No.55 - ‘Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (2011)

“High tide, summer in the city; The kids are looking pretty, but isn't it a pity that the sunshine is followed by thunder; With thoughts of going under, and is it any wonder why the sea is calling out to me…”

The date was 20th August 1995, and I was in my living room eagerly listening to the radio. Never can I remember a radio countdown as well as this one. Who would take the No.2 slot? ‘Roll with it’ came on and I gave a woop; Blur’s ‘Country House’ took the title.

Growing up, Blur were the band for me, but I was a big fan of ‘Whats The Story Morning Glory’. Over time, Liam’s vocals ended up grating me more than a chunk of cheddar on a sanding machine; the lyrics didn’t really make sense and I was always drawn to songs like ‘Little by Little’ and ‘Half the World Away’. With the news of the end of Oasis, it was just another day, but on hearing Noel’s recent material, it was everything I wanted them to be, and more!

Every song I was hearing on the radio, I absolutely loved. I was surprised at the variety and unique sound in each song. It took me a while to sit down and properly listen to this album, but the debut really stood out as his best work to date. Noel’s vocals are superb and his melodies and chord sequences are excellent. There is that Beatles/ELO bounce that I really enjoy, even with a ragtime edge. The strong use of piano and the odd brass bring the album up an extra notch in terms of goodness. 

I wouldn’t call myself an Oasis fan at all, and it was as surprise to myself that I liked this album so much. His singles to follow have also been excellent but none of the other albums match up to this superb debut.

Noel and His Birds formed in 2010 after the Oasis split. The name is influenced by the song “High Flying Bird” made famous by Jefferson Airplane, and the prefix idea from listening to the album ‘Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac’. The album reached no.1 in the UK and Irish charts. I currently do not own it on vinyl, though it is widely available.

Favourite songs - The Death of You and Me, AKA What A Life, Everybody’s On The Run



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