Andrew Carolan
Not much is expected; certainly this has become the consensus since 2011 when Noel Gallagher emerged the victor of the supposed war between the brothers. Different Gear Still Speeding was received well but Noel’s LP had done the job. With 5 singles and a stadium tour across 2011-2012, it made Beady Eye look quite weak with their sales of less than a million. So in an environment of disappointment and apprehension came the conception of BE, an album which undeniably strikes out with an “all-or-nothing” confidence. But will it be enough?
The most noticeable difference in the band’s approach becomes immediately noticeable with the brass-bravado of the otherwise warm opener “Flick of the Finger.” The production is top-notch and creates a line of mellow psychadelia against Liam-like rock. Indeed, Dave Sitek (producer of Yeah Yeah Yeahs among others) was an unusual but wise choice for the rock n’ roll loyal quartet. He has added something to these songs which makes them all build up into one grand entity, with particular emphasis on “Soul Love” and “Second Bite of the Apple.” While others may feel overtly long like “Don’t Brother Me” then, it is forgivable because this is above all else, an experiment.
Beady Eye - Second Bite of The Apple on MUZU.TV.
The band are on top form and their abilities are pronounced no more than when Sitek turns the gear up on the up-tempo belters like “Face the Crowd,” “Iz Rite” and “I’m Just Saying” with particular attention to the guitar work. Liam, meanwhile, has produced a vocal which is a lot rawer than anything we’ve heard before. People who complain about his voice live may have cause for concern here but the vocals on this album are some of his best, rock-wise or acoustically. In particular, “Start Anew” shows he can still sing with a certain eloquence you might not expect.
The songs are what will naturally interest people the most. As mentioned above, the album goes from the quick to the soft often, but comfortably so that the album becomes an overall experience. “Soul Love,” “Second Bite..,” “I’m Just Saying” and “Start Anew” are the stands-out in these 11 tracks (standard edition) for their differences, whilst not saying too much. There is plenty else to find though (past “Ballroom Figured”- filler) in the lyrics of the Lennonesque “Don’t Brother Me” and the harmonies of “Shine A Light,” making this a far more interesting album than their first.
It may be too much to expect new fans in their early 40s but Liam can stand rest assured that the band have produce an album that’s cutting edge, original and well written. It’s not perfect; it’s no early Oasis and it may not even match Noel’s first but it conveys they still have something to prove.
B
Streaming on iTunes now, released June 10th.
