. Well I’d say it’s the mixing that makes it interesting, those over the top distorded drums make the song worth listening. Other than that there is not much to say, they needed a big single and quickly got one at the last minute. It sounds weird next to other songs on the record but so does the whole album. It’s a mess, here a Noel demo pumped up, there an Andy shit song, there a gem shit song and in the middle some half finished Liam’s tunes.That's Oasis post-2000 in a nutshell! |
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Post by matt on May 28, 2023 13:54:06 GMT -5
Looks like Alan's brother Steve (@ whiteydrums) is still salty as he commented on this post "Liam and Noel could reunite tomorrow they don't have the bollocks to get in a drummer as good as Alan" And he'd be right. Sacking Alan for the inferior Ringo's lad just so they could indulge in their Beatles fantasies for evermore was pathetic. |
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Post by matt on May 28, 2023 13:38:47 GMT -5
String melody reminds me of It's Only Love.
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Post by matt on May 28, 2023 7:14:06 GMT -5
I've never heard that in full, amazing stuff. Crazy it was left of Anthology or the recent 50th. Fake. Scarily fake. |
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Post by matt on May 28, 2023 7:11:45 GMT -5
must say, it’s pretty interesting how the album has yet to receive any truly poor reviews like WBTM? did upon release. many sources indicate it’s his solo highlight… of course time will tell whether that be the case but my excitement for this album is significant. how much longer til someone leaks the fucker?! Who Built The Moon was his best reviewed album in years. Chasing Yesterday is his worst reviewed, which sounds about right. |
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 20:13:15 GMT -5
Damn, interesting leak. Didn't expect the Cardi B collaboration but I have to say "Divorced Dad fucking bitches on a plane, make 'em go Supersonic" is a fresh direction for Noel to go into lyrically. Have you got the full leak of the deluxe edition? The bonus 4K blu-ray ‘Noel’s Hotpants Workout’ is best avoided. |
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 16:33:34 GMT -5
It was my entry point for Oasis so got that soft spot for it. I was at the age of 11 when pop music was starting to make an impression on me and it was that melodic MOR rock I was into.
It is slap bang middle of the road production and would have been better with 90s Owen Morris with Liam singing, but I always liked Noel's voice back then so its nitpicking. The 90s stuff was too early for me and I had no awareness of their previous stuff, so I was surprised when I picked up Stop The Clocks a few years later to see this wasn't on there. Given the acts who were big around that time like Travis or Stereophonics, it would have been one of the big songs on their greatest hits. So despite it being a massive hit but not anywhere near their peaks, it was the first real marker that made me realise just how great they were.
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 14:35:14 GMT -5
This is true. Man Utd and Liverpool will unfortunately probably follow with state owned backers if they want to succeed. Doesn't make it right, there's no doubt this treble that City are heading for is the most inconsequential, undeserved trophy haulage ever. Not only illegal, but oh so predictable and boring. Man Utd 99 it ain't, and everyone knows it, despite what those on the broadcast payroll say to give it some desperate PR gloss (thinking of those bunch of tools like McManaman, 'Fletch', Carragher and Neville). I genuinely get more thrill out of the Conference League or Europa League as there's at least some form of meritocracy there. As The Guardian noted, this era will have an asterix beside it in the history book. But replace City with Newcastle or Man Utd or Liverpool when they inevitably get bought out, and it's the system that's screwed. Barca and Madrid rely on illegal subsidies to back them these days, so they're no better. I hate the way the game has gone and I find myself backing the German teams and other smaller clubs all the time without much hope. I pray these elite clubs go under and puts the game in a crises that's needed to force it to change. No club is going to be penalised (as if the crooks in the Premier League, UEFA and FIFA would want to taint their 'brand') so until then, the sport at the elite end is nothing more than a jumped up tacky commercial. I appreciate every word of your post. Especially your reference to meritocracy. But a City-esque template for the future is all I can see for those clubs who succeed. The horse has bolted. And I can only see some meritocracy re-emerging when enough clubs have mirrored the model of PSG, Newcastle, City & co. It’s an ugly reality but the reality nonetheless. As for City being plastic. I doubt the core of their fanbase would indulge that. They were overshadowed for so long. Does their heritage disappear because their fortunes changed? If West Ham receive Qatari investment (as has been touted should they end their interest in Manchester United) do they then become overnight fraudsters? The issue of financial irregularities. Well, as of now they stand accused but are not found guilty. It’s one to keep an eye on. Again, I don't disagree, the horse has bolted and it is the template for success. But manufactured success. Did anyone seriously doubt Man City's ability to win a treble? Of course not, not with the eye watering money they spend on players, agents and their families. And I agree it will become a meritocracy once more clubs have limitless spending power - then you can start to question of judgement, tactics, strategy, etc if everyone has a black cheque. But that's for a very very very select few clubs. When money is the only determinant for success, that's when - to use a cliche - 'the game has gone'. Of course, money has always been the main factor, but it was never the only defining factor for a club to become successful. Arsenal were a middling income club languishing mid table with a small and creaking stadium prior to Wenger's arrival in the mid 90s. Some shrewd ingenuity and smart business decisions (as Man Utd did with Fergie in the mid 80s) turned it into something so admirable. City just buy their trophies, and Guardiola just buys the best players. An obviously capable manager with obviously capable players, all there because of one thing, then it's predictable. There's no rough diamonds, there's no generational youth team coming through, there's no hero's journey for the plucky underdog squad players whos been there through thick and thin. From coaching to players, they're all the finished article cherry picked from elsewhere. It's all fantasy football video game stuff. It's soulless and manufactured success. Just awaiting that BT foghorn Darren Fletcher to bellow 'this is where dreams are realised' to ramp up the superficial nature of it all with other cliched nonsense during the CL final, when in reality, real success is watching a team winning on merit going through hard work, resilience and overcoming prior setbacks - the whole emotional ringer. True success captures the imagination in that narrative form (think of Ferguson's journey from nearly being sacked to winning at the Nou Camp). With the same manager having spent a billion quid in 7 years, this treble isn't a dream, it's a bloody minimal expectation. This thing is so boring now. That's football in a nutshell today. It's not City, it's the whole thing, and I hate them all. |
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 9:56:23 GMT -5
I just don't understand why people can't let others just be themselves. If they want to be labelled 'they/them' so what? What harm does it genuinely do to yourself? And the idea that men, and his sons, are to be emasculated from their 'laddish' behaviour, well that mouth breathing c*nt Andrew Tate and his pathetic young male followers would lap up these caveman opinions. Privileged company eh Noel....
