Beady Eye - BE (Japanese Edition) (2013)

When the more puckishly ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ of Oasis’ Gallagher brothers released his new band’s debut album in 2011 after the former split, few were surprised at what they received. Few were disappointed either, as Different Gear, Still Speeding turned out to be a solid debut, typically Oasisy (not unexpected considering Beady Eye consists of three ex Oasis members), if also naturally leaning towards frontman Liam’s hero worship of 60’s rock, pop, and, in particular, John Lennon. It didn’t cover any new ground or throw in too many curveballs, yet that’s why it worked. When you’ve had close to 20 years staring as the arrogantly entertaining frontman in one of the UK’s biggest bands, you’re bound to have divided opinion and become ever more settled into the groove fans expect and love to see.

This time around the band have consciously tried to ‘experiment’ with their sound, best aided by producer Dave Sitek, who gives space to the more varied efforts on this sophomore album. Although Beady Eye have stated a slight change in style, without Sitek’s touch (whom Liam G. is especially pleased with – “I think there’s a lot of magic on this album… Dave Sitek is the bollocks, man!”) it would be severely less tangible, as in the main the group stick their usual vibe of 60’s, Beatlesque pop. Yet this is not a criticism, as the pleasant familiarity of tracks such as “Iz Rite”, in which Liam does his best Lennon impersonation (but hey, he’s one of the best in such a field) while Dave Sitek sparkles glimmering light around the sweet, catchy melody, adding just enough character and shade, ring true.

His spacey touches give the tunes more depth, such as on the big brash, brass single ‘Flick of the Finger’, and on starker tracks such as the lovely simplicity of “Start Anew” (which Liam seems to suit well as per “Songbird”). But he doesn’t clutter the arrangement and adds just enough sparkle to lift the melodies. “Flick of the Finger” is a barnstorming, arrogant leadoff single which satisfyingly provides the most solid evidence of the ‘new’ Beady Eye – with its uplifting brass arrangement, pounding sets of drums (at least the group seemed to have performed the number live with two drum kits, thus far), and Liam’s confident vocals proclaiming “the future gets written today”, in a song without a chorus. A pompously effective declaration of spicing the formula up a tad. Second single, “Second Bite of the Apple”, seems to have been picked as such because it furthers the group’s new approach, once again nurtured by Sitek’s superior production. A sparse, percussion driven gallop through space; the chorus here is the big bold draw, with Liam pelting out “The World is up, if you’re tough enough” in front of more brass.

As much as BE mixes familiarity with fresh production touches, it seems natural that its epochal moment comes in the form of the 7:30 “Don’t Brother Me”. The most eagerly anticipated track for fans that are constantly reading sly jibes between Liam and older brother Noel in the press and praying for a make-up and reformation of Oasis, they will find plenty to enjoy here. While starting off with the barbed mockery of lines such as “Did you shoot your gun?” (see: the Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds track, “If I Had a Gun”) delivered with a delicious sneer from Liam, the song goes onto to plead “Come on give peace a chance… Take my hand… Be a man”. At once sentimental yet not forgetting to throw a quick jab in with its “Be a man” line, it may not be the most sincere olive branch handed out in history but for many it will be a well welcomed one. Dave Sitek’s production on this number once again makes it even more special, a long spacey outro which features flashes of an Indian sounding instrument (possibly sitar?) and tripped out electronica blips and beeps, closing a cornerstone of the album.

And what a satisfying album it turns out to be in the end. A few numbers malinger a tad here and there (those following “Don’t Brother Me”, aside from the lovely “Start Anew”), but BE ends up offering more than any post-Oasis project has done thus far. It’s comfortable familiarly is made new by Sitek’s production, and there is a handful of really solid, enjoyable tracks, ranging from the brash singles (“Flick of the Finger”, “Second Bite of the Apple”), to quieter, more restrained and mature moments; to the key dynamics of the cornerstone “Don’t Brother Me”.

TRACKLIST
1. Flick of The Finger
2. Soul Love
3. Face The Crowd
4. Second Bite of The Apple
5. Soon Come Tomorrow
6. Iz Rite
7. I'm Just Saying
8. Don't Brother Me
9. Shine A Light
10. Ballroom Figured
11. Start Anew
12. Dreaming of Some Space [Bonus Track]
13. The World's Not Set In Stone [Bonus Track]
14. Back After The Break [Bonus Track]
15. Off At The Next Exit [Bonus Track]
16. Girls In Uniform [Bonus Track]
17. Evil Eye [Bonus Track]