Sibling rivalry finally comes to a head. Big brother takes his ball and goes home. Little brother picks up the pieces, changes the name of the band, and soldiers on. Oasis - Noel Gallagher = Beady Eye.
This 13 song debut, Different Gear, Still Speeding, plays it safe and doesn’t really wander too far off the Oasis beaten path. If anything, it’s a perfect example of just how far Liam Gallagher’s songwriting has propelled over the past decade. With desperately trying to prove that he no longer needs big brother, Noel at the helm, kudos to Liam who has really travelled light years from his first embarrassing penned composition, “Little James”, from the 2000 Oasis album, Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants. To give any idea how far “Our Kid” has come since Little James, anything from Different Gear, Still Speeding sounds like Sgt. Pepper in comparison. Then again, what’s a Gallagher composition without the slightest inkling of influence from the Fab Four?
It’s no secret the influence The Beatles have had on the Gallaghers their entire career. Heck, even Liam went as far to name his first born, Lennon. Those are some big shoes to fill. History always seems to repeats itself and it’s clearly apparent on Different Gear, Still Speeding’s latest single, “The Roller”, casting a reworked Instant Karma vibe, while the grinding ditty of, “Beatles and Stones”, is a lot less subtle. Really, no surprises here.
The album is an admirable effort and does have it’s share of shining moments, but it doesn’t exactly exceed any expectations. The middle of this collection contain more than it’s fair share of filler, but it also has it’s bright spots as well. Stand-out tracks include “Four Letter Word, “Millionaire” and arguably the best and most feel-good track on the album, “The Beat Goes On”. All in all, a significant feat considering the band’s Grand Poobah is no longer at the helm. Noel Gallagher, the ball is officially now in your court.
2.5 out of 5
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