Liam Gallagher goes at it again with “Why Me? Why Not.”
It took almost 2 years for the youngest Gallagher to release a new album, but it was totally worth it. It does sound amazing, quite comfortable both to sing along to, or to enjoy by yourself, because to be totally honest, Liam goes quite introspective. With the help of some songwriting geniuses such as Greg Kurstin and Andrew Wyatt, who helped him in his solo debut album “As You Were”.
Liam has not lived to what Oasis was, nobody has, but he has tried. We all know what happened after the dissolution of the band in 2009 and the clear void that didn’t allow his second band, Beady Eye to grow (it was formed by the former members of Oasis, obviously excluding his brother Noel). Still, he found a way to step it up again.
His first solo album had renewed the expectations on the youngest Gallagher brother, Liam was quite going out to say “… I’m an OK songwriter, but I’m a great singer and front man…”. So, he did receive the help from people as big as Greg Kurstin and Andrew Wyatt.
This all was reflected in some of songs in “Why Me? Why Not.”, an album that deepened what he had done in his previous work “As You Were”, with an amazing array of pop/Rock array of styles, including, obviously, a couple of John Lennon References.
We do agree with American Songwriter when they say, this album sounds like “what Gallagher truly wants to say”, in comparison to “As You Were”.
The first track is an up-tempo, semi-glam rock piece that helps you start with all the right energy. “Shockwave” was also the first single to be released. By the way, it is worth mentioning the sublime structure of the album, it is super smooth to listen too, the way you navigate through it is perfect, with perfectly controlled and adapted contrasts between songs.
The energy in the second song, filled with reminiscence, “One of Us”, third single of the album, seems to be clearly talking about his older brother, Noel Gallagher not only as a member of Oasis but as siblings. The song does touch in his relationship with Noel quite a lot.
Once was the second single they dropped, third track of the album, and an ode to John Lennon’s sound, and to what his life was back when he was young with his brother, when they were close and a fan of each other, alluding to Noel’s drive to compose in the middle of the night.
The style drifts one more time here, with a more pop/rock kind of sound, in the enjoyable “Now That I’ve Found You”, where the 47-year-old singer from Manchester talks about his 19-year-old daughter that he’s only met since 2018. He admits his absence during her childhood, but at the same time claiming in the future they’ll do just fine.
The Rock & Roll takes over “Halo”, with Liam turning to his Manager/Fiancé Debbie Gwyther, at the most The Stooges or The Who Style. The fast pace guitar and keyboard teleport you to the distorted filled era of pure rock and roll.
The Alternative rock song that is” Why Me? Why Not.” Is just something else, the hard guitar and synths with the strumming drums, followed by the delicate melody in the chorus take you somewhere else.
“The River” keeps the ‘90s Alternative Rock alive, with a distorted and continuous guitar during the whole, with a more critic message, towards both social media, the state surveillance, politics, and celebrities.
The album does go further than its predecessor being also a charged with nostalgia. Rolling Stones reviewed it and said “Liam Gallagher’s ‘Why Me? Why Not.’ Surges forward looking backward”. Clash Music called it “a bold, brash and hugely impressive return”. And a qualification of 74 out of 100 in Metacritic
We expected a lot from both Gallaghers, and it’s fair to say Liam is delivering. We may feel like he’s done it with a “better late than never” feeling to it, but boy he’s doing as good as the New England Patriots in the new NFL season.