|
Post by davitpr on Sept 18, 2017 21:37:16 GMT -5
Dork Magazine Review - **/***** (aka 2/5)"As you were. Three words it feels like we've heard for eternity. A phrase that's become so ingrained in tweets and assorted social media posts that it's easy to forget there's an album attached to it and there's rather a lot of riding on it. Yes, Liam Gallagher's redemption trait has been long and winding, but ultimately, the music is what counts. It's put up or shut up for music's most notorious big mouth. It's odd then that his solo debut 'As You Were' is short on blust and swagger, or that sort of intense, in-your-face aggression that Liam is famed for. Instead, he seems to have gone for the softly, softly 'Hey, I'm a serious songwriter too' vibe on an album that lacks conviction. The shadow of a certain potato-featured sibling hangs heavy. Things start gloriously though with certified banger, 'Wall Of Glass'. The reason it's so exciting is that it packs a genuine punch. You can audibly hear a fired up and snarling Liam up for the fight. What follows is rather more limp and submissive. The songs aren't strictly bad, it's more that they're not really Liam. The voice sounds familiar, and the sound uses the same tricks you've heard over the years, but it doesn't feel right. The album was written with a hodgepodge of different people and features proeminent production by uber pop writer and producer Greg Kurstin. The result is a collection of nice enough songs that leave Liam's personality and get only slightly hinted at or absent completely. In the right hands and with the right approach, some of these songs could blossom into monsters. 'Greedy Soul' would make a punk rock banger if it were recorded by 'Definitely Maybe'-era 1994 Oasis, while 'Universal Gleam' would be a sparkling anthem if it was sprinkled with some shiny songwriterly fairy dust. On the album though they sound lumpen and severely lacking in a bit of oomph. Heading into making 'As You Were', there's no doubt Liam was at his lowest ebb following the split of Beady Eye and years of negative press. In coming back so proeminently and reminding people that he's still Liam Gallagher, the comeback can be considered a success - that is until you listen to the album and realise that the Liam we know and love may be lost forever. Maybe there's someone out there who can coax him out?" ---------- I didn't like this review at all. So the songs are good, but problem is there's not enough "rock 'n' roll" going on? I agree. The problem with this review is he's talking about songs we've already heard. Greedy Soul sounds great from the instagram video we all saw. We've heard what? 5-6 songs already? They all seem fine to me. Liam's personality still shines through them and I don't want rock n roll just for the sake of it, I want good songs.
|
|
|
Post by Jessica on Sept 18, 2017 22:36:14 GMT -5
Just looking through their other reviews, they all read like drivel with little focus on the actual music they're apparently giving the rating to.
|
|
|
Post by justaroundmidnight on Sept 19, 2017 0:18:01 GMT -5
That silly Dork website doesn't deserve the publicity. Terrible.
|
|
|
Post by space75gr on Sept 19, 2017 2:09:50 GMT -5
That silly Dork website doesn't deserve the publicity. Terrible. yeah, and its a mistake to still talk about that piss of shit (Dork). its time to move on
|
|
|
Post by jxing on Sept 20, 2017 15:45:28 GMT -5
These are pathetic reviews.. actually not even reviews.. and they wonder why no one pays attention to reviews.. did they even get the album
In the years since Oasis disbanded in 2009, we’ve heard from both Liam Gallagher and ex-band mate/brother Noel Gallagher, but never in the context of a “solo act.” Until now. Sure, Liam formed Beady Eye in the wake of Oasis’ dissolution and released two records, but not until 2017 had he released anything by himself — which Noel has done, of course, with a pair of Noel Gallagher’s High-Flying Birds albums in 2011 and 2015.
As You Were, Liam’s first full-length solo record, is out on October 6 and was a long time coming indeed … and it definitely delivers the goods. Anybody curious if he’d be able to live up to the pedigree put out by Noel’s pair of post-Oasis albums ought to be satisfied with As You Were, a crisply-produced (thanks, Greg Kurstin and Dan Grech-Marguerat) set of 12 songs that span roughly 50 minutes in total.
That’s key, considering Oasis and Beady Eye were never exactly great at trimming the fat when it came to editing themselves in the studio. But on As You Were, Liam’s songs land as they’re supposed to and don’t drag on for extended periods of time.
Vocally, Liam sounds as he always has — his unmistakable voice highlighting songs such as “Bold,” the rhythmic “Greedy Soul” (and its hand claps and lyrical jabs at somebody – perhaps Noel?), the Beatles-inspired “For What It’s Worth” and more.
It’s clear listening to As You Were that Liam really put some time and effort into this record. Some of Beady Eye’s output, which only spanned two albums, seemed rushed or perhaps a bit unfocused. These new songs, on the contrary, feature rich, thought-out melodies, memorable hooks and the kind of warm familiarity that you feel when listening to old Oasis records.
Here’s “Chinatown,” one of the album’s highest points:
And while a full album of Liam’s voice could be a bit much in the Beady Eye era, it works on As You Were, which is again a compliment to the songwriting and production on display, not to mention the great instrumentation throughout the record.
Much of the bitterness between Liam and Noel — they continue to slag each other in the press, of course — seems to have always stemmed from a deep competition for attention (remember when Liam sat out Oasis’ MTV Unplugged performance and heckled Noel from the rafters?). With As You Were, though, Liam more than makes a statement that he’s just as formidable out of Oasis as he was in it, and is eager to give Noel a run for his money as ‘most successful Gallagher brother outside Oasis.’
