Liam Gallagher – “As You Were”

By: Ryan Smith

Not much can be said about the peculiar man that is Liam Gallagher. Fans of his previous work would know him as one of the members of Oasis, famed for “Wonderwall”, continuing as a member of the group when they became Beady Eye, and finally starting his solo career with his debut solo album “As You Were”. For a man so erratic, so confusing at times, this album is one that fuels the inner workings of the mind to a level not normally accessed. The album starts out strong with the lead single “Wall of Glass”, with Gallagher showing us again that vocal power and sound that defines him as a musician. Digging through other tracks on the album, you can hear the influences of his previous musical preoccupations- from old Oasis throwbacks on “For What It’s Worth” to the everlasting comparison and grandeur he has when it comes to the Beatles on “Paper Crown”. The album continues to throw different themes at you, and leave a lot for you to think about. “Chinatown” is unusually cryptic without losing stride amongst the other songs on the album, and then there is Liam’s vocal heavy “I Get By”, which throws a whole lot of bark at you, but not a whole lot of bite- almost in the same vain of Liam spouting off about something on Twitter. But even under all the new ideas on “As You Were” this is the same old Noel slamming, willful chord progressing, “Wonderwall” set closing Liam that we are used to.