CD of The Week

With no Oasis reunion in sight, Liam Gallager and the gang are back as Beady Eye with their second album, simply entitled BE. They brought in Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) to produce and have definitely made strides since their first record This record isn’t perfect though, as it has some really great tracks, but follows it with other ones that aren’t exactly show stoppers.

The record’s lead track “Flick of the Finger” was the first song released by Beady Eye before the record was out earlier in the year. Though it did not get released as a proper single, it showed that band was back and had evolved their sound. The blazing horns and killer guitar riffs, mixed with Liam’s vocals really start BE off in the right direction. They slow it down with a song called “Soul Love,” then pick it right back up with “Face the Crowd”. The Gem Archer-penned song “Second Bite of the Apple” brings back the horns, which sound great in the rocking chorus. Their newest single “Iz Rite” stands out as very Beatles-esque type song, which is always welcome.

One thing that Oasis and Beady Eye can always count on is the vocals of Liam Gallagher. Critics and fans alike have said he doesn’t quite have what he once did, and one can’t really argue other wise. We all can’t stay 23 forever. That being said, he still can still bring it for the most part on this record. He sounds great on songs like “Shine a Light” and “I’m Just Saying”. As long as the songs are rockin’, he sounds great!

Beady Eye still isn’t Oasis, and until the boys get back together (notice the positive attitude there), Liam’s current group combined with Noel Gallagher’s band are the closest things we have to the classic Britpop band. The fact that Beady Eye has outdone their first record is very encouraging and I look forward to what they do next. That being said, what’s it going to take to get the ball rolling on this Oasis reunion?