Customer Reviews

Different Gear Still Speeding

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Oasis has long been my favorite band of all time. For some strange and unknown reason I've connected with their music more so than other group. Every single album has a special place in my heart and I listen to them all frequently, and by frequently, I mean daily. And that's no exaggeration.

In 2009 I was devastated but not surprised by Noel's announcement that he'd left the band because he could "no longer work with Liam." My sadness quickly wore off when I realized that all Oasis fans would be given the chance to have individual offerings from each brother. Well, Liam beat Noel to the punch, and along with ex-Oasis bandmates Gem, Andy, and Chris Sharrock (of The La's fame) on drums, they launched a brand new band and a new chapter in the history of the Gallagher's.

This is not Oasis. If it were meant to be, they would have carried on under that moniker. Instead, they decided to start over with a new name, a new approach, and a new energy.

Beady Eye is markedly retro in the sense that these songs sound as if they would fit right in had they been released in 1968. In a day and age of overproduced, under performed, and generally awful music, Beady Eye is a breath of fresh air. For starters, they are all exceptional musicians and songwriters. In addition to these talents, Gem and Andy in particular are students of rock and roll history. They know how to write tunes that are catchy and melodic but not tailor made for radio.

Different Gear, Still Speeding is as apt a title as you can get. These guys have switched gears slightly and moved in a direction that is more Beatle-esque, but also more than just a loving tribute. Liam, Gem, Andy, and Chris live and breathe clasic rock from The Who, to The Stones, The Beatles, and even Zeppelin, and the influences are heard all over DGSS.

Good music seems to originate in the UK and Europe these days. The US for the most part is producing electronic drivel or trendy "indie" pop. This is genuine rock and roll from four guys who actually play their own instruments and know how to use a studio. For example, overdubs, (which are a staple of most modern bands in order to acheive a massive sound that cannot possibly be duplicated live which causes bands to use tracks that they play along with) are kept to a minimum so that you actually hear each guitar part. Producer Steve Lillywhite has done an amazing job of capturing their energy, and it sounds to me like the album was recorded to tape rather than done digitally which gives the songs a warmth and rawness missing from much of today's "music."

If you're a fan of classic rock, Britpop, Oasis, Ride, Heavy Stereo, or The La's - or if you're just a fan of really good music, check this out, you won't be disappointed. In fact, you may just meet your new favorite band.

I've had the album for a couple of weeks now, and while I've been a huge Oasis fan, I haven't enjoyed a record this much since 1995's "What's the Story) Morning Glory?" The album shines most brightly in its consistency and variety. There is arguably no filler on it, and even the track or two that some may consider filler have their place on the album. The songwriting trio of Liam Gallagher, Gem Archer, and Andy Bell brings a variety of songs that I can listen to no matter my mood, and it is for this reason that the album hasn't left my CD player since I first started listening to it two weeks ago. While it will not have the same impact as WTSMG? did upon its release, it contains the same lighthearted vibe and has gotten better with every listen for me.

Track by track with the songwriter in parenthesis below.

Four Letter Word (Bell) - Another strong Gallagher album opener. Straight up rock and roll with Liam reminding us that "nothing ever lasts forever."

Millionaire (Bell)- From the electric fast paced FLW to the all acoustic Millionaire, the album gets off to a strong start with some of the most interesting lyrics on the album referencing Salvador Dali and a trip from Cadaqués to Figueres.

The Roller (Archer) - A good choice for the first proper single. Shades of 'Instant Karma' all over this one but a really upbeat song. It's supposedly about a person that can always be counted on to be strong for a friend in their time of need.

Beatles and Stones (Gallagher) - One of the tracks some might consider filler, but it definitely has its place on the album and has Liam passionately voicing his opinion about wanting to "stand the test of time, like Beatles and Stones."

Wind Up Dream (Archer) - One that has gotten much better over time for me. I didn't really get this one at first, but it's a good listen with a cool harmonica solo towards the end.

Bring the Light (Gallagher) - A shocker when it first came out as a free download in November, fans fears that the entire album like this one can be laid to rest. While an album full of Jerry Lee Lewis type tracks like this one would be a bit much, it sounds fresh on every listen. Recorded live, and the rawness comes through well in the final recording.

