Crack

11/20

You’d think that being the heartbeat of one of the most successful and iconic British bands of all time would mean your first de facto solo effort would be burdened with the weight of expectation. But with this record, that really isn’t the case. Given the limp imitation of Oasis which sadly existed far longer than the brilliant first version and the constant soap-opera which has entirely overshadowed the music for years, it’s safe to say only the hardest of the die-hards were looking to this release with sweaty palms and baited breath. But freed of the shackles of the Oasis name, Gallagher has produced a largely well-written, if ultimately limited album. The jaunty tempo and big ol’ chorus of (Stranded On) The Wrong Beach is bloody good, and If I Had A Gun... is a grand ballad. His limitations as a lyricist are painfully apparent throughout, relying almost solely on well-worn cliches, which when the tunes don’t work can leave you with songs which amount to nothing at all. The wishy-washy strumming of Stop the Clocks, for example, is really not helped by crooning about “the back seat of my mind”. But all in all, a perfectly good record, and infinitely superior to whatever Beady Eye are peddling at the moment.

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Words: Geraint Davies