The project is called Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ($20) and Noel has made a more subtle album than the rock 'n' roll exploits of his former band mates in Beady Eye.
This album will appeal to those who loved The Importance Of Being Idle a later single by Oasis.
Noel is using his falsetto voice more on this album and sounding a bit more Kinks than Slade and it works well for him. He's also getting in to dance music (really) and AKA...What A Life! is full of the momentum we come to expect from that genre rather than the "wall of love" Oasis became known for.
Here's a little history for ya mostly off the top of my heart and wikipedia, so excuse any errors on who drummed where. Comments are always welcome ;)
Back in the Mid-90s Oasis were everywhere. They brought some melody to the malaise and some aspiration rather than the perspiration evident in Teen Spirit by Nirvana
We've got Nevermind on CD $10 and the Classic Albums DVD covering the recording for $10 as well.
But back to Oasis. They didn't hate themselves and want to die. They wanted to Live Forever.
This track was from Definitely Maybe ($10),was released in 1994 and the group shot to stardom.
The making of the album is covered on the Definitely Maybe DVD ($10) which includes live versions and promo clips as well as interviews with the band. It also includes the whole album as audio! Win!!!
Just around the time the band were due to perform Some Might Say on TV, drummer Tony McCarroll was sacked and replaced with Alan White. Before he was replaced, McCarroll got to feature on Live By The Sea ($10) a DVD that includes some lesser know B-Sides performed solo acoustic by Noel on stage as well as their classic take on I Am The Walrus.
This line-up of Guigsy, Bonehead, Liam, Noel and Alan went on to record (What's The Story) Morning Glory featuring Some Might Say. America and everywhere else took notice. This is the line-up you heard on Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger and Roll With It.
As they did their world tours there'd be gigs without Guigs and a clip without him too (Wonderwall), shows without Noel, and Unplugged without Liam (except he was there, but having fun watching). There was Matt Deighton on guitar for a bit live. Noel often had to do gigs on lead vocal when Liam wasn't available.
But they always ended up re-grouping.
This line-up recorded the third album, Be Here Now, which despite Noel's opinion to the contrary, did include some great songs including Stand By Me, and Don't Go Away.
This line-up persisted through to the recording of Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants. Bonehead and Guigs departed the band while the album was being recorded and appear on the finished album.
Noel played the guitars and bass on that record which was released in 2000.
The album was promoted and toured with Andy Bell (Ride) on bass and Gem Archer (Heavy Stereo) on rhythm guitar. Bell played bass in Oasis, but had previously played guitar in Ride.
This line-up continued on stage and albums. Bell/Archer/Gallagher/Gallagher/White recorded
Heathen Chemistry.
When it came time to record Don't Believe The Truth ($10), Ringo Starr's son (and modern day Who drummer) Zak Starkey was recruited for on-stage and studio work (he played on every track except the Velvets/Dylan inspired Mucky Fingers but he was never an official member of the band).
The 'final' album was Dig Out Your Soul ($10) with Chris Sharrock (The La's,Robbie Williams) on drums.
The album featured this track Falling Down
The song later remixed by The Amorphous Androgynous. Noel has recorded an album with them as well! Stay tuned for that one.
Noel has indicated in interviews that he's open to re-connecting with his former band mates. But for now we have Noel Gallagher and we have Beady Eye (the band consisting of all of the final line-up of Oasis bar Noel).
Whatever the combination and setting of these sons, the Gallagher's consistently produce material that encourages a belief in the power of a song to take you somewhere. And somewhere better.
