Album Review: Beady Eye - Different Gear, Still Speeding

Surprisingly enjoyable and against expectation - Beady Eye. Photo / Supplied

Liam, the first Gallagher brother out of the gates since Oasis split, delivers this sound debut with a "new" band, which is especially promising given Noel was the songwriter/prime-mover behind Oasis.

Just as George Harrison uncorked bottled-up songs post-Beatles - Beatles references remain relevant, one track here is Beatles and Stones - so Liam and former Oasis members Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock have unhooked from Noel's widescreen sound and aimed for an enjoyable, if not earth-shattering Steve Lillywhite-produced collection, undeniably filled with rowdy, referenced pop-rock hooks.

The Roller and The Morning Son are pure Lennon. Beatles and Stones conjures up the spirit of early Who, For Anyone is a delightfully light and economic acoustic ballad, and there's '67 psychedelic pop-rock everywhere.

There's also no mucking about: tracks springs to life immediately, often with attention-getting guitars although hammered rock 'n' roll piano kicks in.

Bring the Light is a welcome addition to their sonic palette, as are the female vocals - and the harmonica in the Stones-like Wind Up Dream.

There are second-half makeweights - the shouty Standing on the Edge of the Noise, the overlong and shapeless Wigwam and The Beat Goes On - but mostly Beady Eye have recaptured the joyous, raucous inspiration Oasis lost. Surprisingly enjoyable and against expectation.

Rating: 3.5/5
Verdict: Oasis minus its prime mover proves there are second lives in rock.

-TimeOut / elsewhere.co.nz