For Anyone (Gallagher) - One of Liam's finest vocals on the album. A nice little number that will undoubtedly draw comparisons to 'Songbird' for it's just over two minute runtime, acoustic guitar, and lyrics.

Kill for a Dream (Bell)- Perhaps the most Oasis sounding track on the album. Shouldn't have anything taken away from it for that though as it is one of the highlights for me.

Standing on the Edge of the Noise (Archer)- Perhaps the weakest song on the album, there are some strange effects going on with Liam's voice here which may turn off some. Should be great live.

Wigwam (Gallagher) - A six and a half minute epic that starts off completely different from how it ends. One of Liam's finer songwriting efforts.

Three Ring Circus (Archer) - A great rock and roll tune by Gem here. I can already hear people singing the big chorus at the gigs.

The Beat Goes On (Bell) - Another impressive track by Andy Bell with a big chorus with Liam singing retrospectively, "So long, so long, someday all the world will sing my song," but also staying positive saying "It's not the end of the world, oh no, it's not even the end of the day."

The Morning Son (Gallagher) - A beautiful album closer both musically and lyrically. Liam admits that if there is ever a track he's written about his brother it's this one. He sings "he's in my mind, he's in my soul, he's even in my rock and roll" before the song really takes off into a "Champagne Supernova" esque outro.


Overall, I didn't expect anything nearly this good from Beady Eye. While some songs could be improved, the album would not be better off without any of them. Oasis fans shouldn't be too quick to dismiss them for not having Noel Gallagher as there is a lot here to like. There's no reinvention of the wheel, but it's still the best album featuring a Gallagher brother since 1995.

I initially heard this album in the mp3 format & immediately thought that it should be listened to on vinyl for best results. Perhaps this is because the music reminded me of songs I had loved in the days before compact discs & digital media. There are plenty of reviews dealing with the music on this album so instead I will focus on the vinyl LP.
The songs are divided up over two records & come in a gatefold sleeve. The insert sleeves which contain the actual vinyl are sturdy cardboard & not merely paper & are covered with artwork.
The sound quality is outstanding. It is clear, upfront with lovely instrument separation. I have read negative reviews of Oasis albums stating that they are over compressed but this is not the case here.
All in all if you are considering buying this album on vinyl then I recommend that you go ahead & do so.

It was in the infamous 1994 interview, which was dubbed Wibbling Rivalry, with the fueding brothers Gallagher that showed the world how the two founding members of the soon-to-be biggest rock band on the planet Oasis got on each other's nerves, and pretty much hated each other's guts. And it was the response of the younger brother with apparently the bigger attitude of the pair, and of course the better singing voice, to the final question from the interviewer, "Do you have any recurring dreams?" to which he cunningly responded with, "When I take over the band!"

It's taken Liam Gallagher 16 years for his dream to come true. Amazingly though, none of the original members of Oasis are still around, including Noel, who after 15 years of graciously putting up with Liam, walked out after a fiery confrontation backstage in the fall of 2009. It wasn't too long afterwards that Liam, Gem Archer, Andy Bell, along with newly recruited drummer Chris Sharrock decided to continue making music together as a band under a new name, Beady Eye, courtesy of Gallagher Jr.

With all the hype building up for their first album as a quartet, thanks to the many interviews with the band members, and the string of promotional singles released, Beady Eye looked like they were going to be the saviors of rock `n roll music, and a different but equally as genuine music entity as Oasis. The first taste of Beady Eye came in the form of Bring the Light, a classy but not extraordinary homage to the classic rock sound of the 50's , from the fast piano to the girls singing backup, where Liam, who wrote the song, seems to be paying homage to the most popular words ever used in rock songs, `baby' and `come on'; the word `baby', I must add, was once mentioned by Noel as a word he refuses to use in his songs. That was followed by the wall of sound, and most classic Oasis-sounding track on the album, the Andy Bell penned album opener Four Letter Word, a song which got me thinking Rock `n Roll Star. And finally, there was the cool Gem Archer written foot stomper The Roller, which as it turns out is the coolest track on the album in my opinion.

