Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Album Review

Noel is back with his high flying birds and what a triumphant return!

The album kicks of with the anthemic and orchestral brilliance of Everybodys on the run, proving that no number of Youtube rips can compare to the studio version in all it’s CD quality glory. An incredible opener to an album that doesn’t let up until the closer Stop the Clocks.

The previously mentioned Stop the Clocks gets yet another reworking, as does I wanna live in a dream (in my record machine), both of which are old Noel songs that have been hanging around as demos since back in the days of Oasis. In fact, many of the songs on this album Noel has admitted were played with Gem at some point.

The stand out track If I had a gun sitting in track position 3 is Noel at his very best, a bitter sweet love song that will surely go down well as a Christmas release in the UK.

Early singles The Death of you and me, and AKA What a life ease the album along nicely, with not a single filler on the album – its strong from start to finish. Noel Gallaghers high flying birds are here to stay…Liam who?

Stone Roses reforming for Heaton Park gigs

Stone Roses reforming for Heaton Park gigs

It’s finally happened, after a long and drawn out will they won’t they saga, the news we’ve all been waiting to here is, yep The Stone Roses are reforming.

Ian Brown and John Squire have buried the hatchet, and will play Heaton Park in Manchester on 29th and 30th June 2012. Question is, will it be a resurrection, or a continuation of where they left off at the Reading Festival gig in 1996, widely planned as one of their worst performances. It fell some way short of the excitement of Spike Island, but whether they can match the dizzy heights of the 80′s and 90′s remains to be seen.

With a new album in the offing, and new songs to be played at the gigs, and a forthcoming tour, we will be adoring the Stone Roses all over again, whether we like it or not.

How to Play Guitar and Sing at the Same Time

How to Play Guitar and Sing at the Same Time

This was an issue that troubled me for some time while I was first learning to play the guitar. You can blame Noel Gallagher for that. It was him that first made me pick it up, and it was his Radio 1 acoustic performance of Don’t Look Back in Anger that prompted me to learn How to Play Guitar and Sing at the Same Time. [Read more...]

Greetings from Tim Buckley – New Movie Announced

Greetings from Tim Buckley – New Movie Announced

Jeff Buckley is to be part of a new biopic about the relationship with his father leading up to his incredible first ever public performance at his father’s tribue concert at St Ann’s church in April 1991.

Having only met his father once, Jeff shared a troubled relationship with Tim Buckley – making the St Ann’s concert “Greetings from Tim Buckley” all the more poignant.

Jeff Buckley died in 1997 at the age of 30, after he drowned in the Wolf River, allegedly taking a swim fully clothed, lying on his back singing Led Zeppelins “Whole Lotta Love”, when a passing boats waves caused him to drown.

Best known for his cover of “Hallelujah”, Jeff Buckley had a great range of songs, including the classics Grace, Eternal Life and Lover You Should’ve come over.

The performance at St Ann’s was Jeff’s first ever public performance, and his rendition of Tim Buckley’s “Once I was” is incredible and one to be heard, particularly for Jeff’s accidental breaking of a string during the last verse, leading him to improvise and sing the remainder of the song accapella.

With Penn Badgley announced as playing Jeff Buckley, who bares a likeness in looks, hopefully the film will not be glamorised and cheapen the genius of the Buckley’s. Just becase the pair of them are no longer with us, it’s still important that their relationship is treated with the sensitivity and respect it deserves.

Shooting begins in August 2011.

Adele At The Brits 2011 | Someone Like You

Adele At The Brits 2011 | Someone Like You

For anyone that saw the Brits 2011, they will know the standout moment was Adele singing with just a piano the song “Someone Like You”. There are vidoes of it on YouTube, so sit back and enjoy this performance from Adele at the Brits:

This performance represents a watershed moment in Adele’s career, propelling her to stardom both sides of the Atlantic, almost like Susan Boyle did by surfing on the crest of a Youtube wave.

Adele’s latest album 21 saw her become the longest serving female at number one in the album charts, beating Madonna. While 21 continues to break records, Adele’s debut album 19 has also been camped on the Top 5 of the album charts for months. The world is her oyster…