If he's disappointed that his sons won't be able to be typical 'lads', then its they who are weak and unconsciously at the mercy of social norms. God knows the number of spineless males who have been pressured and conformed into such behaviour. So maybe Noel and his sons ought to look at themselves before berating society's attitudes regarding identity and gender norms. Not acting all laddish isn't about being emasculated, it's just about respect, empathy and sensitivity towards others.
I love the guy, but he's a fucking numbskull at times.
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 7:41:48 GMT -5
Any plans for reissues/remixes of the early albums? I hate those 2009 stereo version. I know that they're meant to be listened to in mono, but would love it if those early albums get finally proper stereo mixes. They are working backwards at the moment. Rubber Soul is this coming fall/winter. Then is Help. For real? If so, desperately needed. Rubber Soul maybe one of the worst sounding in terms of the extreme panning. Again, whoever did the 2009 stereo remasters were polishing turds. Waste of everyone's time. |
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 6:17:25 GMT -5
Part of me wishes for Noel not to get to number one. It seems to be one of the main motivations for his management and himself to simply 'get a number one' when it serves no purpose for anyone. It also seems to constrain the release times and, artistically, may prompt Noel into being too safe musically. Not to mention top heavy sales that will drop off a cliff the following week.
Living in the past as always and ultimately means nothing for nobody. I wish Noel would commit commercial suicide by releasing something like Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed and get that monkey off his back.
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 6:13:21 GMT -5
Noel with that lunatic Saša Ćurčić   That's a blast from the past! |
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 5:52:41 GMT -5
I stopped following the band after their 4th album didn't do much for me. Tom seemed alright back then in interviews at least, then I watched a few recent interviews including the James Hargreaves one around the time that came out and he comes across as a delusional, arrogant bellend. I agree with garylinker who said it comes across like an arrogant prick trying to play the victim card and doesn't show any sign of remorse. I haven't really listened to any of his new stuff because it just doesn't interest me, I think i did click one or two vids out of morbid curiosity and it's absolutely shit, I've seen promotional materials and thumbnails here and there on the internet as well and it makes me cringe, he wants to be Liam SOOO much but he doesn't have any of the charm or talent. I don't feel sorry for him either, i know a lot of rockstars have a sketchy past, there's probably a lot we don't know about some people who are still idolized even now but the stuff that's been coming out about Tom seems particularly deranged and vile and for me there are no mitigating circumstances there. It's a shame for the fans though, like I said I don't listen to Kasabian anymore so it doesn't affect me but the stuff that came about about the guy from Arcade fire sucked and I haven't listened to them since. People will rightly say why can't these people just enjoy what they have and not be fucking creeps but it does seem like after a certain amount of time having everything given to you and having your arse kissed no matter how you act it seems to change people for the worse and they think they can do whatever the hell they want without any consequences. Had to laugh when I read that at one of his recent gigs, he proclaimed 'the king is back!'. It would be much funnier if it weren't so tragic. Bellend. |
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Post by matt on May 27, 2023 5:45:37 GMT -5
I can’t help but feel bad for Tom. His lack of social media posts after the album tells me that it hasn’t sold that great. The signed vinyls are still for sale for Christ sake and yet NG’s signed albums sold out in minutes yesterday. It literally feels like trying to find a needle in a haystack when trying to find reviews of the album etc online, there’s just no promotion for it at all. It’s such a shame because the album truely is amazing and deserves a lot more recognition. He’s also really got me back into Kasabian prior to him leaving. They were so fucking good live. So I really hope the lack of sales doesn’t deter him from continuing and producing another album, more touring etc he should support Liam Gallagher on his next tour. Anyway, as some others have said, it’s not fair. Liam Gallagher had an incident when he grabbed Debbie by the throat, but no one gives a fuck about that anymore plus all the other things he’s done over the years. Not condoning what he did but I just don’t feel like it’s fair on Tom. In what world do you think Tom Meighan and Kasabian are on a level similar to Oasis? That's like wondering why Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus can't sell out Wembley stadium. Also, I can't remember the time Liam violently threw his partner around in front of his kid. Not just domestic violence, but child abuse there as well. Don't pity him, pity the poor kid and his girlfriend. |
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