Different Gear, Still Speeding is a delightful album. It's not the greatest thing the guys can come up with for sure, but it's definitely one that will get them noticed, with more than one potential hit single. The country influenced Millionaire, another Andy Bell song, is a fitting second track. Bell's finest moment, though, on the album is Kill for a Dream, a potential follow-up single with possibly the best beautiful lyrics on the album, "Life's too short not to forgive, you can carry regrets, but they won't let you live, I'm here if you wanna call" And there's also the ballad The Beat Goes On, with equally inspiring lyrics, "Walked off the stage, faded away in through the clouds, to the gig in the sky, and when I arrived, the angels were singing a song, yeah you know the one, are you singing along?" Gem Archer shines on the psychedelic mini-trip Wind Up Dream, a song that's made catchier with the `woohs' and `ahhs' as well as the harmonica part; it's also a song that sounds like a missing track on The Beatles' Rubber Soul album, and that, of course, is a good thing. Gem also has the hard rocker Standing on the Edge of the Noise, a song that sounds under produced on record but would probably sound exciting live, and the 70's glam rock influenced Three Ring Circus, which sounds great. Liam makes his mark with the majority of the songs, 5 to be exact. The first is the not-so-surprising Beatles and Stones, where he declares that he will "stand the test of the time, like Beatles and Stones" and rightfully so; I mean what other lead singer in Britain's past 20 years has had such an impact on the music scene than Liam? Sadly, the song itself is a mediocre track and will not stand the test of the time. Then there's For Anyone, a song taken straight from Paul McCartney's textbook of ballad writing, with its infectious simplicity, and the semi-epical and longest track on the album Wigwam, a song that I just can't get enough of lately, with its "shalalas", and second half of Chris's aggressive drumming and Liam repeating the line "I'm coming up". Liam also has the closing track The Morning Son, a delightfully touching ballad that seems to be directed at John Lennon, or perhaps Noel Gallagher, "he's in my mind, he's in my soul, he's even in my rock `n roll."

In conclusion, Different Gear, Still Speeding is a good start for Liam and co.

Recommended

B

Like an earlier reviewer said...I did not know what to expect. But I have been totally and pleasantly surprised. This is a great,pure rock n roll album!!! Pure rock n roll seems to be a dying form of music since the late 80's...now we're stuck with drivel/sludge/muck/garbage like Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas etc. etc. Everything is now techno-pop, dance-pop, rap, or hip hop crap! What happened to good ole rock n roll?!?!?! Thankfully, if you take the time to look you can find it!! Beady Eye fits the bill !!!!! Great man great stuff!! I love every track!! Can't wait to see 'em live...rock on man! ROCK N ROLL LIVES!!! Thanks Liam, Andy, Gem, and Chris. Leather Beatle Boot

When Oasis spilt up in 2009 and Liam Gallagher decided to carry on without older brother and primary songwriter, Noel, many assumed his new project would be a disaster with second rate music. Liam chose the band name Beady Eye and the lineup includes former Oasis members Andy Bell and Gem Archer with Chris Sharrock on drums.

Different Gear, Still Speeding is not only much better than any critic thought it would be, it's a strong debut album. Liam and Co. aren't going to reinvent the wheel or come up with any new ground breaking musical style but they stick with what they are good at. The album includes tracks with a 60's vibe as well as sounds of the earlier, better Oasis albums. Different Gear, Still Speeding kicks off with "Four Letter Word" where Liam sings "nothing lasts forever." This isn't the only reference to the Oasis split or his relationship with Noel.

The album is written cohesively by Gallagher, Bell and Archer and the group sounds reenergized and focused on writing as a band and not all dictated by one person. "Bring the Light" and "The Roller," the first two singles, are straight forward, feel good rock `n' roll. Liam's vocals are highlighted on the album and he seems to be taking things more seriously this time around. "Millionaire" and "For Anyone" have a folk ballad vibe. Liam has never been shy on his love and obsession for The Beatles and these themes echo throughout the entire record. The album is a good mix of rock anthems and ballads and there are few, if any filler tracks.

