At the end of his barnstorming sets at Knebworth in 2022, Liam Gallagher brought out John Squire to perform the Oasis classic, “Champagne Supernova”. From there the stage was set for the two to collaborate on an album of songs that Squire was writing. The Gallagher/Squire team have done a fine job of picking out the singles as those are the best on the album. “Raise Your Hands” has a stomping beat with much riffing and a catchy chorus. “Mars to Liverpool” has a very lad aware lyric of “Jesus Christ, about last night/I can only apologize” and the duo channel their vintage selves on the five-minute lead single, “Just Another Rainbow”. The most Stone Roses sounding track is the heartbeat of the album and the one truly great song.
Those three tracks are surrounded by similar sounding ones that are less memorable. “I’m So Bored” has a punk rock attitude without the snarl, “You’re Not The Only One” adds some barrelhouse piano to the sound, and the whole thing ends with “Mother Nature’s Song”. The latter being a downtempo one with mostly basic rhyming lyrics but still somehow manages to breakthrough to be a decent closer. Hardly life changing stuff from the older lads but a solid enough listen for those pushing 50 and beyond.
6/10
The Light Appears 