It would be difficult not to include Liam Gallagher’s review, seeing as both Noel and Liam have released new material within a day of each other.

Liam Gallagher has now released 2 full albums as a solo artist, both were received well critically, and he is showing us his own talents as a composer and not just as a singer and performer. His new release is a surprise EP called Acoustic Sessions. One thing we already know about Liam Gallagher is he can sing, and he has a much stronger voice than I think is often recognised in mainstream media. It is distinctive and has been the anthem of every 90s child growing up. What has been interesting is hearing that change and seeing how it develops into other styles of music. 

If you watch the video that accompanies ‘Once’, which I recommend you do, you will see that Liam has invited Eric Cantona, who he calls the last rock and roll footballer to perform throughout. ‘Once’ has been released before, but this is the acoustic version and is worthy of a second outing in this format. It is difficult to hear the start of the song without asking if this is some new previously undiscovered John Lennon track. In fact the melody is reminiscent of ‘Jealous Guy’, and that helps create the link between Liam Gallagher and John Lennon. It is no secret that both Gallagher brothers are Beatles fans, but the more solo work Liam does, the more you really hear that influence in the music, and this is very much Lennon’s post Beatles sound, and that is in no way a bad thing. It only proves Liam Gallagher is a very talented songwriter in his own right. As you would expect with a song from an EP called Acoustic Sessions, it has straightforward production and instrumentation that lets the songwriting and musicianship put across the song’s beauty and in ‘Once’ there is plenty of elegance to portray. The instrumentation builds, and the introduction of the piano and second electric guitar that sits higher than the main acoustic builds to the atmosphere of the song. When the drums and strings really come in, it makes you realise this is a song is excellently written and wonderfully executed. 

Overall, if there are any truths to the rumours in an Oasis reunion, then it would be quite something to hear both Liam and Noel write together and produce new material. Although, the more they do that, the more likely it will be that they disband the band again, but with both writing excellent music as individuals, we will still get to hear lots more creations from the Gallagher songbook.

 Indie     Singer-songwriter 

Author: Phil Arnold

Phil Arnold is a musician, producer and music reviewer from Devon, in the South West of England. Whilst not writing music reviews, Phil also writes and records under the name of Ugbrooke.