The album closes strong with "The Beat Goes On" and "The Morning Son" which both discuss things coming to and end and then being reborn again. Beady Eye deserve some credit for taking some risks but not straying too far what made them popular with Oasis in the first place. It's an exciting debut album from a band that everyone assumed would be a joke and it ends up being a refreshing and complete British rock album.

-Tim Roberts

A day in the life of brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher has more drama than a season of Glee, but they
still managed to keep Oasis going for about fifteen years before their creative and personal differences
got the better of them and Oasis, one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the last 20 years, was no
more. Noel Gallagher's songwriting genius gave us a handful of decade defining hits like "Wonderwall"
and "Don't Look Back in Anger," but his ever-growing ego forced fellow Oasis members Gem Archer,
Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock to side with Liam, the younger brother, and form Beady Eye.

"Different Gear, Still Speeding" may not have the same songwriting prowess of Oasis' glory days, but
thanks to Liam Gallagher's love affair with The Beatles and everything else `60's, Beady Eye manages to
bring back the retro British Pop feel everyone adored on the Oasis classic "(What's the Story) Morning
Glory" infused with a certain energy and excitement for the music that many Oasis albums since have
lacked. This newfound enthusiasm may be, in part, thanks to the combined songwriting efforts of Liam
Gallagher, Archer, and Bell who have each individually penned singles for the last three Oasis records.
Gallagher's trademark vocals give the music familiarity, but the band members' collective independence
from Noel Gallagher's dictatorship breathes new life into their music.

Opening with "Four Letter Word," "Different Gear, Still Speeding" leads off with one of the best displays
of Beady Eye's rejuvenation. Perhaps a message for brother Noel, the chorus states "I don't know what
it is I'm feeling, a four letter word really gets my meaning. Nothing ever lasts forever." Fans of Oasis
may relate to the lyrics of Beady Eye's debut record less than if Noel had a say in them, but the music is
a fresh take on classic rock `n' roll.

The upbeat tunes continue with "Millionaire" and the first official single off the record, "The Roller."
Although "Millionaire" is less catchy than either of the tracks that surround it, the song offers one of the
most original sounds you'll hear on the album. A bit of a country twang to the guitar mixed with closely
doubled vocals reminiscent of most John Lennon recordings provides a pleasant break from the straight
forward, kick drum driven songs that make up most of "Different Gear, Still Speeding."

Although the whole record offers many tips of the hat to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, none is
more blatant than the track "Beatles and Stones" which repeats the line "I'm gonna stand the test of
time like Beatles and Stones." Sure, ballads like "Kill for a Dream" and "The Morning Son" are weaker
than those of The Beatles, Stones, or even Oasis, but Liam Gallagher and company offer plenty of
justification for the statement on "Different Gear, Still Speeding."

Beady Eye's debut is an album of perspective. Listeners looking for another Oasis record may find
themselves disappointed at the lack of thought-provoking commentary hidden in the lyrics, but those
willing to accept Beady Eye as an entirely different band will likely be drawn into the music. Producer
Steve Lillywhite, who has worked extensively with U2 among many others, still gives Liam's vocals the
feature, but he finds the perfect balance between each of the players. The members of Beady Eye have
been held to Noel Gallagher's rules for a long time, but "Different Gear, Still Speeding" is their collective
declaration of independence.

Similar Artists: Oasis, The Verve
Track Suggestion: "The Roller"

1. Four Letter Word - The opener follows the oasis formula for a catchy tune to kick off the album. FLW is Beady Eye`s version of D'You Know What I Mean?, Lyla or The Hindu Times. The song isn't a complete miss but its exactly the type of song where Noel Gallagher would provide the icing on the cake. In the immortal words of the Chief himself, "Icing is what I do very well."

2. Millionaire - The song opens with Country-inflected guitars more akin to a Dwight Yoakam record than anything English, but there you have it. I seem to recall Liam slagging off the b-sides from Whatever for what he referred to as Noel making `F***ing Country songs.' Millionaire plods along in no rush to keep up with the track before and not terribly if wholly unremarkable.

3. The Roller - Here we have an oasis cast-off, but they shouldn't of. The Roller would've made a better b-side than the likes of Eye Ball Tickler or Thank You For The Good Times. The piano sounds great and while I hear the Instant Karma comparisons, the song evokes the feeling of something familiar instead of the outrage of something stolen.

