Album Playback: Beady Eye – BE
TT was at the Soho Hotel last night for the Beady Eye album
playback. The lavish setting is one you would expect new bands to be throwing
money at to impress the music industry, not a group of legends who have nothing
left to prove. Or so you would think, Liam is bouncing around the room, from
group to group, before and after the playback. The enthusiasm on display seems
hell bent banishing the critics of ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’.
Here is our track by track review. We must point out all
reviews are based on hearing each track only once so the ability to allow a
song to grow on you has not yet been had:
1. Flick Of The Finger
– The album opener appeared online recently and certainly made fans sit up and
listen. The band along with TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek producing have
broadened their sound. There is still the same trippy ‘Revolver’ sonic to the
tune which has been around forever it seems but the use of a brass band gives
this a sense of enormity that Liam’s bravado deserves.
2. Soul Love – Sitek
again works his magic here, applying a Kevin Shields-esque production to create
a more introspective and eerie number.
3. Face The Crowd -
A real corker. Anyone who loves the early Who records will dig this. Just when
you thought Miles Kane was about to steal the crown of King Mod, Liam comes
storming back. The psychedelic guitar breakdown is massive as well. From the
back of the plush cinema we are in Liam reiterates TT’s positivity bellowing
“Fucking tune, have that”.
4. Second Bite Of The
Apple – Another Beatles circa ‘Revolver’ number which is not particularly
inspiring as a debut single, especially after the cascading ‘Face In The
Crowd’.
5. Soon Come Tomorrow
– Although it lacks the brilliance of the Verve, the slow building guitars
create a sound which Nick McCabe would be proud of. It’s a more intelligent
‘Stand By Me’ and a gutsier ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’.
6. Iz Rite – Felt
like the weakest track of the night, almost as though they are trying to grasp
their former inhibited magic. By no means a bad song but it’s not as free and
easy as ‘Some Might Say’, it’s not even as free and easy as ‘Four Letter Word’.
Having heard the trippy b-side ‘Dreaming Of Some Space’ TT wonders why it is
not on here instead.
7. I’m Just Saying –
More spell binding MBV hissing guitars here. Combined with their quintessential
glam stomp and some big choppy riffs which bring the mood of the album up
again. The aggressive Byrds-esque guitar is joyous, as are, Liam’s vocals which
are reminiscent of Pete Shelly in his pomp.
8. Don’t Brother Me
– The song is unequivocally about Noel and is by far the most interesting song
on the album. The opening is full of accusations and is brilliantly sarcastic
when Liam sings ‘Did you have your fun?/ Did you shoot your gun?’. Undoubtedly
the music press will latch onto this and barrage Liam and co with relentlessly
boring questions. However, the noteworthy aspect for us, comes, in the honesty
and reflection of the latter verses. They might not be the greatest lyrics
written about redemption but he alludes to wanting to make peace by saying
‘C’mon be a man / Give peace a chance’. The reunion is still on surely?
9. Shine A Light –
After all the drama of the previous track this feels like a bit of a filler
track. There’s a nod towards Lyla it seems but nothing standing out much here.
10. Ballroom Figured
– Another stripped back number. For TT, we wish they plugged in for 100% of the
time as their melodies are not strong enough on tracks like this sadly.
11. Star Anew - a
classic album closer. Big, grandiose and rock n roll. Oasis fans will be
clambering after this track more than any other. It has a fantastic drunken
sway to it and the guitar solo is fantastic. So much so, Liam at the back of
the cinema decides to play air guitar.
No comments:
Post a Comment