so, a month (more or less) on from the release of the record sees me (moi) getting around to throwing together a few comments on the improbable third studio album off of Liam Gallagher as a solo concern. for albums entire, look you see, this would be four (4) or 5 (five), what with him also gone done right ahead released two (2) live recordings. few, i speculate, saw this coming.
for 50% of that live output, the second live album got released ("dropped") on the same day as this 3rd studio album. which, by the way, is indeed called C'mon You Know. if you have an interest in seeing notes on the subject of that second live one, here you go. and why not have a gander at the first, too.
but, for now, C'mon You Know. in this day and age, in this era of instant gratification and immediate disposal, i am not certain it holds value to write of an album which is now a month old. yet i am of an era that held music should last forever, or at least the best of it.
it's rather good, to cut to the chase (after three paragraphs and one picture). since i got it, about a week ago (for it was indeed a hint picked up on and lovely father's day gift) i've played it a few times and not got particularly bored of it. will i, or do i expect to get bored of it? not especially, but i will move on, for it is not like like Liam's previous two solo albums make it on to the stereo much these days.
oh yes, i love the cover. that is indeed Liam in the middle of a crowd, joining in, cigarette held aloft, going, as i recall the term, "mad for it". a more quintessential portrait of the lad simply refuses to exist. a certain former band member of his may well prefer to be aloof, high up on a stage, looking down on people as they applaud his talent, but this is not the Liam way. may it never be any different.
a case exists, some might say, that any album is really only as good as the worst song on it. very well. that's really, really easy to identify on C'mon You Know. it comes in the form of a tune called I'm Free. loaded as it is with cringeworthy lyrics by any standard ("sole prisoner in the info wars") everything about the song feels like it got included here simply to be identified as the low point. quite baffling that this would be included when the similar themed, similar sounding but miles better Waves is relegated to an "extra track" on this special edition version.
best on the album? probably Everything's Electric, which personifies best the rock sound across most of the album. also, it says here, was co-written by Dave Grohl, which means quite little to me, but i am aware of his self-proclaimed, self-anointed "nicest man in rock" status and that such has him as important to many, many millions. it's an absolute banging tune, all i know man.
going back to the start (of the album) and the opener is interesting. as in it's always curious when you put on a new record, hear the first minute or so and go "is this a misprint? is this the right album?". the tune More Power opens in a quite unexpected way, and evolves into a kind of quasi "triptych" sort of formatted song. also, it sort of works.
lyrically it's fairly deep, man. no, i don't buy into that "Liam is a thick yob, lager lout" image. certainly elements (or aspects) of that cultivated or enhanced his rock status (if not ever the thick), but up to know his lyrical skill and prowess has been kept within the confines of "it's rock and roll man, keep it simple". well, that and a fair few bursts of what effectively amounts to "f*** off Noel, you ****". and why not.
for the musical sound, well, i am no expert, or all that talented in wording it. but, to my ears, the best way to describe it is "dirty". again, this is maybe a confidence or coming into his own thing, but it's like the assembled musicians have been instructed to ensure that maximum levels of sordid sexual power seep through the bold guitar and heavy bass on each rock tune. that said there are one or two more sort of "ballad" songs than i would have expected. perhaps every now and then Liam just fancies a nice sit down too.
my assumption is that everyone (and anyone) wishing to own this, the most recent album off of Liam, already does. i am not sure, as is the case with his first two (studio) ones that they are records people will, one day in the future, go back to the past to discover. kind of hope they do, really. again, once this year is complete i am uncertain how often this will end up back on my stereo, but all the same will dig it, man, when it does.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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