4. Beatles And Stones - Beady Eye seem to answer the critics before the question can be asked, why do you want to sound like the Beatles or the Stones? Because they make classic music. The ode to bands that came before is natural and as long as you emulate great bands and tunes, I've no complaint. The song is more of a declaration of intent than a classic itself, however.

5. Wind Up Dream - Here we have A Storm In Heaven Verve-esque production and lyrics with Liam-esque melody. Again the Country guitar shows up which is the most surprising influence on the record but nothing groundbreaking.

6. Bring The Light - The first single and debut for the band. Bring The Light consisted of several great ideas mashed together into a terrible amalgamation that is sonically abrasive. The b-side was a cover of a dreadful song (Sons of the Stage) that they did little to improve upon. The b-side will be released as an iTunes bonus so you can skip over it whenever it appears on shuffle.

7. For Anyone - For Anyone is the upbeat acoustic ditty we've come to expect from Liam Gallagher since the success of Songbird. His simple lyrics while a sticking point on Little James became endearing and nearly inimitable on tracks like Meaning Of Soul or I Believe In All. Here he falls a bit short from the standard he set himself but it won't keep it from being covered by guitar-wielding beach-dwellers hoping to sleep with doe-eyed bikini-clad idyllists. Cheers to them.

8. Kill For A Dream - Here we seem to clearly have a Hurricane #1 track. For those of you too young to remember a band with almost no hits, they were another act signed to the now defunct but legendary Creation Records. If I recall correctly, there was the inkling of a rivalry between singer Alex Lowe from the Andy Bell-led band and Liam Gallagher. Now we can definitively say, Liam would've sung those songs just as well if not better. Sorry, Mister Lowe. And yes, this song was penned by Andy Bell.

9. Standing On The Edge Of Noise - SOTEON sounds like the audition tape for a band hoping to ghost-write for Noel Gallagher. The vocal effect is similar to the faraway vocals Noel uses on tracks with the Chemical Brothers (Setting Sun or Let Forever Be). The song feels a bit like the Small Faces` Here Comes The Nice crossed with something Slade.

10. Wigwam - Wigwam is almost a Polyphonic Spree-type trip into psychedelia. Liam's Death In Vegas colloboration, Scorpio Rising, has a remix performed by the robe-wearing hippie choir and maybe Liam liked the feel they gave it. The song sounds slightly out of place though refreshing for an unexpected turn. Maybe Liam plans to front the Spree or lesser known contemporaries The Secret Powers And The Electric Family Choir. The Leader urges me to remind you, cult rock is forever.

11. Three Ring Circus - A Gem-penned rocker without the bite of Hung In A Bad Place or the heart of A Bell Will Ring. Not a bad tune, just not a good one.

12. The Beat Goes On - Hands down, the best track on the album. Andy Bell has his best songwriting in a tune where Liam sounds brilliant and not a single note is misplaced. If Beady Eye never make another record, The Beat Goes On will still be the tune played as the encore to the "gig in the sky" and should be considered a requiem to the great, great band that was oasis.

13. The Morning Son - Echoe-y vocals create the ambience for a Liam-penned answer to Acquiesce. Noel steadfastly said Acquiesce was a song about friendship and not brotherhood and Liam will probably say something similar about this song. "You're blinded by what you idolise... He's in my mind, he's in my soul, he's even in my rock n' roll... You go your way and I'll go mine." Here's hoping the brothers find a way to bury the past.

La verdad es que Liam y compania sorprendieron a la mayoria con el disco que sacaron. Lo mejor Kill For A Dream, The Beat Goes On, The Roller, Three Ring Circus y The Morning Son. Tremenda la voz de Liam. Seguramente los siguientes discos de Beady Eye seran mejores.
Bien por la banda.

I wasn't at all surprised when I heard Liam Gallagher and some of the latest addition of OASIS started a new band with out Noel Gallagher. The record sounds just where Oasis left off sans Noel. Actually, I had been streaming samples for a few weeks prior to the release of Different Gear Still Speeding, so the tunes were already tickling my fancy before I received this in the mail....I give it a 4 out 5 Stars....Up CITY!!!!