Might they make amends again and cast aside their resentments for one more reunion and world tour in the coming years? That’d be something to see…but now that each of them have exorcised their solo album ambitions, it’s anybody’s guess.
|
|
|
Post by Thomas on Sept 20, 2017 15:51:09 GMT -5
I don't get these reviews.
They talk about Liam's context, about Noel, about old Oasis records, about the future... and not a single line about the music itself. The songs. The sound. Why on earth???
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2017 16:04:28 GMT -5
I wish it would sink in to these guys; it's not a competition. There's room for both of them, they're totally different. The press dwell on the "fight" which just isn't. It's more apathy.
|
|
|
Post by durk on Sept 20, 2017 16:49:35 GMT -5
that review is total crap / write-by-numbers. cellar indeed.
|
|
|
Post by spaneli on Sept 20, 2017 22:05:09 GMT -5
I wish it would sink in to these guys; it's not a competition. There's room for both of them, they're totally different. The press dwell on the "fight" which just isn't. It's more apathy. I'd say that both Liam and Noel do feed into that narrative by their actions. You can't blame the press for writing about the noise when the noise is already there.
|
|
|
Post by elephantstone93 on Sept 21, 2017 0:24:18 GMT -5
It’s an annoying review but at least it’s a very positive one, petty comparisons aside.
|
|
|
Post by Lennon2217 on Sept 21, 2017 6:49:43 GMT -5
Pitchfork predictions?
|
|
|
Post by sirpsychosexy on Sept 21, 2017 6:57:23 GMT -5
5.6 and talking about Liam's style for 90% of review. In the other 9% they talk how it's bad Oasis record, 1% praise for the worst song on the album.
|
|
|
Post by icebreath on Sept 21, 2017 6:57:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by walterglass on Sept 21, 2017 7:10:02 GMT -5
I predict these words:- Boundaries Nostalgia Masses Twitter Bonehead
|
|
|
Post by ricardogce on Sept 21, 2017 7:23:41 GMT -5
I don't get these reviews. They talk about Liam's context, about Noel, about old Oasis records, about the future... and not a single line about the music itself. The songs. The sound. Why on earth??? Because they don't actually have access to anything beyond what's been publicly released. They read like someone taking a guess based on concert bootlegs.
|
|
|
Post by Velo on Sept 21, 2017 7:24:23 GMT -5
Based on what we've already heard and the fact they had a positive write-up for WOG...high 6.4, low 5.3
|
|
|
Post by thomaslivesforever on Sept 21, 2017 11:02:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by GlastoEls on Sept 21, 2017 14:21:50 GMT -5
7/10 in Uncut, just seen on Twitter at @myoasisworld.
|
|
|
Post by theyknowwhatimean on Sept 21, 2017 14:37:56 GMT -5
7/10 in Uncut, just seen on Twitter at @myoasisworld. source:
"John singing Julian songs". Ouch. Quite a good line though, to be fair.
|
|
|
Post by theyknowwhatimean on Sept 21, 2017 14:51:32 GMT -5
I'll take 7 out of 10s though. If it really is to that level, I think Liam can be pleased with himself.
It's Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic whose verdict I'm waiting on though. Apart from rating BE too highly, he's been pretty much on the money with the Gallagher's post-Oasis work so far, I think.
|
|
|
Post by thomaslivesforever on Sept 21, 2017 15:01:25 GMT -5
I'll take 7 out of 10s though. If it really is to that level, I think Liam can be pleased with himself. It's Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic whose verdict I'm waiting on though. Apart from rating BE too highly, he's been pretty much on the money with the Gallagher's post-Oasis work so far, I think. I like Erlewine too. He's intelligent and measured and you can tell he's actually done some listening to the record. I'm pleased with the Uncut rating but again it tells you precisely fuck all.
|
|
|
Post by SheSaidHerNameWasDot on Sept 21, 2017 15:28:04 GMT -5
Not quite sure why people are arsed about reviews, and get worked up over 1 persons opinion. The only review that matters is yer own ffs.
|
|
|
Post by thomaslivesforever on Sept 21, 2017 15:31:24 GMT -5
Not quite sure why people are arsed about reviews, and get worked up over 1 persons opinion. The only review that matters is yer own ffs. Everyone knows that, still nice to see an artist you're a fan of get some recognition.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2017 16:07:21 GMT -5
Not quite sure why people are arsed about reviews, and get worked up over 1 persons opinion. The only review that matters is yer own ffs. Atm, those select people have (apparently) heard the album in full, so there'll be natural interest in what they have to say as they've heard stuff no one else has, and so it's finding out more about the album via a third party. More info, more hype. After the album's been released and everyone else *can* have their own opinion on the studio versions, then I'll tend to agree with you, but not yet. Also, as an aside, I like reading reviews because sometimes they highlight things in the song that I might have missed or not fully focussed on/appreciated which helps me enjoy music more.
|
|
|
Post by themightyme on Sept 21, 2017 23:11:54 GMT -5
7/10 in Uncut, just seen on Twitter at @myoasisworld. source:
"John singing Julian songs". Ouch. Quite a good line though, to be fair. That review writeup was awfully snarky for an album that they supposedly concluded to be a 7/10. Am I supposed to come away with a good or bad impression of this album??
|
|