gallagher squire

howdy pop pickers

an ever so slight break from doing posts about my odyssey to New Zealand, then. just a mere ten (10) or so days after it was released, behold, my comments (or musings, look you see) on the very welcome pairing up of Liam Gallagher and John Squire. well, no, yes, the album proper, after the single what came out not so long ago. 

so, is the album any good? yes, as it happens. i took custodianship of the tape (disc) on day of release via the miracle of our postal service. oddly i was actually in Manchester (in the area) on the very day it came out, but (alas) it was simply not possible for me go stop off and make a symbolic purchase of the record (in any format) there. still, upon receipt i have it a play, and then found myself just listening to it on repeat for the afternoon, four, maybe five, plays. 

in the lead up the release of Liam Gallagher John Squire by (ahem) Liam Gallagher and John Squire there were several reviews. these ranged from "paint by numbers rock album" to "the best thing either of them have done for decades". all down to the individual of course, but certainly it's much closer to the latter than the former. perhaps the most striking aspect is how fresh it is. also it's very, very, extremely unexpectedly, funny in parts. not Bad News or Spinal Tap funny, just actual "this line will be a laugh" thinking and delivery. 

to say that this is the best thing either has done "in decades" is really quite harsh. granted the last Oasis album was a sign it was all out of steam, but to discredit both of the Beady Eye albums and all three of Liam's solo albums is ludicrous. on a par with the highlights of his solo career would be fair. for Squire, well, he hasn't actually recorded all that much since 2004, bar two curious singles with The Stone Roses. so that's all a bit Bowie "his best and most important album since Scary Monsters" lazy review stuff. 

yes, with the way that record sales work these days, i appreciate that all and sundry interested in this paring with have bought the album during the week, if not on the day of, release. anything anyone says is not really going to influence someone to try and discover it. but, who knows, perhaps this blog of mine shall remain "live" and this will be read by someone, what, 20 or 30 years from now. hello from the past, if that's relevant to you. 

no dud tracks exist on this album. it is a taunt, well considered 40 minutes of pure great album stuff. all of the songs (and they get credited individually) were written by Squire, but it's nigh on impossible to even contemplate anyone but Liam Gallagher singing them. 

legacy? it is easy to say time will tell. forgive my own lazy comparisons, but the world just does not operate like it used to with vibes, man. no album, it seems, shall ever live beyond the moment, so disposable is the world. whatever they did here with this never ever stood any chance of the life of, say, albums like The Stone Roses, Definitely Maybe or Morning Glory. yet an intrinsic awareness of such exists on the record, very much a here and now, dig it and revel in it. 

considering his accepted wish for reclusive privacy it must have been one hell of an itch John Squire had that he felt needed this to scratch. working with Liam Gallagher is to put yourself in the biggest limelight which exists in the modern music world. in terms of the music it has paid off very well indeed for someone like me, a simple music fan. no idea if they will carry on working together, who knows, but just enjoy this moment for what it is.

be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!